At-home DNA testing services have become more accessible and affordable in the past decade. tellmeGen is one of few companies that let you have a peek at your genetic makeup for less than $100 — but is it the DNA test you’ve been looking for? 

While the platform is not as popular as established companies like Ancestry and 23andMe, it stands out because of its claim to be “the most complete DNA test” for personal insights. “Completeness” can be an arbitrary term in the genetic testing space, but there are still numerous factors to consider before you invest in a DNA platform.

In this tellmeGen review, we will explore the platform’s testing technology, analyses, and reports in detail to give you a transparent overview of its products. We have also touched on aspects like pricing, data security, and user reviews so you have realistic expectations of the service.

tellmeGen: Key products and services

tellmeGen is a Spain-based commercial DNA testing service that’s available internationally, although it seems to have the strongest presence in Western Europe. Its Starter kit will help you access information on your ancestry and genetic traits, but you can also uncover some basic health information on its more expensive Advanced kit.

tellmeGen claims to be the most complete DNA test primarily because of the range of health insights it offers. As of 2024, the platform gives you 400+ reports covering different ancestry and health-related themes, such as:

• Maternal and paternal lineage

• Genetic vulnerability to health conditions

• Potential hereditary conditions

Source: tellmeGen

Unfortunately, tellmeGen’s claim to be the most complete DNA test might not hold true from a scientific perspective — mainly because the platform uses genotyping technology to analyze your DNA. Genotyping only analyzes limited DNA material to form conclusions (compared to other advanced technologies available today), so the results you get are mostly incomplete.

tellmeGen also offers a Raw Data service where you can upload your results from other DNA platforms like Ancestry, 23andMe, and MyHeritage for free, as well as access dozens of ancestry and health reports for an additional price.

tellmeGen DNA test review: 6 crucial aspects to consider

We have looked beyond tellmeGen's marketing claims to give you an unbiased overview of its services. Here are the six areas we’ll discuss:

1. Ancestry analysis

2. Health and wellness reports

3. Ease of use

4. Pricing model

5. Privacy and security

6. User experience

1. Ancestry analysis

tellmeGen uses a DNA Origins test to compare your genetic material with the samples of people from 53 ethnic groups across seven regions. You get to view your ethnicity in percentages displayed on an interactive map, which makes the reports visually appealing and easy to interpret.

Source: tellmeGen

tellmeGen can also analyze your mitochondrial and Y-chromosome DNA to provide information about your maternal and paternal haplogroups (the latter can be obtained for males only). This allows you to track your ancestors’ journey through history. You can even learn what percentage of Neanderthal DNA your genes carry. 

While tellmeGen’s ancestry results are interesting, the accuracy can sometimes miss the mark. It can be accurate on a continental level but may fail to differentiate between subregions and identify specific ethnicities. Here’s what one user had to say:

[Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/23andme/comments/mfs2u2/comment/gv8rcxb/)

Additionally, the platform’s DNA Connect allows you to find your genetic relatives from the database. The size of the database is not publicly known, although it’s likely you won’t yield many matches because of its smaller user pool.

2. Health and wellness reports

Both Starter and Advanced tellmeGen kit options come with insights about your personal traits and wellness. Some trait reports may be fun and informational, but others — such as liver iron levels and alcohol dependency — can be practical and help you make better lifestyle choices.

As far as health reports are concerned, tellmeGen offers the following on its Advanced kit:

| Type of report                             | What it reveals                                                          | Number of reports | Examples                                                               |
|--------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Genetic vulnerability to health conditions  | Your likelihood of developing a condition based on your genes            | 85+               | • Asthma <br> • Multiple sclerosis <br> • Narcolepsy                             |
| Pharmacological compatibility               | Optimal dosages for select drugs and the potential for adverse reactions | 75+               | • Warfarin adverse reactions <br> • Statins dosage <br> • Codeine dosage         |
| Hereditary conditions                       | Conditions that may run in your family                                   | 100+              | • Cystic fibrosis <br> • Bloom syndrome <br> • Tay-Sachs disease

The reports contain probability scores that are easy to read but don’t offer any actionable recommendations, which is understandable since tellmeGen is not a clinical-grade DNA platform.

