I recently recommended the Ancestry DNA test to some one who had already tested at another site. I have recommended it in the past because of the genealogy it offers and the larger number of matches. I no longer can make those recommendations. The person who did the test did not have a paid subscription to Ancestry and wanted to see what he would see before he paid for the test so I asked another person who has an Ancestry test with no subscription to let him sign into his account to check it out before buying. This person can see his ethnicity. He can see his circles, but gets an ad when he clicks on them. He can see his match list with the leaves for shared ancestors. When he clicks on a match, he sees the shared ancestors if there is one and their tree, but when he tries to look at the full tree, he gets an ad to buy a membership. I think this is great and gives you a lot of information on the genealogy side,

HOWEVER

The gentleman took the test and called me to tell me he could not see this with his test. Luckily he shares a paid account with a cousin and we were able to invite her to view his DNA and he can see things there, but in his unpaid account, he can only see his ethnicity and his list of matches showing the leaves. When he clicks on a match it will show that the match is in a circle, but he cannot see the shared ancestor or the matches' trees. The only way for him to see anything of value is to subscribe to at least the limited DNA subscription for $49 for six months.

I called ancestry and asked about this. I was told that some of the DNA tests before a certain date can still see the trees for their matches, but the new tests cannot and they were changing things to make them all the same. I asked which way they were changing things and was told that NONE of the nonsubscribers would be able to view their matches' trees in the future.

I also checked to see if messages worked for nonpaid accounts. I sent an invitation to view my matches to my unpaid account and have yet to receive it. I found messages in that account that I have not received emails for and I am unable to respond to these messages. This email account is still active and I recently verified it with ancestry that it was active. We all gripe about members not returning our messages and DNA matches not responding, it may in fact not be their fault, but the fact that they do not have a subscription and Ancestry will not allow them to send and/or receive messages.

All the other companies furnish both tools and genealogy for the price of the test, no subscription required. Ancestry refuses to furnish tools, but I used to feel it was valuable to test here because of the wealth of matches and genealogical information. It no longer is. Not only do they not furnish tools, they will not allow you to view your matches' pedigrees without paying more money. I don't understand why they would make their test even less useful for those who cannot afford a subscription.