23andme, or Gedmatch? Which do you love more?

[Iloko]

Which are you more a fan of? Some people like to dig deep into their ancient origins (hence Gedmatch), while others only care about the past 500 years of genealogical relevancy (hence 23andme)...

Adding poll...

[Neon Knight]

23andMe because it gives confidence levels (GedMatch doesn't) and seems more consistent overall. Doing a few GM tests is like a doctor doing six different tests on you for blood sugar level and saying: "Pick the result you like the most."

[firemonkey]

Doing a few GM tests is like a doctor doing six different tests on you for blood sugar level and saying: "Pick the result you like the most."

The same could be said for testing with multiple companies giving different results. The thing is if you test with one company how do you objectively know it's the best for you? What may give good results for one person might not for another.

With Gedmatch if you are skilled enough(I'm not) you may see a pattern in those 6 different results.

[DanielJ1eH]

GEDmatch fucking sucks. I can't believe people actually use it and take it seriously.

23andme is an actual company. GEDmatch are just a few rinky dink tools made by different people. The tools aren't even made by the same one person but by many. What tool is correct? GEDmatch has NO confidence levels in it's estimations either. With 23andme you get a 90% confidence level for the last 500 years. That's pretty damn good for 99 dollars.

[Taiguaitiaoghyrmmumin]

I like Ancestry better

[frankhammer]

I like Ancestry better

I found Ancestries result nigh on useless.

[DanielJ1eH]

The same could be said for testing with multiple companies giving different results. The thing is if you test with one company how do you objectively know it's the best for you? What may give good results for one person might not for another.

With Gedmatch if you are skilled enough(I'm not) you may see a pattern in those 6 different results.

Companies have actual labratories. GEDmatch calculators are made by people who could have different agendas.

[Taiguaitiaoghyrmmumin]

I found Ancestries result nigh on useless.

Ancestry was more Useful. Picked up 10 percent Middle east, 2 percent north african.

[firemonkey]

Companies have actual labratories.

Even so different companies will give different results, to what degree depends from individual to individual. I get 65% British and Irish(23andME), 61% British isles(FTDNA) and 53% combined Ireland and Great Britain-38% +15% (Ancestry).

Who is more right is anyone's guess. However much we try and avoid it a certain degree of personal bias will come into what companies' results we like the best. Same with the Gedmatch calculators.
Ultimately what we can ascertain about our unknown ancestry is largely based on making educated stabs at it by looking for consistent/prominent patterns.

[Enflamme]

23andme.