Should You Buy a Genealogy DNA Kit?

Pros and Cons of Heritage DNA: A Genealogy 101 Guide

Feb 24, 2026

Genealogy DNA testing has exploded in popularity over the past decade, with millions of people sending off saliva samples to unlock the secrets of their ancestry. I am and was not immune to the idea of incorporating DNA into my Family History Research. To be very honest, it was the introduction of Genetic Genealogy into my Family Tree that helped me to learn so much about my paternal grandmother’s line.

Through the use of DNA (23andMe, AncestryDNA, FamilyTreeDNA, MyHeritage, and GEDMatch to be precise) I learned more about my great-grandmother than I ever had by simply using a paper trail. Plus, I managed to confirm two siblings, one who arrived before and one after her. On top of that, I have matched with people in Poland and people in the United States with Polish heritage that led back to my great-grandmother. A woman I only knew the name of, and that was it.

The use of heritage DNA testing has helped me navigate through this Family History Mystery journey. It has opened doors that would be otherwise still locked in place.

But, then, in October of 2023, there was a massive date break at 23andMe. The breach was spoken about in hushed tones, but those whispered didn’t change the fact that it was there. The next year, I went to RootsTech (2024) and 23andMe wasn’t even there.

No one was really publicly talking about the breach, at least, not as loudly as I felt it should be. Why? Heritage DNA is a juggernaut. It makes a lot of money, and that is when things always get dicey.

So, for this Genealogy 101 installment—let’s discuss the Pros and Cons of buying a Genealogy DNA test. Because, while it has been exciting to learn more about my ancestors, it is still important to understand the pros and cons before you spend your money and spit in a tube.

Broken down brick walls are always welcome in Family History, but it is important to take a closer look at both the pros and cons. AKA the remarkable benefits and serious concerns that come with consumer genetic testing.

The Pros: Why People Love DNA Testing

#1 - Connecting with Lost Family

Perhaps the most powerful benefit of genealogy DNA testing is its ability to reunite families. For me, it was learning that some of my neighbors and church parishioners from when I was a child were actually distant cousins. For adoptees, they have found birth parents, discovered siblings, and countless individuals have connected with distant cousins who became invaluable research partners.

Oh, and these tests have also helped me prove a family myth, that one of my Italian Ancestors was actually Albanian.

These databases have created the largest voluntary genetic registry in human history, making previously impossible connections now routine. More than 26 - 20 million people are part of the AncestryDNA database alone. That is a LOT of potential connections.

#2 Breaking Through Brick Walls

Traditional genealogy research can hit frustrating dead ends when records are lost, destroyed, or never existed in the first place. Modern practices of birth, death, and marriage certificates are just that—modern. Your ethnic background may come with automatic limitations, like how enslaved people held a “jump the broom” ceremony that didn’t involve paper work, anglicizing of your ancestors names, or a lack of documentation due to discrimination.

DNA testing offers an alternative path forward.

By matching with genetic relatives and comparing family trees, family historians and genealogist researchers can often leap over gaps in the paper trail and confirm relationships that would otherwise remain uncertain. DNA offered that work around you always wished existed.

#3 Understanding Your Ethnic Origins

While ethnicity estimates should be taken with a grain of salt (they’re estimates, not precise measurements), many people find deep meaning in learning about their ancestral origins. These results can affirm family stories, reveal unexpected heritage, or provide a starting point for those who know little about their background.

They can also help you learn more about your ancestors’ movements and how humans have always been migratory. This can lead to better understanding of your heritage and customs.

#4 Medical Insights

Truth be told, before I dove headfirst into the land of Genealogy and Family History Research, the very first Genetic DNA test I took had more to do with this topic than it did learning about my ancestors. Some DNA testing services offer health-related genetic screening that can identify potential risks for certain conditions. Sites like Promethease, CircleDNA, 23andMe, and LivingDNA all offer a look into your genetics to see if and what you may have certain markers that may indicate potential genetic issues (breast cancer, Alzheimer’s, etc.,)

While this information shouldn’t replace proper medical care, it can provide valuable insights for discussing prevention strategies with your doctor.

Join Aryn Youngless’s subscriber chat

Available in the Substack app and on web

The Cons: Serious Concerns to Consider

Privacy Risks Are Real and Growing

This is where things get complicated. When you send your DNA to a testing company, you’re not just sharing data about yourself—you’re sharing information about everyone who shares your genetic code, including family members who never consented to testing.

#1 The 23andMe Breach: A Wake-Up Call

In October 2023, 23andMe revealed a significant data breach that exposed the personal information of approximately 6.9 million users. Hackers gained access through a credential stuffing attack [footnote: Credential stuffing is an automated cyberattack that inserts stolen usernames and passwords into the system’s login fields to achieve an account takeover (ATO) for fraudulent misuse. https://www.fortinet.com/resources/cyberglossary/credential-stuffing]

one of the most common types of attack . The compromised data included DNA Relatives profile information, ancestry reports, and in some cases, raw genetic data.

