The best at-home DNA test kits you can buy

The 23andMe DNA Ancestry + Health Kit tells you which illnesses you're predisposed to get and give you a full look at your ancestry.

First, just to make sure you understand the full costs, if you want to get a comprehensive genetic health report using the 23andMe DNA Ancestry + Health Kit, you will need to buy the kit that costs two hundred dollars.

Knowing what diseases you are predisposed to develop can help you live a lifestyle that will help lessen the chances of their appearance and/or help prepare your body fight back. The kit can also tell you which genes you are carrying that might pass on diseases or other genetic traits that could cause issues, helping you in your family planning.

Even the basic one-hundred-dollar 23andMe DNA Ancestry Kit still gives you lots of interesting and amusing ancestry data. You can also upgrade it if you do decide that you want the health analysis, too.

Spit one gob of saliva into its tube, and you can learn how much Neanderthal DNA you inherited and you can compare your genetic makeup to a few dozen world populations alive today. And when you and a family member each use a 23andMe DNA Ancestry Kit, you can see how much DNA you have in common or how much you differ based on genetics inherited from shared ancestors.

A reporter for Business Insider tried the test and found it very interesting and helpful. An Insider Picks writer gave it to a friend to test and came away impressed by all the information that was gleaned from the test. A Wirecutter review said that the basic 23andMe kit was lower priced than many, but also mentioned that a disproportionate amount of the company's "reference population database" was Euro-centric.

Pros: Great access to information on medical issues, includes data on Neanderthal ancestry

Cons: Additional costs for health info, customer service complaints

The MyHeritage DNA Test Kit not only costs less than all the other tests on our list, but it also gives you access to all its results without additional fees.

Yes, technically the MyHeritage DNA Test Kit only costs twenty bucks less than two of the other kits on our list, and twenty dollars really isn't a big expense, especially when we're talking about data covering thousands of years of heritage and populations spread across the globe. But let's remember that one of those other kits requires an additional subscription fee for access to full results while the other requires an upgrade cost to get the full picture of your genetic makeup.

With the MyHeritage DNA Test Kit, the purchase price grants you full access to all the info the test gleans about your genes. And in this case, there are two distinct areas the testing covers. First, your MyHeritage DNA Test Kit will give you a detailed snapshot of your ethnic background, including information sourced from 42 regions. Second, the kit has a comprehensive DNA matching feature that can help you locate relatives based on shared genetics.

You can learn about and potentially connect with everyone from a second cousin twice removed to a long-lost sister to a great-great-uncle. And the more people who use this test, the more potential matches it will make in the years to come, no additional fee required for those who have already submitted their genetic data.

A review from TheGadgeteer praised the MyHeritage DNA kit's ease of use and said it is a good way to locate relatives and build a family tree. A FamilyHistoryDaily article noted the system's "wonderful tools to connect your research to your DNA matches."

Pros: Affordable price point, reliable DNA matching tools, large global database

Cons: Long test result wait times

You can take the Rapid DNA Testing Paternity DNA Test in the privacy of your home to determine the paternity of a child in a matter of weeks.

Paternity testing is rarely something that's done under joyous circumstances. Rather it's usually a step taken in the midst of a tense, potentially heart-rending and complicated period in your life. So you'll appreciate that the Rapid DNA Testing Paternity DNA Test Kit is a discreet testing system that gets quick results.

You'll also appreciate how easy the test is to use, especially as one of the two people being tested will likely be an infant or toddler. With a quick swab of the child's cheek and a swab of the (purported) dad's cheek as well, this test can get paternity results in less than a week. The company promises results in just three business days after they get the test, so if you mail it on Monday, you may well know about paternity before the weekend.

Even more important than the swiftness of the results of the Rapid DNA Testing Paternity DNA Test Kit is the accuracy of the results, though. And of those, you can rest assured. As long as you use it properly, this kit boasts a 99.999% accuracy rating thanks to the quality of the materials used and because every test kit is independently tested twice, with results compared to assure accuracy.

It's also worth noting that the results are sent to you discreetly, so you can process the news in private and choose to share it when you're ready and with whom you choose.

With more than 300 reviews posted, the Rapid DNA Testing Paternity DNA Test Kit has a solid 4-star rating.

It's important to note that New York residents can't legally obtain this kit without a court order or a request from a physician.

Pros: Rapid and discreet results, highly accurate testing, painless and easy process

Cons: Cannot be shipped to NY