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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

23andMe vs Ancestry

23andMe 4.8★ · Free to download 70
Winner Tie
Ancestry 4.8★ · Free to download 70

For a more comprehensive and detailed genetic health report, 23andMe has an edge, while Ancestry is generally preferred for in-depth family tree building and historical records.

Full reviews: 23andMe · Ancestry

23andMe excels in providing health insights and detailed genetic breakdowns, though some users find its ancestry information broad and its pricing structure confusing. Ancestry is highly praised for its extensive family tree features and historical records, but faces criticism for its high subscription costs and app usability issues.

Head to head

Ancestry & Heritage Detail edge: AncestryR3R8R30R37
23andMe 23andMe offers detailed genetic breakdowns and heritage information, with users appreciating the specificity and clarity of presentation . However, some find the ancestry results too broad, lacking regional specificity, especially for certain populations like Eastern European or Indigenous American R3R8R30. There are also complaints about accuracy, with some results contradicting family history R37R49R51.
Ancestry Ancestry is highly regarded for its ability to help users build extensive family trees and discover historical connections R65. Users appreciate the hints feature for expanding their trees . However, some users report issues with the accuracy of 'traits' and a lack of updates or detail for specific ethnic journeys, such as African American ancestry .
Health Insights edge: 23andMeR20R32R59
23andMe 23andMe is praised for its health reports, including new mental health reports and insights into genetic predispositions R32R59. Users find the health information useful and interesting R20.
Ancestry Ancestry's reviews do not frequently mention health insights, focusing primarily on ancestry and family tree features. There is no direct evidence in the provided reviews to compare its health reporting capabilities.
Ease of Use & App Functionality tieR16R17R18R24
23andMe Users generally find 23andMe's app fascinating and easy to navigate once logged in R17. However, recent updates have caused significant issues, including login problems R16R18R24, app freezing R18R24, and broken functionality . Some find the system complicated, especially regarding paternal lineage information .
Ancestry Ancestry's app is described as generally good, but many users report it being difficult to understand and navigate . Frequent updates are criticized for introducing glitches, crashes, and performance issues, such as trees not saving or needing to be re-downloaded . Some users also note limited functionality in the app compared to the website .
Price & Value tieR1R4R7R10
23andMe Many 23andMe users feel the service is a 'money grab' and 'total scam,' especially when paying $200 or more for basic, generalized information that can be found elsewhere R1R4R7R10. There's significant frustration over features that were once included now requiring premium subscriptions R12R21R28R43.
Ancestry Ancestry is frequently criticized for its high and increasing costs, with users calling it 'too expensive' and a 'cash grab' . Users are frustrated by having to pay for basic access to DNA results or to connect with relatives after purchasing a kit . There are also complaints about unexpected charges and cancellation fees .
Customer Support & Reliability tieR15R25R36R43
23andMe Some 23andMe users report issues with long test processing times R15, being banned for no reason R25, and customer service running them in circles R43. There are also concerns about data privacy and the company's motives R36.
Ancestry Ancestry users report serious issues including losing their DNA results and entire family trees . There are complaints about being unable to access paid tests and difficulties with account access and password resets . Users also mention network errors and challenges with customer service for billing disputes .
Pick 23andMe if

you are primarily interested in detailed health insights and genetic predispositions, and are willing to navigate potential app glitches or subscription tiers for that information R20R32R59.

Pick Ancestry if

your main goal is to build an extensive family tree, research historical records, and connect with distant relatives through a vast database R65.

Evidence note: Both apps are free to download, but their core value comes from paid DNA kits and/or subscriptions. Many negative reviews for both apps stem from the perceived high cost and the shift of features behind paywalls. The evidence for 23andMe's health reports is stronger than for Ancestry's, as Ancestry's reviews focus almost exclusively on genealogy.

