AncestryDNA is a DNA test you buy once, then pay a monthly or yearly fee to access your results and family tree tools

The AncestryDNA test kit costs around $99 to $129 when purchased at full price, though sales drop it to $60 to $80 several times a year. That one-time purchase gives you the DNA test itself. To actually see your results and use Ancestry's matching and tree-building features, you need a separate subscription to Ancestry.com — the subscription is not included in the test price.

The subscription works like most genealogy services: you pay monthly or annually for access to a database of records, DNA matches, and tools to build your family tree. The subscription cost depends on which tier you choose and whether you commit to a year upfront or pay month-to-month. If you buy only the DNA test and never subscribe, your results sit in your account but you cannot see your DNA matches or use most of the site's features.

Key Takeaways

  • The DNA test kit and the Ancestry.com subscription are two separate purchases with two separate costs.
  • You can buy the test kit without a subscription, but you will not see your matches or access most features until you subscribe.
  • Subscription prices vary by tier and billing cycle, with annual plans costing less per month than month-to-month billing.
  • Ancestry frequently runs sales on test kits, especially around holidays, so the $99 to $129 list price is rarely what people actually pay.
  • Your DNA results do not expire, but your access to the subscription features does if you stop paying.

How much the subscription actually costs

Ancestry offers three subscription tiers: Ancestry (the base level), Ancestry Plus, and Ancestry Premier. Prices change regularly and vary by region, but the base Ancestry subscription typically runs $20 to $25 per month if you pay month-to-month, or around $15 to $18 per month if you commit to a year. Ancestry Plus adds access to more record collections and costs roughly $35 to $40 per month month-to-month or $25 to $30 per month annually. Ancestry Premier is the highest tier and runs $40 to $50 per month month-to-month or $30 to $40 per month annually.

The exact prices depend on what Ancestry is promoting at any given time. They run frequent discounts on annual subscriptions, especially during Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and around the holidays. If you are considering a subscription, checking their website directly will show you current pricing rather than relying on older figures.

What each subscription tier includes

All three tiers give you access to your DNA results and your DNA matches — the people in the Ancestry database who share segments of DNA with you. They also all include basic family tree building and access to some historical records. The differences are in how many records you can search and how far back the collections go.

Ancestry (the base tier) covers the most commonly used records: census data, birth and death records, and immigration documents for the United States and some other countries. Ancestry Plus adds access to more specialized collections like newspapers, city directories, and records from additional countries. Ancestry Premier includes everything in the other tiers plus the largest collection of records and access to features like ThruLines, which shows you how you connect to your DNA matches through your family tree.

If you buy only the DNA test without any subscription, you can see that you have matches and how much DNA you share with them, but you cannot see their family trees or contact them through the site. You also cannot access any historical records or build your own tree beyond a basic outline.

When you actually need to pay for a subscription

You do not need a subscription to take the DNA test itself. You buy the kit, collect your saliva sample, mail it in, and wait for results. Once your results are ready — usually four to six weeks after Ancestry receives your sample — you can view basic information about your ancestry without paying for a subscription.

You need a subscription if you want to see your DNA matches, access their family trees, search historical records, or build a detailed family tree of your own. Some people buy the test, wait for results, and then decide whether a subscription is worth it based on what they find. Others subscribe immediately because they already know they want to research their family history.

How subscriptions renew and what happens if you cancel

Subscriptions renew automatically on your billing date — monthly if you chose month-to-month, or yearly if you chose an annual plan. You can cancel anytime through your account settings, and your access ends on your next billing date. If you cancel mid-cycle, you do not get a refund for the unused portion.

If you cancel your subscription, your DNA results stay in your Ancestry account permanently. You can reactivate your subscription later and pick up where you left off. However, while your subscription is inactive, you cannot see your matches, access records, or use the tree-building tools. Your DNA data itself does not disappear — it just becomes inaccessible until you subscribe again.

Comparing AncestryDNA to other DNA testing services

Other companies like 23andMe, MyHeritage, and FamilyTreeDNA also offer DNA tests with subscription or membership options. 23andMe charges for the test itself but does not require a subscription to see basic ancestry results, though they do charge for health reports. MyHeritage has a lower-cost test kit and offers a free tier with limited features, plus paid subscriptions for more records and tools. FamilyTreeDNA charges less for the test but has a smaller database of matches.

The main difference with Ancestry is that it has the largest collection of historical records and the most DNA matches in its database, which makes it useful if you are serious about building a detailed family tree. The trade-off is that the subscription cost adds up if you plan to use it for more than a few months. If you are just curious about your ethnic background and do not care about finding relatives or researching family history, a cheaper test-only service might be enough.

Hidden costs and things to watch for

The test kit and subscription are the main costs, but a few other things can add up. If you want to build a detailed family tree, you might need to subscribe to other genealogy sites like FamilySearch or FindMyPast to access records that Ancestry does not have. Some people also hire professional genealogists to help research difficult branches, which is a separate expense.

Ancestry also sells add-ons like the ability to upload raw DNA data from other testing companies or access to specialized record collections. These are optional and not necessary for basic use, but they can add to the total cost if you decide you need them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to buy a subscription if I buy the DNA test?

No. You can buy the test kit alone and see your basic ancestry results without paying for a subscription. However, you will not be able to see your DNA matches or access most of Ancestry's features without subscribing.

Can I pause my subscription instead of canceling it?

Ancestry does not offer a pause feature. You can cancel and reactivate your subscription anytime, but there is no way to temporarily freeze it while keeping your access active. When you reactivate, you will be charged the current subscription rate, which may be different from what you paid before.

What happens to my DNA results if I cancel my subscription?

Your DNA results stay in your account permanently. You can reactivate your subscription later and see all your matches and results again. However, while your subscription is inactive, you cannot view your matches or use any of the site's features.

Is there a cheaper way to access Ancestry records without the DNA test?

Yes. You can subscribe to Ancestry.com without buying the DNA test if you only want to search historical records and build a family tree. The subscription cost is the same, but you skip the $99 to $129 test kit fee. This makes sense if you are interested in genealogy research but not in DNA testing.

Do sales on the DNA test kit ever include a free subscription?

Occasionally Ancestry bundles the test kit with a discounted or free trial subscription, usually for one to three months. These deals are promotional and change frequently. Check their website during major sales periods to see what is currently offered.