Y DNA – Family Tree DNA vs Ancestry

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I’m regularly asked about a comparison between the Y DNA products of Family Tree DNA and Ancestry.com.

Update: Ancestry no longer has Y DNA testing, but Family Tree DNA does and this article still provides a good overview.

The price changes periodically at both companies, and as far as I’m concerned, the more compelling purchase criteria are features and functions, not price.  The prices are usually relatively close.

Marker Results

At Family Tree DNA and at Ancestry, marker results are displayed for the person who tested.  Ancestry tests either 33 or 46 markers. Family Tree DNA tests 12, 25, 37, 67 or 111 markers.

Family Tree DNA results are above.  Ancestry, below.

Haplogroup Maps

At Ancestry, the map, haplogroup description and results are all on one page, shown above, while at Family Tree DNA, they are displayed on separate pages.  At Family Tree DNA, the map is interactive.

A second Haplogroup tab at Family Tree DNA also provides frequencies worldwide for the haplogroup.  Ancestry doesn’t provide anything similar.

Frequency Map

Matches

Both companies, of course, provide a list of matches.

At Family Tree DNA, above, your matches have real e-mail addresses that you access by clicking on the little envelope.  You don’t have to contact them through a messaging system.  The TIP calculations provide time to the Most Recent Common Ancestor and allows you to modify that calculation with known genealogical information. We discussed the MRCA function and compared the calculations between Family Tree DNA and Ancestry in the blog posting, “What Does MCRA Really Mean?”.

One of the must useful features is the Most Distant Ancestor field, which allows you to see at a glance if any of these matches share an ancestor with you, or in the geography of your ancestors.

Family Tree DNA has a privacy option, which allows your match to be shown, but no details.  You can directly attach a Gedcom file that is available only to your matches.

At Ancestry, your actual marker values are displayed compared with people you match, so you can see which markers you do and don’t match.  Non-matches are highlighted.  However, not all markers are displayed on the page.  You have to scroll right at the bottom of the page to see the rest. All people at Ancestry are encouraged to upload thier family tree, and attach their results to the tree.  That tree then becomes a part of Ancestry.com, although you can make it private.

Haplogroups are not displayed and neither are SNPs because Ancestry doesn’t test SNPs.  This means that they estimate all of their haplogroups, and occasionally incorrectly.  Complex haplogroup names, such as R1b1a2a1a1a4, mean those results have been hand entered by someone who tested elsewhere.  Ancestry can’t estimate to that level.

Manual Entry Issues at Ancestry

Furthermore, the results displayed, when entered by hand by people who tested at other companies often contain “clerical mutations,” otherwise known at typos.  This is the old GIGO concept – Garbage In, Garbage Out.  People identified with an asterisk have entered their results by hand, including a haplogroup name.

There are 4 markers that must be adjusted at Ancestry for Family Tree DNA results to be equivalent to the same markers at Ancestry.  In other words, the two companies “score” these markers differently.  Initially, you had to know this and compensate.  Then, Ancestry changed and began to do the compensation for you when you enter the results.  That was a definite improvement, but the result is that you have no idea if the results you are looking at are equalized or not.  The message here is that if you see an “*”, know to beware.

Furthermore, you can only have one set of results attached to your account, at least if you hand enter, and therefore if you want to check on matches for different relatives in your family, you need to edit the results from one person’s results to another.  In this case, you must do the compensation math on the markers yourself.  Fortunately, the list of markers is on the edit page, assuming people read, understand what to do and remember to adjust those values.

Advanced Matching

Family Tree DNA, in their last major update, added an advanced matching feature across their products that includes surname, partial name, project and combined tests matching.  This is an extremely powerful tool.  Ancestry has nothing similar.

Haplotrees

Family Tree DNA provides a haplotree.  Ancestry doesn’t test SNPs, so they have nothing to put on a haplotree. Family Tree DNA guarantees that if they can’t predict your haplogroup by an exact match at 12 markers to another individual who has been SNP tested, that they will SNP test, for free, until they can successfully tell you at least which base haplogroup you are a member of.  This test is called the Backbone test.  They seldom need to do this anymore, but I do still occasionally see the Backbone test where the individual’s marker values are very unusual.

