Ancestry vs 23andMe: Which DNA Test Is Best for My Birth Parent Search?

If you’re trying to find your biological family, one of the first questions that comes up is: “Which DNA test should I take?” Not all DNA tests are designed with family finding or even traditional genealogy in mind, and some are better suited to help you on this journey than others.

Let’s talk about what really makes a difference.

1. Ancestry Has the Largest Database

As of 2025, Ancestry has tested over 24 million people and that number keeps growing. That gives you a much better shot at finding meaningful DNA matches.

More matches means more puzzle pieces on the table (or more branches in your genetic family tree). And when you’re working with a family mystery, that matters.

Now, in a perfect world, you'd test at the same company your closest unknown relatives have already used. But since you can't know that up front, the best move is to test where the most people have tested, and that’s Ancestry. You’re increasing your odds of finding good matches, and that’s how you start putting the puzzle together.

2. The Tools Are Actually Built for Genealogy

Ancestry’s entire platform is built around family research. Their many DNA tools (like ThruLines, shared matches, and tree integration) are designed to help you figure out how your matches fit together.

23andMe? Not so much.

The 23andMe platform was created for health reporting, not genealogy. After some privacy issues in 2024, 23andMe actually removed several tools that were helpful for family searches. What’s left is clunky, limited, and often confusing if you’re trying to build a tree or trace a family line.

3. 23andMe Wasn’t Built for This, But...

23andMe absolutely has its place and I do recommend testing there, also! The two biggest tests out there are AncestryDNA and 23andMe. Chances are someone will test with one of these companies, but not usually both (unless they, too, are on a search for biological family) Sometimes a key match shows up there, and in certain cases, I do recommend it as a secondary test.

But it’s important to know that 23andMe is, first and foremost, a health company. If you’re looking for health insights, it’s great. If you’re looking for your birth father or trying to make sense of a parentage surprise? It's not your best first step.

So, What Should You Do?

• Start with Ancestry. It’s the best first move if you’re searching for family.

• Use 23andMe for health, or if you're stuck and need more match coverage.

• Upload to additional sites later if needed—but do so with care and purpose. More on those sites to come!

If you’ve already tested and don’t know what to make of your results or if you're just overwhelmed by it all... I can help.

You don’t have to do this alone. This is what I do.

DNAjenna

Jenna Robertson | Genetic Genealogist