DNAtestThe Best DNA Test in 2026: Our Pick for Every Goal
There's no single best DNA test, only the best test for what you want to find out. Below are our picks for each goal, based on database size, report quality, privacy and price. We don't take payment for rankings.
Our picks at a glance
- Best overall and best for finding relatives: AncestryDNA
- Best for health reports: 23andMe Health + Ancestry
- Best for European and international roots: MyHeritage DNA
- Best for surname and direct-line research: FamilyTreeDNA
- Best for British and Irish ancestry: Living DNA
- Most complete data: whole-genome sequencing
Best overall: AncestryDNA
Why we pick it: AncestryDNA has the largest DNA database of any company, so it finds the most relatives, from siblings you didn't know about to fourth cousins. It also connects to Ancestry's huge collection of historical records and family trees, which makes it the strongest choice for family history.
Watch out for: the records and full family tree features need an Ancestry subscription on top of the kit. It also doesn't accept DNA uploads from other companies.
Typical price: about $99, often on sale.
Check AncestryDNA price on Amazon
Best for health: 23andMe Health + Ancestry
Why we pick it: 23andMe is the main consumer test with FDA-authorized reports on certain genetic health risks and carrier status, plus a detailed ancestry breakdown and your maternal and paternal haplogroups.
Watch out for: 23andMe went through bankruptcy in 2025 and was sold to a new owner, customer data included. Read its current privacy policy before you buy. Its health reports also cover a limited set of variants, so they don't replace medical testing.
Typical price: about $199 for Health + Ancestry, or about $119 for ancestry only.
Check 23andMe Health + Ancestry price on Amazon
Best for European and international roots: MyHeritage DNA
Why we pick it: MyHeritage's database is especially strong outside the US, so it's a great fit if your family came from continental Europe or elsewhere overseas. It's also often the cheapest of the big tests during its frequent sales, and it accepts raw DNA uploads from other companies.
Watch out for: many of its research tools need a paid subscription, and upsells are frequent.
Typical price: about $89, often deeply discounted.
Check MyHeritage DNA price on Amazon
Best for surname and direct-line research: FamilyTreeDNA
Why we pick it: FamilyTreeDNA is the only mainstream company offering deep Y-DNA and mitochondrial DNA tests. These trace your direct paternal line (your surname line, for many people) and your direct maternal line in far more detail than any standard kit. Surname projects and serious genealogists rely on it.
Watch out for: its main autosomal database for finding cousins is smaller than the big three, and its site is less polished.
Typical price: about $79 for Family Finder. Y-DNA tests start around $119, and the full mtDNA test is about $159.
Best for British and Irish ancestry: Living DNA
Why we pick it: Living DNA breaks British and Irish ancestry down into far more regions than other tests do. If your family is from the UK or Ireland, it can place your roots much more precisely.
Watch out for: it has a small database, so it isn't the right choice for finding relatives.
Typical price: about $95.
Most complete data: whole-genome sequencing
Why we pick it: standard tests read about 700,000 positions in your DNA. Whole-genome sequencing reads essentially all of it. Our pick is Sequencing.com. It sequences your genome at 30x (each spot in your DNA is read about 30 times, for accuracy) in a US lab with CLIA and CAP certification, the standard quality checks for medical labs. You can download all your data files and explore them as the science improves.
Watch out for: it costs more, and standard results take about 10 to 12 weeks after the lab gets your sample. Many add-on reports cost extra, and there's no database for finding relatives.
Typical price: about $399 (list price $539). Faster-results options cost more.
See all six side by side, with filters, on our DNA test comparison chart.
How to choose in 30 seconds
- You want to find family: AncestryDNA. For more matches, add MyHeritage later by uploading your raw data.
- You want health information: 23andMe Health + Ancestry.
- Your family is mostly from Europe or overseas: MyHeritage DNA.
- You're researching one surname or line: FamilyTreeDNA Y-DNA or mtDNA.
- You care most about privacy: any of them, as long as you read the privacy policy, opt out of research you don't want, and download your raw data so you can delete your account later if you choose.
Still torn? Our 30-second quiz recommends a test based on your answers.
Already tested? Get more out of your results with our free analyzer. Your file never leaves your device.
Try the free analyzerFrequently asked questions
Which DNA test is the most accurate?
All the major companies read your DNA very accurately. Ethnicity estimates differ between companies because each uses different reference populations and methods, not because one misreads your sample.
Which DNA test has the biggest database?
AncestryDNA, followed by 23andMe and MyHeritage. A bigger database means more relative matches.
Is it worth taking more than one test?
Usually not at first. Test with one company, then upload your raw data to others that accept transfers, like MyHeritage and FamilyTreeDNA. That reaches more relatives for little or no cost.
When are DNA tests cheapest?
Prices drop most around Black Friday, Mother's Day and Father's Day, often by a lot. If you're not in a hurry, it's worth waiting for a sale.
DNAtest360 earns a commission if you buy through links on this page. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices are typical list prices and change often. Check the retailer for the current price.