You can tell that Ancestry has spent a lot of time making their user interface very friendly, and it is.  Some would refer to this as “dumbed down,” but regardless, haplotrees, SNPs, changing haplogroup names and all of that tends to be confusing, certainly to the novice.  Most of Ancestry’s customers fall into the novice category.  Ancestry’s marketing is directed at the impulse “feel good” purchase.  They do a good job catering to that marketspace and that group of consumers doesn’t have any idea what a SNP is, or that there is anything more than what Ancestry provides them.

Ancestry doesn’t have a haplotree and their customers don’t miss it, at least not until someone who has tested at Family Tree DNA gets ahold of them, they need something more or want to join a project at Family Tree DNA.  Fortunately, now Family Tree DNA does provide an option for Ancestry customers to “transfer in” for a reduced fee.

Haplogroup Origins

Haplogroup Origins is very powerful tool provided by Family Tree DNA and often overlooked.  Haplogroup origins are haplogroup matches, based on STR markers, that point the direction to where your ancestors lived before surnames.  This is invaluable in determining general locations for people trying to find their ancestors in Europe.

Ancestral Origins

Ancestral Origins is another extremely powerful tool provided by Family Tree DNA that is similar to haplogroup origins, but brings the match time closer to the present.  These are the locations of the oldest ancestors of people that match you on STR markers, not based on your haplogroup.  Again, extremely useful for people trying to find their ancestor’s location overseas and/or trying to verify a particular ethnicity, such as Jewish.

Matches Maps

Both Ancestry and Family Tree DNA offer a map of matches, but they are significantly different.

At Ancestry, the matches shown on the map are the current addresses of the people who tested, NOT their oldest ancestor.  Personally, I find this a bit creepy, as I really don’t want someone knowing where I live.  Having said that, it’s a wonderful tool for adoptees and I use this feature constantly looking for location matches for my adoptee clients.  Most recently, I found someone’s closest match genetically in the city where they were born.  That’s a big clue.  Matches are sorted in closest to furthest order and you can click on either the person icon or the name and see additional information on the map, such as the location, the name and how close the match is.

At Family Tree DNA, the matches shown are the locations of the oldest ancestors of the people you match.  This is really much more relevant to genealogists in general.  In addition, a match list can be displayed, and by clicking on either the person’s name, or a balloon, additional information is displayed including an e-mail option.  This is an extremely powerful tool for someone looking for geographic matches or trying to determine which matches to contact.

SNP Map

Family Tree DNA has a new SNP mapping feature.  Of course, Ancestry doesn’t have this, because they don’t test SNPs.  This new mapping feature allows you to map clusters of SNPS.  I selected clusters of 10 of R1a1-M198 just as an example.

This can be beneficial in tracking groups of haplogroup ancestors.  As haplogroups connect with more modern times, this tool will become more powerful and useful to the typical genealogist.

Print Certificates and Maps

Family Tree DNA has a print option for certificates and maps.  While this isn’t particularly important to me, it is to many.

Projects

At Family Tree DNA, aside from personal matches, much of the power of matching comes through projects.  Volunteer administrators lovingly manage these and many, many discoveries have been made through projects.

Family Tree DNA provides oversight so that projects aren’t created willy-nilly, and projects fall into 3 main categories, surname, haplogroup and geographic projects.

Surname projects are obvious, as are haplogroup projects.  Occasionally there are multiples in these categories.  For example, there is a Miller project and then I have a Miller-Brethren project for the Miller families who were of the Brethren faith.

Haplogroup projects often have subgroups studying particular SNPs or large subgroups, such as haplogroup E1b1a (Sub-Saharan Africa) and E1b1b (North Africa/Mediterranean), which are different projects.

Geographic projects are pretty much anything else.  My Cumberland Gap projects are there, both y-line and mitochondrial DNA, the Lost Colony projects, the Acadian project, Native American projects, the Bahamas and Puerto Rican projects, and many more.  Many times academic researchers and population geneticists work with these project administrators.

Projects are absolutely wonderful resources providing the opportunity to work with others who have similar interests to learn more about the people within your group.  For example, the Cumberland Gap group has provided a venue for genetic matching within the region, but we also offer a Yahoo group for project members where we share cultural and historical aspects of the Cumberland Gap area as well as genealogy.

