Black Friday & Christmas DNA Test Deals 2026: How to Get the Best Price

If you've been thinking about buying a DNA test, for yourself or as a gift, the next few weeks are almost certainly the best time of year to do it. Every major DNA testing company runs promotions in the lead-up to Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas, and the discounts are often the deepest of the year.

But not every "deal" is as good as it looks. Bundles can include auto-renewing subscriptions, shipping can quietly double the cost outside the US, and a kit that arrives on Christmas Eve won't produce results until well into the new year. This guide explains how DNA test sales work, what to look for, and how to make sure you get genuine value.

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When are DNA tests cheapest?

DNA testing companies follow a fairly predictable sales calendar. The biggest discounts usually cluster around:

• Black Friday and Cyber Monday (late November). Typically the steepest discounts of the year, and often the start of a longer holiday promotion.
• The Christmas period (December). Sales often continue, sometimes with slightly smaller discounts, right up to the last shipping dates.
• Mother's Day and Father's Day. Note that these fall on different dates in Australia, the UK and the US, so promotions vary by country.
• St Patrick's Day, a popular time for ancestry promotions given the huge interest in Irish heritage.
• Amazon Prime Day and other retailer events, where kits sold through Amazon are sometimes discounted.
• DNA Day (around 25 April), which some companies mark with a promotion.

Outside those windows, prices tend to sit at or near list price. If you're not in a hurry, it almost always pays to wait.

What a "good" DNA test deal looks like

Because list prices differ between countries and change over time, we don't recommend fixating on a particular dollar figure. Instead, judge a deal on these factors.

1. The discount on the kit itself

The headline price is a starting point. Compare it with the same kit's usual price in your country, not with the US price, because they can differ substantially.

2. Shipping and return postage

Australian buyers in particular should check the total at checkout. Some kits ship from overseas, and the cost of posting your sample back to the lab may or may not be included. Ancestry sells through its Australian site, which simplifies things, but always check the final total before you pay.

3. What's bundled

Many holiday offers combine a DNA kit with a subscription to records or premium features. These bundles can be excellent value if you want to research your tree, but they almost always renew automatically at full price when the included period ends. Make a note in your calendar a few days before the renewal date, and decide then whether to continue.

4. Multi-kit pricing

If you're buying for several family members, look for multi-kit discounts. Testing a parent or grandparent alongside yourself is one of the most powerful things you can do for your research, because their DNA reaches a generation further back than yours.

Which kit should you buy in the sales?

A cheap kit is only a bargain if it's the right one for your goals. Here's a quick guide:

• For finding relatives and building a family tree: AncestryDNA. Its database is by far the largest, so you'll get the most matches. It's the best first test for most people with British, Irish, Australian or North American roots.
• For European or Jewish heritage, or if you've tested before: MyHeritage DNA. It has a strong international user base and accepts uploads from other companies.
• For health and trait reports: 23andMe offers health-related reports in its higher tier. The company was sold in 2025 after a bankruptcy, so read our guide on whether 23andMe is safe before you buy.

Not sure which suits you or the person you're buying for? Our 60-second quiz will point you in the right direction, or you can compare kits side by side.

Giving a DNA test as a gift: what to know first

DNA tests make wonderful presents. They often spark conversations that families have been meaning to have for years. But they're also a slightly unusual gift, because the results can reveal things nobody expected. A little thought beforehand goes a long way.

Ask, gently

Not everyone wants their DNA tested, and some people have strong privacy views. If you're not sure, consider a gift card or a card explaining the gift, so the recipient can decide for themselves.

Be aware of surprises

DNA matching can reveal unknown half-siblings, adoptions, or different biological parentage. These discoveries are more common than many people expect. That doesn't mean you shouldn't give a test, but it's worth understanding the possibility, and making sure the recipient does too.

Mind the timing

The kit is only the start. After the sample is posted back, processing usually takes four to eight weeks, and longer in the post-Christmas rush when hundreds of thousands of gifted kits arrive at the labs at once. If you're buying for Christmas, it can be nicer to activate and post the kit together in the days after Christmas, and make a little ceremony of the results arriving in late summer.

