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Which DNA test kit should you get? This guide can help.

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Find out the differences between DNA tests and which one is best for you.

have become increasingly popular over the past few years and were a surprisingly popular gift item during the holiday season. 

Though DNA tests are being added to more and more people's bucket lists, the sheer number of kits you can choose from is overwhelming. The result? A lot of interested folks opt out simply because they're not sure which kit to buy. (Even

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And that sucks, because finding out the whos, whats, and wheres that made you into the person you are is way too awesome to pass up.

We did some digging to bring you the ultimate DNA test comparison guide. We've looked at five of the most popular DNA test kits out there:

to give you the rundown on the differences between each kit so you can decide which one is the best for you. 

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of each kit, it's important to understand the fancy terms that will be mentioned frequently so you can get a handle on how DNA testing kits work.

is the most basic and most popular means of genetic testing, commonly known as the family finder. Autosomal DNA tests look at 22 pairs of chromosomes not involved in determining a person's sex. It is used for cousin and distant relative matching as well as mixture percentages, or your ethnic mix (as shown in those fancy pie charts from the commercials), plus common genetic traits, like heritable diseases and eye color. Each kit evaluated below does autosomal testing.

. These are the DNA strands passed down from mother to child. There's very little chance that these could be altered, so your direct maternal line can be traced back quite far. 

testing focuses on the Y chromosome, which you probably recognize as the "male" chromosome, and can guess that this test traces

. These are the DNA strands passed down from father to son, so your paternal line can be traced. However, it is important to note that only males can use a Y-DNA test directly.

Note: While autosomal testing shows who your relatives are, remember that this is a mix of both sides — and does not necessarily show you which side of the family they came from. Another thing to note is that mtDNA and Y-DNA tests can trace back anywhere from

, while autosomal tests can only trace back to 5-8 generations. 

Possibly the most well-known DNA service (and for good reason) most people use

to get that coveted pie chart and to uncover distant relatives hiding in their family tree. (Remember the woman who discovered she's related to George Washington?) Just fill the tube with your spit, send it back for testing, and you'll receive results in 6-8 weeks. Results are kept indefinitely, so you can log on at any time to see or update your family tree.

AncestryDNA pulls results from a very large genealogical pool (

) and from some 700,000 locations in 150 ethnic regions (

. DNA matches can be linked online to create your family tree, and if a family match is also signed up on Ancestry.com, you have the option to reach out and connect. Results also never go away and can be viewed indefinitely, as long as you keep up your subscription. Options to contact database matches are great, making this one of the best tests for adopted individuals to connect with biological relatives.

It does not offer separate mtDNA or Y-DNA tests, so if you're looking for direct tracing of your mother or father's direct line or results more specific to your maternal or paternal side, AncestryDNA may not be able to give those details. Also, people of East Asian descent may find AncestryDNA frustrating because they haven't sample enough people yet to provide specific enough data for that part of the world.

A best seller on Amazon, the AncestryDNA kits normally go for

, but are frequently on sale both on Amazon and Ancestry.com.

Called 23andMe as a nod to each person's unique set of 23 chromosomes,

is the only kit in this lineup to offer health screenings aside from autosomal testing. Fill the tube with your spit, send it back for testing, and get your results in 6-8 weeks. Results are kept indefinitely, so you can log on at any time to see or update your family tree.

One super unique thing about 23andMe is that it does health and wellness screenings. Though the basic version just traces ancestry, a more deluxe option includes the health screening.  23andMe's health tests can give valuable information about genetic illnesses, health risks, carrier status on health conditions, or traits that may run in your family — providing you with an important heads up about any checkups you may want to schedule.

23andMe's genealogical community is significantly smaller than that of AncestryDNA, so results are not being pulled from nearly as many places across the world. However, this is the

23andMe is possibly the easiest to find, sold at retailers like Target, Walgreens, and CVS. Though the starting price on these sites is $29.99, the lab fee will add up to either $69 or $169 — $10 cheaper than the base price on 23andMe's official website, depending on if you choose just the ancestry test or add the health screening to that. 23andMe's official website and Amazon offer sales frequently, while the other retailers offer coupons.

If you're balling on a budget and are only looking for the autosomal testing,

could be the DNA test for you. First timers may also find this kit the most appealing as it is the most user-friendly. Swab the inside of your cheek with the provided tool, and have your results in 3-4 weeks. Results are kept for 25 years. Gene Chart Eye Color , and have your results in 3-4 weeks. Results are kept for 25 years.

MyHeritage is said to be the fastest and cheapest test, usually sending results back to participants in 3-4 weeks and not requiring a monthly-paid subscription to access results. MyHeritage also pulls from 42 graphic regions, the

behind AncestryDNA and Living DNA. DNA can be linked online to create a family tree, and there is an option to upload raw data — so if you've gotten some sort of genealogy tests done before or have outside genetics information that you'd like to use, it can easily be included in results.

MyHeritage uses a good number of geographical regions, it has the

out of the kits compared here (aside from Living DNA, which doesn't have a database). It also does not offer separate mtDNA or Y-DNA tests, so if you're looking to trace your mother or father's direct line or results more specific to your maternal or paternal side, MyHeritage may not be able to give those details. If you're looking for an

MyHeritage can be purchased on Amazon for $69 — $10 less than the next cheapest kit in the list. Creating an account and logging back in to see results is free.

If you're looking for the best bang for your buck and

want all three tests done, Living DNA is your best bet. Another thing: If you know that most of your results will be in the UK or are most interested in the UK regions, Living DNA will be the kit for you

. Swab the inside of your cheek with the provided tool, send it back for testing, and have your results in 10-12 weeks. Results are kept indefinitely, so you can log on at any time to see or update your family tree.

Living DNA is the best deal if you definitely want all three tests. It offers mtDNA and Y-DNA tests in the basic kit with no extra charge, which is something none of the other kits do. It also pulls info from 80 geographical regions, meaning that Living DNA provides pretty detailed information when it comes to region.

Unlike the other four tests discussed here, Living DNA does not have a matching database or the feature to connect with relatives who also have a Living DNA account. Living DNA results also take the longest to come back.

Living DNA is $99. It's the best deal if you want more than autosomal testing — considering that the other kits offering all three tests add up to $169 (23andMe) and $199 (Family Tree DNA).

Said to have the most extensive tests of the bunch,

best kit if you're looking for some serious genealogy

and have a larger budget. Swab the inside of your cheek with the provided tool, send it back for testing, and have your results in 6-8 weeks. Results are kept for 25 years.

Family TreeDNA give the option for mtDNA and Y-DNA analysis, it is said to give the most in-depth maternal and paternal results compared to the other kits. If you've gotten some sort of genealogy tests done before or have outside genetics information that you'd like to use, there is an option to upload raw data. Options to contact database matches are great, making this one of the best tests for adopted individuals to connect with biological relatives.

Though FamilyTree DNA does offer the mtDNA and Y-DNA tests as well as autosomal, all three tests must be conducted separately. This means that you'll need three different swabs and three different payments, making this the most expensive kit if you want all three tests done.

Prices start at $79.99 for the autosomal Family Finder. Adding the Y-DNA test brings it up to $169, while adding the mtDNA will be $199. Pricey, but worth it for the detailed analyses.