While it is beyond the scope of this Y DNA comparison, Family Tree DNA also provides many tools to project administrators.

Family Tree DNA provides a search feature for projects that includes key words and surnames, plus an alphabetical browse, by category, shown above.  They also display a list of projects that include the surname of the person who is signed on and doing the search.  I was signed on when I did the above search, and you can see that there are 4 projects that include the surname Estes in their project profile, Estes, Jester and the Cumberland Gap Y-line and mitochondrial DNA projects.

In addition, Family Tree DNA provides a public webpage for every project that includes participant grouping capabilities, shown below, colorized matches within groups, and mapping.

Project maps can display the oldest ancestor location of an entire project or of any selected subgroup.

This is a very powerful tool, especially in relation to haplogroup maps.

At Ancestry, shown below, you can search for either groups or individual surnames.  The surname search is a useful tool.  I searched for Estes.  I can see that people by that surname have tested and their haplogroup, but I can’t see their results.  Of course, if I enter Estes marker results, by process of elimination, I can figure out who I do and don’t match from this list. To contact these people, I have to go through Ancestry’s message service.  My experience has been that few Ancestry contact requests are successful.

Unfortunately, at Ancestry, everyone is encouraged to “create a group.”  Anyone can join whether they have DNA tested or not.  It doesn’t matter if their DNA test is for a genealogy line relevant to the project, meaning paternal or direct maternal, and there is no oversight ability or control.  In essence, these are individual or family study groups, not DNA projects, per se.

I entered the surname Moore, one of my brick walls.  The number of “Moore” groups was overwhelming.  It’s clear from looking at these that many people have created what I would term personal family study groups, but sorting through them and trying to find something useful is overwhelming.  There were 25 groups including several who were listed as the Moore Paternal surname group, with 1, 2 or 3 participants in each.  The oversight provided at Family Tree DNA avoids this type of mess.

Compare this to the projects at Family Tree DNA that list the surname Moore.  Additionally, Family Tree DNA tells me that 824 people with the surname of Moore have tested.  Of those, 454 are in the Moore Worldwide project.  Yep, if I’m a male Moore, that’s where I’d want to be – where I can compare to other Moore lines.

Other Resources

On the Other Resources tab, Family Tree DNA has a list of several other resources, all free.  In addition, you can download a free e-book about how to interpret your results, or you can order a customized Personal DNA Report.  None of these additional items are available at Ancestry.

Populating DNA up Trees

One feature that Ancestry has that Family Tree DNA does not is the ability to populate the DNA up a tree.  Obvious pitfalls are twofold.  First, the DNA may not be relevant to people up the tree if a nonparental event has occurred, also known as an undocumented adoption.

Second, the genealogy may not be correct and you’ve just genetically populated the wrong people.  Not everyone views this “tree population” as a positive feature.  Many view this with a very high level of trepidation, understanding that the many incorrect trees at Ancestry will eventually also have incorrect genetic information as part of that family record.  There is also concern that in time, this will actually discourage DNA testing because people will find these DNA populated trees and believe that their line has already been tested, so they will think they don’t need to test.

Comparison Chart

As an easy comparison, I’ve created the following chart to compare the Y-line DNA testing and products.

Feature Family Tree DNA Ancestry
Marker Results Yes, 12, 25, 36, 67 or 111 markers Yes, 33 or 46 markers
Migration Map Yes – interactive Yes
Haplogroup Description Yes Yes
Haplogroup Frequency Map Yes No
SNP testing Yes, Individual SNPs, Deep Clade and Geno 2.0 No
Matching Yes, most distant ancestor listed, direct e-mail Yes, marker comparison provided
Haplotree Yes, includes free SNP Backbone test if haplogroup cannot be predicted No
Advanced Matching Yes, by surname, partial name, project and varying test combinations No, but does have general surname search for participants
Ancestral Origins Yes No
Haplogroup Origins Yes No
Matches Map Yes, location of oldest ancestors Yes, location of person who took the test
SNP Map Yes No
Print Certificates and Maps Yes No
Projects Yes, tools and oversight provided, surname, haplogroup and geographic, includes web page, groups and maps Yes, encourages everyone to create project, lack of organization and tools
Additional Resources Personal DNA Reports, free e-book, Multiple FAQs, Forum, Newsletter, Genographic Project, Glossary, Ysearch, Mitosearch, News, Release Notes, Academic papers, Annual Administrator’s  Conference, Mitochondrial DNA testing (full sequence), Autosomal DNA testing (with data download), Walk the Y (WTY) General FAQ, Mitochondrial DNA testing (no full sequence), Autosomal DNA testing (no data download), normal Ancestry subscription services, “ability” to populate DNA up trees

