Pricing and Features

As previously mentioned, AncestryDNA offers one kind of testing kit which has a price tag of $99. You do get a lot of information from this test though, like the mix of your ethnicity which is traced back from multiple generations of your family. From each ethnic group, you will be able to see the regional percentage of your DNA, which can help you connect with distant relatives. Ethnic Groups for your results can show American, European, African, West Asian, Asian, and Pacific Islander origins, with several regions under each group (26 regions all in all).

Making Connections

AncestryDNA houses over 2 million users who have taken the test and have access to their family history resource, possibly the largest collection online that you can find. This means you have a higher chance of finding connections with matching DNA, revealing relatives and ancestors that you may have never known before.

Using autosomal DNA testing, which considers the 22 pairs of chromosomes in the DNA, they are able to trace back your roots from both paternal and maternal lines, and without any restriction on the gender of the person taking the test. This is quite different from other testing services that can only serve one gender at a time with a specific parental line. AncestryDNA lets you learn both sides from just one test.

The Process

The procedure is simple: upon receiving the package, you will find a saliva collection tube that you have to fill to ensure that they will have enough specimen to conduct the test. If you are unsure of the steps to take, you can find instructions within the package to guide you in completing the procedure. They have also included a pre-paid return mailer, meaning there is no need to spend additional costs to shipping your specimen back to their facility.

Once you have sent back the kit, don’t forget to activate your online DNA kit via their website so that processing of results can begin. You will be notified via email when your results are ready, with a link that will lead you to your AncestryDNA account. It usually takes 6 to 8 weeks from the time that they have received the specimen to process and post the results, which is a bit longer than the usual processing time of other DNA testing services. They do have a large database to match and compare your DNA with, so it will all be worth the wait.

Ethnicity Map

On your results page, you will see an ethnicity map with a corresponding pie chart detailing the ethnic and regional percentage of your DNA. You can read a brief history and details about each region for more information on how your ancestors possibly lived during their time. They also offer a family tree builder where you can add information about your family which you can link to your results to find potential ancestors from their database.

You may want to take note that to be able to access their records, you will have to subscribe to their membership plans. You can check their website for more information of their rates, but they do have a 14-day free trial to let you have a peek of what’s in store.

Keeping Privacy a Priority

Your data is kept protected within AncestryDNA’s properties by industry standard protocols that uses passwords and pass cards before gaining access to their data centers. Specimens are identified via barcode, without any upfront details on your personal information. Meanwhile, their website is equipped with the necessary encryption to ensure that results and other sensitive information are accessed only by users with proper credentials. If you wish to have your data erased from their system, you can do so anytime – just let them know about your request and they will be happy to carry it out. You can even have them destroy your DNA specimen if you feel more secured doing so.

Customer Service

AncestryDNA’s FAQ section is sufficient enough to answer any lingering queries for a first-timer, so it is highly suggested to give it a visit before ordering a kit. They also have a support center with topics such as member trees, search and records, family tree maker, DNA, accounts and billing, and many more. If you want to contact their support team directly, you can call their hotline which is open everyday from 9 AM to 11 PM ET. You can also follow them on social via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Youtube.

What's the Verdict on AncestryDNA?

A Must Try

AncestryDNA Review 2020 – Conclusion

With a single test for customers, AncestryDNA may not have the most detailed results to offer, but they do excel with what they have. Aside from your ethnic background, you will be able to see the percentage of each region that lies in your DNA. They also use the latest micro-array autosomal testing to ensure the accuracy of the results, not to mention full control over your data and specimen with the option to have them deleted and destroyed upon your request. Results may take a little longer than other services though, but once you get them, you can have a better picture of your family tree.