GenePlaza review: Everything you need to know

Popular genetic testing services like 23andMe and Ancestry offer helpful insights, but their reports may leave blind spots.

Users are often left wondering about specific traits, health risks, and ancestry, wanting to dig deeper into their DNA and uncover more information. 

GenePlaza steps up with a solution — a genetic app marketplace that lets you upload raw DNA data and purchase DNA reports that answer your specific questions and interests. 

In this GenePlaza review, we’ll explore the platform’s app selection, accuracy, pricing, privacy, and more to help you decide if it’s worth investing your time and money.

GenePlaza: An overview

GenePlaza is a genetic app marketplace founded in 2017 by Robin Duqué and Alain Coletta.

It lets you upload your DNA data from services like 23andMe, purchase reports (known as apps) from the marketplace, and learn about specific traits, health, and ancestry insights you are interested in.  

As of early 2025, GenePlaza’s app marketplace features 38 genetic apps, most of which fall into one of these three categories:

• Health apps: Help you learn more about various aspects of your health, from the way you metabolize coffee to your risk of developing spondylarthritis to whether you have deleterious MTHFR gene variants

• Personal trait apps: Help you discover how your genetics influence traits like math ability, neuroticism, and even whether or not you like the taste of cilantro

• Ancestry apps: Help you explore your heritage. There’s an entire suite of paleogenomics apps that you can use to learn about your genetic similarity to various ancient populations in the Paleolithic and Neolithic, Copper, Bronze, and Iron Ages, and Classical Antiquity

Unlike traditional DNA testing providers that offer comprehensive reports, GenePlaza focuses on customizable genetic reports, allowing users to pick specific areas they want to explore. If you haven’t done a DNA test before and have no raw data to upload, the company also offers its own genotyping testing service. 

Here’s a quick overview of key GenePlaza aspects before we do a deep dive:

| Company info                                | Details                                                                                                           |
|--------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Location                             | Brussels, Belgium                                                                                                |
| Year founded                         | 2017                                                                                                             |
| Main product                         | Genetic apps                                                                                                     |
| Types of reports                     | • Ancestry<br>• Health<br>• Traits                                                                              |
| Data compatibility                   | • 23andMe<br>• Ancestry<br>• MyHeritage<br>• [FamilyTreeDNA](https://mynucleus.com/blog/familytreedna-reviews)  |
| Number of apps                       | 38                                                                                                               |
| Cost range                           | €4.19–€32                                                                                                        |
| Genetic test                         | Yes, genotyping                                                                                                  |
| Personalized health recommendations  | No                                                                                                               |
| Raw data access                      | Yes

Bonus — Read our reviews on other platforms that can analyze your raw DNA data:

• Genetic Genie review

• How to read a Promethease report

GenePlaza review: 5 aspects to consider

To help you decide whether GenePlaza is the right choice for you, our review below will focus on five key aspects you need to consider before investing in this platform:

1. GenePlaza health and trait apps

2. GenePlaza ancestry apps

3. Genetic testing service

4. User privacy

5. Online reviews and controversies

1. GenePlaza health and trait apps

Source: GenePlaza

GenePlaza offers a variety of health and trait apps that allow users to learn how their genes impact different aspects of their personality and well-being. See the full range of apps in the table below:

| Category            | Apps                                                                                                                                                                     |
|---------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Health apps        | • MTHFR Insights<br>• Spondyloarthritis Insights<br>• Health Traits                                                                                                             |
| Personal trait apps | • Addictions<br>• Math Ability<br>• Depression App<br>• Intelligence App<br>• Coffee Metabolism<br>• Neuroticism App<br>• Cilantro vs No-lantro<br>• Taste Perception<br>• My Weight<br>• Sleep Zzzz

As of 2025, GenePlaza offers three health apps that determine genetic predispositions to certain conditions, such as MTHFR gene variations and spondyloarthritis. 

The Health Traits app is more comprehensive and lets you explore a large number of traits in various sections, including diagnoses, early life factors, family history, health and medical history, lifestyle and environment, and more. 

The selection of personal trait apps is broader, showing your predispositions for specific personality traits. Each app is typically based on a specific study, and the results include a graph that shows the user’s results compared to the population used in the study. 

These apps can be purchased separately, costing between €4.19 and €32. Personal trait apps are among the cheapest, whereas ancestry and health apps are more expensive.

