Written by Generation Archives. We make one of the products on this list, so we are not a neutral party. We have tried to describe the others fairly, using their own help pages where we could, and we say so where we are unsure. This is not a ranking, and no service here paid to be included. Plans and limits change, so confirm current details on each site.
Free family tree websites compared (2026): limits, privacy, and trade-offs
Searching for a free family tree site produces a pile of "best of" lists, many of which rank whoever pays the highest commission. This page does something plainer. It compares a handful of free options on the things that matter once you have a few hundred people in a tree: what is actually free, what the limits are, who can see your tree, and whether you can take your data with you.
"Free" has a lot of meanings. For some services it means free forever. For others it means free to build a tree and pay to see the records. For others it means free up to a size. The matrix below keeps those meanings apart.
The short version
- You want historical records without paying: FamilySearch.
- You want a free, simple tree that copes with very large trees: Family Echo.
- You want a free tree on a research platform, and your tree is small: MyHeritage Basic, within its limits.
- You want a private tree with photos, stories, and hand-placed layouts: Generation Archives.
- You want serious research tools on your own computer, free: Gramps.
- You want all of the above: use two. Research on one, keep a private archive on another, and move people between them with GEDCOM.
The matrix
| Generation Archives | FamilySearch | Family Echo | MyHeritage Basic | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A private family tree for people, photos, and stories | One shared world tree plus free historical records | A long-running free tree maker in the browser | The free tier of a research and DNA platform |
| Cost | Free to use. Optional media hosting is $1 per GB per year in prepaid credit, with 100 MB-years of starter credit. Linking photos you already store is free | Free | Free | Free for the Basic tier. Paid plans add more |
| Size limit | No paid plan unlocks more people. The only paid part is media hosting | No per-user cap that we know of. The tree is shared | Known for handling very large trees. Check its site for current limits | Up to 250 people and 500 MB on Basic, per MyHeritage's help pages |
| Who can see it | Private by default: you and invited relatives, or a public link if you turn it on | Deceased people's profiles are public to account holders. Living people are private, with private and family-group spaces | Share link or invite | Depends on your family-site settings |
| Can others edit it | Only people you invite, as viewers or editors | Yes, anyone with an account can edit shared profiles | Invited collaborators | Invited family members, depending on settings |
| Historical records | No | Yes, a large free collection | No | Records and matches are in the paid plans. Check what Basic includes |
| DNA | No | No | No | Sold separately and in paid plans |
| Photos | Tag people in photos, notes on photos, biographies. Upload or link | Memories attached to shared profiles | A photo per person and files | Limited by the 500 MB cap |
| Layout | Drag anyone anywhere, auto arrange, several named layouts | Standard tree views | Automatic layout with view options | Automatic tree views |
| Complex families | Any number of parents and multiple spouses. Parent types are not labeled | Supported, within one shared tree | Extra sets of parents, with a parent type | Supported |
| GEDCOM import | Yes: 5.5.1, 7.0, GEDZIP, plus Family Echo HTML | Via supported tools and partner programs. Check current options | Yes | Yes |
| GEDCOM export | Yes: 5.5.1, 7.0, GEDZIP, plus PDF, PNG, JPEG image of the tree | Via supported tools and partner programs. Check current options | Yes, plus CSV, FamilyScript, and Read-only HTML | Yes |
| Photos in the export | Not in GEDCOM. GEDZIP carries links, not image files | Not in GEDCOM | Not in GEDCOM. Read-only HTML includes pictures | Not in GEDCOM |
| Works on a phone | In the browser, with nothing to install | Browser and app | In the browser | Browser and app |
If any cell looks wrong by the time you read this, trust the service's own page over ours.
Notes on each service
Generation Archives
What it does well: a private home for the people, photos, and stories you already have. You decide where each person sits and keep several layouts of the same tree. You can tag people in a photo, write biographies, and invite relatives by email. It imports and exports GEDCOM, and the tree is free, with optional paid media hosting.
What it does not do: it has no historical records and no DNA matching. It will not find relatives for you. It is a hosted web app and is not open source.
Caveats on "free": the tree is free. Hosting your uploaded photos is not, beyond the starter credit, and when hosted credit runs out, hosted media becomes inaccessible and is deleted after six months. Linking photos you already store elsewhere costs nothing. The pricing page and family tree software with no subscription explain it.
