Is Ancestry.com Better Than FamilySearch.org?
Short version: “better” depends on what you need. Sometimes Ancestry is the stronger pick. Sometimes FamilySearch is all you’ll ever need. And often, using both gives you the best chances.
Let’s walk through what each service offers, where one beats the other, and how to use them smartly.
Ancestry.com VS FamilySearch.org
What Each Service Is, in Practice
Ancestry.com
A for-profit company.
Has huge collections of historical records (census, immigration, newspapers, etc.).
Offers DNA testing and connection features.
Many of its rich resources are behind subscription paywalls.
FamilySearch.org
A nonprofit run by the LDS Church.
Many of its core resources and features are free to users.
Maintains a global family tree people can contribute to.
Also lets you dive into digitized records, sometimes via its network of family history centers.
Because they have different goals (commercial vs nonprofit), they show their strengths in different places.
Where Ancestry Has the Edge
Record volume & specialized collections
Ancestry often has rare or premium records that aren’t available elsewhere. If your ancestors came from a specific place where Ancestry has invested heavily, you’ll find gold mines there.DNA + tree integration
If you use Ancestry’s DNA features, your test results, suggested matches, and historical records link more tightly. It’s smoother to go from a DNA match to relevant documents.More user trees and public contributions
Because so many people use Ancestry, there’s a larger pool of user-submitted family trees and research notes. Sometimes that gives you leads you won’t find elsewhere.
Where FamilySearch Holds Its Ground (and Sometimes Wins)
Cost (free access)
For many people, the biggest advantage is you don’t pay to use a lot of what FamilySearch offers. For beginners or tight budgets, that’s huge.Global & historical breadth
It has lots of records from many countries, especially in places where commercial genealogical companies might not prioritize.Unified, shared “one tree” model
FamilySearch has a collaborative tree where contributions are merged into one central structure. That means people aren’t working in silos.Strong local support & centers
In many cities, there are actual FamilySearch centers or libraries where you can access specialized records, get help from experts, or see original documents.
When One Is Better Than the Other (Based on What You Need)
Here are scenarios where you might prefer one or the other — or just use both:
| Situation | Go with Ancestry | Go with FamilySearch | Best to use both |
|---|---|---|---|
| You need deep, region-specific records (e.g. U.S., newspapers, immigration) | ✅ | — | ✅ |
| You want to avoid subscription costs | — | ✅ | ✅ |
| You already have Ancestry DNA or want tight DNA + record matching | ✅ | — | ✅ |
| You’re researching in a less-covered country or archive | — | ✅ | ✅ |
| You like collaborative trees and shared work across users | — | ✅ | ✅ |
How to Get the Best of Both Worlds
Start with FamilySearch — it costs nothing and gives you a solid foundation.
Use Ancestry when you hit a dead end or need that extra record that FamilySearch doesn’t have.
Build your tree on both (where possible), or import/export between them (via GEDCOM).
Look for library access to Ancestry through public libraries or family history centers — that can give you the benefits without paying in full.
A Note on Privacy (Yes, It Still Matters Here)
As you build trees or upload info, your personal data (birth dates, places, living persons) may get exposed in public searches or data brokers. That means:
Be cautious with how much you share about living individuals
Use privacy settings when available
DeleteMyInfo helps by cleaning your personal information from external directories and keeping tabs if it shows up elsewhere
Hundreds of companies collect and sell your private data online. DeleteMyInfo removes it for you.
Related Articles :
- Is An Ancestry Family Tree Accurate?Is An Ancestry Family Tree Accurate?
- How Reliable Is Ancestry.com?How Reliable Is Ancestry.com?
- How Does Ancestry.Com Work?How Does Ancestry.Com Work?
