Customer reviews from 23andme.com
23andMe - Personal Genetic Service - Saliva Collection Kit
Average customer rating
3.8
(5,674 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 5,674 reviews
5 Stars
3,015
4 Stars
786
3 Stars
552
2 Stars
403
1 Star
918
73%of customers recommend this product.
(
3,933 out of
5,408)
Customer Reviews for 23andMe - Personal Genetic Service - Saliva Collection Kit
Customer Rating
5
Good product and experience
on February 13, 2017
Posted by: VVLL
from Austin, TX, United States
Length of ownership:1 week
I purchased the ancestry DNA kit, so I can't speak for the health kit, but overall had a good experience with the services offered to me and would definitely recommend!
*Here is more specific info if you're considering purchasing the DNA kit (didn't see many specific reviews when I was searching and I think a few things should be clarified because many of the negative reviews I've seen aren't justified):
- Ordered it Dec. 25, received the DNA sample box a few days later and got my results Feb. 2 so the whole process took a little less than 6 weeks, very happy about that.
- The main reason I decided to do this was because I have a Latino/Hispanic background and wanted to find out my ancestry makeup because I knew it would be diverse/mixed and didn't really have another way of finding out, so it was really beneficial for me in that sense. For any other Latino/Hispanic people out there, definitely recommend!
- I LOVE 23 & Me's website layout and the way they give you your results. Aesthetically pleasing, well-organized, easy to understand, etc. You're given your ancestry composition both visually and in words. I thought it was a nice detail that they add little info/facts about the populations you receive.
- Be aware that you can be given both specific and vague results. For example, my results tell me I'm "X% Italian", which is pretty specific, but they also tell me I'm "X% Broadly Northwestern European", without naming countries, regions, etc. I also have some "unassigned DNA". Personally, while I would have preferred more specificity, I don't have a huge problem with this. I know that there's no perfect DNA ancestry test out there and I don't have an urgent need to know some specifics. Also– Native American results combine both North and South America without giving you any regions on either continent, again I wasn't too bothered by this personally, but if you're looking for specific Native American regions or tribes, this may not be for you.
- After seeing your Ancestry Composition, you can also see an "Ancestry Timeline" and another cool thing that they show you is an actual visual of your chromosomes and what part of them belong to each population. As someone that loves visual data, that was great. The 23 & Me Ancestry DNA kit also tells you your maternal haplogroup (if you're female) and your maternal haplogroup + paternal haplogroup (if you're male). Lastly, they'll tell you your neanderthal ancestry.
- Other things that are included (and optional) are: Research (help with 23 & Me's research by answering questions about yourself and seeing their findings), Forum (discuss, ask questions, and read posts by other members), DNA Relatives (find other 23 & Me members that share DNA with you. I was surprised to find I have about 1400 relatives on here, close and distant!)
- The majority of negative reviews I've seen claim it was a waste of time/money or that they received expected information / nothing new. I don't think that warrants a 1 star review considering 23 & Me did nothing wrong with their services, these people are just disappointed they're 99% (Population). If 23 & Me were giving them inaccurate results, then I think it would be fair, but that isn't the case and just because you're not happy with your ancestors all being from the same area doesn't mean it's a bad service. I guess at the end of the day, you have to choose whether you want to take that risk if you know your ancestry isn't very diverse. I felt it was worth it given my Hispanic background, and I've seen other people happy about their results especially if they're adopted, mixed-race, etc.
- *IMPORTANT THING TO KNOW* From what I'm aware, your 23 & Me results / account do not "expire". You can continue to look back at your results, participate in forums, find relatives, etc. They also update their site/database with new findings, so it's very well possible that any "unassigned DNA" will one day be identified or that your "Broadly (Population)" will be specified eventually.
- The main reason I decided to do this was because I have a Latino/Hispanic background and wanted to find out my ancestry makeup because I knew it would be diverse/mixed and didn't really have another way of finding out, so it was really beneficial for me in that sense. For any other Latino/Hispanic people out there, definitely recommend!
- I LOVE 23 & Me's website layout and the way they give you your results. Aesthetically pleasing, well-organized, easy to understand, etc. You're given your ancestry composition both visually and in words. I thought it was a nice detail that they add little info/facts about the populations you receive.
- Be aware that you can be given both specific and vague results. For example, my results tell me I'm "X% Italian", which is pretty specific, but they also tell me I'm "X% Broadly Northwestern European", without naming countries, regions, etc. I also have some "unassigned DNA". Personally, while I would have preferred more specificity, I don't have a huge problem with this. I know that there's no perfect DNA ancestry test out there and I don't have an urgent need to know some specifics. Also– Native American results combine both North and South America without giving you any regions on either continent, again I wasn't too bothered by this personally, but if you're looking for specific Native American regions or tribes, this may not be for you.
