DNA testing is another tool in genealogy research and filling in your family tree. But what tests are best? How can you take advantage of the different tools available from each company? How can you save the most money? The answers to these questions and more are being answered today!
Your DNA Testing Plan
If you are unfamiliar with the DNA testing companies and what each of them offer, let me suggest to you a plan of attack to get the very most from your testing experience and your money.
- Buy a basic DNA test kit from AncestryDNA today. They are on sale for $59 USD now through June 19, 2022. The reason you want to buy from Ancestry is because they have the largest matching database of any other testing company. Also, Ancestry does not allow you to upload raw DNA to their website like other companies do. Learn more about what raw DNA is, here.
- Buy a YDNA test from Family Tree DNA for $99 USD (usually $119) now through June 20, 2022. Only a male can take this test. If you are female, have your brother, father, or another direct male descendant in your family line to take this test. Family Tree DNA is the only company to offer this test.
- When you get your results from AncestryDNA back (about 4 to 6 weeks), download your raw DNA report and then upload that raw DNA report to MyHeritage, GEDMatch, Living DNA, and Family Tree DNA for free. Each of these companies allow you to upload for free. Each of them offer some tools for their free customers or you can upgrade for a fee and open up new tools. MyHeritage and GEDMatch have a chromosome browser tool that AncestryDNA doesn’t. This is a great tool for analyzing your DNA matches. GEDMatch has some additional tools the other websites don’t have such as one-to-one X DNA matching and Are Your Parents Related.
Now that you have followed this plan, you have DNA test results from AncestryDNA, MyHeritage, Living DNA, Family Tree DNA, and GEDMatch for the price of 2 DNA test kits. If you decide to not do the YDNA test, you can follow this plan and still have the results from AncestryDNA, MyHeritage, GEDMatch, Family Tree DNA (Family Finder) and Living DNA for $59 USD! That is an amazing savings.
The Genealogy Reporter has entered into an affiliate relationship with AncestryDNA and may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.
Leave a Reply