Best ancestry DNA tests: Top kits for exploring your family history

We’re showing our shallow side here, but 23andMe is the best-looking DNA kit in the bunch – both the box it arrives in and the contained paperwork feel very contemporary and slick, and it would make an excellent present. On the test front, the results are impressively in-depth, and equally clean and enjoyable to read through – we were told we have more Neanderthal DNA than 64 per cent of other customers, which apparently means we’re less likely to be afraid of heights, but also have a worse sense of direction, for instance – and your whole report is similarly littered with fun, fascinating insights.

But where 23andMe really shines is on the health analysis front. From the kits we sampled, it would be fair to say that it’s unrivalled in this arena and offers a really impressive amount of detail. It also guides you through responsible tutorials and asks your permission before sharing risks for any conditions, so you can avoid any sensitive information that you might end up finding upsetting, which we really appreciated.

With insights on everything from your predisposition towards diabetes to Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s, as well as wellness-related results on how much you’re likely to weigh or how well you sleep, it’s staggeringly comprehensive. It can even show how your genetics predict if you’re likely to have freckles, or whether your earlobes are attached.

Read the full 23andMe DNA test review

While this is the cheapest DNA test we tried, it’s worth noting that the cost of shipping isn’t included, although you’ll only need a first-class stamp to send it on its way, which isn’t too much of a hardship. As with Ancestry, MyHeritage doesn’t offer a health analysis, instead focusing its outcomes solely around your ancestry – however, the way it presents your results is one of the most unique. Open your email and you’ll be greeted by a spinning 3D globe with highlighted regions showcasing your family history. It’s set to lively backing music and really does feel like a big, exciting reveal.

Once you’ve taken in the show, you can explore the information about each area and there are some useful details about how your ancestors would have lived and migrated, as well as the chance to review your DNA matches, although it provided us with less of these than other sites. You can build a family tree with MyHeritage too, supported by census and voter lists and various other public records. If you’re looking for a basic DNA package that you can build on in your own time, this is one to consider.

Possibly the most well-known DNA testing service in the UK, Ancestry offers one autosomal test. It claims to have the largest consumer base, with more than 20 million participants, giving it the potential for very rich data; it connected our DNA to five world regions, which are presented on a map that allows you to click to learn more about various populations you’re linked to. You also get links to genetic communities and DNA matches, and Ancestry even shows you where they live if they’ve shared their location.

It doesn’t get unnecessarily complex or bogged down with jargon – we found the information breakdown clearly presented and easy to digest – and in our opinion, Ancestry is the best destination if you’re keen to build your family tree as well as analyse your DNA history. However, it’s worth noting that the free version of this service is fairly limited, and you’ll need to pay an additional monthly subscription charge (costing anywhere from £13.99 to £29.99, depending on the package you choose) to link up the records it finds and really get your tree growing interesting branches.