These deals have ended. You can find current pricing information by following the links below.
April 25th marks National DNA Day, which celebrates the discovery of the double helix in 1953 and the completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003. The National Human Genome Research Institute explains that “The goal of National DNA Day is to offer students, teachers and the public an opportunity to learn about and celebrate the latest advances in genomic research and explore how those advances might impact their lives.”
For family history researchers, genomics is impacting lives by providing opportunities to understand our ancestors in ways we never could have imagined 20 years ago. And right now some of the best testing companies are providing steep discounts on their kits to mark the day. Read on to find out where to get the best deal for yourself or a family member you’ve been hoping to test.
Please know that we work with all of the following companies to bring you updates, help and special offers about their tests and will receive a commission if you buy a test through links on our site. This helps us support our work but does not influence our opinions. Prices below are in US dollars and the deals reflect those for US residents. Similar deals may be available for those in other countries so check out the sites for yourself.
The deals on this page have now ended but you can find current offers by visiting the links below.
Sales on DNA Test Kits for DNA Day 2018
Important Notice: All prices shown below are for U.S. customers and are effective only until April 25th, 2018 or shortly after. After that time these deals are no longer valid. However, you can still find the most current deal on kits from each of these companies by following the links below since you will be brought to the main DNA sales page for each company.
Family Tree DNA – $49
Family Tree DNA is offering the lowest price for DNA Day at just $49. Their normal price is $79 so this is a nice savings. FTDNA is the oldest DNA testing company and well trusted. They offer a detailed ethnicity report, the most robust DNA analysis tools available for researchers and an engaged database of users who are interested in genealogy. They are also providing discounts on mtDNA and Y-DNA tests as part of this sale.
AncestryDNA – $59
Ancestry is offering their DNA tests for $59 for DNA Day – this is the lowest price they have offered this year and is a really good deal overall. With the largest database of people to match your DNA to, as well as a user-friendly ethnicity report and tools for integrating DNA and genealogy research, Ancestry is an especially good choice for those already using their research site.
MyHeritage DNA – $69
MyHeritage is currently offering their DNA tests for $69. MyHeritage is one of our favorite options for combining DNA and family history research due to their genealogy-focused platform. They also recently added a chromosome browser, an important tool for researchers and something Ancestry does not offer. You can read about that here.
23andMe – $69
Second only to Ancestry in the size of their database, 23andMe offers a popular test. They have also made some recent improvements to the number of regions you are tested against as part of your ethnicity report. Despite this, matches may not be as engaged in exchanging genealogical information due to the large number of people who test for health (a product they also offer) and they do not offer a platform that allows for easy integration with your genealogy research. Still, if you’re planning to test with all of the well-known companies, 23andMe should be on the list.
If you need help choosing the best DNA test for you please read our detailed guide which explains the differences between each option. And if you’re trying to make sense of your current results you might want to take a look at Why You May Be Reading Your DNA Results All Wrong.
What if I have already tested? Should I purchase a kit with more than one company?
We do recommend testing with as many companies as you can afford because they each provide unique results and tools (and more information means a greater chance of piecing together your genetic past). We also recommend testing as many family members as are willing because doing so will have a huge impact on your research.
But please remember that you can upload your DNA for free to both MyHeritage and FTDNA after you have already tested with another source. Family Tree DNA does charge $19 for their reports, but their cousin matches are provided at no cost. MyHeritage offers both for free here.
Find out more about uploading to MyHeritage for free.
Find out how to upload to FTDNA here.
You may also like to read about how to use GEDmatch for free reports and cousin matching.