Is Ancestry Worth It for Genealogy Research? A Comprehensive Review

When it comes to researching your family history and building a family tree, Ancestry is one of the most well-known platforms available. With its extensive records, DNA testing, and user-friendly interface, Ancestry has become a go-to resource for many genealogy enthusiasts. However, with its subscription-based model and competition from other genealogy sites, you may be wondering: is Ancestry really worth the cost? In this comprehensive review, we’ll take a closer look at what Ancestry offers, its pros and cons, and help you decide if it’s the right investment for your genealogy research.

What Does Ancestry Offer?

Ancestry is a genealogy platform that provides access to a vast collection of historical records, family trees, and DNA testing to help users trace their family history and connect with relatives. Some of Ancestry’s key features include:

• Billions of historical records from around the world, including birth, marriage, death, census, military, and immigration records
• User-submitted family trees and photos that can provide hints and connections for your own research
• DNA testing and matching to help you identify genetic relatives and ethnic origins
• Automated hints and searches that suggest potential record matches and family tree connections
• Ability to create, build, and share your own family tree with photos, stories, and historical records
• Smartphone app for on-the-go research and family tree building

Ancestry offers several subscription tiers with varying levels of access to records and features. The most popular plans are:

• U.S. Discovery: Access to all U.S. records on Ancestry, with limited international records
• World Explorer: Access to all U.S. and international records on Ancestry
• All Access: Includes full access to Ancestry records, plus additional subscriptions to Newspapers.com and Fold3 (military records)

Users can also purchase individual DNA test kits for ethnicity estimates and genetic relative matching.

Pros of Using Ancestry

There are several compelling reasons why Ancestry remains a top choice for many genealogy researchers:

1. Extensive record collection: Ancestry boasts one of the largest collections of historical records among commercial genealogy platforms. With over 30 billion records from more than 80 countries, there’s a good chance of finding relevant documents for your ancestors.
2. Helpful research hints: Ancestry’s hinting system automatically searches for records and family tree connections that may be relevant to your own tree. While not perfect, these hints can uncover new leads and save time in your research.
3. DNA testing integration: Ancestry’s DNA testing and ThruLines feature can provide valuable insights into your genetic ethnicity and help identify distant relatives who share common ancestors. This can be especially helpful for breaking through brick walls in your research.
4. Active user community: With millions of user-submitted family trees and photos, Ancestry benefits from a large and active community of researchers. Connecting with other users can lead to collaboration, record sharing, and new discoveries about shared ancestors.
5. Intuitive interface: Ancestry’s website and mobile app are generally user-friendly and intuitive to navigate. Features like the LifeStory view and Gallery help bring your ancestors to life with historical records, photos, and stories.

Cons of Using Ancestry

While Ancestry offers many benefits, there are also some potential drawbacks to consider:

1. Subscription costs: To access most of Ancestry’s records and features, you’ll need a paid subscription. The cost can add up over time, especially if you’re a frequent researcher. The U.S. Discovery plan starts at $24.99/month, while the World Explorer plan is $39.99/month.
2. Record accuracy and completeness: While Ancestry has an extensive collection, not all records are complete, accurately transcribed, or properly indexed. You may still need to do additional research and verification with other sources.
3. Limited access to some records: Depending on your subscription level, you may not have access to all international records or additional sites like Newspapers.com and Fold3. This can be frustrating if key records for your research are locked behind a paywall.
4. User-generated content: While user-submitted trees and photos can be helpful, they can also contain errors, speculative connections, and unreliable information. It’s important to verify any user-generated content with primary sources.
5. DNA test limitations: While DNA testing can provide valuable insights, it’s not a magic bullet for genealogy research. Results can be broad or inconclusive, and genetic matching relies on other users having tested and identifying shared ancestors.

Alternatives to Ancestry

If you’re unsure about investing in an Ancestry subscription, there are several alternative genealogy platforms and resources to consider:

• FamilySearch: A free, nonprofit genealogy platform run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While its record collection is smaller than Ancestry’s, it offers a robust global family tree and many free resources.
• MyHeritage: Another popular genealogy platform with a strong international record collection, family tree builder, and DNA testing. Subscription plans are generally cheaper than Ancestry’s.
• FindMyPast: A UK-based genealogy site with a strong collection of British and Irish records. Offers pay-as-you-go credits and subscription options.
• GenealogyInTime: A free genealogy search engine that searches across multiple databases and websites for relevant records.
• Local libraries, archives, and historical societies: Many local institutions offer free access to genealogy records, databases, and research assistance specific to your area.

While these alternatives may not have the same breadth of records or features as Ancestry, they can still be valuable resources for your research, especially if you have a tight budget or specific regional interests.

Cancel Your Ancestry Subscription with Unsubby

If you’ve tried Ancestry and decide it’s not worth the ongoing subscription cost, you’ll need to cancel your membership. However, navigating the cancellation process on your own can sometimes be confusing or time-consuming.

That’s where Unsubby comes in – they specialize in canceling subscriptions like Ancestry quickly and easily on your behalf.

To cancel Ancestry with Unsubby:

1. Sign up for a free Unsubby account
2. Select Ancestry from their list of supported services
3. Provide a few details about your Ancestry subscription
4. Let Unsubby take care of the rest

Unsubby will contact Ancestry and cancel your subscription, so you don’t have to deal with any pushback or runaround. Once your cancellation is processed, you’ll get a confirmation from Unsubby.

Using Unsubby is a great way to save time and hassle when you need to cancel Ancestry or any other subscription services you no longer need or use.

The Bottom Line

So, is Ancestry worth it for genealogy research? Ultimately, the answer depends on your research needs, budget, and expectations. If you’re serious about tracing your family history and want access to an extensive collection of records and features, an Ancestry subscription can certainly be a valuable investment.

However, if you’re on a tight budget, have limited research needs, or are unsatisfied with Ancestry’s offerings, you may want to explore some of the alternative platforms and resources available. It’s also important to keep in mind that Ancestry is a tool to assist your research – it’s not a complete replacement for thorough genealogical research practices.

If you do choose to try Ancestry, be sure to take advantage of any free trials or promotional offers to test out the platform before committing to a long-term paid subscription. And if you decide Ancestry isn’t worth the ongoing cost, remember that you can use Unsubby to cancel your subscription quickly and painlessly.