What AncestryDNA subscription gives you

AncestryDNA is a DNA testing service that matches your genetic information against a database of millions of other people to find relatives and trace your family tree. When you buy an AncestryDNA kit, you receive a physical test tube to collect a saliva sample, mail it to the company's lab, and then access your results online. The subscription part comes after: you pay a monthly or annual fee to keep using the site's tools to build your family tree, view matches, and search historical records.

The initial DNA test itself is a one-time purchase, usually between $99 and $199 depending on sales and promotions. After your results arrive (typically 4 to 8 weeks), you can view basic information for free for a limited time. To continue using the full site — to message relatives, build a detailed family tree, and search the company's collection of historical documents — you need an active subscription.

Key Takeaways

  • AncestryDNA requires both a one-time DNA kit purchase and a separate subscription to access most features after your results arrive.
  • Subscription plans range from month-to-month to annual options, with annual plans costing less per month than paying monthly.
  • Your DNA results themselves do not expire, but access to matching tools, messaging, and the family tree builder requires an active subscription.
  • You can pause or cancel your subscription at any time without losing your DNA results or the information you have already entered.

Subscription tiers and what each one costs

AncestryDNA offers three subscription levels: AncestryDNA (the basic tier), AncestryAncestry

The basic AncestryDNA subscription lets you view your DNA matches, message relatives, and build a family tree with unlimited names. Ancestry+ adds access to historical records — documents like census records, birth certificates, and immigration papers — that help you fill in your tree. Ancestry+ Premium includes everything in the lower tiers plus additional record collections and tools like ThruLines, which shows you how you connect to a relative through your shared ancestors.

You can choose to pay month-to-month or commit to an annual plan. Annual plans cost less per month overall, but require paying the full year upfront. Month-to-month plans cost more per month but let you cancel without penalty at any time.

How to set up and manage your subscription

After you order a DNA kit and mail in your sample, you create an account on Ancestry.com with an email address and password. Once your results are ready, you log in and see your DNA matches and basic information. At that point, the site prompts you to choose a subscription level if you want to continue beyond the free preview period.

You can manage your subscription through your account settings. If you want to pause your subscription temporarily without canceling, Ancestry offers a pause option that holds your subscription for up to three months. You can also downgrade to a lower tier, upgrade to a higher one, or cancel entirely. Changes take effect when ready, and you will not be charged again after cancellation.

If you have already built a family tree or entered information into your account, that data stays with you even if your subscription lapses. You can reactivate your subscription later and pick up where you left off.

What happens to your DNA results if you cancel

Your DNA results themselves never expire or disappear. The genetic information Ancestry extracted from your sample remains in their database permanently, and you can view your raw DNA data even without a subscription. However, without an active subscription, you lose access to the matching tools that show you which other people in the database share DNA with you.

If you cancel and then resubscribe later, your matches will be there waiting for you. The database grows constantly as new people take the test, so you may see new matches appear when you return. Your family tree and any notes you entered also remain in your account, though you cannot edit or expand them without a subscription.

Comparing AncestryDNA to other DNA testing services

Other companies offer DNA testing with different subscription models. 23andMe sells a DNA kit and offers some results for free, with optional paid subscriptions for health reports and ancestry features. MyHeritage charges for the DNA kit and offers a free tier with limited features, plus paid subscriptions for more matches and records. FamilyTreeDNA charges for the kit and offers a free basic account, with paid upgrades for additional tools.

The main difference is how much you pay upfront versus how much you pay monthly. AncestryDNA tends to have the largest database of DNA matches because it has the most users, which can mean more relatives to find. However, the subscription cost adds up over time, especially if you want the Premium tier. If you only want to take a DNA test once and see results without ongoing payments, some competitors offer better one-time pricing, though they may have smaller match databases.

Common reasons to pause or cancel your subscription

Many people pause their AncestryDNA subscription after they have finished building their family tree or found the relatives they were looking for. Since the pause feature holds your subscription for up to three months without charging you, it is a good option if you think you might want to return later. After three months, you can pause again or let it expire.

Others cancel because the monthly cost adds up, especially if they subscribed to the Premium tier. You can always cancel and rejoin later — your DNA results and tree stay in your account. Some people also cancel after they have extracted the information they needed and moved their family tree to a free service like FamilySearch or Gramps, which are genealogy software programs that do not require subscriptions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use AncestryDNA without paying for a subscription?

You can view your DNA results and basic match information for a limited time after your results arrive, but you cannot access most features without a subscription. The free preview period varies, but is usually a few weeks. After that, you need an active subscription to message matches, build a family tree, or search historical records.

Do I lose my DNA results if my subscription expires?

No. Your DNA results and raw genetic data stay in your account permanently. You lose access to the matching tools and family tree builder, but you can reactivate your subscription at any time and see everything you entered before. Your matches will still be there, and new matches may have appeared while you were away.

What is the difference between pausing and canceling?

Pausing temporarily stops your subscription for up to three months without charging you. Canceling ends your subscription when ready. With either option, your data stays in your account. Pausing is useful if you think you might return soon; canceling is better if you are done for now and do not want to be charged.

Can I change my subscription level after I sign up?

Yes. You can upgrade to a higher tier or downgrade to a lower one at any time through your account settings. Changes take effect when ready. If you upgrade mid-month, you may be charged a prorated amount for the remainder of your billing cycle.

Is my DNA information safe with Ancestry?

Ancestry stores your DNA data in encrypted form and has privacy policies that govern how it is used. However, DNA databases can be accessed by law enforcement in some cases, and data breaches are always a possibility. Review Ancestry's privacy policy and terms of service to understand how your information may be used before you submit your sample.