The MyHeritage free trial gives you full access to the subscription you're trying, but you need to enter credit card details to start it, and it converts to a paid subscription automatically unless you cancel before it expires. The trial length is stated in the Thank you from MyHeritage email you get when it starts, and cancelling ends your access to paid features straight away.
That last point is what catches people out. With most subscriptions, cancelling a trial lets you keep using it until the end date. MyHeritage says cancelling a free trial ends the access of paid features right away, so the timing of when you cancel matters more than usual.
When you can start a MyHeritage trial
MyHeritage says you have more than one chance to start a free trial:
- When you create your MyHeritage account.
- When you buy a DNA kit, by choosing the free trial add-on at checkout.
- When you activate a DNA kit, by choosing to start a free trial at that step.
MyHeritage also notes you can have free trials for more than one subscription type running at the same time, so check your purchases if you've clicked through more than one offer.
Why the DNA timing matters
MyHeritage's own advice is to start the trial as soon as you buy or activate a DNA kit, not when your results arrive. While the sample is being processed, you can use the trial to build your family tree, and it says a detailed tree helps its tools, including Theory of Family Relativity, suggest how you're related to your DNA matches once the results land. If you wait until the results are in, you could spend most of the trial building the tree instead of exploring matches.
What happens during and after the trial
| Stage | What MyHeritage says happens |
|---|---|
| Starting the trial | You enter credit card details and get full access to the plan you're trying |
| Trial confirmation | The Thank you from MyHeritage email states how long your trial lasts |
| Not cancelled by the end | Your card is charged automatically and the trial becomes a paid subscription |
| Cancelled during the trial | Paid features end right away |
| After cancelling or expiry | Your account returns to a Basic (free) account |
| Tree bigger than Basic allows | You can view your tree but can't add more individuals |
Your data isn't deleted when you cancel. MyHeritage says cancelling a free trial doesn't delete your account or your data, and you can come back and carry on where you left off by logging in.
How to cancel a MyHeritage free trial on the website
- Log in to the MyHeritage account you started the trial on. If you're not sure which one, look for the Welcome to MyHeritage email.
- Click your name in the upper right corner and select My Purchases.
- For a Data subscription trial, select Data Plan on the left, click Stop free trial, then Stop free trial now.
- For a Complete subscription trial, click Stop free trial.
- If you don't see the option, MyHeritage says you don't have a free trial on that account, so check your other email inboxes for the welcome email.
If you started the trial in the app
MyHeritage says a free trial started in its app can only be cancelled through Google Play or the App Store. On Android, open the Play Store, tap the menu, tap Subscriptions, find MyHeritage and tap Cancel subscription. On an iPhone, open Settings, tap your name and manage the subscription there. If you don't see it, check you're signed in with the right Apple ID.
MyHeritage is clear on one more thing: uninstalling the app doesn't stop your free trial. If you delete the app without cancelling, you'll still be charged, and you'd then need to contact Apple or Google.
The best time to cancel
Because cancelling switches paid features off immediately, don't cancel on day one just to be safe, unless you're happy to lose access. A better approach is to note the end date from the confirmation email, use the full trial, and cancel a day or two before it expires. If you're comparing services first, my guide to the Ancestry free trial covers how its offer differs.
Is a paid MyHeritage plan worth it?
It depends on what you want from it. If you mainly want to build a tree and see what records turn up, try a few free genealogy sites first, because some of the groundwork costs nothing. If you've taken a MyHeritage DNA test and want the full picture of your matches, the trial is the time to judge whether the paid features change what you can learn.
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Data plan or Complete plan?
MyHeritage's cancellation steps mention two kinds of trial: a Data subscription trial and a Complete subscription trial, each cancelled from My Purchases. If you started more than one, cancel each one separately, because MyHeritage says trials for more than one subscription type can be active at the same time.
My advice
Start the trial when your DNA kit is on its way, not when results arrive, so you're building the tree while you wait. Save the confirmation email the moment it lands, because that's where the length is stated. Cancel from the same place you started, website or app store, a day or two before the end, and remember that once you cancel the paid features stop that day.
Frequently asked questions
Does the MyHeritage free trial need a credit card?
Yes. MyHeritage says you need to enter your credit card details to start the trial, and the card is charged automatically if you don't cancel before it expires.
How long is the MyHeritage free trial?
MyHeritage says the Thank you from MyHeritage confirmation email states how long your trial lasts, so check that email for your end date.
Do I keep access after cancelling the MyHeritage trial?
No. MyHeritage says cancelling your free trial ends the access of paid features right away and your account returns to Basic (free).
Will cancelling delete my family tree?
No. MyHeritage says cancelling doesn't delete your account or your data, though if your tree is larger than Basic allows, you can view it but not add more people.
Does deleting the MyHeritage app cancel the trial?
No. MyHeritage says uninstalling the app doesn't stop the free trial, and you must cancel through Google Play or the App Store.