Check the shipping deadlines

Companies publish last-order dates for Christmas delivery, and these fall earlier for international and regional shipping. Australian buyers outside capital cities should allow extra time. If you've left it late, many companies offer a digital gift option or a printable certificate.

Hidden costs to watch for

A few things can turn a bargain into an expense:

• Auto-renewing memberships. As mentioned above, these renew at full price unless you cancel.
• Feature unlocks. Some services charge to unlock advanced matching tools, particularly if you upload DNA from another company.
• Health upgrades. Moving from an ancestry-only test to a health tier later can cost more than buying the higher tier during a sale.
• Currency conversion. Buying from a US website in US dollars can add card fees and a less favourable exchange rate.

How to avoid fake deals and scams

The holiday season is also peak season for scams. Protect yourself:

• Buy directly from the testing company's official website or a major, reputable retailer.
• Be wary of marketplace sellers offering kits at prices far below anyone else. Some resold kits may already be registered, or may have expired collection materials.
• Don't click links in unexpected emails or text messages claiming to offer DNA deals. Type the company's address into your browser instead.
• Never share your DNA account password, and turn on two-factor authentication once your account is set up.

Get more from your test without spending more

Once your results arrive, you can stretch the value of a single kit considerably:

• Download your raw data and upload it to services that accept transfers, such as MyHeritage. You'll find extra matches for little or no cost.
• Use free records first. FamilySearch, national archives and digitised newspapers can take your research a long way before you need a paid subscription.
• Build a basic family tree and link it to your DNA. Matching tools work far better when they can compare trees.

Our guide to what to do when your DNA results arrive walks through the first steps in detail.

Who to test first (if you're buying more than one kit)

If the sales tempt you to buy kits for several family members, the order you test in matters. DNA is inherited in a way that means each generation carries only about half of its parents' DNA, so the older the tester, the further back their DNA reaches.

• Your oldest living relatives first. A parent, grandparent, great-aunt or great-uncle carries DNA from ancestors that you may not have inherited at all. Their results can reveal matches that never appear on your own list.
• Both sides of the family. If you can, test one relative from your mother's side and one from your father's. It makes sorting your matches into family lines dramatically easier.
• Siblings next. Full siblings inherit different combinations of your parents' DNA, so a sibling's test can pick up cousins who don't match you.
• Yourself last, if budget is tight. If a parent has tested, much of what your own test would show is already covered.

Testing elderly relatives is also a matter of time. Many family historians say their biggest regret is not testing a grandparent while they still could. A sale is a good excuse to do it now.

What to do while you wait for results

Results take weeks, so use the time well. Start a simple family tree with what you already know: names, dates and places for yourself, your parents and grandparents. Talk to older relatives, gather documents and photographs, and note family stories, even ones you suspect aren't quite true. When your DNA matches arrive, having even a basic tree in place makes them far easier to interpret. Our free printable family tree chart is a good place to start.

Our holiday buying checklist

1. Decide on your goal: relatives, ethnicity, or health.
2. Choose the right kit (our quiz can help).
3. Sign up for price alerts so you don't miss the best discount.
4. Compare the total price, including shipping, in your own currency.
5. Check whether a bundle includes an auto-renewing subscription.
6. Note the Christmas shipping deadline for your area.
7. For gifts, consider how the recipient feels about testing.
8. Buy from the official site or a reputable retailer.

Frequently asked questions

Is Black Friday really the cheapest time to buy a DNA test?

Historically, Black Friday and the weeks that follow have produced some of the deepest discounts of the year on the major kits. Prices can also drop around Mother's Day, Father's Day and other holidays, so if you miss the November sales, another opportunity usually isn't far away.

Will the kit expire if I give it as a gift?

Collection kits do have a shelf life, but it's usually generous. Check the kit's instructions, and avoid buying from unofficial resellers who may be selling old stock.

Can I buy one kit and share it between two people?

No. Each kit is for one person's sample, and each person needs their own account or profile. Many companies do let one account manager look after several people's results, which is handy for testing elderly parents.

Can I return a DNA kit if I change my mind?

Return policies vary by company and country, and usually only apply to unopened, unregistered kits. Check the policy before buying, especially for gifts.

Prices and promotions change frequently. TreeVeritas may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. This never affects our recommendations.