DNA Test Kit Recommendations

[EnglandRivieraOrchard]

I'm looking into buying a DNA testing kit for a friend for their birthday as they have mentioned wanting to do one. Would anyone have any recommendations about which site/company to use in terms of pros and cons etc?
Can you upload your results to other sites to get more information/matches or is this not a thing?
Also, is it best to also get a subscription alongside it?
Obviously cost comes into it a bit but as this is a big birthday I have a fairly big budget.

For further info if needed, my friend has Indian heritage (their parents) so would like one that has a lot of data in that geographical area. They are mostly interested to see what regions of the world/ethnicity match their DNA. I think finding long list relatives would be of interest but not the main reason.

If anyone has any hints or tips, or special offer codes etc please reply, I am a total newbie to this so would love any advice anyone wants to share.

Are they looking more to find DNA matches (cousins etc) or up understand their countries of origin?

Personally I think ancestry is best, then you can upload to other sites like myheritage and gedmatch for more info.

I strongly don't recommend 23andme. You really don't get much for your money.

It's usually recommended to do DNA with Ancestry as you can upload Ancestry DNA results to other sites but Ancestry don't let you upload other companies results to their site.

My heritage are very good

Thank you EauNeu. Its mostly to understand their heritage rather than to find cousins etc, although obviously if they do find some that would be interesting/an added bonus

Thank you that is helpful

I’ve never really understood why people are so trusting giving their DNA away like this 🤨

I know what you mean Mayflower. I suppose some people feel if close relatives have already done a test then their DNA is out there already 🤔

You cant upload to Ancestry but you can download the date and upload it free on a number of other sites including My Heritage, Family Tree DNA and Gedmatch to name a few. Ancestry is has the largest data base. you can get gift subscriptions I would just get them 3 months and if the want to continue after that they can buy more.

data* not date

Unlike giving the government, retailers, your phone company etc details of where you are, who you are with and what you spend, watch, eat etc 24/7, 52 weeks year? How many of these organisations have already been hacked?

I agree with the suggestions to go with Ancestry. They have the largest database and you can’t upload to them, but you can upload your raw dna data to other databases.