Source: tellmeGen

While the variety is appealing, it’s best to consider the reports informational and not conclusive. As we mentioned earlier in our review, tellmeGen uses genotyping technology to decode your DNA. It looks at select genetic markers, about 750,000 of them, to identify specific variants (i.e., genetic differences) that can affect your health. Since the platform analyzes less than 0.1% of your DNA, it may fail to detect some health risks and provide a false sense of security.

tellmeGen also doesn’t consider lifestyle factors in its health reports, which typically have a high impact on the expression of your genetic variants.

Tip: If you want a more accurate assessment of your health, consider DNA testing platforms that use whole-genome sequencing (WGS) technology. WGS analyzes your entire genetic material, which has about 6 billion DNA bases, to give you comprehensive personal and health insights.

The good news is that you can now access the most affordable clinical-grade whole-genome testing kit with Nucleus. Besides analyzing nearly ALL your DNA, Nucleus will consider your ancestry and lifestyle factors to provide personalized reports with 99.9% accuracy. Order your kit today!

[X](https://x.com/Exploringfornow/status/1781433526140743900)

3. Ease of use 

tellmeGen uses cheek swabs to collect your DNA samples, which is quite convenient. It requires you to rub a swab against the inner sides of your mouth. According to the platform, users can expect results between 30–45 days of returning the kit with the sample. All results will be available via your private account.

It’s worth noting that tellmeGen currently doesn’t provide any tracking services to help you check the status of your order, which some users would deem as a downside. 

4. Pricing model

tellmeGen’s has a simple pricing model but offers a lot of options. Depending on the breadth of reports you want, you can choose between the Starter ($89) and the Advanced ($149) kit. The company also offers child-specific kits and even discounted combo packs with two or three kits.

tellmeGen is relatively affordable, especially if you compare it to pricier options like 23andMe. Still, considering its limited analyses and seemingly small database, you may not derive much value from your investment.

It’s worth noting that the platform also offers separate consultation packages to connect with their network of doctors and geneticists and/or access specific reports prepared by them. Here are the available packages:

| Option                 | Cost |
|------------------------|------|
| Simple consultation     | $29  |
| 3 consultations pack    | $69  |
| Nutrigenetic report     | $69  |
| Pharmacogenetic report  | $89

5. Privacy and security

tellmeGen is GDPR-compliant and takes the prescribed physical, technical, and administrative measures to protect your data and privacy. There’s a high focus on personal data ownership — the platform won’t sell your data to third parties for research or other purposes without your consent.

There aren’t any publicly available records of security incidents associated with tellmeGen. However, users in the U.S. may not be comfortable with the company conducting all its testing in Europe-based labs.

6. User experience

The platform doesn’t have many reviews on mainstream channels, which can be attributed to its limited user base. The tellmeGen reviews we did find mostly described a mixed user experience. 

As far as reports are concerned, many users consider tellmeGen to be less accurate and robust than its competitors. Quality aside, a few customers also report struggling with the provided kit instructions, especially for multi-kit packs, claiming they were misleading and confusing.

While tellmeGen claims to have 24/7 customer support five days a week, many customers shared that their encounters with representatives weren’t helpful.

Here’s a summary of tellmeGen’s key pros and cons:

| Pros                                                                                                                                                                                      | Cons                                                                                                                                                      |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| • 400+ reports on ancestry, wellness, traits, and health <br> • Autosomal, Y-DNA, and mtDNA ancestry analysis <br> • Consultation services <br> • GDPR-compliant <br> • Competitive pricing               | • Uses genotyping technology, so the reports are not the most detailed or accurate <br> • Limited ancestry database <br> • Reported customer service issues

Final thoughts: Should you try tellmeGen?

tellmeGen’s ancestry, wellness, and trait reports are educational and can satisfy many of your personal curiosities. If you’re looking for deep ancestry insights and relative matches, though, it’d be better for you to consider long-established ancestry platforms.

tellmeGen also falls short in many other key areas, including customer service. Most notably, it relies on genotyping technology to analyze only a fraction of your DNA, so its health analyses aren't a complete representation of your genetic predispositions.

