Ancestry only tests autosomal DNA, so people interested in mitochondrial or Y-chromosome testing may want to look elsewhere. However, within its wheelhouse, Ancestry is efficient and provides customers with a test that does provide estimates about the components of their genetic heritage.

As its name suggests, Ancestry is primarily focused on helping people discover their ancestors. To that end, the company does a very good job of providing users with maps that show the regions from where their DNA may have originated.

Ancestry began as a conventional genealogical research company and today is unsurpassed in terms of the number of resources it offers its customers. These include public records, transport manifests, and news articles from all over the world. It should be noted, however, that continued use of these resources requires a paid monthly subscription.

Ancestry offers its DNA ancestry test at a regular price of $99.

Ancestry is one of the oldest and largest personal DNA testing companies. Like all companies that operate on its size and scale, it is the subject of a number of critical comments on sites such as the BBB and Trustpilot. Approximately half of these concern billing issues and difficulty canceling the company's subscription service. The other half include many complaints to the effect that the DNA results can't be right because they contradict what people had always assumed about their genealogy. It's likely, however, that some of these complainants are confusing ethnicity with genealogy. And as the company reminds its customers on its website, DNA results "may challenge our visions of ourselves." For those reasons, Ancestry's reputation appears to be on par with its that of its largest competitors.

Ancestry devotes a large section of its website explaining a number of aspects of DNA privacy. The company explicitly states that "we do not share common identifying information linked to your genetic or health data with third parties unless we obtain your explicit consent or are required to do so." It also states "We store your DNA test results and DNA sample without your name or other common identifying information such as your address. We do not share with third parties common identifying information linked to your genetic or health data except as legally required or with your explicit consent." As such, its privacy policies are in line with those of the best in the industry.