If you are interested in discovering the best DNA tests for 2021, then you should consider looking at our selection below. We have comprehensively reviewed the leading contenders in this field with the intent of finding what is the best DNA test, for health, ancestry (heritage), and ethnicity. We have concluded our research with a short selection of the top 3 best home genetic DNA test kits for 2021. We continue to update our selection each week, so stay tuned.

Our Top 5 Best Rated DNA Test Kits

Best Test Kits by Category

If you are looking for the best DNA kit reviews with a specification in mind we have provided that too. Have a look at the options below and navigate into the top 3 genetic testing kits for your own needs and requirements.

• Top 10 DNA Kits by Overall Rating – Detailed Reviews
• Best DNA  Test Kit for Researching Family Trees
• Best DNA  Test Kit for General Ethnicity and Ancestry Testing
• Best DNA  Test Kit for DNA Health and Lifestyle Testing
• Best DNA  Test Kit by Value for Money
• Best DNA  Test Kit for Whole Genome Sequencing

Overall Top 10 DNA Tests: Reviews by Experts 

Best DNA Test Kit for Researching Family Trees

If you are interested in what your genetics can tell you about your family history, there are many companies offering tests which analyze your genes for relationships to global reference populations. While there are companies that offer combination DNA tests for ancestry in addition to other health and lifestyle traits, many companies have specialized in genealogy and offer only ancestry testing.

Of these companies, 3 stand out as offering the best value for researching and understanding your family history.

Notes for this section

• MyHeritage offers one of the most affordable ancestry DNA kits, at only $79. That is reasonably cheaper than Ancestry, and you get many of the same features. Further, MyHeritage offers subscription packages for up to $300 per year. Compare that to Ancestry’s similar service at $540 per year, and you will find that MyHeritage offers a much more valuable service. Both companies offer family matching services, access to historical records, and help to research and build your family tree.
• AncestryDNA is the world leader with the largest database which offers the best functionality
• AncestryDNA Vs. MyHeritage comparison is available on this website.

Best DNA Test Kit for General Ethnicity and Ancestry Testing

Other companies do not focus so much on matching users to potential family members. Rather, they focus on generating a broader view of how you are related to global populations and how your ancestors may have migrated around the globe. Unlike family tree subscription services, these tests are all one-time purchases and many of them take a deeper look at your ancestry going back more than several generations.

There are just more than a couple of companies which stand out as a great value in this category.

Notes for this section

The Geno 2.0 DNA test kit represents a scientific venture by the non-profit National Geographic Society to research and understand human ancestry. With the data and proceeds from these tests, Nat Geo funds researchers dedicated to understanding and documenting human genealogy.

With this test, the user can explore their personal ancestry for only $99. The test has multiple reports based both on the regional ethnicities the user shares DNA with and reports which detail how your ancestors may have branched out of Africa and established human populations on other landmasses. Backed by the DNA experts at Helix and researchers at National Geographic, the reports not only tie you to your ancestors and deep history but they allow you to contribute to new scientific findings every day.

In comparison with the Geno 2.0 test, many companies offer similar services at much higher prices. International Biosciences, for instance, has a much higher rate for similar results. With their platform, you would have to buy two separate tests for around $420 total, plus $200 for maternal and paternal haplotyping to get a similar understanding of your family origins.

We have created a separate article for the best African ancestry test kits here.

Best DNA Test Kit for DNA Health and Lifestyle Testing

If you are not interested in your genetic ancestry and want to know only about specific genes and traits related to health, fitness, or lifestyle, there are several companies that offer these tests. However, many of these tests are not entirely revealing, are too expensive, or are so specific they should only be used by people with a family history of disease. In this category, there are many offerings and no one company stands out for providing the best value. Below are specific tests which many people may find valuable.

Notes for this section

• MyHeritage offers one of the most affordable ancestry DNA kits, at only $79. That is reasonably cheaper than Ancestry, and you get many of the same features. Further, MyHeritage offers subscription packages for up to $300 per year. Compare that to Ancestry’s similar service at $540 per year, and you will find that MyHeritage offers a much more valuable service. Both companies offer family matching services, access to historical records, and help to research and build your family tree.
• AncestryDNA is the world leader with the largest database which offers the best functionality
• AncestryDNA Vs. MyHeritage comparison is available on this website.

• 23andMe is obviously the biggest winner of this category being much bigger than both of its competitors together and constantly improving the vastness and promptness of its testing. It has recently started providing polygenic risk mapping as well as a part of its service.
• Genebase’s Disease Testing:  Though the company also offers ancestry and lifestyle testing, they also offer tests for a variety of individual genetic conditions and traits influenced by genetics. These tests are around $195 per disease, but that can be a small price to pay for someone with a family history of a certain type of disease. Genebase also offers the Ashkenazi Jewish panel, which tests for a number of diseases that occur in higher rates in people descended from this population.
• 24Genetics Health and Lifestyle Tests: 24Genetics has several interesting offerings for around $200 that cover a variety of topics. If you are an athlete, for example, you may be interested in their DNA Sports Test, which tests your genes against genetic variants that are known to influence athletic traits. They have additional tests on Skin Care, Nutrigenetics, Pharmacogenomics, and a general Health report. For an individualized and comprehensive look at the science behind these traits, this is a fair value.

