23andMe vs CRI Genetics vs FamilyTreeDNA – Which Is Best?

Updated on 26 Sep 2024

OneBrowsing

 4.5

(Reviews: 15K)

Est. users: 12M

Price Ranges: $79 - $179

 4.3

Price Ranges: $99 - $199

 4.5

(Reviews: 800)

Est. users: 1.5M

Price Ranges: $79 - $119 - $159

23andMe vs CRI Genetics vs FamilyTreeDNA

23andMe, CRI Genetics, and FamilyTreeDNA are DNA testing services, but they have different focuses and offerings. 23andMe provides genetic health reports along with ancestry information, offering insights into genetic traits and health predispositions. CRI Genetics emphasizes ancestry tracing and genetic traits analysis, using a proprietary algorithm to estimate family lineages, while FamilyTreeDNA specializes in detailed genealogical testing, offering Y-DNA and mtDNA tests for deep paternal and maternal ancestry insights.

23andMe

  1. Focus on health and ancestry
  2. Automated ancestry composition updates
  3. FDA approved health reports
  4. User-friendly web and mobile interface
  5. Social sharing and family tree collaboration
  6. Broad global database

CRI Genetics

  1. Strong focus on ancestry
  2. Detailed timeline of ancestry
  3. Limited health reports
  4. Less prominent in global comparisons
  5. Interactive ancestry tracking stories

FamilyTreeDNA

  1. Focus on genealogical research
  2. Robust chromosome browser
  3. Family matching and matching tools
  4. Various DNA test types
  5. Large database for genetic matches

Key Differences

  1. Genetic Report Depth

    23andMe provides extensive genetic reports that include health predispositions, carrier status, wellness reports, and traits, besides ancestry information. CRI Genetics focuses more on ancestry and family history, while FamilyTreeDNA focuses heavily on ancestral roots and family trees.

    Winner: 23andMe

  2. Ancestry Accuracy

    FamilyTreeDNA offers detailed Y-DNA and mtDNA testing, providing a comprehensive view of paternal and maternal lineages, thus offering slightly more detailed ancestral insights than 23andMe and CRI Genetics, which mainly use autosomal DNA testing.

    Winner: FamilyTreeDNA

  3. Health Reports

    23andMe offers health-related reports which are FDA approved, providing insights into genetic health risks, unlike CRI Genetics and FamilyTreeDNA which primarily focus on ancestry-related data.

    Winner: 23andMe

  4. Ancestry Region Coverage

    CRI Genetics emphasizes storytelling and a unique accuracy guarantee related to its ancestral links, offering convincing insights on historical migration patterns possibly providing a broader sense of ancestry coverage by areas.

    Winner: CRI Genetics

  5. Price

    FamilyTreeDNA offers competitive pricing, especially for advanced tests like Y-DNA and mtDNA. 23andMe tends to be more expensive due to the added health analysis features.

    Winner: FamilyTreeDNA

  6. Privacy

    23andMe has well-documented privacy policies and allows customers to opt-in or opt-out of research, ensuring more transparent and controlled sharing of DNA data compared to CRI Genetics and FamilyTreeDNA.

    Winner: 23andMe

  7. Customer Support

    FamilyTreeDNA is known for offering robust customer support, providing easy access to genetic counselors for both technical support and ethical or privacy concerns.

    Winner: FamilyTreeDNA

Distinct Features

23andMeCRI GeneticsFamilyTreeDNA
Health Predisposition ReportsBiological Age DNA TestY-DNA testing for paternal lineage
Carrier Status ReportsWeight Loss DNA reportmtDNA testing for maternal lineage
Wellness ReportsPersonalized nutrition and fitness reportsFamily Finder matching relative search
Pharmacogenetics reportsDetailed ethnicity reports providing ancestral traces in percentage formAdvanced DNA matching and analysis tools for genealogists
Access to health and ancestry reports combined in one packageTimeline results showing migration paths and ancestral storiesIntegration with family tree building tools
Ancestry Timeline showing ancestry composition over generationsFree uploads of DNA data from other services for additional matches

Pricing Overview

23andMe

View Pricing Plans  

  1. Basic Plan ($79) - For beginners or those looking for introductory genetic information.
  2. Health + Ancestry Plan ($179) - For individuals interested in detailed health and ancestry insights.

Basic Plan

$79 / One-time

Ideal for individuals interested in basic ancestry and health insights.

  • Ancestry reports

  • Raw DNA data

  • Wellness reports

Health + Ancestry Plan

$179 / One-time

Suitable for those looking for comprehensive health and ancestry information.

  • Maps of ancestry composition

  • Carrier status reports

  • Access to genetic counseling resources

CRI Genetics

View Pricing Plans  

  1. Basic DNA Test ($99) - Suitable for individuals looking to explore their ancestral origins.
  2. Advanced DNA Test ($199) - Ideal for individuals interested in both ancestral and health-related genetic information.

Basic DNA Test

$99 / One-time

Entry-level DNA test for basic ancestry analysis.

  • Ancestry Analysis

  • Interactive Reports

Advanced DNA Test

$199 / One-time

Comprehensive DNA test offering both ancestry and health insights.

