DNA Test Feature Comparison: The Capability Matrix
Y-DNA, mtDNA, chromosome browser, raw download, raw upload, health reports and app marketplace across all five major consumer tests.
Sticker price tells you what a DNA test costs. The feature list tells you what it actually does. The five mainstream consumer tests overlap on the basics and diverge on the specifics that matter to specific users. Here is the capability matrix as of early 2026.
The five-test feature grid
| Feature | AncestryDNA | 23andMe | MyHeritage | FamilyTreeDNA | Living DNA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autosomal SNP test | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Y-DNA test | no | haplogroup only | no | dedicated tests | haplogroup only |
| mtDNA test | no | haplogroup only | no | dedicated tests | haplogroup only |
| Chromosome browser | no | yes | yes | yes | limited |
| Raw data download | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Accepts raw uploads | no | no | yes (free) | yes (free) | yes (free) |
| Health reports | no | yes | no | no | wellness only |
| Mobile app | yes | yes | yes | limited | yes |
A few cells need context.
Y-DNA and mtDNA
FamilyTreeDNA is the only mainstream consumer brand selling dedicated Y-DNA and mtDNA tests under one roof. Y-DNA follows the direct paternal line. mtDNA follows the direct maternal line. They are essential for surname studies and for testing deep ancestry questions that autosomal data cannot reach. Big Y-700 lists around $449 and the mtFull Sequence around $159.
23andMe and Living DNA report Y and mt haplogroup as part of the autosomal kit. That tells you which deep branch of the global tree your paternal or maternal line sits on, but not the high-resolution detail FamilyTreeDNA tests deliver.
AncestryDNA and MyHeritage DNA do not provide Y or mt information at all.
Chromosome browser
Chromosome browsers let you see exactly which segments you share with a match. Genetic genealogists rely on them for triangulation. 23andMe, MyHeritage and FamilyTreeDNA all provide one. Living DNA’s browser is limited. AncestryDNA does not offer a chromosome browser, which is the single biggest complaint from advanced users about an otherwise dominant product.
Raw download and raw upload
Every major test lets you download your raw genotype file. The asymmetry is on uploads: AncestryDNA and 23andMe accept none, while MyHeritage, FamilyTreeDNA and Living DNA accept free uploads from the big two. That is the central reason you do not need to buy four separate kits to be in four matching databases.
Health reports
23andMe is the only mainstream brand bundling FDA-authorized carrier and predisposition reports with the consumer kit. The clinical scope is narrower than the marketing suggests, and we do not interpret individual results. The 2025 corporate reshuffling is also relevant context; see our privacy guide.
Living DNA markets a wellness product, which is diet and fitness traits rather than clinical health.
App marketplace and whole-genome
Sequencing.com sits outside the five-test grid because it offers whole-genome sequencing plus an app marketplace that runs additional reports on your data. The closest analog to that marketplace model among the SNP testers is no one. Sequencing.com is worth knowing about for users who already have their raw data and want more out of it.
How to use this matrix
Pick the use case first, then read the row. Want maximum matches? Database size matters more than features. Want surname research? FamilyTreeDNA’s Y-DNA is the answer. Want ancestry plus health in one box? 23andMe is the only mainstream choice, with caveats. Want the cheapest path to multi-database coverage? Buy an AncestryDNA kit and upload to the rest.
For the full set of head-to-heads, see our DNA test comparison pillar.