What made this breach particularly concerning was its scope through the DNA Relatives feature. Even users with strong, unique passwords had their information exposed if they were connected to someone whose account was compromised. This highlighted a vulnerability in genetic databases: your privacy depends not just on your own security practices, but on those of your genetic matches.

#2 Law Enforcement Access

Police have increasingly turned to genealogy databases to solve cold cases, most famously in the Golden State Killer investigation. While this has brought justice in serious criminal cases, it raises questions about whether people understood they were potentially enrolling their entire family in a genetic lineup when they took a test.

But it is also important to note that prosperity databases, like those attached to AncestryDNA and MyHeritage, are not accessible to police without a warrant. Whereas GEDMatch is, because it is a public database and a collection of raw DNA data uploaded by the owner. When you sign up for GEDMatch you have the option to opt out of Police Accessibility.

#3 Terms of Service Can Change

Companies can and do update their privacy policies. Also remember that things can, and will change. What happens to your data if the company is sold, goes bankrupt, or decides to monetize genetic information differently? In 2018, GlaxoSmithKline paid $300 million for access to 23andMe’s genetic database to aid in drug development. Users had consented to research use, but the scale of such arrangements can surprise people. [https://www.forbes.com/sites/matthewherper/2018/07/25/23andme-gets-300-million-boost-from-glaxo-to-develop-new-drugs/]

#4 Emotional Bombshells

DNA doesn’t lie, but families do. Sometimes it’s for understandable reasons and other times the reasons can fall into a gray area. Tests regularly reveal non-paternity events (where someone’s biological father isn’t who they thought), unknown adoptions, affairs, and other family secrets. Studies suggest that as many as 1-3% of people who take DNA tests discover unexpected parentage.

These discoveries can be emotionally devastating and can damage family relationships.

#5 Ethnicity Estimates Are Often Misunderstood

Those pie charts showing you’re “37% Italian” or “12% Scandinavian” are educated guesses based on reference populations, not precise measurements. The percentages can vary significantly between companies and even change as companies update their algorithms. Taking these estimates too literally can lead to disappointment or false conclusions about your heritage.

It is also important to understand migratory patterns. Your ancestor may have lived in County Mayo Ireland, but your test says you’re British/Scottish/Welsh. Take time to understand the history of the area your ancestors were from. Borders move. Family relocate. Paper trails may tell a different story than DNA, and guess what? They both may be correct.

#6 Discrimination Concerns

While the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) provides some protections in the U.S., it doesn’t cover life insurance, disability insurance, or long-term care insurance. There are legitimate concerns about how genetic information could be used by insurers or employers in the future.

Before You Buy: Questions to Ask Yourself

Are you emotionally prepared for surprises?

Consider how you would handle discovering unexpected relatives, different ethnic origins than you believed, or learning that a family story was untrue.

Do you understand the privacy implications?

Read the privacy policy carefully. Understand that once your DNA is in a database, you can’t fully control how it might be used, even if you later request deletion.

Have you considered your family?

Your decision to test affects blood relatives who share your DNA. Some people choose to discuss this with close family members first.

What are your actual goals?

Be clear about what you hope to learn. If you’re primarily interested in building a family tree, you might get more value from traditional genealogy research combined with DNA testing, rather than DNA alone.

Which company is right for you?

Different companies have different strengths:

AncestryDNA has the largest database and best family tree integration
23andMe offers health testing in addition to ancestry (but remember so does Promethease and they delete your data after 30 days.)
FamilyTreeDNA provides more advanced tools for serious genealogists (and allows you to upload your raw DNA from AncestryDNA)
MyHeritage has strong international representation (also allows you to upload your raw DNA)

The Bottom Line

Genealogy DNA testing is a powerful tool that has brought joy and answers to millions of people. It has helped me learn about cousins, aunts, and uncles. It has helped me figure out where my lost family branch even came from. While it helped me, it is still very important to remember that buying a DNA test is not a casual purchase like a streaming subscription. It’s a permanent decision that comes with real privacy risks and the potential for life-changing discoveries.

The 23andMe breach serves as a reminder that no database is perfectly secure, and genetic information is particularly sensitive because you can’t change it if it’s compromised.

Unlike a credit card number, you can’t get a new DNA sequence.

If you decide to move forward, go in with eyes wide open. Use strong, unique passwords. Enable two-factor authentication. Think carefully about features like DNA matching and sharing. And be prepared for the possibility that you might learn something you weren’t expecting. Read the privacy agreement. Every last little word.

Genealogy DNA testing can be an amazing journey of discovery—but like any journey into the unknown, it pays to pack carefully and know the terrain before you set out.

Discussion about this post

Ready for more?