  • Ancestry Analysis

  • Health Insights

  • Interactive Reports

FamilyTreeDNA

View Pricing Plans  

  1. Family Finder ($79) - For individuals exploring their ancestry
  2. Y-DNA ($119) - Ideal for males researching their paternal lineage
  3. mtDNA ($159) - Suitable for individuals interested in maternal heritage

Family Finder

$79 / One-time payment

Basic family matching and ethnicity estimate

  • Autosomal DNA test

  • Find family connections

Y-DNA

$119 / One-time payment

Traces direct paternal ancestry

  • Paternal line testing

  • Surname projects

mtDNA

$159 / One-time payment

Examines direct maternal ancestry

  • Maternal line testing

  • Ancient ancestry

Indepth Overview

23andMeCRI GeneticsFamilyTreeDNA
Genetic Testing Services
Ancestry Composition ★4.5 - Provides detailed ethnicity estimates and ancestry reports. ★4.8 - Detailed ancestry reports with ancient human migration.★4.6 - Strong focus on paternal and maternal lineages.
Health Reports ★4.7 - Offers insights into genetic health risks and carrier status.
Genealogy Tools ★4.3 - Features tools for building family trees and connecting with relatives. ★4.0 - Basic tools available with limited family connections.★4.9 - Comprehensive tools for detailed genealogical research.
Raw Data Access ★4.2 - Allows users to download their raw genetic data for personal analysis. ★4.1 - Users can download their raw data but with limited instructions.★4.4 - Includes raw data download with extensive genetic matches.
Privacy Controls ★4.0 - Offers several privacy settings for data sharing. ★4.5 - Strong emphasis on user data privacy and security.★4.3 - Various options for data sharing and privacy settings.
User Experience ★4.8 - Intuitive interface with a seamless user journey. ★4.6 - User-friendly interface but fewer features.★4.2 - Complex interface but rich in features.
Mobile App ★4.6 - Accessible mobile application for on-the-go results.
Support and Community ★4.4 - Active community forums and customer support. ★4.2 - Good customer support with limited community interaction.★4.8 - Extensive support resources and community networking.
Frequency of Updates ★4.5 - Regular updates on health and ancestry information. ★4.1 - Periodic updates, less frequent compared to others.★4.5 - Consistent updates to genealogy databases.
Unusual Features ★3.9 - Unique features like DNA Family Traits estimates. ★4.7 - Offers a unique AI-driven family tree feature.★4.3 - Offers unique DNA matches for historical figures.
Comparison on Data Reliability
Scientific Research Basis ★4.6 - Collaborates with reputable scientific institutions. ★4.1 - Relies on a growing database but less established than others.★4.8 - Established methodology with significant research backing.
Sample Size Variability ★4.4 - Large database ensures reliable results. ★4.0 - Smaller sample size may affect accuracy.★4.5 - Extensive user base ensures data reliability.
Error Margin ★4.3 - Low margin of error in ancestry estimates. ★4.2 - Moderate error margin in some ancestry tests.★4.4 - Low error margin due to advanced testing methods.
User Feedback and Reviews
Customer Satisfaction ★4.7 - Highly rated for overall user experience. ★4.2 - Generally positive but less recognized.★4.9 - Very high satisfaction from genealogical enthusiasts.
Value for Money ★4.5 - Competitive pricing for extensive data. ★4.0 - Fair pricing with limited health options.★4.6 - Good value given the depth of features.
Repeat Users ★4.3 - High percentage of users return for additional tests. ★3.8 - Fewer repeat users compared to larger brands.★4.5 - Many users conduct multiple tests over time.

Comparision Reviews

Jordan Myers

Portland, OR

23andMe provides a more user-friendly interface and a wider array of health-related insights compared to CRI Genetics. However, CRI Genetics offers more detailed family tree exploration options, which might be valuable for those interested in genealogy.

23andMe 4.5

CRI Genetics 4

Alex Carter

Austin, TX

CRI Genetics is better at regional ancestry detail, which is great for historical data enthusiasts. However, 23andMe excels in the accuracy and size of its health-related genomic database, allowing detailed health predispositions.

23andMe 4.7

CRI Genetics 3.9

Taylor Brooks

Boston, MA

For beginners, 23andMe is simpler to use due to its intuitive app design. On the other hand, CRI Genetics provides excellent customer support, which is helpful for interpreting results.

23andMe 4.3

CRI Genetics 4.2

Morgan Lee

Denver, CO

If your focus is on personal health knowledge, 23andMe’s health risk reports are more comprehensive. In contrast, CRI Genetics offers compelling timelines and reports on ancestral migration patterns.

23andMe 4.6

CRI Genetics 4.1

Cameron Ellis

Seattle, WA

While both services offer ancestral insights, 23andMe stands out with faster results delivery. CRI Genetics might appeal more to those interested in detailed heritage reports and storytelling elements within their genetic history.

23andMe 4.4

CRI Genetics 4

Comments

Alice Johnson
Hey folks! I'm curious about these DNA testing services - 23andMe, CRI Genetics, and FamilyTreeDNA. Anyone done some digging on them?
TechSavvy42
Oh, have I ever! 23andMe's great for health-related stuff, but their ancestry breakdown can be a bit broad.
Dave Martinez
True, TechSavvy42! I went with CRI Genetics because their historical timeline thing is super detailed. Saw my ancestry go back centuries!
Chloe_Baker
But isn’t FamilyTreeDNA the best for backing up research with their database though? I like their family matching features.
Alice Johnson
Family matching sounds cool, Chloe! But privacy concerns me with all of these. Any ideas who's the most secure?
Emily Chen
I read 23andMe doesn’t sell data unless you opt in. CRI Genetics, not too sure about their policies though. 🤔
Dave Martinez
Good point, Emily. FTDNA had some heat for cooperating with law enforcement, which might be a pro or con depending on your view.
Chloe_Baker
Wow Dave, that's a bit heavy. But sure, when it comes to accuracy, which one tops the list?
TechSavvy42
Accuracy-wise, 23andMe and CRI Genetics are neck and neck for ancestry, but FamilyTreeDNA is pretty solid if you're deep-diving into family ties.
Emily Chen
So it boils down to personal preference and what exactly you're looking for - ancestry, health, privacy, or family matching.

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