Privacy Policy

This is a privacy policy for GuideToGenetics.com, not for any DNA testing company. We are an independent consumer research site. We do not administer genetic tests, and we do not collect, receive, or store anyone's genetic or DNA data. If you are looking for information about how a specific test provider (AncestryDNA, 23andMe, MyHeritage, and others) handles the DNA data they collect, see our DNA Testing Privacy Checklist instead, which compares provider policies side by side.

What we collect

Newsletter signups (optional)

If you sign up for our newsletter, we collect your email address. It is stored by MailerLite, our email service provider, and used to send the newsletter and occasional related updates. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in any email.

Contact form submissions

When you submit our contact form, the information you provide (name, email address, and message) is routed through our shared form infrastructure solely to deliver your message to us and let us respond.

Analytics

We use analytics to understand which articles and tools get used. Analytics data is aggregated; we do not tie it to identifiable visitor profiles and we do not sell it.

Cookies

We use a small number of cookies and local storage entries:

• Essential: remembering choices you make in our interactive tools (Test Finder, Comparison Table, Cost Calculator, Relationship Predictor) between visits.
• Email provider: MailerLite may set a cookie if you submit the newsletter form, to confirm your subscription.
• Analytics: used to count page views and aggregate behavior.

Affiliate links

Outbound links to DNA test merchants route through a tracked /go/[slug] redirect. When you click one, the destination merchant (or their affiliate network) sets their own cookie to track the referral, on whatever terms that merchant or network uses; we don't control those cookies. Every page carrying an affiliate link shows our FTC-compliant affiliate disclosure above the fold.

Third-party links

Articles link to external sites: test-provider pages, FDA and CDC publications, professional-society statements, and similar sources. Those sites have their own privacy practices, which we don't control. Review a site's own policy before submitting personal information there, and see our DNA Testing Privacy Checklist for how the major test providers compare.

Data retention

Newsletter subscribers are retained until they unsubscribe. Contact-form messages are kept only as long as needed to respond to you and reference past conversations.

Your rights

Depending on where you live (EU, UK, California, and others), you may have rights to access, correct, export, or delete personal data we hold about you. Email us via the contact form and we'll handle it.

Children

GuideToGenetics is not directed at children under 13. We don't knowingly collect data from them. If you believe a child has submitted information, contact us and we'll delete it.

Changes to this policy

If we materially change this policy, we'll update the date at the top of this page.

Contact

Questions about this policy? Get in touch.