MyHeritage adds Y-DNA to trace your paternal line back

https://blog.myheritage.com/2026/08/new-on-myheritage-trace-your-paternal-line-back-thousands-of-years-with-y-dna/

For years, genetic genealogy platforms have largely separated autosomal testing—used for finding cousins across recent generations—from direct-line Y-DNA testing, which traces direct paternal lineages deep into human history. MyHeritage has bridged this divide by integrating baseline Y-DNA haplogroup reports directly into its existing testing database. Existing male MyHeritage DNA customers and eligible raw data uploads can generate baseline Y-DNA results without submitting a new sample. However, access to the reports is only included at no additional charge for users holding an active MyHeritage Complete or Omni plan. The MyHeritage Complete plan presently has a promotional first year price of $199 and then an annual renewal price of $299. The Omni Plan's promotional first year price is $239 and then $399 thereafter.

The Omni Plan is MyHeritage's all-inclusive bundle. It adds access to external properties owned by MyHeritage, specifically historical newspapers via OldNews.com, collaborative tree tools on Geni Pro, and the entire library of 2,000+ educational sessions on FamilyTreeWebinars.com.  

Because the analysis relies on the limited Y-chromosome single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) captured during standard microarray autosomal testing, the resulting haplogroups represent broad, ancestral branches—often dating back to the Middle Ages or earlier. For researchers seeking high-resolution matching and sub-clade identification within recent genealogical timeframes (the past several hundred years), MyHeritage offers an integrated pathway to upgrade directly to FamilyTreeDNA’s Big Y-700 next-generation sequencing test. The FamilyTreeDNA Big Y-700 test is presently $399. These prices may change. 

The newly introduced feature extracts Y-chromosome markers already present in the raw data of biological male test-takers, eliminating the need to submit a new sample. Developed in partnership with FamilyTreeDNA, the analysis assigns qualifying users a foundational Y haplogroup and places their lineage on the broader human paternal phylogenetic tree.

Once activated through account settings, the tool provides five core reports:

• Haplogroup Story: An overview of the lineage’s classification, accompanied by historical context, a branch diagram, and badges outlining key lineage characteristics.

• Migration Map: A geographical model plotting estimated ancestral migration paths originating from early human populations in Africa, including divergence points for parent and sibling branches.

• Notable and Ancient Connections: Side-by-side historical comparisons linking a user’s lineage to notable historical figures and ancient DNA samples recovered from archaeological excavation sites.

• Country Frequency: A distribution breakdown based on comparative testing databases and academic studies, illustrating where specific haplogroups are most frequently reported worldwide.

These feature may change from the first introduced features. 

Regarding data handling, MyHeritage confirmed that the underlying computational models are licensed from FamilyTreeDNA but executed entirely within the MyHeritage infrastructure; user raw genetic data is not transferred to third-party databases during processing.

Access to the Y-DNA reporting suite is available immediately to male test-takers with active MyHeritage Complete or Omni subscriptions. Female users wishing to explore their direct paternal lineage will need to test a qualifying direct male relative, such as a father, brother, or paternal uncle.

This blog post was written with the assistance of Google Gemini. The post has been checked for accuracy.