September 10, 2026
I’ve been doing genealogy for decades. New genealogists frequently ask me which genealogy websites are best. There’s no definitive answer. Depending on what you are trying to accomplish with your genealogy, there are lots of great websites out there. Each of them will have pros and cons.
However, for me, there are a few websites that I use consistently. I use a combination of free and paid sites. I often subscribe to paid sites on an “as needed” basis. As my research needs vary, I tend to change the paid sites I use.
Ancestry and FamilySearch are my go-to sites. I’ve used both for over thirty years now, and I’m sure I’ll continue to use them. Both Ancestry and FamilySearch are general websites that offer huge databases containing large numbers of copies of original documents. Both offer family trees that offer clues for further research.
Ancestry is a paid site, and it isn’t cheap. If you buy a full subscription, it can cost hundreds of dollars a year. For me it’s worth the cost. I find the website easy to navigate, and the site offers broad coverage. If you are not researching internationally, you can subscribe to a less expensive version. Many local libraries offer free access to Ancestry, as well.
FamilySearch.org is the genealogical website offered by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It is free to everyone. No matter what your research goals are, FamilySearch can probably help. It has records from all over the world, so if you are researching in a lesser-known area, it is a good place to start.
Newspapers are a great way to add meat to the bones of your family history. Most of us start with obituaries, but newspapers can help fill in gaps in vital records and add details about an ancestor’s day-to-day life. There are many newspaper websites both free and paid. My favorite free newspaper sites are state historical newspaper projects. An easy way to find them is to google “newspapers” plus the name of the state.
There are several paid newspaper websites, but I prefer Newspapers.com. It is easy to search for articles, and clipping and saving articles is simple. Its database contains a growing number of newspapers, but you should check to make sure the newspaper you want is included before you subscribe.
State archives websites are another favorite. Every state has a state archive and/or a state library. The websites usually contain digitized records from the state. For example, the Utah State Archives website has a database of digitized death certificates. Even if the archive doesn’t have digitized records, it will usually give instructions on how to order copies.
Beyond the websites I’ve noted, there are many specialty sites. These can include websites which contain records specific to a topic. Fold3, for example, specializes in American military records.
Other websites specialize in records from various countries. Find My Past is a British Isles specific site, while Arkiv Digital contains Swedish records.
Depending on your goals, there is probably a website that will help you achieve them. It may take some trial and error to find your own favorite websites, but it’s worth the search.
Carol Stetser
Researcher
Larimer County Genealogical Society