Have you got DNA tested from Ancestry, 23andMe, or MyHeritage? Import your results and unlock deeper insights
February 18, 2025
A 23andMe review curated by experts. Everything you need to know about the 23andMe costs, reports, quality, and value of 23andMe genetic DNA
Curious about your heritage, distant relatives, and what your DNA might say about your health?
23andMe is a well-known direct-to-consumer genetic testing service that blends ancestry insights with robust health and wellness reports. In this in-depth review—optimized for anyone seeking a “23andMe review”—we’ll guide you through the core of what 23andMe provides, lay out a clear feature and pricing table, show how it stacks up in the “Landscape of DNA Tests 2025” survey, and share real user feedback on why customers recommend this particular service.
23andMe is a pioneering consumer genetics company that aims to make personal genetic information more accessible and understandable. With a simple home-based saliva kit, you can learn about your:
Discover where in the world your DNA comes from, potentially going back many generations. 23andMe uses data from more than 3,500 geographic areas. It also includes extra details like haplogroups, Neanderthal DNA, and trait reports. These reports cover things like taste preferences and hair type.
23andMe offers reports based on science about genetic risks for some health conditions. These include Type 2 Diabetes and certain hereditary cancers, like BRCA variants. These reports are not a diagnosis. However, they give you knowledge to talk about concerns or screenings with your doctor.
If you are planning a family or just curious, 23andMe’s Carrier Status feature checks for over 45 conditions. These conditions can be passed on to future generations. Some examples include Sickle Cell Anemia, Tay-Sachs Disease, and Cystic Fibrosis.
Discover how genetic variants can affect wellness factors. These include alcohol flush reactions, lactose intolerance, weight predispositions, and muscle composition. This knowledge can help you understand how your genes influence your daily life.
If you enjoy finding new relatives, 23andMe’s DNA Relative Finder can help. It lets you compare your DNA with others in the database.
You can see how much DNA you share. You can also send private messages if both people agree. Plus, you can add these findings to your Family Tree.
One standout aspect is 23andMe’s commitment to scientific rigor. A lab that is CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited processes the sample. Many of the health reports have FDA approval. This emphasis on accuracy and reliability underpins 23andMe’s reputation as not just an ancestry service, but also a serious health insights platform.
Whether you want a basic snapshot of your ancestry or a deep dive into exome sequencing and advanced health metrics, 23andMe has multiple service tiers. Below is a concise breakdown:
When you order any plan, you’ll receive a saliva collection kit. Spit into the tube, register the kit online, and ship it back.
In about 3 to 4 weeks, you will get access to an online portal. There, you can see all your results. This includes ancestry percentages, health reports, carrier status, and more, based on your chosen service.
Our internal survey, “Landscape of DNA Tests 2025,” gathered responses from 1,123 participants about their experiences with three main DNA testing services: AncestryDNA, 23andMe, and MyHeritage. It looks at user satisfaction, recommendation rates, and the strengths of each service.
Each service received a 62% satisfaction rating. Participants rated them for different uses like genealogy, ethnicity, health, and connecting with relatives. Though it was a tie for satisfaction, how users recommend each service varies significantly.
When asked “Which test would you recommend?” among those who actually used each service, we saw:
While 23andMe wasn’t at the top in raw recommendation rates, more than half of 23andMe users still actively endorse it. According to the breakdown, 23andMe stands out particularly for health-related insights—a crucial differentiator.
The survey also dug into more detailed use cases:
Analysis: 23andMe offers robust ancestral data (like haplogroups, regional percentages, and historical matches in Premium). Although AncestryDNA slightly leads in genealogical satisfaction, 23andMe remains a solid second choice for those primarily interested in building their family story.
Analysis: All these services give you an ethnicity or ancestral regional breakdown. 23andMe is well-regarded for providing a more granular estimate down to 0.1%, though AncestryDNA still barely edges it out in the raw data.
Analysis: The top three DNA companies are all within a close range here. 23andMe’s DNA Relative Finder can be particularly meaningful if you hope to meet new cousins or adoptive family members. The large user base is a plus, though it is not as large as Ancestry’s.
Analysis: Interestingly, the difference here is tiny in these raw satisfaction numbers. But in other sections of the survey, 23andMe was highlighted more often for health-specific and trait-based features. This indicates that 23andMe is widely perceived as the strongest for deep health insights, even if the reported numeric satisfaction difference is not enormous.
So, while the internal survey highlights AncestryDNA as the top recommendation overall (especially for genealogical tasks), 23andMe still emerges as a fantastic choice—especially for those who care about health data alongside ancestry. If that balance fits your goals, 23andMe is the test you might gravitate towards.
Despite not leading the overall recommendation charts, 23andMe garners a passionate user base. According to our text-mining analysis of comments from individuals specifically praising 23andMe, five major themes rose to the surface:
Because many people mention more than one positive aspect, the total percentages surpass 100% when combined. However, the analysis clarifies that 23andMe’s top strengths revolve around depth of data and health features, with ancestry and user experience also shining in the eyes of many respondents.
23andMe stands out for:
Making the choice between different DNA testing services depends largely on your goals:
If your primary focus is genealogical research—digging through centuries of documents, hooking into vast historical archives, or linking with a massive user base—then competitor platforms like AncestryDNA may hold a slight edge.
If you are curious about health insights, 23andMe is a great choice. You can learn about your risk for certain conditions. You can also explore your ancestry and family history. They provide strong medical reports that combine all this information.
The “Landscape of DNA Tests 2025” results confirm that 23andMe is the top pick for health insights and still performs strongly for ancestry, with over half of surveyed users recommending the test overall. Meanwhile, direct user reviews highlight the ease of use, the detailed breakdown of regions and haplogroups, and the appreciated updates and expansions.
With multiple tiers—from the basic Ancestry Service up to 23andMe+ Total Health—you have flexibility in how deeply you want to explore your genetic blueprint. Whether you’re primarily an ancestry buff or deeply curious about potential health predispositions, 23andMe’s user-friendly platform, strong scientific credentials, and evolving feature set make it a compelling choice.
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