2. GenePlaza ancestry apps

GenePlaza’s marketplace includes 25+ ancestry apps that allow you to learn about your heritage and genetic connections to different populations. 

Most GenePlaza’s ancestry apps estimate ancestral origins across different historical periods, including:

• Early Classical Antiquity Age DNA Test (Beginner/Advance)

• Late Classical Antiquity Age DNA Test (Beginner/Advance)

• Iron Age DNA Test (Beginner/Advance)

• Copper Age DNA Test (Beginner/Advance)

• Late Neolithic Age DNA Test (Beginner/Advance)

• Early Neolithic Age DNA Test (Beginner/Advance)

• Mesolithic Age DNA Test (Beginner/Advance)

• Paleolithic Age DNA Test (Beginner/Advance)

• Bronze Age DNA Test (Beginner/Advance)

Each test's beginner and advanced versions offer different levels of detail, with the advanced versions offering a more comprehensive look into cultural affiliations and historical gene pools. You can also purchase these as bundles, including Neolithic Age, Classical Antiquity, and My Genesis Origins packages. 

Source: GenePlaza

Besides these time-period-based ancestry apps, GenePlaza also features the following ancestry apps: 

• K30

• K5 Admixture

• SAPDA

• The K35 Calculator

• K29 Admixture Calculator

• Ethnicity Calculator

• Ancestry

Admixture calculators like K5, K35, and K29 break down your genetic makeup into different population clusters, whereas tools like SAPDA and Ethnicity Calculator further refine ancestry estimates by comparing your data to modern populations. 

3. Genetic testing service

If you don’t have raw data from another DNA service that you can upload, GenePlaza also offers a genotyping DNA testing service available in these countries:

• Belgium

• France

• Germany

• Luxembourg

• Netherlands

• Spain

• Portugal

• Italy

• Ireland

• United Kingdom

• Finland

• Czech Republic

• Slovenia

• Slovakia

• Estonia

• Malta

The kit comes with a cheek swab to collect your DNA sample and send it to the lab to be analyzed. It takes approximately 8–10 weeks to get the results, and you’ll be notified via email once your DNA file is ready.

GenePlaza’s DNA service uses genotyping technology, which analyzes only around 700,000 locations in your genome — less than 0.01% of your DNA — a snapshot of your complete genetic profile. 

Pro tip 💡

If you want to learn more about your genetics, consider a test like Nucleus Premium, which uses whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and analyzes six billion locations, or nearly 100% of your DNA.

Nucleus’ WGS DNA test offers detailed insights into genetic risks for 900+ diseases, including rare high-risk variants that most commercial tests miss. It also considers your lifestyle and environmental factors to provide you with actionable recommendations you can implement today to take your well-being to the next level. 

Want the most complete picture of your DNA? Order your Nucleus Premium test today.

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4. Data privacy 

GenePlaza is based in Belgium and abides by strict EU privacy laws. It has a transparent privacy policy that outlines how your personal and genetic data is handled. 

The company states that it doesn’t sell, share, or monetize user data under any circumstances, and one of GenePlaza’s co-founders confirms this on Reddit:

[Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/slatestarcodex/comments/m1i876/comment/gqk6i0c/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)

Users also have complete control over their data and can delete their accounts anytime. Once you do that, GenePlaza will delete all your identifiable data from its system, with the exception of payment information, which the company has to keep to meet legal business accounting requirements. 

5. Online reviews and controversies

GenePlaza has received mixed reviews from both the public and the scientific community. The platform was at the center of a controversy surrounding its now discontinued “122 Shades of Gray” app (formerly known as “How Gay Are You?”). The app was based on a scientific study and claimed to estimate your genetic predisposition to same-sex attraction. 

Numerous researchers and scientific platforms, including Nature, The Scientist, and The Lancet, condemned the app, leading to an online petition on Change.org that resulted in GenePlaza taking it down. 

MIT’s Technology Review has also raised concerns about GenePlaza’s Intelligence App, questioning its validity. 

GenePlaza has limited user reviews online, as the platform does not have official or user-created pages on Trustpilot or the Better Business Bureau. On DNATestingChoice, it’s rated 4.5/5 by the editor, but there is just one customer review available on the site.

Final thoughts on GenePlaza: Should you use this genetic app marketplace?