FamilySearch
What it does well: a very large collection of free historical records, and one shared tree where descendants pool their work. If your goal is to find ancestors in records, it is a strong place to start, and it costs nothing.
What to know: the shared tree is editable by anyone with an account, so any profile can change. It is built around public profiles for the deceased. That is useful for research and a different thing from a private family archive. See Generation Archives vs FamilySearch.
Family Echo
What it does well: it is free, stable, and copes with huge trees. People have used it for years. It labels adoptive and foster parents on the link, which we do not yet do. If it does everything you need, there is no reason to move.
What to know: it relies on automatic layout with view options, and its GEDCOM, CSV, and FamilyScript exports do not include photos. The Read-only HTML export does. Our Family Echo alternative page and import guide are written by us, so read them as the maker's account.
MyHeritage Basic
What it does well: a way to try a large research platform for free. If you have a small tree, you may never reach the limits.
What to know: the free tier is capped at 250 people and 500 MB, according to MyHeritage's help pages. Historical records, Smart Matches, and larger trees are in paid plans, and DNA is sold separately. See Generation Archives vs MyHeritage.
Others worth knowing about
- Gramps is free, open-source desktop software with deep research tools. You install and back it up yourself. See Generation Archives vs Gramps.
- Ancestry lets you build a tree without paying for records, but record collections require a paid plan. See Generation Archives vs Ancestry.
- Other free sites exist that we have not reviewed here. Judge them on the same questions below.
Questions to ask about any "free" site
- What is free, and what is not? Is the tree free, or only the sign-up?
- What are the limits? People, photos, storage, trees.
- Who can see my tree, and who can edit it? Check the default, not the marketing.
- Can I export everything? Try it before you invest. GEDCOM for structure, a separate plan for photos.
- What happens to my data if the service changes or closes? Look for an export you can use today.
- Does it show ads or sell data? Read the privacy policy.
- How will it make money? If you cannot tell, consider why.
How to choose
- Not sure where to start? Try a free demo first. Ours does not need an account: open the demo. Other sites offer sign-up with a free tier.
- Building a tree with living family? Choose private. See family tree privacy.
- Researching unknown ancestors? Use a records site, and keep a copy of what you find. Our beginner checklist explains the order.
- Planning to move later? Export early and often. See how to export your tree as GEDCOM.
- Worried about lock-in? Pick a service that exports, and keep your photos in a folder you control.
Using more than one
Many people use two services. A research site finds the records, and a private tree keeps the family version. GEDCOM moves people and relationships between them, not photos. What is GEDCOM explains the limits. The cost of using two is that they drift apart, so decide which one is the master copy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free family tree website?
It depends on what you want. For free historical records, FamilySearch. For a free, simple tree that handles large trees, Family Echo. For a private tree with photos and hand-arranged layouts, Generation Archives. No single site wins on every measure, and we are not neutral on that list.
Are free family tree sites really free?
Some are free in full, and some are free to start. Check limits on people, photos, and storage, and what is behind a paid plan. Our own tree is free, and media hosting beyond the starter credit is paid.
Can I move my tree from one free site to another?
Usually, with GEDCOM. It carries people and relationships, but not photos. Keep your originals. See how to import a GEDCOM.
Are free family trees private?
Not necessarily. Some are public by design, such as shared world trees. Others are private by default. Check the setting, and read who you are protecting against.
Do I need a paid site to build a family tree?
No. You can build a full tree with free tools. Paid plans mostly buy access to historical records, matching, and larger or more feature-rich trees.
Try the demo Sample tree Create a free account
Related
- Family tree software with no subscription
- Generation Archives vs Ancestry
- Generation Archives vs MyHeritage: research platform or free private tree?
- Generation Archives vs FamilySearch: one shared world tree or your own family tree?
- A Family Echo alternative that brings your tree over, photos included
- A private family tree you share only with relatives
- Family tree privacy: public, private, or invite-only, and who you are protecting against
- What is GEDCOM? A plain-English guide to moving family trees between apps
- How to export your family tree as GEDCOM, and make it a real backup
- How to start a family tree: a beginner checklist
- Pricing and storage
- FAQ
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