MyHeritage splits into a one-off DNA kit and an ongoing subscription - and the list prices you see are almost always slashed in near-constant sales.
MyHeritage is a popular genealogy platform combining a one-off DNA testing kit with an ongoing records-and-family-tree subscription. UK customers pay in pounds, and the headline prices are notoriously fluid - both the DNA kit and the Complete plan are discounted heavily and often, so the 'full' price is rarely what people actually pay. The bigger cost trap is the auto-renewal: an introductory subscription rate frequently jumps at the first renewal.
| What you're buying | Typical price | How MyHeritage compares |
|---|---|---|
| MyHeritage DNA kit (one-off) | Around £30 - £80 | List price is higher but the kit is almost permanently on sale; near full price is rarely worth paying. |
| Extra DNA kits in a multi-pack | Lower per-kit when bought together | Buying two or more kits at once usually drops the per-kit price, useful for testing relatives. |
| Complete subscription (first year, introductory) | Around £80 - £130 for year one | The discounted intro rate that unlocks records, Smart Matches and full tree features. |
| Complete subscription (renewal) | Often £150 - £250+ per year | The key trap - the renewal price commonly jumps well above the introductory rate unless you intervene. |
| Free basic family tree | Free (with limits) | You can build a small tree and get limited matches without paying; records and bigger trees need a subscription. |
| DNA features without subscription | Included with the kit | Core ethnicity estimate and DNA matches come with the kit; deeper records research needs the Complete plan. |
MyHeritage has two separate cost lines that people often conflate. The DNA kit is a one-time purchase that delivers an ethnicity estimate and DNA matches - and you do not need an ongoing subscription to see those core results. The subscription, called Complete, is a recurring annual fee that unlocks historical records, Smart Matches, and unlimited family-tree features. You can use one without the other, so being clear about which you actually want avoids paying for both unnecessarily.
Pricing on both is heavily promotional. The DNA kit is on sale so frequently that the struck-through list price is largely notional - waiting days for a seasonal offer or holiday sale can roughly halve it. The subscription is sold on a discounted first-year rate, but the real catch is renewal: the price commonly steps up substantially at the end of year one on auto-renew, so the introductory figure isn't the long-term cost.
The DNA kit on sale is reasonable value for a one-off curiosity test or to find relatives, and its strength is a large international user base that can surface European matches some rivals miss. The free basic tree is genuinely useful for casual users who just want to sketch out a few generations without paying anything.
The Complete subscription is only worth it if you'll actively research historical records during the year - if you just want your DNA results, paying for it is wasted money. And the renewal markup means a year-two subscriber can end up paying far more than a new joiner for the same access, which is poor value unless you cancel and watch for re-join offers.
Never buy the DNA kit at full price - it's discounted so regularly that waiting for a sale, especially around holidays and seasonal events, is almost always rewarded. If you're testing several family members, buy a multi-kit pack to cut the per-kit cost. Be clear whether you want the kit, the subscription, or both, so you don't pay for records access you won't use.
On the subscription, treat the introductory price as temporary and set a reminder before the renewal date, because the auto-renew rate typically jumps. Many people pay the cheap first year, then cancel and re-subscribe later on a fresh introductory offer rather than rolling onto the higher renewal. Comparing the all-in cost of the kit and subscription against rival genealogy services before committing is the surest way to avoid overpaying.
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Compare Pricing Now - It's FreeNo. MyHeritage runs its own frequent promotions rather than matching competitors. The way to pay less is to buy the DNA kit on sale, choose the right product for your needs, and avoid the higher subscription renewal rate.
No. The core ethnicity estimate and DNA matches come with the one-off kit purchase. The Complete subscription is only needed for historical records research and full family-tree features.
The first year is sold at a discounted introductory rate, and the auto-renewal price typically steps up substantially afterwards. Setting a reminder before renewal - and cancelling or re-joining on a fresh offer - is how many people avoid the markup.
It's discounted very frequently, with the deepest cuts around holidays and seasonal sale events. Because the list price is rarely what people actually pay, it's almost always worth waiting for an offer rather than buying at full price.
On sale it's competitive, and its large international user base is a strength for European matches. But prices fluctuate across all the main genealogy services, so it's worth comparing the discounted kit and subscription cost against rivals before buying.
Partly. You can build a small basic family tree and get limited matches for free, but historical records, Smart Matches and unlimited tree features require the paid Complete subscription.
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