For instance, according to Lyttle, the original records on the websites “usually contain accurate information, though sometimes records can contain errors.” “That’s why we don’t rely on just one record to prove a fact about our ancestors,” says Lyttle. “We try to find at least two records that agree on that fact.”
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# Top Genealogy Websites: What You Need To Know

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Top Genealogy Websites: What You Need To Know

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## Table of Contents

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If you’re hoping to learn more about your family’s history, a common starting point is a genealogy website. These websites allow you to do everything from search public records, create a family tree and even undergo DNA testing—all from the screen of your computer.

But to get started, you’ll need to choose a genealogy website to use, and there are a lot of options out there to consider. Here’s a look at the top genealogy websites, including how much they cost and how they work, as well as what you need to know when delving into the world of genealogy websites.

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## What Are Genealogy Websites?

“When most people use the term ‘genealogy websites,’ they are talking about the large commercial sites that offer digital images of millions of original records as well as the ability to create a family tree,” says Annette Burke Lyttle, a professional genealogist and president of the Association of Professional Genealogists. “Most also offer DNA testing, along with ethnicity estimates and DNA matches so we can see who shares DNA with us.”

Genealogy websites typically offer digitized versions of a wide range of records, such as census records, birth records, marriage records, death records and city directories, explains D. Joshua Taylor, a professional genealogist and president and CEO of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. Users can then search this database of records to find information on their ancestors and learn about their lineage. Additional tools, such as the creation and storage of a family tree and the incorporation of DNA evidence, can further enhance that research.

## The Top Genealogy Websites

If you’ve ever done a preliminary search for genealogy websites, you’ll know there are a slew of options out there. Here’s a look at some of the top genealogy websites according to our experts, including how they work, what they offer and how much they cost.

### MyHeritage

MyHeritage is another subscription-based genealogy website that offers the ability to create your own family tree, undergo DNA testing for additional insights, search international records and even colorize and animate old family photos. According to Lyttle, MyHeritage specializes in non-U.S. records, “so it has many digitized records from Europe and elsewhere,” though there are also U.S. records in its collections.

While it’s possible to get the basic plan for free, which allows you to create a limited family tree, you’ll need to purchase an annual subscription to access most of the site’s features. Prices start at $129 a year and go up to $299 a year for access to every tool available. DNA testing costs extra, running $39 plus the cost of shipping.

### Ancestry.com

Ancestry.com offers an array of genealogical resources, including a historical records and person search tool, the option to create a public family tree and DNA testing to learn more about your origins and relatives. To use the site, however, you will need a subscription, which ranges from $24.99 per month to access all U.S. records on the website to up to $99.99 per month for access to everything on Ancestry.com and other websites that offer further records and archival information, plus four additional accounts.

That said, according to Lyttle, people who don’t want to pay for a subscription may be able to access Ancestry Library Edition (which includes access to an array of public records, including census and vital records, marriage and death notices, African American and Native American records and more), which Lyttle says many public libraries offer.

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### FamilySearch

FamilySearch is a completely free genealogy website. Owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the site offers access to millions of records and a tool that allows you to search by surname and record type. There’s even in-person assistance available through the site’s more than 5,000 local family history centers. FamilySearch doesn’t offer DNA testing itself, but you can create and collaborate on a family tree through the website.

“FamilySearch is free, so it’s a great spot to start. They’ll have the fundamentals like the census and some of the vital records,” says Taylor.

### Findmypast

If you have British or Irish roots, you may find the genealogy website Findmypast particularly helpful. While they do specialize in these records, Lyttle says the site does also have “some U.S. and Canadian collections.” In addition to the site’s records database, users can create and store family trees. DNA testing is not offered.

There are three tiers of subscription-based membership options for Findmypast, and you can opt to either pay by month or get a yearly subscription. Month-by-month subscriptions are either $19.99 or $29.99 per month, depending on whether you opt for Essential British and Irish or Ultimate British and Irish (Essential offers access to a selection of records and the ability to message people with common ancestors, while Ultimate provides access to the complete Irish and British record set as well as exclusive content and expert guidance). Annual subscriptions start at $159.99 and go up to $299.99.

## What Can You Find out From Genealogy Websites?

Perhaps the biggest resource offered by genealogy websites is their original records that users can use to piece together their ancestors’ stories. According to Lyttle, these records can include:

- Birth, marriage and death records
- Census records
- Land and tax records
- Probate records
- Church records
- Passenger lists
- Naturalization records
- Military records
- Historic newspapers

“While not all records are digitized, the large genealogy websites give us access to millions of records that we can consult without having to leave home and go to a repository,” says Lyttle.

