You may have come across videos or posts on social media where people are given ancestry tracing kits as presents during special occasions, and they bring a lot of joy and amusement to families.

In fact, many of these kits are actually ordered online and provided by biotechnology companies that run ancestry tracing sites. If you're curious about these services and what types of kits are available, let's dive in.

What Are Ancestry Tracing Sites?

Ancestry tracing websites offer genetic testing services to clients who request it via the site. As mentioned above, they are run by privately-owned biotechnology companies.

The steps for getting an ancestry report are extremely simple. All you have to do is create an account on these websites, request a testing kit, and follow the steps on the kit. Typically, you have to provide a saliva sample with a cotton swab, send it back, and wait for your results.

Here are the best ancestry tracing sites you should consider when ordering a testing kit.

1. 23andMe

23andMe is probably the most popular option on this list. The website was founded in 2004 by a biotech and consumer genomics company and is based in Sunnyvale, California.

23andMe offers several ancestry tracing features that are enough to satisfy your curiosity about where your family comes from. These include inheritance tracing, DNA comparison with new relatives, and a breakdown of your ancestry across 2,000 regions worldwide.

If you’d like to know about potential underlying health implications that you’ve inherited, the site also provides the service for an additional price.

2. AncestryDNA

Based in Utah, AncestryDNA uses its microarray-based autosomal DNA testing to produce results. This means that scientists use a test subject’s entire genome to detect gene expressions and obtain any genetic information.

In AncestryDNA’s case, the technology is able to trace ancestral lineage from 700,000 locations all around the world. It also covers both the paternal and maternal sides of the family. You can even trace your ancestors’ migration paths over time.

If you consent, AncestryDNA may also use your DNA data to contribute to its Human Diversity Project, an ongoing voluntary research program that collects and analyzes human genes from around the world.

AncestryDNA and 23andMe are two of the most well-known services for genetic testing. If you can't decide between the two, find out which DNA testing service would work best for you.

3. African Ancestry

Some ancestry tracing services have been described as Euro-centric, which may skew the results of certain groups.

According to its website, African Ancestry is by far the only company that is able to trace its clients’ ancestry back to a present-day African country and ethnic group. The company uses the genetic information of Indigenous African groups in existence to do so, and the service exists for both maternal and paternal lineage. Test results date back up to 2,000 years.

On top of that, African Ancestry also partners with tourism ministries, local communities, and cultural organizations for a program called African Ancestry Family Reunions (AAFRs). With AAFRs, participants are taken on a culturally immersive trip to African countries to find their roots and reunite with distant family members.

4. MyHeritage

Headquartered in Israel, MyHeritage has been helping users track their ethnic roots since 2003. According to its website, its testing kits have helped more than 62 million people worldwide across over 2,100 geographic regions.

How does it do that? In addition to its main features, MyHeritage also provides clients with access to important historical records including newspapers, census and voter lists, as well as birth, marriage, death, school enrollment, and even military records. The best part about this feature is that it is completely free, and you don’t need to create an account to use it!

If you are still unable to find what or who you are looking for, MyHeritage partners with a professional genealogy services company, called Legacy Tree. With this service, you are able to hire a researcher to conduct ancestry tracing services for you and even track down rare international records.

5. Living DNA

Living DNA is also another popular ancestry tracing choice among consumers. With specializations in African, European, British, and Irish ancestry, the site offers five different testing kits for different purposes.

If you have already taken a test from other ancestry tracing sites and have the results, you can also upload them onto Living DNA’s database for further analysis.

6. FamilyTreeDNA

FamilyTreeDNA is known for its highly detailed analyses of its test results. It was founded in 2000, and is one of the top services that people go to alongside 23andMe and AncestryDNA.

Its ancestry tracing kit is a little cheaper than the rest of the options on this list. If you have trouble interpreting your results, the company also has an online Expert’s Handbook page that addresses your concerns.

Samples given to FamilyTreeDNA will be stored for up to 25 years, but you can request for them to be deleted anytime.

If you’d like to engage with more people on FamilyTreeDNA, you can also become a Group Administrator, create your own group on the site, and invite members to join.

7. 23Mofang

Headquartered in Chengdu, China, 23Mofang can be considered the Chinese version of 23andMe. Like African Ancestry, this service is here to fill the gap in genetic data for the Chinese population and its diaspora.

In addition to the main ancestry tracing features similar to the companies above, 23Mofang also provides detailed information about nutritional supplements needed for women in pregnancy, skin management and care, as well as fitness level analyses for those concerned about their health.

23Mofang even has a mobile app that basically serves as a platform for individuals to seek out potential distant relatives and connect with one another. The website is in Mandarin, but you can always translate the site with your browser.

8. FamilySearch

If you are not quite ready to invest in an ancestry tracing kit just yet, this website gives you a taste of what it’s like to trace your roots, and what you may potentially find in the process.

You have to first create an account on the website. It is free, and after you have done so, you will have access to billions of historical records. FamilySearch also has a dedicated Wiki-style search engine that allows you to browse genealogy resources from all around the world.

If you're on a budget, check out some other free genealogy websites that offer similar services to find out more about yourself.

Get the Most Out of Your Ancestry Search

Despite concerns surrounding privacy and data over the years, biotechnology companies that offer genetic tracing services still find a lot of popularity among consumers in the US and many parts of the world.

While it is hard to say which website generates the most accurate results, these companies are constantly updating their databases to provide you with the most up-to-date information about your ancestry.

So, for your next birthday gift to a loved one, why not try an ancestry tracing kit?