Best DNA Test Kit for General Users

If you are just getting curious about DNA kits and genetic testing, many companies offer basic packages that can give you a taste of the information that your genome holds. Many companies offer cheaper packages, then charge much more for subscriptions, more advanced tests, or extra features.

Of all the companies which offer genetic testing, two companies companies stands out as having the best value for general users.

Superb offering

23andMe is funded and owned in part by Google Ventures, as well as a number of user-conscious Silicon Valley executives. For only $200 you can get a number of reports on your genes, covering health and ancestry aspects. The user interface is appealing, simple, and can provide basic insights into how your genes affect you on a daily basis. The company provides disease testing for a number of genes, but realize that these are only the most basic screenings available and are meant to catch only the most common mutations of any given disease.

Best Value for Money

My Heritage is a much smaller than 23andme company with headquarters in Israel offering the best value for money. With some of the best DNA test kits of 2021 for a price starting at $79 (went as low as $39 on Black Friday and Cyber Monday), very diverse family tree and ancestry service and a new health service with 14 genetic risks reports + a carrier status report, there is an incredible value provided if you are using MyHeritage’s cheap and trustworthy service.

Best DNA Test Kit for Whole Genome Sequencing

One final area that some users may be interested in is whole genome sequencing. Companies offering to sequence your entire genome are accomplishing a significant task. Consider, for example, that the first human genome took nearly a decade and billions of dollars to sequence. Now, companies are offering the service for several thousand dollars and a turnaround time of only a few months.

Of these companies, one stands out as having the best value overall: Veritas Genetics

Veritas Genetics has a single offering, the myGenome kit. This DNA test kit is like all the others in that you submit a sample via the mail, with one exception. For this DNA test, you need a doctor’s note. The Veritas whole genome analysis is so thorough and complex, that they will not conduct the test unless they know that you will be discussing the results with a trained professional. While this may sound silly, the extra steps may be worth it.

For only $999 the company can complete a whole genome sequencing and will give you lifetime updates as new information is found on various diseases, conditions, and traits. This is an extraordinary value, considering the amount of information you are buying in the future.

Compare this to 24Genetics, a company which also does whole genome and exome sequencing. Their exome sequencing (only the DNA that produces proteins) runs $1150, while their whole genome sequencing is $2290. Their results are not as user-friendly, as they come in the form of PDFs that update over time rather than an interactive platform.

The Bottom Line: Find the Genetic Test that Fits Your Needs!

Though the tests and companies presented here represent great value in their company, the most important thing is to find a test that properly fits your needs. If you properly research each company and their offerings, you will quickly realize that many of the tests are more suited to your needs than others. By using this site and our expert reviews, you can find exactly the right test at the price you are willing to pay.

How can I learn more about the best test for me?

You are more than welcomed to read our comprehensive DNA kit reviews below. Each review consists of an analysis of the company’s background, a detailed explanation of the offering including which plans are available with each DNA tests provider, as well as an overview of the results you are expected to get in the end.  Essentially, all the information you will need in order to conclude which is the best home DNA kit for you for 2021 – whether you want to find the best DNA test for health or the best DNA kit for ancestry – the information we provide should suffice.

If you have additional questions find our contact form on our about us page. We are welcoming you to delve deeper and deeper and discover the wonderful world of DNA testing.

There are now dozens of companies around the globe offering various DNA test kits, and the offerings of these companies vary drastically in both quality and cost. To help our users sort through this quagmire, this article sorts the most popular companies and their offerings into easily understandable value categories. Read on to find out which companies offer the best values in genetic ancestry testing, the best values on genetic health and lifestyle testing, and the best values from companies that offer multiple forms of reports.

Uses of a DNA Test Kit

TL;DR Roundup – What can I use CompreDNAKits for?

• Discover the best DNA test for health (general purpose of improving one’s overall health).
• Locate the best DNA test for ancestry (general purpose of discovering your background).
• Pin-point the best DNA test kit for ethnicity.
• Find the top DNA kit for heritage in combination with information provided by you about your family try.
• Understand which is the top DNA kit for weight loss.
• Learn what is the top DNA kit for Asians, Africans or Caucasians. 

The longer version – why even bother reading about your top 10 selection:

Before you jump into DNA testing, or deciding which is the best DNA test kit for your needs, you should know what you want to be analyzed. The most common use of DNA testing in the past is Paternity Testing, which is simply a comparison of two sets of DNA to see if they match. These tests are regularly used by courts to determine the legal status of minors. Many companies provide paternity or other relationship testing services. More recently, DNA testing has started to compare your genes to aggregated genetic data. This method allows researchers to find correlations between genes and certain outcomes.

