You can trace a lot of your family history for free using government archives, volunteer record projects and shared family tree sites. Government archives hold census and immigration records, while volunteer sites cover graves, local records and county guides. Start with what your family already knows, then work backwards one generation at a time.
Family history has a way of pulling you in. You start with one question about a grandparent and, three hours later, you're reading a census page from a town you'd never heard of.
Here are nine free genealogy sites to help, listed in no particular order and sorted alphabetically. Some hold official records, some are built by volunteers, and some let you build a family tree with cousins you've never met.
You don't need a subscription to make real progress. Many of the records that matter most, such as census returns and grave records, are free to search if you know where to look.
There's also one rule about census records that surprises nearly everyone, and it explains why your search seems to stop at a certain year.
Free genealogy sites at a glance
In the free plan column, Yes means the site's own pages describe free access, Trial only means a time-limited trial, and No means neither is stated there. Free access often comes with limits, so check what's included before you rely on it.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access Genealogy | Free records directory | Census, cemetery and Native American records | Yes |
| BillionGraves | Grave records site | Headstone photos with GPS locations | Trial only |
| Cyndi's List | Genealogy link directory | Finding research sites by topic | Yes |
| FamilySearch | Free genealogy platform | Records and a shared family tree | Yes |
| FreeBMD | Volunteer records index | Births, marriages and deaths in England and Wales | Yes |
| Geni | Collaborative family tree | Building a tree with relatives | Yes |
| National Archives | US government archive | Census and military records | Yes |
| USGenWeb | Volunteer genealogy project | County-level records and guides | Yes |
| WikiTree | Collaborative family tree | A single shared world tree | Yes |
Nine free genealogy sites to use
Access Genealogy
Best for: Researchers looking for free record collections sorted by type and place.
BillionGraves
Best for: Family historians who want to find and visit a relative's grave.
Cyndi's List
Best for: Researchers who need a guide to genealogy sites for a country or topic.
FamilySearch
Best for: Anyone starting out who wants a huge free record collection and tree.
FreeBMD
Best for: Anyone with roots in England or Wales tracing births, marriages and deaths.
Geni
Best for: Families who want to build one shared tree together online.
National Archives
Best for: Researchers who want official US records straight from the source.
USGenWeb
Best for: Researchers focusing on one US county or state.
WikiTree
Best for: Researchers who like sourced, collaborative profiles that others can check.
The census rule that explains your dead end
Here's the rule most beginners don't know. US census records aren't released straight away. The National Archives explains that because of a 72-year restriction on access to the records, the most recent census currently available is 1950, which was released on April 1, 2022.
So if you're trying to find a parent or grandparent in a later census, you won't, however hard you search. It isn't a gap in the website or a spelling problem with the name, it's simply that the records are still closed. For anyone born after 1950, you'll lean on other records such as obituaries, school yearbooks, local newspapers and what your relatives remember.
Where to look for each type of record
- Census records: government archives and the big free genealogy platforms.
- Graves and headstones: grave record sites with photos and locations.
- Local history: volunteer county projects and local library pages.
- Births, marriages and deaths: volunteer indexes for the country you're researching.
- Family stories: your oldest living relatives, before anything else.
Starting your family tree
Start with yourself and work backwards. It sounds obvious, but jumping straight to a famous surname or a family legend is the quickest way to end up researching someone else's ancestors.
- Write down what you know about yourself, your parents and grandparents.
- Ask older relatives for names, dates and places.
- Search a census for the oldest person you can name.
- Add each confirmed person to a free family tree.
- Record where every fact came from so you can check it later.
Sharing what you find
Once you've found a story worth telling, you might want to share it with the wider family. Here's what blogging is and how to start one if you'd like to write it up.
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My plain advice on free genealogy sites
Start with a big free platform and the official archives, because that's where most of the records are. Then use volunteer sites to fill the gaps for a particular county, cemetery or country.
Above all, talk to your oldest relatives first. Records can tell you dates, but only people can tell you why your family moved, and that's usually the clue that cracks the next generation.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do genealogy for free?
Yes. Government archives, volunteer projects and free family tree sites cover a huge amount.
Why can't I find my parents in the census?
US census records are released 72 years after they're taken, so recent ones aren't available yet.
Where should a beginner start?
Write down what you know, talk to relatives, then search the oldest census you can.
Are free family trees accurate?
They're a great lead, but check each fact against an original record.
Can I find a relative's grave online?
Yes. Grave record sites show headstone photos and locations.
How do I trace ancestors from England or Wales?
Volunteer birth, marriage and death indexes are a good free starting point.
What records help for people born after 1950?
Obituaries, newspapers, yearbooks and family papers fill the gap.
Do I need a DNA test?
No. A DNA test can help later, but records and family stories come first.
How do I keep my research organised?
Note the source of every fact and keep one main family tree.
Can relatives work on the same family tree?
Yes. Collaborative tree sites let several people add and check details.
What if two records disagree?
Look for a third record, and weigh official documents over family memory.
How far back can I trace my family?
It depends on the records that survive, but many families reach the nineteenth century.
