With so many genealogy websites available today, it can be overwhelming to choose the one that best fits your needs and budget. Whether you’re a beginner starting your first family tree or a seasoned researcher chasing royal lines, the right platform can make all the difference — and save you both time and money. Subscription costs can range from free to nearly $60 per month, so understanding what each site offers is key to making an informed choice.
Below is a review of the top genealogy websites as of June 2025, including star ratings as well as pros and cons.
1. Ancestry.com
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Best for: General users, U.S.-based research, large historical record access
Subscription Tiers:
U.S. Discovery – $24.99/month (U.S. records only)
World Explorer – $39.99/month (U.S. + international records)
All Access – $59.99/month (includes Fold3 + Newspapers.com)
🔗 ancestry.com/offers/subscribe
Pros:
Largest collection of digitized records globally
Excellent user interface and mobile app
DNA test integration with tree-building features
Well-developed hint system ("leaf" hints)
Huge user base for cousin-matching and collaboration
Cons:
Subscription is expensive (multiple tiers)
Records skew heavily toward the U.S., U.K., and Canada
Limited access to some raw source documents (vs. indexes)
2. MyHeritage
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Best for: International research, European records, photo tools
Subscription: No monthly billing — annual plans only
Basic – Free (limited tree, no records)
Complete – $399/year (full access to all records, tools, & DNA features)
Pros:
Strong in European and Jewish genealogical records
Advanced AI tools for colorizing and animating historical photos
Easy-to-use interface and multilingual support
Good DNA database for ethnic breakdowns and matches
Cons:
Smaller record collection than Ancestry
DNA matches often less accurate or detailed
Some tools hidden behind extra paywalls
3. FamilySearch.org
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
Best for: Free research, collaborative trees
Subscription: Free
Pros:
100% free to use
Extensive digitized microfilm collections from global archives
Strong for early American, Scandinavian, and Latin American records
Run by the LDS (Latter-Day Saints) Church, with deep resources and volunteer indexing
Cons:
One shared "global tree" (can be edited by anyone)
Interface can be clunky and slow
Not ideal for private, personal trees
4. Findmypast
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5/5)
Best for: U.K., Ireland, and British Commonwealth records
Subscription Tiers:
Starter – $14.95/month (core U.K./U.S. records)
Plus – $19.95/month
Pro/Premium – $34.49/month (all records + newspapers)
Pros:
Best resource for U.K. census, parish, and military records
Exclusive Catholic Heritage Archive access
Good user interface for record searches
Constantly expanding British content
Cons:
Weaker for U.S. and non-U.K. users
Smaller user base = fewer family matches
Limited tree-building features
5. Geni.com
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Best for: Collaborative world trees and noble lineages
Subscription Tiers:
Basic (Free): View your tree and contribute to the World Family Tree — but limited search, no advanced features.
Pro: $12.42/month (billed annually at $149) Required for full access to advanced tree-building tools, relationship path finder, and priority support.
🔗 geni.com
Pros:
Huge “World Family Tree” concept
Good for discovering famous or noble connections
Collaboration with other users encouraged
Backed by MyHeritage
Cons:
Errors spread quickly since trees are shared
Poor interface for beginners
Many features require a MyHeritage Pro subscription
6. WikiTree
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Best for: Community-sourced, single-tree genealogists
Subscription: Free
Community-run platform focused on one global tree with open editing.
🔗 wikitree.com/wiki/Help:Membership
Pros:
Free and volunteer-run
Strong sourcing and citation standards
Excellent for collaboration on brick walls
Emphasis on accuracy and ethical genealogy
Cons:
Not user-friendly for newcomers
No integrated record collection (requires outside sourcing)
Editing requires learning some markup/formatting
7. Geneanet
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Best for: French and European family history
Subscription Tiers:
Free Account: Create and view family trees, access limited user-submitted content.
Premium Membership: $8.90/month — unlocks advanced search filters, full access to archival records, family tree alerts, and priority support.
🔗 en.geneanet.org
Pros:
Excellent French and Continental European resources
Strong community of European users
Partnerships with European archives
Free option available
Cons:
Interface is outdated and not intuitive
Best features behind a subscription
Weaker support for North American users
8. AmericanAncestors.org (NEHGS)
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Best for: Colonial New England, Mayflower, and royal gateway lines
Subscription: $99.95/year (no monthly billing; equivalent to $8.33/month)
Membership includes:
Access to exclusive databases like the Great Migration Study Project, Mayflower Silver Books, and thousands of digitized New England records
Full online access to scholarly journals and research articles
Specialized tools for researching Colonial, Puritan, and royal gateway lineages
💡 Best for: Advanced researchers focused on early American ancestry, especially in New England, Mayflower, and British royal descent.
Pros:
Top resource for early American records
Exclusive access to Great Migration and Mayflower files
Curated by expert genealogists and historians
Ideal for gateway royal descent research
Cons:
Niche audience — not useful for modern or global records
Limited tree-building tools
Subscription required for most access
At Genera Genealogical Services (GGS), I help clients build and correct family trees, interpret DNA results, and choose the best tools for their unique research goals. Whether you’re just beginning your journey or tracing royal ancestry, I provide expert support every step of the way.
📩 Reach out at generagenealogicalservices@gmail.com to get started.