Living DNA vs 23andMe: the kit I’d actually pick (and why)

If you’re torn between Living DNA and 23andMe, you’re not alone. Here’s the thing—both are solid, but they shine in different ways. I’ll walk you through what actually matters day to day, so you don’t overspend or end up with the wrong kind of insights. And yes, I’ll give you my quick take before we get nerdy. Along the way, I’ll lightly compare living dna vs 23andme without drowning you in jargon.

The quick take (so you can move on with your day)

If you want FDA-reviewed health risk and carrier insights alongside ancestry—and you live in an eligible country—23andMe is the easy pick. If your roots lean British or Irish, or you just care more about fine-grained UK/Irish breakdowns and haplogroups with a straightforward swab instead of a spit tube, Living DNA feels great. That’s the heart of living dna vs 23andme in one breath.

Who each kit quietly favors

23andMe tends to favor folks who want health plus ancestry in one dashboard, with a polished app and a huge pool of potential DNA relatives. It’s also strong if you’re in the U.S. and want reports cleared by regulators. Living DNA quietly favors people with British and Irish heritage who care about regional detail—down to counties and clusters—and anyone who prefers a cheek swab over filling a saliva tube. Between living dna vs 23andme, think: health depth and big network versus regional precision and gentler sampling.

Ancestry detail and regional breakdowns

Both give you continental percentages and sub-regions. 23andMe’s Ancestry Composition is broad and steadily improving, with strong relative matching and maternal/paternal haplogroups (paternal for males). Living DNA’s secret sauce is the British Isles: it often slices England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland into tighter, more meaningful regions. If you’ve got UK roots, it can feel like someone zoomed the map for you. That’s a big lever in living dna vs 23andme for ancestry nerds.

Health, traits, and the stuff that actually affects your day

This is where 23andMe separates itself. In eligible regions, you’ll see FDA-cleared health risk reports (think selected variants related to BRCA1/BRCA2, late-onset Alzheimer’s, and more), plus carrier status and a buffet of traits. Living DNA offers wellbeing/traits and some health insights in certain bundles, but it’s generally not as deep or as widely cleared. If health is your main reason for testing, 23andMe wins this round of living dna vs 23andme, pretty cleanly.

Privacy, research, and that 2023 headline you may remember

Both brands give you control over research consent and the option to download raw data. 23andMe partners with pharma for research (aggregated, with explicit consent). They also dealt with a high-profile security incident in 2023 tied to credential reuse; policies tightened after. Living DNA is UK-based and leans into GDPR frameworks. Either way, use unique passwords, enable two-factor, and review sharing settings. That’s true no matter how you land on living dna vs 23andme.

App experience and relatives matching

23andMe’s app is polished, quick, and packed with traits and DNA relatives if you opt in. It’s one of the biggest consumer databases, which boosts your odds of finding matches. Living DNA has “Family Networks,” but the match pool is typically smaller, with more density in the UK. If cousin-hunting is your hobby, 23andMe is simply more lively—another nudge in the living dna vs 23andme tradeoff.

Turnaround time and sample type

Expect a few weeks, give or take shipping and holidays. 23andMe uses a saliva tube; some folks struggle to fill it, especially if dehydrated. Living DNA uses a cheek swab—quicker for many. Small detail, big difference for some households. If your decision boils down to convenience, that might settle living dna vs 23andme faster than you expected.

Pricing and sales (because budgets are real)

Prices swing with promos. Roughly: 23andMe’s Ancestry-only tier lands around entry-level pricing, while Health + Ancestry is higher. Living DNA’s Ancestry is often a little less, with wellbeing/health bundles in the middle. Holidays can slash prices hard. I always check current promos before I make the final living dna vs 23andme call.

Which should you choose?

Pick 23andMe if you want health insights with guardrails, a big relative-matching network, and a slick app. Pick Living DNA if British/Irish fine detail is your happy place, you want a simple swab kit, and you’re mostly after ancestry and haplogroups. That’s the real-life fork in the road for living dna vs 23andme.

How I’d decide in 30 seconds

Ask yourself: do I want medically relevant insights I can discuss with a doctor? If yes, go 23andMe. Is my tree heavy on the UK/Ireland and I care about regional nuance and haplogroups? Living DNA. If you’re still split, watch the next sale and let the discount tip you. No shame in that. When it’s this close—especially with living dna vs 23andme—it’s okay to let price decide.

A quick nudge if you want reviews before you buy

If you want screenshots, sample timelines, and the little quirks I noticed while testing, read my full write-ups on Consumer's Best. Just search for “Consumer's Best 23andMe review” or “Consumer's Best Living DNA review” and you’ll land right on them. I keep them updated, promise.