DNA Painter is a third-party website that offers a multitude of tools for understanding your DNA test results. But should you subscribe? Read more about what you can do with DNA Painter and if you should subscribe.
I am often asked which DNA tools I use the most often.
My immediate answer is always the Shared Matches tool at every DNA testing company. It is indispensable in helping us create the necessary genetic groups to do our research effectively.
Beyond that, there is only one third-party DNA website that I use just about daily, and that is DNA Painter. We have talked about some of the tools made available by DNA Painter website creator Jonny Perl here on the blog before, and I link to them below. Tools such as WATO and the Shared cM Project are my go-to answers for so many DNA-related questions. I recently played around with the DNA Coverage Estimator tool, which inspired me to reach out to my dad’s cousins to ask them to test. I am currently working on a special chromosome map to help me think through another fun product idea I have for Your DNA Guide.
As I said, I am on the DNA Painter website almost daily.
But should you be using DNA Painter, too? Should you subscribe to DNA Painter? Keep reading so you can figure out whether subscribing is a good option for you.
DNA Painter: Use the free version? Or subscribe?
Let’s walk through some tools offered at DNA Painter and see if they would be useful to your research
Shared cM Project
What the Shared cM Project tool can help you with:
- Understanding possible relationships you have with a particular DNA match
- Testing if the amount of DNA you share with a match is reasonable for the genealogical relationship you think you have with that person
Do you need a DNA Painter subscription to use this? Nope!
(You might want to read about the histograms, too)
Ancestral Tree
What the Ancestral Tree tool can help you with:
- Keeping track of ancestors that you have genetically verified
Do you need a DNA Painter subscription to use this? You get one tree for free, but if you want to create more trees for your spouse, neighbors or friends, or even yourself, you will need a subscription.
What Are the Odds (WATO)
What the What Are the Odds tool (WATO) can help you with:
- Understanding where you fit in on your DNA matches’ tree (when you can see how they connect to each other, but not where you fit in)
Do you need a DNA Painter subscription to use this? Nope! But if you want access to advanced WATO features, called WATO plus, you’ll need a subscription.
Coverage Estimator
What the Coverage Estimator tool can help you with:
- Knowing how much of your ancestor’s DNA is represented in the current databased (through descendants who have tested)
Do you need a DNA Painter subscription to use this? Nope!
Chromosome Map
What the Chromosome Map can help you with:
- Visually seeing the pieces of DNA you’ve inherited from different ancestors
Do you need a DNA Painter subscription to use this? Your first map is free, but again, if you want to create another, you will want a subscription. You will also find that a bulk upload of DNA segments into the Chromosome Map is an oft-used strategy. You will need a subscription for that as well.
Here’s a table showing you which features are available on a free account, and which ones are available with a DNA Painter subscription.
As you can see, getting started with DNA Painter is always FREE, and for many of you, the free version will go a long way to helping you achieve your goals.
If you’re particularly interested in learning more about how to use WATO, consider enrolling in our on-demand WATO Course! We’ll show you step-by-step how to successfully use WATO to find possible family relationships.
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