 

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57 thoughts on “Y DNA – Family Tree DNA vs Ancestry”

  1. I hand entered my husband’s FTdna results on Ancestry because we wanted to compare with as wide a data base as possible. I entered both his Y and mtDNA. His X2c is rare for finding matches on FTdna. 23andMe makes it easier. I try to use all available to me because I am a novice and need this kind of comparison by someone who understands DNA and how to use it with breaking brick walls. I don’t find Ysearch to be very friendly, but that was not part of your discussion. I do appreciate all the things you mentioned about FTdna. Thank you.

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  2. Roberta, thank you for the timely comparison. I have wondered about starting a project at Ancestry to complement my FTDNA groups, but after your comprehensive explanation I realize it would not be worth it to accomplish what I want. After searching Ancestry DNA for the surnames I am interested in, I was amazed at the lack of control and solid grouping. I have been very against tying DNA results to the awful family trees at Ancestry! What a mess this promises to cause and sadly many people will believe them!

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  3. Great job, Roberta! This article is a great service for FTDNA Project Administrators. like me, who have not bothered to use the Ancestry.com DNA service. Rob Noles

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  4. Roberta, my Ancestry results page does not look like yours. Mine doesn’t show a marker chart or a haplogroup. I took one of the free DNA tests that Ancestry offered and have been following your blog to learn and understand more about DNA and how it relates to my genealogy research. Did your page come from Ancestry.com or from their new AncestryDNA site (which they want another $99 to join).

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    • Hi Gail,

      The free test you took is autosomal. This is for the Yline – paternal – tests the Y chromosome of males only. So yes, the pages do look different.

      Roberta

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  6. Thank you for the detailed comparison. I’d like to add that Ancestry.com DNA, which was Relative Genetics until 2008, also “dumbed down” the website for project administrators, too. Via the Relative Genetics website, administrators could compare DNA results of each of their project’s members within the company database, something that is no longer possible at Ancestry.com DNA.

    Reply ↓

      • I’m not even sure what you received from Relative Genetics. If you have STR markers, you can create a YSearch account. In some cases, Family Tree DNA will allow a transfer. Call them and ask.

        Reply ↓

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  8. Pingback: What is a Haplogroup? | DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy

  9. I’m the novice to the extreme. I had all my lines tested in 2006 (before they could die!) Now I want to find out if we are connected to others with the same surname. Ancestry stepped in and changed everything. I’m the only one who has Familytreedna. After reading your report I’m skeptical. Do you have a service that will compare the different test results?

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    • The answer is yes if you’re talking about either Yline or mitochondrial DNA. The answer is no if you’re talking about their AncestryDNA test. The answer is no because Ancestry provides no tools and does not allow you to download your own results.

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  10. Having created an “ad hoc” 12 person surname group study with extremely limited goals, I would say that without a limited goal (tying 4 family groups with the same surname together) Ancestry plus Family Tree DNA should help those with well researched and sourced trees (and I agree that so many Ancestry Trees are absolute garbage). One of the problems I have run into with FT-DNA is that some groups become inactive over time and you will never hear back from the group administrator. So, we re create the wheel and try again. If only it was possible to download 12 people’s matches ( and here we’re talking thousands of matches of varying statistical and actual biological connections) to cross check the entire group, it would make things so much better. I’m sure someone with more programming background than I could post an “easy” way to do this. And as far as I know, Ancestry does allow downloading “raw” DNA results. Where to download them to is a question I would love to see an answer for.

    Reply ↓

    • You can do two things with Ancestry raw data files. You can transfer the results to Family Tree DNA if you haven’t previously taken the Family Finder test there. You can also upload them to http://www.gedmatch.com, or you will be able to as soon as they are accepting files again. Right now the website says that will be Aug. 15th.