Beyond records, genealogy websites allow users to build and then store a family tree to begin piecing together their potential chain of ancestry. A genealogy website might also offer DNA testing, using those results to bolster insights into your roots.

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## How Accurate Are Genealogy Websites?

The accuracy of genealogy websites varies depending on the website you’re using as well as which resource offered by the website you’re looking at.

For instance, according to Lyttle, the original records on the websites “usually contain accurate information, though sometimes records can contain errors.” “That’s why we don’t rely on just one record to prove a fact about our ancestors,” says Lyttle. “We try to find at least two records that agree on that fact.”

For example, Taylor notes that a record like the census “relies on people’s memories” for information such as date of birth and birthplace. “So really, the records are as accurate as those who created them,” says Taylor.

As for DNA testing, Lyttle explains that while matches “accurately tell us that we are biologically related to another person,” it’s also important to dig into “the pertinent records to figure out how we are related.”

Another resource often offered by genealogy websites is ethnicity estimates, which can tell people where others with their same DNA characteristics are located in the world. When it comes to ethnicity estimates, however, Lyttle stresses that these are “just estimates.”

“Often people are disappointed not to find an ethnicity they thought they had in their results,” says Lyttle. “But as we go back on our family trees, there are going to be some ancestors whose DNA we did not inherit, so their ethnicities won’t show up in our results.”

Both Taylor and Lyttle flagged potential accuracy issues when it comes to family trees, given that these are created and modified by users on the websites. “Anything that’s user-submitted has wide variance in terms of accuracy,” says Taylor.

## How to Choose a Genealogy Website

Which genealogy website is right for you depends on what you’re hoping to achieve through your research and what resources you’d like to have at your disposal. For instance, are you looking for a specific set of records? Are you most interested in creating a family tree or doing DNA testing? Different genealogy websites can have different focuses, so identifying what you hope to get out of your research can help you start to narrow down the options.

Another key consideration is a website’s usability. “I always say that while what records you have is important, how easy the website is to use and search is what’s really important,” says Taylor. “Every website has a census, but how easy it is to use makes a difference.”

There’s also the cost factor to account for. Some genealogy websites are free, while others require a subscription that you’ll have to pay for. If you’re just starting your search, you might first investigate what information you can dig up through resources available to you at no cost.

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## What Other Sources Can I Use?

Genealogy websites aren’t the only resource you can turn to in order to learn more about your ancestry. Some other sources you might find useful in your research include:

- Public libraries: Libraries are a great place to turn, as not only are they free, they also offer access to an array of records. For instance, the New York Public Library has historical and genealogical collections second in size and scope only to the Library of Congress. And even if you’re not in New York, you can access a lot of information online through digital collections and image galleries, as well as through interlibrary loans.

- State libraries and archives: State libraries and archives can be another helpful resource. You might be able to access special tools for your research, such as a searchable death certificate index, as well as order copies of vital records.

- Genealogical societies: Local genealogical societies (as well as historical societies) also often have digitized collections of useful records that you can view free of charge, per Lyttle. Additionally, you might be able to get help from a professional genealogist with experience in the area you’re investigating.

- Census records: You don’t need a genealogical website to access census records. By visiting the U.S. Census Bureau’s website, you can find copies of the original census forms and questions in addition to explanations on census years. It’s also possible to find links to state censuses as well as various tools that might prove useful.

- Archives.gov: This website, maintained by the U.S. federal government, has millions of records. You can access things like governmental and military history records, military pension files, product patents, passenger lists and early naturalization records. It’s also possible to ask a genealogist a question through the site’s History Hub.

- EllisIsland.org: If you’re digging into family members’ arrivals to the U.S., Ellisisland.org might prove a helpful resource. With roughly 65 million searchable records, you can find information such as an immigrant’s original name, occupation, last place of residence and details about who the passenger planned to join upon their arrival.

Uncovering your past is an exciting process, but Taylor also highlighted that it can take “time and patience” to ascertain your ancestry. “It’s a process — it’s not a type in a name and click search. The further back you go, the different areas of the world your family might be from,” says Taylor.

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Becca Stanek is an experienced writer and editor who is passionate about exploring the ways we can feel better mentally and physically to get the most out of our lives. She has worked for publications including LendingTree, SmartAsset, and The Week, among others. She's currently completing her 200-hour yoga teacher training, and also likes to spend her time reading, writing, biking and hiking.

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