SelfDecode review
Our genealogists’ opinion on SelfDecode
Specializing in biohacking, SelfDecode offers 99.7% accurate health DNA analysis based on genotyping and genetic imputation. You get access to over 1,250 personalized reports covering nutrition, sleep, stress management, and more. The platform also offers an ancestry report covering 35 regions and tracing your maternal lineage back 230,000 years. You can purchase just the DNA kit, send in your sample, and then choose which analyses to unlock later.
Are you looking for personalized solutions to your health problems, but traditional treatments aren’t working? SelfDecode promises to analyze your DNA to provide you with ultra-personalized health recommendations and even help you trace your origins. So, is it just a marketing ploy or a reliable solution? We tested their DNA tests and here is our full review.
The essentials you need to know about SelfDecode
| Critera |  |
| 📅 Date of creation | 2016 |
| 🏢 Headquarters | Miami, United States |
| 🧬 Type of DNA test offered | Genetic analysis of health and ancestry |
| 🌍 Countries served | Worldwide |
| 💧 Type of sample | Saliva |
| ⏰ Processing time | 6 to 8 weeks |
| 💬 Customer service | Email and online chat |
| 🌐 Web site |
Advantages and disadvantages of SelfDecode
- Access to hundreds of genetic analyses (health, nutrition, sleep, mood, etc.)
- In-depth analysis of SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms)
- Integration of health data (blood tests, lifestyle)
- Pharmacogenomics (PGx) reports on more than 50 medications
- Access to more than 1,250 detailed health reports available online
- Smart health coach (AI) for personalized recommendations
- Analysis of ethnic origins and maternal lineage
- Ability to import DNA data from other DNA services
- Limited ancestry report: no paternal analysis
- No genealogy tools
- High price compared to the competition
- Slow processing of DNA samples
DNA analysis packages available from SelfDecode
SelfDecode structures its offering around three main packages, and DNA sampling is done at home using a buccal swab provided in the kit.
The Essential DNA Analysis Package
With this entry-level package, you get your DNA analyzed and access to more than 1,250 reports on gluten sensitivity, testosterone levels, sleep quality, and more.
Each report identifies your genetic predispositions and offers personalized recommendations for adapting your lifestyle, diet, or supplementation.
The analysis package also includes the Labs Analyzer tool, which allows you to integrate your blood tests with your DNA analysis to further refine the recommendations.
The Essential+ DNA analysis package
This intermediate package enhances DNA analysis with more specialized reports. You get access to over 130 additional medical reports (methylation, detoxification) and longevity risk assessments.
The Ultimate DNA Analysis Package
The ultimate package we chose includes all the features of the previous offers. But it also includes:
- Pharmacogenomics (PGx) reports for more than 50 medications
- Carrier status analysis for family planning
- Ethnicity and maternal ancestry analysis (mitochondrial DNA)
In addition to these packages, you can purchase the DNA kit and health analyses (on cancer, brain health, etc.) separately.
You can also choose the classic essential package and add, for example, the pharmacology test (Medication Check) or the origins analysis for a customized analysis.
- A comprehensive health database
- Practical advice on your diet, supplements, and routine
- Regularly updated reports
- Option to perform separate analyses without subscribing to a package
The DNA results you receive after an analysis with SelfDecode
A report on your ancestry
The ancestry report, based on more than 83 million genetic variants, comes in PDF format with percentages by region (35) and interactive mapping. SelfDecode also analyzes your mitochondrial DNA to present the ancient migration patterns of your maternal ancestors over 230,000 years in its report.
You can trace your lineage through time and across continents to discover how you got to where you are today.
For us, the report confirmed our Mediterranean roots with some unexpected Nordic origins. We also know where our maternal grandparents came from.
Over 1,250 reports on health and well-being
Health reports are at the heart of SelfDecode’s offering. The report categories are varied and cover:
- Mental health and cognition: anxiety, mood, stress response, memory performance, creativity, concentration.
- Nutrition: gluten sensitivity, vitamin requirements (B6, B12, C, D), calcium and iron absorption, omega-3 requirements.
- Heart and vascular health: blood pressure, cholesterol, heart health.
- Sleep: sleep quality, sleep disorders, insomnia.
- Well-being and longevity: inflammation, allergy risk, bone health, healthy aging, telomere length.
Each report contains targeted recommendations, ranging from dietary changes to supplement and lifestyle suggestions.
The health reports provided by SelfDecode revealed a genetic predisposition to diabetes. This warning sign prompted us to completely overhaul our eating habits.
The personalized recommendations we received have helped us maintain a better metabolic balance.
And that’s exactly the kind of concrete impact we expect from a health-oriented DNA test.
The DNA analysis process at SelfDecode
Step 1: Order the DNA kit
Go to the official website and order your DNA kit, providing your shipping address.
Step 2: Receive the kit at home and register
Once you receive the kit, check that it contains the sampling materials and return envelope. Before taking any samples, go to selfdecode.com/app/register to register your kit with the serial number written on the sampling tube. This step is mandatory for your sample to be processed.
Step 3: Collecting the sample
In the morning, on an empty stomach, use the swabs to collect saliva from the inside of your cheeks. Insert them into the tube provided, close it carefully, and place everything in the envelope provided.
Step 4: Accessing your results
6 to 8 weeks after receipt by the laboratory, your results will be available directly from your personal space on the SelfDecode platform.
And if you have already taken a DNA test with another provider such as AncestryDNA, MyHeritage, Nebula Genomics, or FamilyTreeDNA, you can directly import your raw files to the SelfDecode platform. This saves you time without sacrificing the richness of the analyses.
