If you've been thinking about getting a DNA test but got stuck at "wait, which one do I even need?" — you're not alone. Between health tests, fitness tests, ancestry tests, and full genome sequencing, the options can feel like a lot. And the prices are all over the place too, from under ₹5,000 to nearly ₹90,000.
So let's break it down simply. No jargon, just: what each test does, what it costs, and who it's actually for.
First, the quick answer
If you only remember one thing from this post, remember this:
- Curious about your health, fitness, and nutrition in one shot? → Genomepatri
- On medication (or about to start some)? → MedicaMap
- Focused on your workouts and diet? → MyFitGene
- Worried about heart disease or diabetes risk? → Cardiomap
- Want to know your gut health story? → MapmyBiome
- Have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer? → BRCAMap
- Dealing with an undiagnosed or rare condition? → Whole Exome or Whole Genome Sequencing
- Curious where your ancestors came from? → Genomepatri Heritage
- Always tired, low energy, or into biohacking? → MapmySpark
- Want to know how fast you're actually aging? → MapmyEpiGenome
- Planning a pregnancy or expecting? → BabyMap (carrier screening, NIPT, newborn screening)
- Want to optimize everything — genetics, aging, energy, gut — in one go? → The Ultimate Biohacking Package
Now let's go a level deeper.
Health and wellness tests (the "know yourself" category)
These are the tests most people start with. One saliva sample, a few weeks of waiting, and a report that tells you a lot about how your body works.
Genomepatri — around ₹7,999 This is the big one. It covers 100+ traits: disease risk, nutrition needs, fitness response, drug reactions, and carrier status, all in a single test. If you want the full picture and don't want to buy five different tests, this is where you start.
Best for: Anyone who wants a comprehensive, one-time baseline read on their health and genetics. Especially useful if you have a family history of lifestyle diseases, or you just like being proactive about your health.
MyFitGene — around ₹6,999 A more focused version that zooms in on fitness: muscle strength, endurance, injury recovery, and how your body responds to different types of exercise and macros.
Best for: Gym regulars, athletes, or anyone tired of following generic workout and diet plans that don't seem to work for their body specifically.
Cardiomap — around ₹6,999 Focused on heart health and diabetes risk specifically.
Best for: Anyone with a family history of heart disease or diabetes, or anyone over 35 who wants to get ahead of these two conditions before they become an issue.
MedicaMap — around ₹6,999 This one's a little different — it's a pharmacogenomic test. It tells you (and your doctor) how your body is likely to respond to over 150 commonly prescribed medicines.
Best for: Anyone starting a new medication, anyone who's had side effects from a drug that "should have worked," or anyone managing a chronic condition on long-term medication. Genuinely useful to bring to a doctor's appointment.
MapmyBiome — around ₹14,999 A gut microbiome test using shotgun sequencing (a more detailed method than the basic tests you'll see elsewhere), covering digestion, immunity, and metabolism.
Best for: Anyone with digestive issues, bloating, or just general curiosity about their gut-health story. Pairs really well with Genomepatri if you want the fuller "inside-out" picture.
Clinical and diagnostic tests (the "answer a specific question" category)
These tests are more targeted and are usually recommended alongside a doctor or genetic counselor.
BRCAMap Screens for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations linked to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer risk.
Best for: Anyone with a personal or family history of breast, ovarian, or related cancers. This is a test worth discussing with a doctor or genetic counselor before and after, since the results can be significant.
Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) — around ₹26,000 Sequences the protein-coding regions of your genome, where most known disease-causing mutations show up.
Best for: Families dealing with an undiagnosed condition, or situations where doctors suspect a genetic cause but need more detail than a standard panel gives them.
Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) — starts around ₹85,000 The most complete option — covers 95-98% of your entire genome, not just the coding regions.
Best for: Complex or rare cases where WES doesn't give enough answers, or for those who want the most complete genetic dataset possible, once, for life.
And a quick mention: family and prenatal genetics (BabyMap) Beyond the individual tests above, MapMyGenome also runs a full diagnostics line for growing families — think NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing, screening for chromosomal conditions like Down syndrome from as early as 10 weeks), preconception carrier screening for couples, and newborn screening panels. These are priced and ordered a bit differently from the wellness tests above, usually through a doctor or the diagnostics team directly, so if this applies to you, it's best to reach out for current pricing rather than going the self-order route.
Fun, lifestyle, and next-gen tests
Genomepatri Heritage — around ₹14,999–₹19,999 (often bundled with Genomepatri) Traces your ethnic origins and ancestral migration patterns, with a India-specific focus you won't find in most global ancestry tests.
Best for: Anyone curious about their roots, or families who want a fun, meaningful gift.
MapmySpark — around ₹9,999–₹14,999 This one's a bit different from the rest — it looks at your mitochondria (your cells' energy factories) rather than just disease-linked genes. It scores you across 10 "battery systems" that reflect how efficiently your cells produce and use energy, and since mitochondrial DNA is passed down only from your mother, it doubles as a maternal ancestry report.
Best for: Anyone dealing with persistent fatigue or low energy with no clear medical cause, or biohacking-minded folks who want a genetic starting point for optimizing recovery and performance. Worth noting: this is a research-based wellness report, not a diagnostic test.
MapmyEpiGenome — around ₹39,999–₹85,000 Rather than looking at the DNA sequence you were born with, this one measures DNA methylation — chemical "marks" on your genes that shift with age, stress, and lifestyle. The result is your biological age, which can run younger or older than your actual birthday.
Best for: Anyone deep into the longevity and healthy-aging space who wants a measurable number to track over time, ideally alongside lifestyle changes to see what's actually moving the needle.
For the "I want to do everything" crowd: the Biohacking Package
If you've read this far and thought "honestly, why choose — I want the full picture," there's a package for that.
Ultimate Biohacking Package (Phase I: Foundational Testing) — around ₹180,000 This bundles the deep-testing layer together in one go — genome-level sequencing, biological age (epigenetics), mitochondrial energy scoring, and gut microbiome, rather than you piecing together individual tests and comparing notes yourself.
Best for: Health optimizers, biohackers, and longevity-focused individuals who want a complete, connected baseline across genetics, aging, energy, and gut health, then plan to retest periodically to track how their interventions (diet, training, supplements, sleep protocols) are actually changing their biology over time. This is very much the top of the pyramid, price and depth-wise — most people are well served starting with Genomepatri and adding on from there, but for those serious about optimizing every lever, this is the one-stop option.
What about bundles?
If more than one of the above sounds appealing, bundles are usually the smarter buy — you save compared to buying tests separately, and a lot of them are designed to complement each other (like Genomepatri + MapmyBiome for a fuller health-and-gut picture, or Genomepatri + MedicaMap if you're managing your health and your medications together). Worth checking the current bundle offers on the site before buying tests one at a time.
A quick note on price vs. value
It's tempting to just pick the cheapest option, but the real question isn't "what's the lowest price" — it's "what question am I actually trying to answer?" A ₹6,999 test that tells you exactly what you need to know is a better buy than a bundle that doesn't address your actual concern.
And worth keeping in perspective: a single hospital visit for a preventable heart attack or diabetes complication can cost lakhs. A test that helps you catch a risk early, or avoid a medication that doesn't suit your body, tends to pay for itself pretty quickly.
Still not sure which one to pick?
That's what genetic counseling sessions are for — most of these tests come with one included. Even before you buy, it's completely fine to reach out and ask "which test fits my situation?" rather than guessing.
