The answer to this question depends on what you plan to use the DNA test information for. The answer also changes somewhat over time depending on what services each DNA company provides, the features of each company’s website, and which new companies may come onto the DNA scene.

As of 2024, if you are searching for biological family, Ancestry DNA is still the best place to start. They have the largest pool of testers, have a very user friendly website, have trees of DNA matches available, and you can build trees with sources on their website if you have a subscription. Note: You will not have access to all DNA match features without a subscription. As of right now, you can upload your Ancestry DNA for free to My Heritage ($29 unlock fee is required), FTDNA, Gedmatch, and Living DNA for additional matches. However, because Ancestry has not yet updated to the newest DNA chip, this compatibility between companies may be problematic and might drop away at some point.

If you are wishing to do deep work on your ancestral lines, start with an Ancestry test, but also take a test with FTDNA. They have DNA surname studies you can join for this kind of work. They also provide Y-DNA and Mt-DNA tests while other companies do not.

If you are searching for biological family, ultimately it is best that you test at all of the major companies (or upload there for free): Ancestry, FTDNA, My Heritage, and 23andMe because you never know which company will have the one relative who will get you closer to the answer you need. In many cases, you will get an immediate answer in the form of a very close relative or a birth parent at one of the companies.

Note: Avoid DNA tests from companies who promise health information or health optimization based on your DNA (unless recommend by your medical practioner). Most of these companies’ offerings are worth no more than entertainment value. 23andMe’s Health test can only tell you if you carry a genetic marker for possible diseases or traits. They do not indicate if you actually have any diseases or traits. 

Many people wonder if DNA companies will share your DNA with 3rd parties. Some do. Please check the terms of service for each company before testing to see who they might share your DNA with.

Ancestry allows you to opt out of 3rd party sharing.

FTDNA has this statement in their privacy policy: “We will never share your Genetic Information with pharmaceutical or insurance companies, employers, or third-party marketers without your express consent.”

23andMe has this statement in their privacy policy: “We do not share individual-level genetic data or survey responses with third parties without asking for and receiving your explicit permission to do so, except as required by law.”

MyHeritage has this statement in their privacy policy: “We will never sell or license DNA samples, DNA results, DNA reports or any other DNA information, to any third parties without your explicit informed consent, and we will never sell or license such information to insurance companies under any circumstance.”

Please read the company’s privacy policy and terms of service before ordering a test kit.

Again, it depends on the company. But you need to understand this first: law enforcement NEVER has access to your actual DNA without a warrant or subpoena. And honestly, if they wanted your actual DNA they could get a warrant to get it from you yourself. The companies who allow LE access only allow the viewing of DNA matches. LE uses the same exact process to determine the identity of a suspect as those of us who find biological family through the use of DNA matches. And LE doesn’t want access to your actual DNA in these cases because 1) it won’t help them at all and 2) strolling through raw DNA won’t hold up in court.

Law Enforcement begins every DNA search with the suspect’s DNA already in their hands. The suspect left the DNA behind on the scene of a crime, but LE wasn’t able to identify who the DNA belonged to. They take that DNA and upload it into a DNA company system and see what DNA matches pop up. Will they accidentally identify a family member as the suspect this way? No, it’s impossible. Again, they have the actual DNA in hand and when they identify the suspect, they will collect a DNA sample from that person and compare it to the DNA they already have. It has to be a 100% match. Otherwise, again, it won’t hold up in court.

Back to which companies allow Law Enforcement to use their databases to look for DNA matches to their suspects. As of right now, there are only two. FTDNA allows it. Gedmatch also allows it, but they recently changed their policy so you must opt-in for your DNA to show up in the database Law Enforcement sees. However, all companies must relinquish your DNA information if they are served with a warrant or subpoena. Understand that this is very rare and would only happen in extreme cases. To opt in at Gedmatch, click on the Law Enforcement icon next to your Gedmatch Kit number once you are logged in.

There is no special DNA test for African Americans. And because very few Americans are 100% of any ethnicity, you won’t want a separate DNA test that only tests for African ancestry. You need a DNA test that compares you against the general world population. 

As mentioned above, If you’re working on genealogy, Ancestry is the best test for most people because of their larger pool of testers and DNA matches who have great trees. 

In an ideal world, I would recommend you test at Ancestry first and upload that DNA to My Heritage, FTDNA, and Gedmatch for free. Then pay for a second DNA test at 23andMe to pick up more matches. 

If you are looking for your deep paternal ancestry, take a Y-DNA test at FTDNA. If you are looking for deep maternal ancestry, take a MtDNA test at FTDNA. These tests are more costly and you may need help from an expert to interpret them. 

Avoid any tests that promise you special testing for African roots. These smaller companies don’t have the kind of quality technology that will give you the most accurate results. See this article about the African Ancestry test and why you shouldn’t test there if you’re doing genealogy. 

And with all DNA tests, please remember ethnicity estimates are called estimates for a reason (see more about this topic below).

DNA companies call them ethnicity estimates for a reason. They are an estimate of the percent of DNA you have from that country/region and they are an estimate of the exact country your DNA originates from based on comparison between your DNA and the DNA of their reference panel.

You first need to keep in mind people have migrated over time. It’s possible your ancestors lived in both modern day Nigeria and Mali. It’s hard to separate exact locations out in the DNA. However, as technology continues to advance, we should see improvements in accuracy.

To learn more about ethnicity estimates, check out this page by genetic genealogist Diahan Southard where she covers many questions about this topic.