Honestly, if you're looking at your DNA these days, things feel a little different than they did a few years ago. You’ve probably seen the headlines. 23andMe went through a massive corporate shakeup in 2025—bankruptcy filings, a big acquisition by the TTAM Research Institute, and a total shift in how they do business. Because of all that, how much does the 23andMe cost isn't a single-number answer anymore. It depends entirely on whether you just want to find a long-lost cousin or if you’re trying to deep-dive into your actual biological future.
The price of a kit can range from $99 to nearly $1,000 depending on the "tier" you pick. It’s kinda wild.
The Basic Kits: Ancestry and Health
For most people, the entry point is still the Ancestry + Traits Service. It usually sits right at $99. This is the classic "spit in a tube" experience. You get your ethnicity breakdown and you can see if you have the "unibrow gene" or if you're likely to hate cilantro. It's fun, but it's the bare minimum.
If you want the actual medical stuff, you’re looking at the Health + Ancestry Service. This one typically retails for $199. This is where you get reports on things like Celiac disease, Type 2 Diabetes, and carrier status for certain conditions.
But here is the catch: 23andMe is leaning hard into subscriptions now. They realized that selling a kit once isn't a great business model, so they want you on a recurring plan.
The Subscription Era: 23andMe+ Premium
You’ll see a bundle called 23andMe+ Premium. This usually costs around $229 to $298 for the first year. It includes the Health + Ancestry kit, but it adds an annual membership.
- The initial cost: Usually discounted to around $229.
- The renewal: It kicks in at $69 per year after that.
Why would you pay for a subscription for your own DNA? Basically, they lock "advanced" reports behind this wall. If you want insights into heart health—like Atrial Fibrillation or Coronary Artery Disease—or pharmacogenetics (how you process certain meds), you have to keep paying. It’s a bit annoying if you just want your data and to be left alone, but that’s the current landscape.
Total Health: The "Money Is No Object" Option
In late 2023 and throughout 2024/2025, the company launched something called 23andMe+ Total Health. This is a whole different beast. It’s priced at $999 for the first year, though you can often find "sale" prices around $499.
This isn't just a spit kit. It includes:
- Exome Sequencing: This looks at the protein-coding regions of your genome, which is way more detailed than the standard genotyping.
- Blood Testing: They actually send you for clinical blood work twice a year to track biomarkers like your A1c and cholesterol.
- Clinical Access: You get access to actual clinicians to explain what the heck your results mean.
The renewal for Total Health is steep—usually $499 per year. It’s basically a high-end health concierge service masquerading as a DNA kit.
Are there hidden costs?
Shipping is usually around $10 to $15 if you buy directly from their site, although Amazon often has free shipping. Also, keep in mind the "chip upgrade" fee. If you're an old-school customer from 2017 and you want the new reports, you might have to pay $125 just to get your DNA re-tested on their newer "V5" hardware.
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Wait for the holidays. Seriously. Every year—Black Friday, Prime Day, Mother's Day—the prices tank. You can often snag the $199 Health kit for $99 or the $99 Ancestry kit for $50. If you’re paying full price in the middle of March, you’re probably overpaying.
The Privacy Elephant in the Room
We have to talk about the data breach settlement. In early 2026, a major class-action settlement was finalized regarding the 2023 cyber security incident. If you were a customer back then, you might actually be owed money, which effectively lowers your "net cost." But the bigger point is that your data is now owned by a non-profit (TTAM). For some, that’s a win for privacy; for others, it's a reason to delete the account entirely.
What should you actually do?
If you're just curious about your roots, stick to the $99 Ancestry kit. Don't get sucked into the subscriptions unless you have a specific reason to track your heart health over time.
If you're serious about the health side, check your FSA or HSA (Flexible Spending Account). Since the Health + Ancestry kits are FDA-authorized, they are often eligible for reimbursement. You can basically use "pre-tax" money to pay for the kit, which feels like a 20-30% discount depending on your tax bracket.
Check your health insurance or employer benefits first. Some forward-thinking companies are actually covering these kits as part of wellness programs, so you might be able to get the kit for $0 if you play your cards right. Otherwise, wait for the next big holiday sale to save at least $100 on the premium tiers.