Frequently asked

Which app is better for finding relatives?
Both 23andMe and Ancestry allow users to find relatives, but Ancestry is generally preferred for connecting with a broader network of family members and building extensive family trees R65. 23andMe users enjoy finding new relatives R2R53, but some report issues connecting with immediate family R9.
Are the DNA results accurate?
The accuracy of DNA results receives mixed reviews for both apps; 23andMe users find their results plausible and detailed R41, but others claim inaccuracy or broad generalizations that contradict family history R37R49R51. Ancestry users appreciate the confirmations of their groundwork R65 but some find the 'traits' inaccurate .
Is a subscription necessary for these apps?
For both 23andMe and Ancestry, a subscription or additional payments are often necessary to access the full range of features and detailed information, even after purchasing a DNA kit (R12, R21, R28, R43, for 23andMe; , , , , for Ancestry). Many users express frustration over features that were once free now being behind paywalls.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R3] 23andMe 3/5 · US American Descendants of Slavery: Admixture due to the Atlantic Slave created an unique lineage that is not part of the modern African diaspora.
  2. [R8] 23andMe 5/5 · US Expand Indigenous American Results with Regional Affinities ⭐️⭐️⭐️: Dear 23andMe Team, I would love to see 23andMe expand the Indigenous American ancestry experience beyond broad continental labels and Genetic Groups. I understand that Genetic Groups require strong matching to modern reference communities, and not everyone will qualify for one. However, for customers who have Indigenous American
  3. [R30] 23andMe 3/5 · GB Good but disappointed: It does tell me a lot about my genetic makeup and where I come from, however it tells I’m over 20% “Eastern European”; but doesn’t tell me where exactly from Eastern Europe. If I click on populations tested it says something like “not detected” on ALL populations from Eastern Europe, but still says I’m 20% from those countries. I’m confused, as far as I know now is that a bi
  4. [R37] 23andMe 1/5 · US Seemingly random results: Not accurate at all, i have family tree history that directly discredits these findings.
  5. [R20] 23andMe 5/5 · US Very interesting and useful: I am very pleased that I purchased this test. There is a lot of useful and interesting information. I don't regret it at all. And new information keeps coming in.
  6. [R32] 23andMe 5/5 · US Health insights: I was impressed today by a new mental health report. Knowing that underlying neurology determined by genetics can create psychological difficulties allows you to be more accepting of your mental state as well as practical about taking remedial action.
  7. [R59] 23andMe 5/5 · US DNA testing: Lots of good information
  8. [R16] 23andMe 1/5 · US Not working: Login with appleid is not working
  9. [R17] 23andMe 5/5 · US Great app: Fascinating and if u get locked out of ur account for whatever reason, it’s easy peasy getting it back with their verification process.
  10. [R18] 23andMe 3/5 · US Used to be great, not so much now.: I pay $100/yr to stay updated with heritage and distant family members, but you can’t even manage your app?? I’m lucky to get past the main loading screen, yet now I can’t even see my updated ancestry because it’s stuck “loading”. Did AI take over?? Currently been waiting 10 mins. I’ll probably be cancelling my membership if I can ever log in. Hope I get paid
  11. [R24] 23andMe 3/5 · US What happened?: I don’t know what you did with the last update, but now the app won’t open for me at all. The two dots just spin around each other and nothing happens.
  12. [R1] 23andMe 1/5 · US Not what I expected: I’d say, all of the Medical report given is just the stupid surveys the app gives to you answer. It’s honestly not ground breaking in my opinion, because you can actually get the same information elsewhere online for free and your primary care doctor. The genetic testing is very basic and generalized. I’d save your money on this test honestly and go with Ancestry instead. Ance
  13. [R4] 23andMe 1/5 · US Results: Paid $200 and all I got back is info for surveys and ads for more tests.
  14. [R7] 23andMe 1/5 · US Total scam: Go to a doctor for dna testing save like $100.
  15. [R10] 23andMe 1/5 · US Do not use 23 and me: They take your money and give nothing!
  16. [R15] 23andMe 3/5 · US Slow on the test: This step takes 1-2 weeks usually going on week 3…. Staff accordingly with your Amazon supper sales
  17. [R25] 23andMe 1/5 · US They Banned Me for Absolutely no Reason.: They Banned me for resetting my Password.
  18. [R36] 23andMe 3/5 · GB Probs gonna sell my data on the dark web lol: Rip me in 30 years ig idk
  19. [R43] 23andMe 1/5 · US You have to provide payment to view your results, even though you have a membership: Customer service just runs you in circles, would not resolve.
  20. [R2] 23andMe 5/5 · US Fun and interesting: Love seeing updates like new relatives. Break downs of your heritage. I have yet to pay for more info.
  21. [R9] 23andMe 3/5 · US Suggestion Box: It’s ok, this does not connect me with any of my siblings or their children. Don’t know why. Strictly for that reason, I’m not impressed with 23 and Me I do enjoy the little blurbs about possible biological reasons for different things in my life But simply because it hasn’t connected me with immediate relatives, I take this about as seriously as a Magic 8 Ball
  22. [R53] 23andMe 5/5 · US Thank you!: Because of you guys I was able to reconnect with my sister unfortunately she didn’t want to reconnect but regardless thank you.
  23. [R65] Ancestry 5/5 · US The Good😊The Bad😠& The Ugly🥴= Me: Love History and Real Life. Can’t get enough of Ancestry. I have been working on my family history since the 1980’s and that was all done in Court Houses, Public Libraries and knocking on on doors. Meeting strangers for anything they could confirm/ deny/ embellish/ or add to! It was fun but Ancestry has confirmed for me all of that ground work decades ago. In my
  24. [R41] 23andMe 5/5 · US Very fast and interesting: I’m a geography lover who is mixed, but knows enough about inheritance and family history to know that everything that 23 and me said was totally plausible! It came in less than fifteen days for me from when arriving at the lab, and I got my kit for only thirty bucks on Facebook marketplace! I don’t have the subscription but I still like it.
  25. [R49] 23andMe 1/5 · US Erased my Palestinian ancestry to Lebanese and Jordanian: One star
  26. [R51] 23andMe 3/5 · GB Matching Results: Many of the outcomes of DNA do not sound familiar or match my experiences. My horoscope is more accurate and that has no scientific foundations? Did another DNA test and results are very different. App is American and very few European connections were my personal heritage is from. Meh!
  27. [R12] 23andMe 3/5 · US Family: I dislike that I have to get Premium to find what I really need to know.
  28. [R21] 23andMe 3/5 · US It’s just an add for their premium service: You now have to pay for services that once were included
  29. [R28] 23andMe 1/5 · US They’re not honoring the original agreement: When I first bought the package, it was a one time fee for lifetime access to all features, including health and ancestry. But now a new company bought them - and the new company is not honoring the original agreement. The new company requires more money and a subscription to be able to access what I - and thousands of other people- was promised for a

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store