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Affiliate Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you purchase through our links, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we believe are genuinely useful for genealogy research. Full disclosure →
DNA testing is the most powerful genealogy tool developed in the last two decades. It can confirm family connections, break through brick walls that no paper record can, and reveal ancestry you had no idea existed. For millions of researchers, a single DNA test changed everything they thought they knew about their family.
But it can also be confusing, especially at the beginning. There are multiple tests, multiple companies, multiple DNA types — and the results mean nothing unless you know what to do with them.
This guide cuts through the noise. It explains what DNA testing actually does for genealogy, which test to take, and why LivingDNA is the top recommendation for beginners who want the most complete picture from a single test.
Records First, DNA Second
Before we get to the comparison tables: DNA testing is a complement to paper records, not a replacement. If you haven't yet built out a few generations of your tree using census records, vital records, and family documents, DNA results will give you matches you can't interpret.
The reason is simple: DNA matches only make sense when you have a tree to compare them to. If a DNA cousin shows up and you don't know who your great-grandparents were, you have no way to figure out how you're related. Researchers who test before they've done the records work often end up with hundreds of matches and no idea what to do with any of them.
Build your tree first — at least 3-4 generations — then test. That's the order that gets results.
Our free lessons walk you through building your tree from scratch, starting with Lesson 1: The Big Five Standards.
The Three Types of DNA Tests
Not all DNA tests are the same. There are three distinct types, each measuring different parts of your genome and answering different research questions:
Autosomal DNA (atDNA)
Tests DNA inherited from all your ancestors across all lines, typically going back 5-7 generations. This is the most common test type — it powers the cousin-matching databases at AncestryDNA, 23andMe, MyHeritage, and others. Most people start here because it reveals the broadest picture of your ancestry and finds the most matches.
Y-DNA
Traces your direct paternal line — your father's father's father's father — going back thousands of years. Because Y-DNA is passed almost unchanged from father to son, it's the gold standard for confirming a surname connection or tracing a specific patrilineal line back through history. Only men can take this test (women inherit no Y chromosome), though women can test a male relative on that line.
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)
Traces your direct maternal line — your mother's mother's mother's mother — with similar deep ancestry reach. Both men and women have mitochondrial DNA, but it only travels through mothers. It's the best tool for tracing a specific matrilineal line over long time periods.
DNA Testing Companies: Ranked for Genealogy Beginners
Five companies dominate the genealogy DNA market. Here's how they stack up:
| Service | DNA Types | Autosomal Database | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LivingDNA ⭐ | Autosomal + Y-DNA + mtDNA | Growing; strong global coverage | Most complete single test; global ancestry; all 3 DNA types included | ~$99 |
| AncestryDNA | Autosomal only | 25M+ (largest in the world) | Cousin-matching; US-focused research; record integration | ~$99 |
| 23andMe | Autosomal + mtDNA | 14M+ | Health reports + ancestry; consumer-friendly results | $99–$229 |
| FamilyTreeDNA | Autosomal, Y-DNA, mtDNA (sold separately) | 3M+ (genealogy-focused) | Deep surname research (Y-DNA); dedicated maternal line tracing (mtDNA) | $79–$119+ |
| MyHeritage DNA | Autosomal only | 7M+ | European and international ancestry; budget option | ~$33–79 |
Why LivingDNA Is the Top Pick for Beginners
LivingDNA is the only major DNA testing company that includes all three DNA types — autosomal, Y-DNA, and mitochondrial — in a single test at a comparable price to the autosomal-only options. That makes it the most complete picture you can get from one kit.
Three things make it the standout recommendation for genealogy beginners:
1. Global Regional Coverage
LivingDNA breaks ancestry down into 80+ world regions — far more granular than AncestryDNA's US-skewed groupings. If your family came from anywhere outside the United States, LivingDNA will typically give you more specific ethnicity results. British researchers get especially detailed regional breakdowns, but the global coverage is strong across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia.
2. All Three DNA Types in One Test
AncestryDNA, 23andMe (standard), and MyHeritage all offer autosomal only. To get Y-DNA or mtDNA from FamilyTreeDNA, you have to purchase them as separate tests at additional cost. LivingDNA includes all three in one kit — which means you get your full paternal line, full maternal line, and cousin-matching network from a single swab.
3. Family Networks Feature
LivingDNA's Family Networks tool identifies DNA matches and groups them by which branch of your family they likely connect to. For beginners trying to untangle which match belongs to which grandparent line, this is a meaningful head start.
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When AncestryDNA Is the Better Choice
LivingDNA is the top recommendation for most beginners — but AncestryDNA is the right choice in one specific situation: when cousin-matching is your primary goal and most of your ancestry is American.
AncestryDNA's database is by far the largest in the world, at 25 million+ people. More matches means more opportunities to find the documented trees of cousins who've already done the work you're trying to do. If you're researching US ancestry and you primarily want to find matches who can help identify unknown branches, AncestryDNA gives you the best odds.
Many serious genealogists eventually test at multiple companies to maximize matches and coverage. If budget allows, testing at both LivingDNA and AncestryDNA covers both bases: complete DNA typing plus the largest cousin network.
When FamilyTreeDNA Is Worth It
FamilyTreeDNA is the specialist option for advanced Y-DNA and mtDNA research. Their Y-chromosome testing goes far deeper than LivingDNA's — they offer Y-37, Y-67, Y-111, and Big Y-700 tests that trace paternal lines with precision going back thousands of years and can place your haplogroup precisely on the human family tree.
For most beginners, this level of detail isn't necessary at the start. But if you're specifically trying to confirm a surname connection, break through a brick wall on one direct paternal line, or trace your deep ancestry, FamilyTreeDNA's Y-DNA tests are unmatched.
What to Do with Your Results
Once your DNA results arrive, the work begins — and it's more involved than most beginners expect. The raw ethnicity percentages are interesting but rarely actionable. The real value is in your match list: the living people who share measurable segments of DNA with you, which means you share a common ancestor.
Working DNA matches back to a shared ancestor requires your paper tree, patience, and a systematic approach to clustering and comparing trees. It's a skill — one that takes time to develop. The most important thing: don't try to interpret your matches before you've built a solid foundation in your paper tree.
Our paid course covers DNA interpretation in depth in the Advanced unit — specifically how to read match lists, how to use chromosome browsers, and how to work backward from a DNA match to a confirmed shared ancestor. The skills that make DNA useful are the same ones that make paper research effective: source-first, one generation at a time.
The Bottom Line
Start with LivingDNA if you want the most complete picture from a single test — all three DNA types, 80+ regional breakdowns, and growing cousin-matching networks. Start with AncestryDNA if cousin-matching within the largest database is your primary goal and most of your ancestry is American. Both are around $99.
Either way: build your paper tree first. DNA results get exponentially more useful the more documented ancestors you have to compare them against.
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