Free genealogy websites and tools, and what each one is good for
You can go a long way in family history research without paying anything. The most useful free genealogy websites are FamilySearch for records and family trees, the National Archives for US census and immigration records, Find a Grave and BillionGraves for cemeteries, and the Library of Congress's Chronicling America for old newspapers. Many public libraries also give free in-library access to paid sites like Ancestry. Here's what each one is best for.
FamilySearch: the place to start
Best for: church and civil records worldwide, especially Latin America and Europe.
FamilySearch is the largest free genealogy site. It's run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is free for everyone; you only need a free account. It has:
- Indexed records you can search by name: births, baptisms, marriages, deaths, censuses and more.
- Digitized microfilm, scans of original record books that aren't indexed yet. You browse them by place and date, like turning pages in an archive. This is where many Mexican parish and civil records are.
- A shared Family Tree, where everyone works on one tree of humanity. It's useful for finding connections, but anyone can edit it, so check sources.
- Research guides for almost every country and state, in its wiki, which explain which records exist and where.
Some images can only be viewed at a FamilySearch center or an affiliate library, and the site tells you when that's the case.
National Archives (NARA)
Best for: US federal records like censuses, immigration, naturalization and military service.
The US National Archives holds federal records and has put many online. The 1950 census, the most recent one released, is free to search on its own NARA website. Older censuses are free on FamilySearch. NARA's website also has guides to passenger lists, naturalization and military records, and explains how to order copies of records that aren't online.
Find a Grave and BillionGraves
Best for: death dates, burial places, and finding family members buried together.
Both sites have millions of volunteer photos of gravestones, often with transcribed names and dates. Find a Grave (owned by Ancestry, but free) also lets volunteers link family members to each other, which can reveal parents, spouses and children. Gravestones can have mistakes, so confirm dates with records when you can.
Chronicling America and other newspaper archives
Best for: obituaries, wedding announcements and local news.
The Library of Congress's Chronicling America has millions of free, searchable pages of historic US newspapers, including Spanish-language papers. Many state libraries and universities also run free newspaper archives. Obituaries are especially valuable, because they often list a person's parents, siblings, children and hometown.
Your public library
Best for: free access to paid databases, and help from a real person.
Many public libraries offer Ancestry Library Edition or MyHeritage Library Edition free on library computers, and some have genealogy rooms, local history collections and librarians who know them well. Ask at the reference desk; it's one of the best-kept secrets in genealogy.
State, county and church archives
Best for: records that never made it online.
Birth, marriage and death records, wills and land records are often held by states and counties. Church records may still be in the parish or the diocese archive. Many will search for you or send copies by mail or email, sometimes for a fee. FamilySearch's research wiki tells you who holds what.
Other free tools worth knowing
- Ellis Island passenger database: free search of passenger records for ships arriving in New York, from the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation.
- Free family tree software: programs like Gramps (free and open source) keep your tree on your own computer.
- GEDCOM files: the standard family tree file format. Exporting one now and then keeps a copy of your work, whatever site you use.
When a paid site is worth it
Paid sites like Ancestry, MyHeritage and Findmypast have large record collections, record hints and the biggest DNA databases. They're worth it when:
- You've exhausted free records and need a specific collection only they have, like certain newspapers or immigration indexes.
- You've taken a DNA test with them and want to work with your matches.
- You want automatic hints to speed things up.
Try the free trial, focus on one research question during it, and check what your library offers first.
Don't forget the people
No website has what your oldest relatives remember: the nicknames, the hometown, why the family moved. Talk to them first, and record it. Our beginner's guide to family history research explains where those conversations fit, and Dalia can hold them for you by voice, in English or Spanish.
Frequently asked questions
Is FamilySearch really free?
Yes. FamilySearch is free for everyone, with a free account, and has no paid tier. It's run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which has gathered genealogical records for more than a century. Some record images can only be viewed at a FamilySearch center or affiliate library.
Can I use Ancestry for free?
Ancestry offers a free account for building a family tree, a limited set of free records and free trials. Many public libraries also offer Ancestry Library Edition free on library computers. Full access to its records requires a subscription.
Where can I find free census records?
US census records from 1790 to 1950 are free to search on FamilySearch, and the 1950 census is also free on the National Archives' own website. Census records are released 72 years after they're taken. Many other countries' censuses, like Mexico's 1930 census, are also free on FamilySearch.
What's the best free family tree software?
FamilySearch's online Family Tree is free and shared with other researchers. If you'd rather keep your tree private and on your own computer, Gramps is free and open source. Whatever you use, export a GEDCOM file now and then as a backup.