There are several main options, such as health and lifestyle testing or carrier status testing. Other tests can analyze genetic factors which are related to certain health risks. Some tests analyze how your genetic variants contribute to your skin health. Some companies offer genetic analysis related to nutrition, which is a comparison of your genes to data on how genetics may affect things like digestion and taste preferences.

With ancestry testing, users are wanting to look at their genes for clues about their family history. Because your DNA is passed down to your from your mother and father, certain gene variants can be tracked to various global populations. Different DNA test kits compare your mitochondrial DNA or Y-chromosome DNA to several different haplotypes, or deep genetic relationships stemming back to human origins in Africa.

Every company offers a unique selection of products focused on certain areas, and each test is specific and unique in its analysis. Remember that in each category, not all tests are created equally. Competing companies compare their results to different test populations and base their results on various research they have uncovered. As the world of DNA testing evolves, so will the uses of DNA test kits and the scientific support they have. 

Our considering when announcing the best DNA test kit providers?

There are many factors to consider when comparing choosing what is the best DNA test kit provider. The most important to focus on is your purpose for doing the testing. If you are researching your ancestry, certain companies are better than others. The best DNA in USA, UK and Europe are companies are those that analyze the genome for the information you are looking for.

Best DNA Test by Types of Genetic Testing

There are several types of genetic testing, and to choose the best DNA test for you some research must be done. Different companies offer a variety of different genetic analysis, on subjects like Ancestry, Health and Lifestyle, Carrier Status, and many other traits and correlations.

– Ancestry Testing

Ancestry testing is for those people looking to understand what their DNA can tell them about their family history. If you are looking for the best DNA kits for ancestry, you should consider several factors. In ancestry testing, there are 3 basic testing options. In testing autosomal chromosomes, the laboratory will be able to determine which regional genetics you are most similar to. Labs can also test your mitochondrial DNA and Y-DNA and analyze your maternal and paternal haplotypes, respectively. These portions of DNA can be traced in lines back to the dawn of human history. The best DNA test kits for ancestry will measure all three of these portions.

– Health and Lifestyle

In choosing the best DNA tests for health and lifestyle information, a similar rule applies. Choose a test with results you are interested in learning about. Many of the health and lifestyle results are based on correlations found between carriers of a gene variant and certain health outcomes. This can be anything from how your genes may predispose you to getting diabetes or cancer, to how your body deals with caffeine. The best DNA test for you is the one that analyzes the questions you are curious about. But, understand going in that not all tests are backed by the same evidence, and some are based on very weak correlations.

– Carrier Status

Many companies also offer information on carrier status, which will analyze if you have any known genetic conditions which you could pass on to your potential children. Many genetic disorders are recessive, meaning the carrier does not show any symptoms, or the disease has a late onset in life like Huntington’s disorder. The best DNA test kit for carrier status largely depends on what you are worried about. If you have a family history for a certain disorder, you may want to get tested. Further, many companies offer large panels of tests which cover a broad spectrum of even more rare disorders.

– Other DNA Test Kits

Are you a genetic nerd? Do you want to dive even deeper into how your genetics affect you? If so, the best DNA test kit for you might be something else. Companies now offer genetic testing and analysis on a wide variety of correlations, from genetic wine pairings to tests for genes related to infidelity. If you want, you can even get your dog’s DNA tested. The best DNA kits in this category largely depend on your preferences. But, because many of these tests are not “mainstream” there may only be a few companies with offerings.

Information Privacy

The second most important thing to consider is how important you consider the privacy and security of your DNA. Most genetic testing companies are not only making money trying to sell the best DNA test kit but are also making money on the back end when they sell aggregate data to other companies. These companies, such as pharmaceutical companies doing research, do not get access to your name but do get to see your unique genetic sequence. Some companies offer to pay you when researchers use your data. Others avoid this practice altogether, but may be more costly. The best DNA test kit for you is the one that uses your data the way you want it to be used.

Concluding words on choosing the top DNA kits for 2021

Choosing the best DNA kit for our readers wasn’t an easy thing. After all, the vast majority of DNA home test companies are reliable and provide a solid response. None of the DNA kits is a scam. On the other hand, there is limited data – the oldest company in the business has been offering home DNA test kits for just 10 years… and over those 10 years technology has vastly improved. Hence, it’s hard to say conclusively who offers more accurate tests than others. When it comes to pricing – it’s the same situation. How do you weigh a $79 dollar test that tests X things for Y purpose against a $99 dollar testing designated for Z purposes testing L variants?

Deciding on the best DNA home tests for 2020 has proved to be a taxing task also in regard to user satisfaction; some companies don’t boast any online client reviews, while others have a big mix of opinions. In fact, the best-rated company, being 23andMe (which is also our top choice) has only user satisfaction of 80% (4/5 stars) while others have less than that. To really learn the ins and the outs of each company we delved into great depth and read the client reviews. Each of our editorial reviews contains a detailed summary of the array of feedback that made us choose whether to include or not include the company in our list of the best DNA home test kits for 2021.