If you got your DNA results back and are enjoying all that you are learning from them, you might wonder if there are other free websites to upload your DNA to learn even more. It turns out that there are tons of great websites where you can upload your raw DNA.
Note: If you haven’t already, please visit my DNA Tools page to find helpful posts (like this one!) and other good resources to help you learn as much as possible from your DNA results.
Why do people want to transfer their DNA data to another site?
If you aren’t sure why you would want to download your raw DNA file and upload it to another place, here are two main reasons that people choose to do so.
Are you looking for a different version of your ethnicity estimate? Uploading your DNA to other websites can allow their software to compare your sample to those of a different sample population – giving you a slightly different estimate and perhaps picking up on some “trace” ethnicity that didn’t show up on the estimate given to you by your testing company.
Some people are interested in finding DNA matches that didn’t test with their testing company. For example, if you tested with Ancestry DNA, you might be interested in finding matching that tested with Family Tree DNA.
This is great for people who are looking for unknown relatives or just want to learn as much as they can about their family tree.
I’ve listed as many places here as I could find. I’ve uploaded my own DNA to most of them.
If I missed one, or if something new comes up after this article is published, please let me know about it in the comments and I will add it. I did not include websites where you can have your health data analyzed, since this is still such a new field.
Most places allow you to transfer your data for free. What do the companies gain from allowing this practice? They get a free addition to their database, which allows their current customers to get new matches and perhaps can attract future customers – a sort of symbiotic relationship.
Here is the list…
Free websites to upload your DNA
Gedmatch
- Price: Free
- What you get: DNA matches and access to many DNA analysis tools, such as a chromosome browser and admixture calculators
- Notes: Gedmatch is not a DNA testing company. Instead, it’s a site where you can upload your DNA from a variety of companies to use their (really cool) analysis tools or compare your sample to those of other users of the site to find new DNA matches. They also have lots of different admixture (ethnicity) calculators.
- Accepts uploads from: Ancestry, 23andMe, Living DNA, We Gene, Family Tree DNA, My Heritage and others
Learn more: Read my post about how to do a Gedmatch upload
Family Tree DNA
- Price: Free, except you can unlock more functionality on the site (like the chromosome browser and MyOrigins ancestry estimate) for $19.
- What you get: DNA matches
- Notes: FTDNA (abbreviation) has a big database of international testers. I have found cousins in other countries here. For example, I have found cousins in Serbia, Russia and Poland on the site.
- Accepts uploads from: Ancestry DNA (V1-V2 only), 23andMe (V-3-V5 only), and MyHeritage
Learn more: Read about how to upload to Family Tree DNA
My Heritage
- Price: Free for some features, but must pay to upgrade for complete access
- What you get: DNA matches (free), ethnicity estimate and chromosome browser included with the upgrade for $39
- Notes: My Heritage DNA has a rapidly growing database which will likely see a big increase in size over the next year or so. If you are looking for living family or want more matches for family tree research, I definitely recommend uploading here. I also really enjoy the way their website is set up, which makes it very easy to try to figure out how a DNA match might be related. If you pay the upgrade fee, you get access to the chromosome browser and the family trees of your matches.
- Accepts uploads from: Ancestry DNA, Family Tree DNA, and 23 and Me
Learn more: How to upload to My Heritage DNA
Living DNA
- Price: Free
- What you get: DNA matches for free, complete Ancestral origins upgrade for $39
- Notes: Living DNA provides cousin matching (DNA matching) for those of us who are interested in finding people who we are related to. Ancestry breakdown, or an ethnicity estimate, is a feature that may eventually be available for a fee (currently unknown how much this fee will be). Some people report having to wait a while for results, so upload soon – and be patient.
- Accepts uploads from: Ancestry DNA, 23 and Me, My Heritage DNA, and Family Tree DNA
Learn how to upload your DNA to Living DNA here.
WeGene
- Price: Free
- What you get: DNA matches and ancestry estimate for free
- Notes: WeGene is a Chinese company and the ancestry estimate results are most accurate for those with Asian ancestry, especially Chinese heritage.
- Accepts uploads from: Ancestry DNA and 23andMe
Can you upload your DNA to 23andMe?
23andMe does not currently accept transfers or uploads of DNA from other DNA testing companies. This is unlikely to change in the future.
There was an exception made for one day (DNA day, coincidentally) in 2018, when they accepted uploads from Ancestry DNA. This may have been a one-time only event, as it has not been repeated.
People who uploaded their DNA that during that day were allowed access to their 23andMe ancestry composition reports and certain traits reports. In order to get 23andMe DNA matches, they would have had to take a 23andMe DNA test.
As of October, 2020, the only way to get access to the high-quality 23andMe DNA
Can you upload your DNA to Ancestry?
No, Ancestry DNA does not accept DNA uploads. Instead, you must do a DNA test with Ancestry in order to get access to your ethnicity estimate, DNA matches and other features on the site.
If you haven’t tested your DNA yet
Testing your DNA is a great way to learn about your family’s ancestry, find living relatives, and build your family tree. I recommend testing with Ancestry DNA initially, then transferring your DNA to any of the places mentioned in this article.
If you think you might want to do a test, consider using any of the following sponsored links. I might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps me support the education that happens on this site:
You can order a DNA test using any of the links below. I may receive a very small commission that helps me support this site, and it is at no extra cost to you, so thank you!
Conclusion
I hope that this list was helpful to you, and that you consider uploading your DNA file to at least one of those sites – or all of them!
If you have anything to add to my list, a question or a comment, please feel free to write me a note in the comments.
Thanks for stopping by!
Jenna King
Monday 5th of February 2024
I am thinking of getting a DNA test done, and I'd use your links but they are only for USA sites. You might want to see if you can get links for UK versions as well - might help you get more commission for giving people useful information on this site
Terry Ann
Tuesday 11th of October 2022
I’ve tested with Ancestry, Family Tree DNA and 23&me. Which DNA results should I use to transfer to the remaining sites?
Herbert Holeman
Sunday 7th of November 2021
Hi, Mercedes. Good information on DNA uploads to different service providers, but I wasn't successful in doing so to (url removed) via the net. Their website appeared to be inoperative.
Dane
Monday 14th of June 2021
Another nice presentation, Mercedes. Still wish you published all your lessons in a spiral-bound, or 3-ringed binder style binding for easy page adjustments, etc. AND... you need to write a book. Simple as that. .
Janet Brown
Sunday 25th of October 2020
Can DNA be downloaded to Geneanet.org? If so what would the benefits be?