This comparison is written by Generation Archives, so we're not a neutral party. We've tried to describe MyHeritage fairly, using its own help pages, and we link to them so you can check. Plans change, so confirm current details on MyHeritage's site.
Generation Archives vs MyHeritage: research platform or free private tree?
MyHeritage and Generation Archives both let you build a family tree, but they are built for different jobs. MyHeritage is a large genealogy research platform with historical records, DNA testing, and automatic matching across millions of trees. Generation Archives is a free, simple family tree for keeping your people, photos, and stories in one place, visible only to you and the relatives you invite unless you choose to share it.
The short version
- Choose MyHeritage if you want to research ancestors in historical records, take a DNA test, or get matches with other people's trees.
- Choose Generation Archives if you want a free tree with no size cap tied to a plan, photos tagged to each person, layouts you arrange by hand, and a tree that stays private by default.
- Use both if you research on MyHeritage and want a clean, shareable family archive elsewhere. GEDCOM files move people and relationships between the two.
Side by side
| MyHeritage | Generation Archives | |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Genealogy research: records, DNA, matches | A family tree and archive of photos and stories |
| Free option | Basic family site: up to 250 people and 500 MB of storage | Generation Archives is free to use. Media uploads are limited: new accounts get 100 MB-years of free upload credit, then hosting is $1 per GB per year. Linking photos you already store elsewhere is free |
| Paid plans | Premium, PremiumPlus, Complete and Omni, billed annually, adding larger trees, matches and historical records | None. You only pay for photo hosting if you use it |
| Historical records and DNA | Yes, a core part of the service | No. Generation Archives is not a records or DNA service |
| Who can see your tree | Depends on your family site and privacy settings | Private by default: only you and invited relatives, unless you share a public link |
| Layout | Automatic tree views | Drag anyone anywhere, auto-arrange, and several named layouts |
| Complex families | Supported | Any number of parents per person and multiple spouses |
| Import and export | GEDCOM | Import: GEDCOM 5.5.1, GEDCOM 7.0, GEDZIP and Family Echo HTML. Export: GEDCOM 5.5.1, GEDCOM 7.0, GEDZIP, and PDF, PNG or JPEG (an image of the tree) |
Where MyHeritage shines
MyHeritage is built for discovery. Its paid plans add historical record collections and automatic matches that suggest where your relatives may appear in other trees and records. Its DNA features can connect you with relatives you didn't know about. If you are actively researching ancestors you can't name yet, that is something Generation Archives doesn't try to do.
Where Generation Archives fits
Generation Archives is for the tree you already know, or are building by hand: your own family, a blended family with step and adoptive parents, or even a fictional family for a story or a Sims legacy. The whole tree is free. You can tag people in photos, write notes and bios, and arrange the tree exactly the way you want it, then save several named layouts. Trees are private by default, so only you and the relatives you invite can see them unless you turn on a public share link.
Moving a tree from MyHeritage
- In MyHeritage, export your tree as a GEDCOM file (.ged).
- In Generation Archives, open Import / export and import the file.
- Add photos. A GEDCOM file does not contain pictures, so upload them or link photos you already store elsewhere.
- Use auto-arrange for a starting layout, then drag people where you want them.
See What is GEDCOM? for what moves across and what doesn't.
Frequently asked questions
Is Generation Archives a replacement for MyHeritage?
Not for research. Generation Archives has no historical records, DNA, or matching. It is a free place to keep and arrange a family tree with photos and stories, and many people use it alongside a research site.
Is there a limit on how many people my tree can have?
Generation Archives is free to use, and there is no paid plan that unlocks more people. The only paid part is media hosting beyond the free upload credit. MyHeritage's free Basic site allows up to 250 people, and larger trees need a paid plan.
Can I bring my MyHeritage tree into Generation Archives?
Yes. Export a GEDCOM file from MyHeritage and import it. People and relationships come across. Photos don't travel in GEDCOM, so you add them afterwards.
Who can see my tree on Generation Archives?
By default, only you and the relatives you invite. You can make a tree public with a share link if you want to.
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