FamilyTreeDNA vs AncestryDNA

Breadth versus depth

AncestryDNA's autosomal test looks across all your branches and is best for finding cousins and relatives from the last several generations. FamilyTreeDNA offers that too, through its Family Finder test, but it is best known for Y-DNA and mtDNA tests that follow a single line much further back.

Who can take which test

A Y-DNA test needs a Y chromosome, so only people who inherited one can take it. Anyone else can ask a father, brother or paternal relative to test. mtDNA tests can be taken by anyone and follow the mother's mother's line.

Tools and community

AncestryDNA wins on family tree tools and historical records, many of which need a separate subscription. FamilyTreeDNA's strength is research tools and group projects, including surname projects run by volunteer administrators, which suit people working on a specific family name. Its interface assumes more background knowledge.

Privacy and cost

FamilyTreeDNA sells its tests as one-time purchases with optional upgrades, which makes costs easy to understand. It has published policies on law enforcement matching, so review the current policy and your settings. On AncestryDNA, review matching visibility and research consent, and check what the kit includes versus a subscription.

Using both together

Many genealogists do not choose one or the other. A common approach is to start with an autosomal test for broad matching and add a Y-DNA or mtDNA test later to answer a specific question, such as whether two families with the same surname share a paternal ancestor. Because you only match people in the same database, testing with more than one company can also surface relatives you would otherwise miss. Some companies no longer accept raw data uploads from other services, so check before you plan to transfer data.

The bottom line

Start with AncestryDNA if you are new to genetic genealogy. Add or choose FamilyTreeDNA when you want to answer questions about one specific line.