Local DNA analysis vs cloud services
It is not about who promises the most — it is about where the computation happens. Here is the honest comparison.
The two models
| Aspect | Cloud service (traditional) | Local analysis (DNAHelper) |
|---|---|---|
| Your file | Uploaded to their servers; stored in their database | Not uploaded — read directly by the browser |
| Where the computation happens | On their servers | In your browser's JavaScript engine |
| Results stored | With them — tied to your account there | In the browser's IndexedDB/localStorage on your device |
| If the service is breached | Your stored file can leak | There is no file on the server to leak |
| Offline analysis | No | Partly — reference data is fetched when the analysis starts, the computation itself is local |
The only exception is the optional DNA Chat feature — see "The deliberate exception" below.
What local analysis protects against
- Data breaches at the service — your raw file is not in our database, so it cannot leak from there.
- Secondary use — some cloud terms allow research or relicensing of anonymized data. A file that never leaves you cannot be reused.
- Account dependence — your analysis is not tied to an account that can be shut down or deleted.
What it does not protect against — honestly
- A compromised device — if your computer or browser is infected no analysis model helps.
- Browser extensions — malicious extensions can read page content; a browser-based model is not immune to your own software.
- Shared devices — results live in browser storage; clear it if you share the computer.
The deliberate exception: DNA Chat
We are not dogmatic — DNA Chat sends your question plus relevant selected markers via our server to external AI providers (currently DeepSeek in China and NVIDIA-hosted models in the US, outside the EU/EEA). That is why the feature is opt-in with explicit consent, separate from the analysis, and can be used or not without affecting anything else. The privacy policy describes it fully, and this article shows exactly what is sent.
In summary
Local analysis moves the computation to you instead of moving your data to us. It is not a promise — it is architecture, and you can verify it yourself in developer tools (Network tab: no file upload).
Analyze locally in your browser
Also: What happens to your DNA file? · What is a raw DNA file? · Check your file — free tool · English overview