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      • I have sent all my samples to Family tree DNA since they were connected to the original National Geographic project. I am impressed with the way they report their results. Point number two, I have not been impressed with Ancestry recently. Their results don’t tell me a thing ( that I want to know). Just so you know, I have only had two matches that were what I consider my family. I have documented (paper trail) proof they are related to me. Unfortunately, I knew my documents were correct already. It does prove to me that DNA is working and I just need to find a way to connect.

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  11. Hello,

    I am in need of some help. Thank you by the way for putting this review up. I am looking to get a DNA test to help narrow down the geographical location my great grandfather was from (mother’s father’s father). I know nothing about him, not his name nothing except that he was Caucasian. Would Family tree DNA be a good one to get? and which of the DNA tests would you recommend from them please? any help would be appreciated 🙂

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      • I have worked now with both Ancestry and Family Tree DNA and am enjoying the ancestry more because of the easy access to my matches trees. On Family Tree DNA many people don’t bother to post their GEDCOM, and if they do you can only see their direct line. This makes doing the research much more difficult.

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  13. ancestrydna has come a long way, would you please do a new comparison as of October 2014? thank you very much!

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      • That makes sense then! I am very new to Genetic Genealogy, and have been reading everything I can get my hands on to help me understand, and I have watched your u-tube videos for hours, and read all the comments that others were leaving and so many people were bashing ancestry. Since I made the post I have watched the segment about the raw data files being destroyed and I understood! It is very sad that all that work was Poof- gone! My son ordered the Y-Dna for himself from FamilytreeDna and the mtDna for me so Im looking forward to transferring our other data from Ancestry over to FamilytreeDna. Thank you very much for allowing me to comment and for your teaching and info videos!

        Reply ↓

  14. Hi, I wish to have my DNA tested and compared to current DNA databases, but, I would like to also have my DNA compared to the ancient DNA databases that DNA experts have developed and used over time for comparisons to the Iceman and Kennewick man. Can you give me advice or guidance of how to accomplish this?

    Regards, Carolyn

    Reply ↓

    • Right now, the only comparisons for those types of kits is at GedMatch. You upload your results and do that comparison yourself. Instructions are in the articles I’ve written about how to do that. Search for GedMatch in on my blog. It’s fully searchable.

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  15. Hi, This is perhaps a stupid question but here goes. Quite a while ago I did the Ancestry YDNA test. The results page showed hundreds of people who “matched”. But none of them shared my surname. And yet they act like this information is useful somehow even if the surnames don’t match. I’m thinking of getting a newer FTDNA YDNA test, but in the chart above it looks like their test results are the same. What explains the lack of matching surnames, and why is a person with “matching” YDNA but different surnames of use to my research either in general or on my paternal line? Also is it worth getting the extra marker test? Thanks for any help.
    – Vick Bennison

    Reply ↓

    • There will be different people who have tested at Family Tree DNA. Their data base is larger than Ancestry’s Y ever was. In addition, you may not match because the right family member hasn’t tested yet, or you may not match because you genetics don’t match your surname line. Find the project for your surname and look to see if someone known to be from your line has already tested.

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  16. What a great site, my problem is I have a relative willing to have a DNA test he is the only male alive belonging to my family but because my grandfather was born to one of his older sisters and brought up with parents that were really grandparents the surname used by my family will not be correct, what are the chances of getting a surname that will match with whoever was grandads father.?

    Reply ↓

    • We can tell the genetic surname about one third of the time. You’ll never know if you don’t test, and the data base grows every day. The only company doing Y DNA testing is Family Tree DNA so test there.

      Reply ↓

  17. I am a member of familytreedna Clark(e) project, my kit #53162, I can’t find my y-dna page with
    other members of my haplogroup, like I used to be able to, what happened? Do I have to pay again
    and start over? If thats the case, forget it.

    Reply ↓

  18. I have been reading the pros & cons I like so far the family tree Y DNA however my Q. is what happens to your DNA & where is it stored, & can my DNA be seen or taken without my knowledge. Thank you. Melissa C.

