A DNA test cannot tell you which French village your ancestors came from. What it can do is connect you with living cousins who share your French roots, confirm family lines you have documented, and sometimes break a brick wall that records alone could not. The best test for you depends on where you live, what you already know, and which databases hold the most relevant cousins. This guide compares the options honestly, starting with the one we recommend first for French ancestry.
The short answer
For French ancestry, we recommend MyHeritage DNA first. It is strong in continental Europe, it owns the French genealogy company Filae so French records sit next to your matches, it accepts free uploads of DNA data from other companies, and it provides a chromosome browser. The best strategy for most people is to test with one company, then upload the same data to the others that accept uploads. If your main goal is the broadest possible pool of North American cousins, AncestryDNA is the largest database, and you can upload its data to MyHeritage for free.
How the main options compare
| Test or service | Best for | Database (approx., March 2026) | Main caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| MyHeritage DNA | Europe and French roots; French records alongside DNA; free uploads; chromosome browser | 9.6 million kits available for matching | Smaller than AncestryDNA; some advanced tools need a subscription |
| AncestryDNA | The largest pool of cousins, especially in North America; large family trees | About 30 million kits | No chromosome browser; does not ship to France |
| 23andMe | Chromosome browser and optional health reports | Just under 14 million kits; about 11.1 million in relative matching | Weaker for genealogy; ownership changed after a 2025 bankruptcy; privacy concerns |
| FamilyTreeDNA | Y-DNA and mtDNA tests for paternal and maternal lines; accepts uploads | Family Finder database just under 1.8 million | Smaller autosomal pool; Y-DNA and mtDNA are targeted tests |
| GEDmatch | Free comparison of data from different companies | Estimated at about 2.2 million | Smaller; relies on people uploading |
These figures come from The DNA Geek’s March 2026 database-size update, which draws on numbers reported by the companies, and they include uploads. They change often, so check each company’s own site before you buy. See also ISOGG’s autosomal DNA testing comparison chart.
MyHeritage DNA: our first choice for French ancestry
MyHeritage’s strengths line up with the needs of French research. It reports 9.6 million kits available for genealogical matching, and an independent tracker describes it as probably the best bet for people living in continental Europe. Because MyHeritage acquired Filae in 2021, its French civil and church records are searchable in the same account as your DNA matches. It offers a chromosome browser, tools that group matches into clusters, and features that suggest how a match connects to your tree. Some of these advanced tools require a subscription. Read our full review of MyHeritage DNA for French ancestry.
AncestryDNA: the biggest database, with limits for French research
AncestryDNA is the largest consumer database, at about 30 million kits and larger than all the others combined, so it is the best place to find cousins in the United States and Canada. It offers ThruLines, which suggests how a match may connect to you through a common ancestor, and strong shared-match tools. Its limits for French research are that it has no chromosome browser and, as far as we can tell, does not ship kits to France, so French cousins are less likely to appear there. For many North Americans, the practical approach is to test at AncestryDNA and upload the data to MyHeritage.
23andMe: useful tools, but not a genealogy-first choice
23andMe fell from about 15 million kits in October 2024 to just under 14 million after a 2024 data breach and a 2025 bankruptcy, and it is now run by a nonprofit public benefit corporation that continues to offer testing. About 11.1 million users take part in relative matching, and about 8.8 million allow segment matching through the chromosome browser. Its strengths are the chromosome browser and optional health reports. Its weaknesses for French research are the lack of integrated genealogy records and the privacy and continuity concerns that followed the breach and bankruptcy.
FamilyTreeDNA: the home of Y-DNA and mtDNA
FamilyTreeDNA’s autosomal database is under 1.8 million, but it is the main source of Y-DNA tests (which follow the direct paternal line) and mtDNA tests (the direct maternal line). A Y-DNA test can help decide whether two men with the same surname share a paternal ancestor. It is a targeted test, not a starting point for most people.
GEDmatch and free uploads
GEDmatch is a free site where people upload data from different companies to compare it on neutral ground. It is useful for finding cousins who tested elsewhere, and its tools suit people who want more control over segment analysis. You can also upload your data free to MyHeritage, and to FamilyTreeDNA’s autosomal database. Uploading widens your reach at no extra test cost, but it also spreads your data across more companies, so weigh the privacy trade-off.
A note on Geneanet
Geneanet, the large French genealogy platform, once hosted DNA uploads, but it closed its DNA section in December 2023 and deleted uploaded files. Do not look to Geneanet for DNA matches. It remains useful for French-language trees, as in our comparison of French genealogy sites.
Which test should you choose?
| Your situation | Our suggestion |
|---|---|
| You want the best fit for French roots and French records | Start with MyHeritage DNA |
| You live in North America and want the largest cousin pool | Test with AncestryDNA, then upload to MyHeritage and GEDmatch |
| You already tested with Ancestry or 23andMe | Upload your data free to MyHeritage, FamilyTreeDNA, and GEDmatch |
| You have a specific surname or paternal-line question | Add a FamilyTreeDNA Y-DNA test |
| You live in France | Read the French law note above and our law guide first |
What DNA can and cannot do for French research
- It can connect you to cousins, confirm documented lines, and suggest where to look.
- It cannot name your ancestor’s commune, replace the records, or prove legal nationality.
- It works best alongside a tree and the French records. See our guide to connecting matches to French records.
- French cousins are fewer than in other countries because of the testing ban, so be patient. See how to find French cousins.
Privacy: think before you test
Genetic data is permanent and shared with relatives, so read each company’s privacy policy, decide whether to opt in to research, and learn how to download your data and delete your account. The 2024 breach and 2025 bankruptcy at 23andMe were a reminder that ownership and policies can change.
Illustrative composite (not a real family): A family in Minnesota tests at AncestryDNA, downloads the raw data, and uploads it free to MyHeritage. Within weeks they see several matches with trees rooted in the same Lorraine villages, which they confirm in the departmental archives.
Start your tree first with our French Ancestry Starter Kit, then see the DNA hub. For the whole research method, read our complete guide to tracing French ancestry.
A practical sequence: test, download, upload
- Choose your first test using the table above, checking that the company sells to your country.
- Take the test and wait for results, which typically take several weeks.
- Download your raw DNA data from the company’s settings, and store it safely.
- Upload the file free to MyHeritage, to FamilyTreeDNA’s autosomal database, and to GEDmatch, checking each site’s privacy settings.
- Build or link a family tree on each site, with French place names where you have them.
- Return monthly. New testers join all the time, and new matches appear.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I test while living in France? Not legally under current law. See our law guide.
- Does DNA prove I am French? No. DNA has no weight in French nationality law, as our citizenship guide explains.
- Should I test my parents or grandparents? If you can, yes. Older relatives carry DNA from earlier generations that you may not have inherited, so testing them preserves more of your family’s history.
- Which test shows my French regions? None can pinpoint a village. See French DNA ethnicity estimates explained.
- What do I do with my matches? Use the methods in finding French cousins and connecting matches to French records.
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