Accuracy and reliability of SelfDecode results
DNA analyses are performed in CLIA-certified laboratories using Illumina GSA technology and a genetic imputation algorithm. The accuracy rate exceeds 99.7%, a score rarely achieved in the world of health DNA testing.
The reports are based on more than 10,000 clinical trials and scientific studies validated by a team of 70 experts.
To date, more than 200,000 users, including 2,000 healthcare professionals, trust SelfDecode to refine their clinical recommendations.
And to dispel any remaining doubts, leading media outlets such as Forbes and the New York Post have validated the platform’s scientific rigor.
The personalized AI-based health coach: SelfDecode’s trump card
The DecodyGPT tool, SelfDecode’s AI health coach, is SelfDecode’s major innovation. This assistant cross-references your genetic data, blood tests, and lifestyle habits to generate a clear health action plan that can be applied on a daily basis.
The recommendations automatically adjust with each new piece of data added (test results, feelings, physical changes). You can track your progress and indicators and adapt your lifestyle in real time.
For our part, the coach recommended nutritional adjustments and exercise sessions more suited to our profile.
SelfDecode prices
| Offers | Price (kit included) | Features |
|---|---|---|
| DNA kit only | $99 (approx. €92) | To be purchased separately |
| Essential | $418 (approx. €389) | Over 1,250 health reports, AI Coach, Labs Analyzer |
| Essential+ | $690 (approx. €642) | All Essential reports + 130+ medical reports |
| Ultimate | $695 (approx. €646) | All previous analyses + pharmacogenomics, ancestry |
| DNA file import | $319 (approx. €280) | Personalized recommendations, AI coach |
Data privacy and security at SelfDecode
SelfDecode complies with international data protection standards (HIPAA and GDPR). Your information is encrypted, anonymized, and stored separately from your DNA results to prevent any cross-referencing of identities.
You can download or delete your data at any time, without conditions. SelfDecode also offers pseudonymization options so you can participate in scientific research while preserving your anonymity.
SelfDecode customer service: is it up to par?
Our experience with support has been positive. It is available by email at support@selfdecode.com and via online chat. We received responses in less than 2 minutes via online chat and in 2 days by email.
Customer support responds in French and several other languages, which facilitates discussions.
Our verdict on SelfDecode
A reliable genetic laboratory for preventive health
For us, SelfDecode is a reliable partner in preventive health. By cross-referencing genetic data, blood tests, and lifestyle habits, it can identify the genetic factors underlying the health imbalances we see every day.
SelfDecode doesn’t just deliver reports, it supports and guides users towards a healthier lifestyle. This active approach makes it a first-rate choice for those living with chronic conditions and looking for concrete solutions.
A service specializing in health, but much less so in ancestry
SelfDecode offers ancestry reports, but this feature is clearly secondary to health analysis. Ancestry reports are limited to ancestry percentages and maternal lineage, without offering paternal lineage analysis or genealogy tools.
In our opinion, the service will not fully satisfy those whose main quest is to trace their origins. It is better to turn to a dedicated service.
Customized DNA analyses with long-term storage
We like the fact that SelfDecode offers customized analyses. You can simply purchase the DNA kit, send in your sample, and choose the analyses you are interested in later, with no immediate commitment.
Genetic data is stored securely for at least 10 years, allowing you to return at any time to access new reports without having to take another sample.
Valuable genetic data, but more expensive than the competition
There’s nothing to complain about when it comes to the quality of the analyses offered by SelfDecode, but they are expensive compared to other services on the market. More affordable options would have been welcome. That said, the ability to choose customized DNA analyses remains a plus for amateurs or experts who want to take their DNA analyses further.
SelfDecode vs Sequencing
Sequencing.com focuses on whole genome sequencing (WGS), while SelfDecode focuses on the variants that have the greatest impact on your health. SelfDecode stands out for its personalized approach and more affordable pricing.
In contrast, Sequencing.com offers a marketplace for genetic applications that expands the possibilities for mobile analysis.
If you are looking for personalized support with clear recommendations, SelfDecode remains the best choice. Sequencing.com is the obvious choice if you want to analyze your entire genome.
SelfDecode vs 23andMe
Like SelfDecode, 23andMe offers ancestry and health analysis. It analyzes more than 3,000 geographic regions to discover your origins and also studies your traits and health predispositions.
SelfDecode does not analyze physical traits, but is much more effective when it comes to genetic health analysis.
Choose 23andMe to learn about your origins and physical characteristics in detail, and SelfDecode for the health aspect.
SelfDecode vs 24Genetics
Also focused on genetic health, 24Genetics offers 7 types of DNA tests, which are less expensive and provide accurate and clear reports. SelfDecode, on the other hand, offers a wider range of reports, with recommendations and better follow-up.
Choose SelfDecode for access to a personalized health coach and numerous health reports, and 24Genetics for its affordable prices and detailed reports.
Our answers to your questions about SelfDecode
SelfDecode uses genotyping and advanced genetic imputation technology to predict and analyze millions of variants with 99.7% accuracy.
No, you only need to purchase one DNA kit. You can then order as many reports as you want using the same kit.
SelfDecode offers different DNA kits depending on your location: US customers: DNA test kit with buccal swab (cheek). Customers in Mexico: DNA test kit with dry swab. International customers: DNA test kit with buccal swab (cheek).
SelfDecode is ideal for people motivated by personalized health optimization, experienced biohackers, and individuals with unexplained chronic health issues.