If you need more accurate and actionable health information to improve your longevity and quality of life, you’re better off choosing Nucleus. It’s a clinical-grade, physician-approved DNA test kit — perfect for anyone who wants to access their healthiest version with the help of advanced genetic insights.

Compared to tellmeGen, Nucleus provides a more meaningful and actionable overview of your genetic makeup and follows stringent privacy and security regulations in the U.S.

| Differentiators                               | Nucleus                                                                  | tellmeGen      |
|-----------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|
| DNA bases analyzed                            | ~6 billion/~100%                                                         | ~750,000/~0.1% |
| Rare variants detected                        | ✔️                                                                       | ✖️              |
| Clinical-grade testing                        | ✔️                                                                       | ✖️              |
| Genetic counseling                            | ✔️                                                                       | ✔️              |
| IQ analysis                                   | ✔️                                                                       | ✖️              |
| DNA results integrated with lifestyle factors | ✔️                                                                       | ✖️              |
| Privacy and security regulation(s)            | HIPAA-compliant + testing done in CAP-accredited and CLIA-certified labs | GDPR-compliant

[X](https://x.com/nucleusgenomics/status/1782433786434555948)

Nucleus: Your one-stop solution for genetic health analysis

Nucleus is a health-focused DNA testing platform that helps you access industry-best genetic insights from the comfort of your home. By using cutting-edge whole-genome sequencing technology, the platform can decode nearly 100% of your DNA to provide key personal insights, such as:

• Your genetic predisposition to 170+ physical and mental health conditions, such as:

• Cancer

• Heart disease

• Depression

• Migraine

• Insomnia

• Alzheimer’s disease

• Type 2 diabetes

• Rare and high-effect DNA variants that significantly increase your risk of developing rare and life-threatening diseases — even popular DNA platforms miss this crucial analysis.

• Carrier status for inheritable conditions that may affect you or your children

• Genetic traits and IQ analysis

Nucleus also accounts for lifestyle factors like age and cholesterol levels to bring you tailored health reports that can help you take proactive steps toward improving your quality of life.

Source: Nucleus

Nucleus’ reports are actionable and easy to grasp, thanks to advanced data visualizations. If you need further assistance, you can connect with a genetic counselor from the partner network, SteadyMD, and get diagnostic advice for you and your family.

How to get started with Nucleus

While physician-approved whole-genome tests can cost thousands of dollars, Nucleus makes the service accessible at only $399. You can also choose to receive updated reports to accommodate your lifestyle changes or new genetic research.

Source: Nucleus

To get the whole-genome test kit, you need to order Nucleus Premium — here’s what the process looks like:

1. Sign up for Nucleus Premium

2. Provide your personal information

3. Order the kit

You only need to swab your cheeks and mail it back — you’ll receive your reports within 6–8 weeks, and you can access them anytime in your Nucleus account. 

You may also like…

You can learn about other DNA testing services below:

|                                                                                  |                                                                                          |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| [Ancestry.com alternatives](https://mynucleus.com/blog/ancestrycom-alternatives) | [InsideTracker alternatives](https://mynucleus.com/blog/insidetracker-alternative)       |
| [MyHeritage vs. 23andMe](https://mynucleus.com/blog/myheritage-vs-23andme)       | [Sequencing.com vs. Nebula Genomics](https://mynucleus.com/blog/sequencingcom-vs-nebula) |
| [MyHeritage vs. Ancestry.com](https://mynucleus.com/blog/myheritage-vs-ancestry) | [InsideTracker review](https://mynucleus.com/blog/insidetracker-review)                  |
| [Rupa Health review](https://mynucleus.com/blog/rupa-health-review)              | [Invitae review](https://mynucleus.com/blog/invitae-genetic-testing-review)              |
| [Sequencing.com review](https://mynucleus.com/blog/sequencingcom-review)         | [Nebula Genomics review](https://mynucleus.com/blog/nebula-genomics-review)              |
| [23andMe alternatives](https://mynucleus.com/blog/23andme-alternatives)          | [CRI Genetics vs. 23andMe](https://mynucleus.com/blog/cri-genetics-vs-23andme)           |

Featured image source: Gam-Ol