FamilyTreeDNAReviews of familytreedna.com

This site needs a negative stars option for FTDNA. If you want to throw your money away, go to a casino or buy a lottery ticket... at least then you’ll have a statistical possibility of getting something for your money. If you want to pay for the privilege of waiting months for your test to be processed, being ignored when you make inquiries, and frustrated by a website that was apparently designed by a sociopath... then FTDNA is the company for you. Their official slogan should be, “We got your money, now go **** yourself.”

Over three years ago I ordered nine “Family Finder” DNA tests from familytreedna.com. Every time that the ethic origins report has been updated, the results are increasing bizarre and obviously inaccurate. The current “Version 3” indicates that I am 11% “English, Wales or Scottish” and my wife is 0% of that same ethnicity. But our son’s Version 3 report indicates he is 79% “English, Welsh or Scottish!”

Despite of all the poor comments here I have to give you four stars. I would like to give you five stars, but I will explain why I don't and where I find that some improvement is needed. First of all to all those people who think this is a perfect world, let me tell you that it isn't Every company will tell you that ethnicity is an ESTIMATE. Basing your DNA findings on that is a waste of money. Don't even take it and spend your money if you are taking it too serious. Have some fun with it and learn about history. You will enjoy that part if you do that. But if you are in for serious genealogical work FTDNA is a good start. Although a bit expensive, your company is the longest one to do DNA starting off almost impossible with your prices. (pricing has really improved) Here is why I gave you the four stars. 1. You are letting other DNAs on into your data bank to use the match system. Although you charge a small amount of money to open up the chromosome browser to compare, you still still have the functions for the haplogroups to show. 2. You are offering YDNA tests and MTDNA tests and keep the DNA in case someone likes to update further. 3. You are still expensive, but in general no more than other companies that offer less, such as Ancestry. 4. You have family trees available. You could improve on the browser with more generations. 5. Your ethnicity part is probably the closest I have to my documented tree, although it is off just like most of them. Here is where you can improve. Your company is indeed to be used by more advanced DNA users. But you could make it easier for less advanced users. Change your numbers to an understandable amount of cm. Your chromosome browser is great, but I even have problems working with the numbers. If I find a 100 cm I know that I may be working with a normal 50 cm and lower segments as well. I don't think it should be that hard to adjust the numbers within your system? Match system is hard to understand if someone doesn't know how to match. I have not problems, but I can see that a lesser advanced user has problem finding the proper setting. Overall, your website could be using an improvement. Here I am talking for all the new people who are trying to work with DNA not really for myself. Your data bank is limited and that makes it not so desirable for someone who likes to work with DNA on a big scale. Unfortunately, that person will have to spend money to do their DNA more than with one company. Based on all the facts that could be changed I am withholding my one star.

Theirs is an extremely poorly designed website. As a total amateur when it comes to genealogy the site was almost entirely meaningless to me, like it would be to many, if not most, people. It really needs to be redesigned and made a lot easier to understand. Hence, I cannot recommend using FTDNA unless you are a committed genealogist, or aim to be, and even then I have no idea if their service is any good.

One month after ordering my kit I still haven’t received anything. On my first complaint, I have received an email suggesting in wait another week more. After I still didn’t get anything and asked for a refund and my email was completely ignored. I don’t know where to turn to get my money back. Very unreliable company. I advice anyone who wants to take dna test to look for more serious company. There are plenty. I wish I did my research.

They are a totally FAKE, we did a DNA test, with a surprise. My wafe was to 35% from Belgium , no english, 55% Scandinavian etc..and 100% europee, when we a year later logged in, she had NO belgium 0% she was 99% Europee. 83% scandinavian. When we wrote to them and asked how is this possible, we got a nonsence answer. For my self it was also different. I was at first ))% Europee, this time 100% I was to 69% Scandinavian, now I am 58%, I had 1% in Estarn Euope, now 0% Etc. AVOID and keep you money!!!

Excellent service , update accurate .The best DNA test I've taken so far.

I have been a project admin at FTDNA for 13 years now and can't imagine being anywhere else. They are the only company that has reputable security and any real form of public spiritedness or commitment to genetic genealogy, There's no other place to run one-name studies, serious surname studies and geographical projects, the only place you will get serious help from committed highly experienced volunteers, and the only company that really supports Y and mtDNA testing with public databases that are major research tools. Sure, we've had our differences as they have turned more to gimmicks like other companies and silly "ethnicity estimates". Sure they are not so good at autosomal - almost everyone does a free transfer from other companies that pump far more money into advertising - but atDNA has never interested me much, you can't do much with it except dig out odd cousins. Even on atDNA, however, I get people to transfer from elsewhere so we can use the chromosome browser. Really the only company for serious researchers.