Company Overview

When it comes to tracing ancestral roots, every family has a story to discover. MyHeritage DNA is a popular at-home test kit that can potentially uncover your ethnic background and find relatives you never knew you had. 

MyHeritage DNA markets itself as the #1 test in Europe and the best service for connecting with international relatives. But how accurate is it in building one’s family line? Well, that’s the basis for this review of the MyHeritage DNA test. We’ll tell you what MyHeritage DNA does, what it won’t do, and whether it’s worth it.

MyHeritage DNA Overview

MyHeritage is a self-administered DNA test founded in 2003 by Gilad Japhet- an Israeli genealogist and entrepreneur. It’s based in Or Yehuda, Israel, but has a global presence with additional offices in Tel Aviv, Kyiv, Lehi (Utah), and Burbank (California). 

Today, this genealogy company boasts one of the largest and most global DNA databases in the world, with 7.4 million people. Since its first genetic DNA test in 2016, MyHeritage offers ethnicity results from across 2114 geographic regions.

About the Test

How MyHeritage At-Home DNA Testing Works

Ordering Your Kit

Your personal discovery journey with MyHeritage starts with ordering a kit from their website. There’s a quick sign-up process involved where you indicate your gender and provide your date of birth, email address, and password. 

A single MyHeritage DNA kit costs $89 plus a $9 shipping fee. At the time of this review, MyHeritage offers free shipping if you buy two or more kits. When you purchase a MyHeritage DNA kit, you can try the Complete Plan genealogy subscription free for 30 days, which provides access to almost 20 billion historical records, millions of family tree profiles, AI features for colorizing, enhancing, and restoring family photos, and more.

We recommend opting for the complete plan if you’re serious about tracking your genealogy and tracing your roots. As mentioned, it’s free for the first month, and you can cancel it anytime, anyway.

Laboratory and Unique Aspects

Collecting and Mailing the Sample

MyHeritage DNA kit takes 4-7 days to ship in the US and up to 12 days for international orders. After receiving your kit, you’ll want to activate it by linking it to the account you used when ordering. You do this by entering the activation code (kit number) on the kit package in the box. Activating the MyHeritage DNA kit is necessary as it helps the lab to match the kit to your account. 

When it comes to DNA collection, MyHeritage uses a quick cheek swab, which is much easier and quicker than spitting in a tube. After collecting your DNA, place the swabs (you’ll get a swab for each cheek) in a vial of liquid. Follow the instructions included in the package. 

The next step is to mail your sample to MyHeritage lab. You’ll find a pre-addressed envelope in the package, but you’re the one to cover the postage costs to the laboratory.

The Test Kit and Process

Results

MyHeritage DNA test results are provided within 3-4 weeks from when the sample arrives at the lab. You'll get an email notification alerting you to check your results online.

The results will be a breakdown of where your ancestors came from and the geographical regions where your recent ancestors were born.

MyHeritage also offers DNA Matches. This means you get a comprehensive list of other people who have done the test and share a significant percentage of the same DNA as you. 

You can then use these results to plot an online family tree to further help you understand your family's past. It gets better. In case you were adopted or don't know much about your relatives, MyHeritage DNA Matches allow you to contact the other person and try to figure out how both of you are related. 

The $89 fee plus shipping does not include health insights. However, this information can be added to your account for an extra $120. New users pay 50% less, though. 

Privacy Policies

Privacy and security are fundamental principles at the core of MyHeritage's operations, reflecting their strong commitment to protecting customer information. Recognizing the sensitive nature of DNA data, MyHeritage employs stringent measures to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of their customers' genetic information. A key aspect of their privacy policy is the encryption of DNA data. This means that when a customer's DNA information is stored on MyHeritage's servers, it is encoded in a way that makes it unreadable to anyone who does not have authorized access. This encryption acts as a robust barrier against unauthorized access, safeguarding the genetic data from potential breaches.

Furthermore, MyHeritage assures its users that their DNA data is stored securely, adhering to high standards of data protection. This secure storage is designed to prevent any unauthorized access or misuse of the sensitive genetic information entrusted to them by their customers.

Another crucial element of MyHeritage's approach to privacy is its stance on the handling of customer data with respect to third parties. The company makes it clear that they do not sell customer DNA data to third parties, maintaining a strict boundary between their services and any external commercial interests. This policy is pivotal in building and maintaining trust with their users, assuring them that their genetic information is used solely for the purposes they consented to.

In addition to these protective measures, MyHeritage provides its users with a significant level of control over their own genetic data. Users have the option to delete their DNA data permanently from MyHeritage's servers. This feature empowers individuals to make decisions about their personal data, ensuring that they have the final say in how their information is used and stored. The combination of encryption, secure storage, a no-sale policy, and user control over data deletion reflects MyHeritage's comprehensive approach to privacy, underscoring their commitment to respecting and safeguarding user data.