    Reply ↓

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  21. I’ve done a DNA test at Ancestry. It seems family connections relate to my maternal line. Is this because I am a female? To get more data regarding my paternal line I’m assuming I need to test a close male relative. My father is deceased. I do have a living nephew from a deceased brother. If I have my nephew tested, would it help with paternal surname lineage? Other than that I a few male cousins on my paternal side. Along with your answer, which test would you suggest and from where. Also, should I have mine retested at another site, i.e. familyTree or a better suggestion. and which test should I ask for? Appreciate any help you can give me on this confusing question.

    Reply ↓

  22. I have had several different family members take the Family Tree DNA test with some success and some confusion. I entered my husband’s aunt into the Ancestry DNA because we wanted to verify that her grandmother was an American Indian. (Cherokee was written on the back of her picture)
    Ancestry DNA seems to provide the information on the percentages of nationalities for the participant.
    I would like to have the DNA from both sites share the data. I believe this will provide more information than just the one site.
    How do I go about sharing this, or do the two sites communicate with one another?

    Reply ↓

  23. I wanted to know which website/ services are best for giving really specific y dna haplogroup or even matching you with people with similar haplogroup?

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    • It is my understanding that Ancestry also owns Family Tree. If this is the case. Will they share the DNA results when requested?

      Reply ↓

      • That is incorrect. Ancestry does NOT own Family Tree DNA. Ancestry used to own Family Tree Maker software, but they recently discontinued supporting that software. Family Tree DNA is an entirely different company and has absolutely no connection to Ancestry.

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  24. I’m a male and would like to test and see where my ancestors came from. There are several choices with Family Tree DNA. With the Y test, there is a 111 marker test, and 67 and 37 marker tests. Which is the best one one to get? Is the 111 marker test worth the extra cost? Should I do the maternal test as well? And If I do any or both of the above, will the Famliy Tree DNA test be of any value?

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  25. My husband and I have had the Ancestry DNA tests done and I am looking to shed a spotlight on my husband’s grandfather. Specifically, who was this guy? He arrived from Germany/Austria on a forged passport in 1911. He then changed his name after he arrived. There are no known paternal relatives (he came over solo). He died in NYC in 1924 when his only child was 6. I know the Y test would indicate the area where this man was born/from, but would it provide the surname of a father or brother in that same area? If so, should I spring for the 37 marker or the 67?

    Reply ↓

    • Whether or not your husband matches men with his surname is a function of whether anyone from that line has tested, or enough people to form a group that is compelling. You’ll never know if you don’t test. You can start with 37 and upgrade if you wish, later, or you can just do the 67 now. It’s a matter of your personal style. If you have several 37 marker matches with different surnames, and some of them have tested at 67, you’ll need to upgrade to se which matches remain.

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  26. I would like to know if I am related to someone in the early 1800’s. Can I ask if some of the names I know are related over the years to this person have been tested?

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  27. Just curious if the comparisons you made in this excellent article still stand more or less true 6 years later in 2018?

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  28. Thanks for the great site.

    FTDNA allows raw data upload from AncestryDNA for a small fee. I have done this. Additionally, they offered a ‘y-dna’ transfer for a small fee. I have a 2018 AncestryDNA raw data file. I have manipulated the data to preview my Y-snp’s. I don’t understand how to interpret this data to convert to the DYS marker positions requested at FTDNA. They ask for ‘dys19a’ and ‘dys19b’ etc…

    Is there a way to convert/interpret this info?

    Thanks.

    Here is a sample of the type of output I have after conversion:

    Y-SNP Derived RSID Chromosome Position Genotype
    CTS6/Z2469/S3403/ No rs569336697 Y 2657349 T
    M167/SRY2627 No rs1800865 Y 2658271 G
    L201 No rs867128490 Y 2658285 C
    M177/SRY9138 No rs796315676 Y 2658869 G

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Robert. Actually, the transfer of autosomal DNA is free to Family Tree DNA. V1 is entirely compatible, but V2 after Mayof 2016 is not and you’ll only receive about 20% of your matches as compared to if you tested at Family Tree DNA – so I don’t recommend transferring the V2 kits but retesting. You know the match you’ll miss will be he one you really need. As for Y, I believe that you can transfer but you also have to upgrade because not all of the markers were tested. As for what you did with the Ancestry Y SNPs, no, there isn’t a reliable conversion because they aren’t testing for the Y. The Y tests aren’t on the same chips as the autosomal tests. It’s apples and oranges.

      Reply ↓

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