GenePlaza has a mix of strong and weak sides. If you’re interested in learning how genetically similar you are to various ancient populations in different historical periods, GenePlaza’s paleogenomics apps are hard to beat. But if you are simply interested in learning about your ancestry, companies that specialize in heritage reports, such as Ancestry or MyHeritage, offer good enough insights.

Regarding health and trait reports, GenePlaza provides limited information as it accepts raw data from genotyping services that examine only 0.01% of your genome. If you want a comprehensive overview of your unique genetic profile, whole-genome sequencing is the only genetic testing option that can provide that. 

Nucleus offers a clinical-grade WGS test that estimates your risk scores for 900+ diseases and connects you with a board-certified genetic counselor to understand your results better and get detailed diet and fitness recommendations. You can order Nucleus Premium for just $399—making it the best choice for anyone serious about genetic insights.

Nucleus Premium: Sequence nearly 100% of your genome with WGS

Nucleus is a WGS genetic platform that provides risk scores for 900+ health conditions, including various cancers, coronary artery disease, and type 2 diabetes, as well as mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s disease. 

These risk scores are calculated based on the following:

1. Nearly 100% of your genome, or six billion DNA bases

2. Relevant personal characteristics such as sex, age, and BMI

3. Relevant lifestyle factors such as activity level, alcohol consumption, and smoking

Looking at your genetics, relevant personal characteristics, and lifestyle factors enables Nucleus to provide the most accurate risk scores possible based on the latest scientific research. 

[X](https://x.com/nucleusgenomics/status/1787890704640860584)

Nucleus Premium also includes trait reports that explain how your genetics affect personal traits, including:

• BMI

• Height

• Muscle strength

• Left-handedness

• Risk-taking

• Male-pattern baldness

• Seasonal allergies

• Severe acne

• Intelligence

• Longevity

Nucleus has partnered with the SteadyMD network to give you access to board-certified genetic counselors, and you also have access to actionable health tips provided by Nucleus AI. You can book a consultation with a genetic counselor for an affordable fee, and they’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have about your results.

Finally, with Nucleus Premium, you’ll also get your raw DNA data in VCF format. You can download it and use different services to analyze it further and look up specific gene variants.

How to get started with Nucleus Premium

Nucleus Premium costs only $399, making it the most affordable option in the United States for people who want a comprehensive overview of their unique genetic profile.

Here’s how to get started:

1. Sign up for Nucleus Premium

2. Provide your personal information

3. Order your DNA kit (FSA/HSA eligible)

You’ll get a cheek swab test kit that you can use to collect your DNA, which you can then send to the lab for sequencing. Both delivery and return shipping are free. Once the lab receives your DNA sample, you can expect the results within 6–8 weeks. You’ll be able to access them on Nucleus’ platform. 

It’s worth noting that all sequencing is done within the United States, and your genetic data is never sent overseas. Additionally, all DNA samples are guaranteed to be safely destroyed within 60 days of being received by the lab. 

Nucleus is also HIPAA-compliant and only works with CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited labs in the United States, ensuring the privacy and safety of your data.

You may also like…

Consider reading these in-depth reviews of popular genetic testing services:

|                                                                                         |                                                                                                 |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| [Dante Labs review](https://mynucleus.com/blog/dante-labs-review)                       | [CRI Genetics vs. 23andMe](https://mynucleus.com/blog/cri-genetics-vs-23andme)                  |
| [Top 5 23andMe alternatives](https://mynucleus.com/blog/23andme-alternatives)           | [MyHeritage vs. 23andMe](https://mynucleus.com/blog/myheritage-vs-23andme)                      |
| [tellmeGen review](https://mynucleus.com/blog/tellmegen-review)                         | [MyHeritage vs. Ancestry.com](https://mynucleus.com/blog/myheritage-vs-ancestry)                |
| [Ancestry.com vs. 23andMe](https://mynucleus.com/blog/ancestry-vs-23andme)              | [Nebula Genomics review](https://mynucleus.com/blog/nebula-genomics-review)                     |
| [5 best Ancestry.com alternatives](https://mynucleus.com/blog/ancestrycom-alternatives) | [Sequencing.com review](https://mynucleus.com/blog/sequencingcom-review)                        |
| [FamilyTreeDNA vs. 23andMe](https://mynucleus.com/blog/familytreedna-vs-23andme)        | [Sequencing.com vs. Nebula Genomics review](https://mynucleus.com/blog/sequencingcom-vs-nebula) |

Featured image source: GenePlaza