- How the Ancestry free trial works
- How to start the trial
- The cancellation catch
- How to cancel the Ancestry free trial
- What happens to your tree and DNA results
- Linked sites are affected too
- Still renewing after cancelling? Check for a second account
- UK and EU cancellations
- Is the Ancestry free trial worth it?
- Frequently asked questions
Yes, Ancestry has a free trial. Ancestry says a two-week free trial gives you access to everything that comes with a full membership, and you'll need to add a card or another way to settle up because the trial turns into the membership you chose. To avoid moving onto a full membership, Ancestry says you need to cancel within two weeks of the date your trial begins.
Two details in Ancestry's own help pages change how you should use those two weeks. Cancelling ends the trial immediately rather than at the end of the fortnight, and your family tree stays put after you leave. Here's how it all works.
How the Ancestry free trial works
When you start a trial, Ancestry asks you to pick two things up front: a type of membership and how often it renews, either monthly or every six months. Ancestry says the membership you choose for the trial is the one it turns into after two weeks. That's why it asks for a card, PayPal or Apple's wallet before the trial starts.
| Your choice at sign-up | What happens after two weeks |
|---|---|
| Monthly membership | Your full membership starts and renews monthly |
| Six-month membership | Your full membership starts and renews every six months |
| Cancel during the trial | The trial ends immediately and nothing is taken |
Read that six-month row before you click. If you pick the longer option by mistake, the trial converts into a six-month membership, not a single month.
How to start the trial
- Choose a membership type and how often it renews, then click Start free trial.
- Sign in to your Ancestry account, or fill in the New Account section and click Save and continue.
- Choose credit or debit card, PayPal or Apple's wallet and enter your details.
- Add your address and click Proceed to checkout.
- Review your details and click Order now. Ancestry suggests starting with Lesson 1 of its Getting Started guide, building your tree.
The cancellation catch
This is the part most people get wrong. Ancestry says that if you cancel your free trial during the two free weeks, your trial ends immediately. You don't keep the rest of the fortnight. So if you want the full two weeks, do your research first and cancel near the end, not on day one.
Ancestry also says you can't pause a free trial. Pausing only works on some full memberships, and free trials are on its list of memberships that can't be paused.
How to cancel the Ancestry free trial
- Go to Account Settings, or select your profile in the top right corner of any Ancestry page and choose Account Settings.
- In the Membership section, find your trial and select Cancel trial.
- Follow the prompts.
- Keep going until you get a cancellation confirmation number. Ancestry also sends a confirmation email.
Ancestry says to keep that number or email for your records. If you don't see a Cancel trial option, it lists a few reasons: you may be on a free Registered Guest account, an invited member of someone else's family plan, or signed in to a different Ancestry account from the one you used for the trial.
What happens to your tree and DNA results
This is the reassuring part. Ancestry says cancelling doesn't delete your family trees, your DNA results or your Ancestry account. Once your trial or membership ends, your account becomes a free Registered Guest account, and your trees and results stay available within what Registered Guests can see.
So the work you put into your tree during the trial isn't lost. You'll lose access to the full record collections, but you can carry on building with what you've found.
Linked sites are affected too
If Archives, Newspapers.com or Fold3 access came as part of your Ancestry membership, Ancestry says cancelling also ends your access to those sites. If you signed up to one of them directly, you need to cancel it separately on that site.
Still renewing after cancelling? Check for a second account
Ancestry's cancellation page lists a few reasons you might still see your membership renew, and the most common is having more than one Ancestry account. If you see a renewal but no membership in your account settings or order history, Ancestry asks you to contact it so it can find any other accounts. It's worth checking which email you used before you start a new trial, especially if you've tried Ancestry before.
UK and EU cancellations
Ancestry's renewal and cancellation terms say that if you're using the service in the UK or EU, you can also cancel your membership by filling in a contact form, as well as through Account Settings. That's a useful fallback if you can't get into your account before the trial ends.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Is the Ancestry free trial worth it?
Yes, if you go in prepared. Gather names, dates and places from relatives before you start, so you use the two weeks searching records instead of setting up. If you want to keep going without a membership afterwards, my guide to free genealogy sites lists other places to search, and my round-up of the best genealogy software helps if you want to keep your tree on your own computer too.
My verdict: pick the monthly option at sign-up, do your research in the first 12 days, and cancel near the end of the fortnight. Your tree stays on your account either way.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Ancestry free trial?
Ancestry says its free trial lasts two weeks and gives you access to everything in a full membership.
Do I need a card for the Ancestry free trial?
Yes. Ancestry asks for a credit or debit card, PayPal or Apple's wallet, because the trial turns into the membership you chose.
If I cancel my Ancestry free trial, do I keep access?
No. Ancestry says that if you cancel during the two free weeks, your trial ends immediately.
Will I lose my family tree if I cancel Ancestry?
No. Ancestry says cancelling doesn't delete your family trees, DNA results or account. Your account becomes a free Registered Guest account.
Can I pause an Ancestry free trial?
No. Ancestry lists free trials among the memberships that can't be paused.
How do I know my Ancestry trial is cancelled?
Ancestry says you'll get a cancellation confirmation number on screen and by email.
Can I cancel Ancestry without logging in?
In the UK and EU, Ancestry's terms say you can also cancel by filling in a contact form.
