Who Has the World's Largest Family Tree Database?
(psst... it's not Ancestry)
The longer I work as a genealogist, the more I hear people complain about affordable options for working on their family trees. Now, don’t get me wrong; the complaint is legitimate. It feels like Ancestry does nothing but raise its prices.
But here’s the thing—Ancestry isn’t the only resource for family history research (they just have a really great marketing team that makes you think it is).
Numerous options are available that are not only as accessible as Ancestry (requiring just an internet connection) but also have one very significant advantage—they’re absolutely free.
One of these options is FamilySearch.org.
FamilySearch, the true leader in global family history research, is a resource that even Ancestry.com acknowledges. In fact, Ancestry.com often lists the FamilySearch library as a source for many of the items you find in its extensive databases. So why not go straight to the source and save yourself some money?
FamilySearch.org is not just free; it's a treasure trove of over 16 billion records. And the best part? You can access most of these records from the comfort of your own home. Sure, some items may be locked, but there are ways to unlock them.
You can:
Call FamilySearch (on the phone or schedule a Zoom call), and they will help you locate the document you’re looking for.
See if your local library is a FamilySearch Affiliate. If it is, all you have to do is take your computer (or use one of theirs) to the library, and the little key will vanish.
Visit a FamilySearch Library. Check their website for a FamilySearch Library location near you.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as LDS, is constantly expanding its library. Plus, its database records cover European areas, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. This means no matter your heritage, chances are, FamilySearch will have some information that may be useful to your family history tree.
So, don’t let the cost of family history research hold you back—not when you can access the world’s largest family history database for free and (mostly) from home.
Don’t forget to follow my Substack and receive a free copy of my free eBook “10 Free Genealogy Research Websites.”
Interested in hiring a professional Genealogist? Head over to www.GenealogybyAryn.com to learn more.
If you have any family history questions about FamilySearch, Ancestry, or genealogy, leave a comment below.
Until next time!