- After seeing your Ancestry Composition, you can also see an "Ancestry Timeline" and another cool thing that they show you is an actual visual of your chromosomes and what part of them belong to each population. As someone that loves visual data, that was great. The 23 & Me Ancestry DNA kit also tells you your maternal haplogroup (if you're female) and your maternal haplogroup + paternal haplogroup (if you're male). Lastly, they'll tell you your neanderthal ancestry.
- Other things that are included (and optional) are: Research (help with 23 & Me's research by answering questions about yourself and seeing their findings), Forum (discuss, ask questions, and read posts by other members), DNA Relatives (find other 23 & Me members that share DNA with you. I was surprised to find I have about 1400 relatives on here, close and distant!)
- The majority of negative reviews I've seen claim it was a waste of time/money or that they received expected information / nothing new. I don't think that warrants a 1 star review considering 23 & Me did nothing wrong with their services, these people are just disappointed they're 99% (Population). If 23 & Me were giving them inaccurate results, then I think it would be fair, but that isn't the case and just because you're not happy with your ancestors all being from the same area doesn't mean it's a bad service. I guess at the end of the day, you have to choose whether you want to take that risk if you know your ancestry isn't very diverse. I felt it was worth it given my Hispanic background, and I've seen other people happy about their results especially if they're adopted, mixed-race, etc.
- *IMPORTANT THING TO KNOW* From what I'm aware, your 23 & Me results / account do not "expire". You can continue to look back at your results, participate in forums, find relatives, etc. They also update their site/database with new findings, so it's very well possible that any "unassigned DNA" will one day be identified or that your "Broadly (Population)" will be specified eventually.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting 23andme.com
Customer Rating
5
You Made the Impossible Possible
on February 13, 2017
Posted by: JackieP
from St. Louis, MO, United States
Length of ownership:1 month
I received 23 and Me for Christmas. I was given up for adoption in 1973 and my mother gave a fake name and address leaving me with no hope of ever finding my birth family. 23 & Me found a match and I have been reunited with my entire family! This has been an amazing experience. Thank you so much for making the impossible possible!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting 23andme.com
Customer Rating
5
Great product!
on February 14, 2017
Posted by: Wingnuts 72
from Florida, United States
Length of ownership:3 months
It was very exciting getting my results! Definitely interesting to read my chromosomal break up and where I hail from so to speak. I found it amazing, things I never would have thought of! Places I never would have known I came from! Altogether it was a great experience!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting 23andme.com
Customer Rating
5
Best of 3 services i've used
on February 14, 2017
Posted by: Drexel
from Garland, TX, United States
Length of ownership:1 month
From the First National Genographic Project to a recent AncestrybyDNA profile, 23andMe was by far the best of the three. 23 has answered so many questions of my difficult Ancestral research. I would recommend 23andMe to anyone at any stage of their journey.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting 23andme.com
Customer Rating
4
I enjoyed this but wish it were more specific!
on February 14, 2017
Posted by: Equestrianelleb
from California, United States
Length of ownership:3 months
This was such a cool gift and it was so neat to learn more about myself. I wish it was more specific though. I also got a lot of "general European" which left me with more questions. Room for improvement but it's a nice start!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting 23andme.com
Customer Rating
4
Provoking Results
on February 14, 2017
Posted by: Freckles
from Miami Shores, FL, United States
Length of ownership:1 month
Results were unexpected and now I want to have more information! I would like to use results to share and connect with others with similar background.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting 23andme.com
Customer Rating
4
Ancestry & Health Info Fun--& Thought--Provoking.
on February 14, 2017
Posted by: abc123unme
Length of ownership:3 months
Greatly enjoyed the DNA Ancestry Report & Bar Graph, fun, revealing & not a few surprises. I was initially attracted to the Genetic Health Profile, and the details it provided. On the DNA Relatives section I made contact with a first cousin I hadn't heard from in +40 years and we shared some DNA and family history, although she was unwilling to share and compare the detailed Health info, which again was my primary attraction to 23&Me. Overall, pleased with the results and I trust 23&Me will continue to expand the genetic Health traits it samples in the future. A Big Neanderthal Thumb's Up!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting 23andme.com
Customer Rating
5
23 and Me rocks!
on February 15, 2017
Posted by: Chris 71
from Hastings, FL, United States
Length of ownership:1 month
I got this as a gift and it is one the best gifts that I have received in my 45 years. If you love history this is a must! They said that my results would take 6-8 weeks: they took 4. You don't just get your history, but they break it all down for you to understand easily. The whole process is really exciting! So far both of my parents have started this and are as stoked as I was when I started!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting 23andme.com