Access to census records (1790-1940)
SSDI database
Family tree building (with several layouts to view and print data - traditional pedigree, fan and dependency)
Free membership (upon signing up with a membership, users can determine the level of privacy which they want as far as allowing other members to connect to them and contact them via email)
Access to obituaries, newspapers and books
Multiple language platforms
Comprehensive blog with educational and informative articles on family history
Helpful WIKI to guide research
Ability to upload images, documents and create life sketches of family members to bring their records to life
Data protection - when duplicates or errors are found, members email their notes through on onsite system with their information corrections and documentation to try and reduce duplicates and correct errors
Puzilla.org (run by FamilySearch.org) gives additional opportunities to research dependency and find cousins (also free)
Mobile app allows for quick additions on the run
Volunteer opportunities for all to help digitize (index) records from home to increase the digital databases available
Huge network of Family History Centers (worldwide) at which to receive free help from other genealogists
Social Media presence with helpful tips - Facebook, Twitter and Google+
YouTube Channel with instructional videos

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The Bad

Web freezes

Our review team noticed that when adding family members into their family trees (especially when importing them from another member's tree), the page can freeze up and needs to be reloaded by clicking another link and then going back into the tree page. This seems to happen during the times which internet traffic is higher. While not a full crash, this can become frustrating when working on building your trees. The developers obviously worked hard to make the site user friendly. There is a learning curve to its use and it is not always intuitive.

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The Bottom Line

Our review team is confident in recommending FamilySearch.org for anyone wanting to begin their family history research or to expand the branches of their family tree. This site is well-planned and offers access to records which other sites charge (sometimes hefty fees) to access. Having so many venues for personal help, not only with the functionality of the site (technical), but with the research itself make this site a real bargain - indeed a treasure even.

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User Reviews

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4.8

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815 Reviews

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Christine Christensen Salt Lake City, UT

Familysearch is my go-to site for all things family history. I love that I can add sources, edit information that is incorrect and add my reasons for doing so, carefully merge duplicate individuals, and add or see photos and memories that others have added. Familysearch also allows me to search their extensive database of historical records which tireless volunteers have indexed. The beauty of familysearch is that family members all over the world who have access to the internet can read information and feel connected to our family! While in the Philippines my son would frequently read stories about his ancestors that gave him strength and courage. I access familysearch almost daily and LOVE it.

11 years ago

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Cynthia Azócar Ahumada Riverside, CT

I love this site, I'm using it for years, and is always getting better. I completed 5 generations, just with the free information that FamilySearch provide. I'm from Chile and I can find everything in my own language, and organize it in English or any language I want. I can download documents that contains my great-grandfather signature. I got happier when I found that now there is a Family Search application to add to my smart phone and tablet, using my own account, so I can go with my genealogy everywhere. This is perfect when you are in family reunions and you get more family information that you can add. Also take family pictures and add them to your family tree.

11 years ago

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Missy Charleston, IL

I love FamilySearch for so many reasons. With so many people connected and able to contribute, it's rewarding to search for ancestors and have such a large extended tree available. I love looking through the "memories" section of ancestors and learning more about their lives because of others contributions. I enjoy indexing and have indexed thousands of names through this site.

6 years ago

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Maurie C.

Easy to set up account. VERY helpful phone based support.Tie the information that you put in with the same name and dates others have put in so you can get LOTS of additional information sometimes.. Microfilm copies of original source records are shown. thE ONKLY DRAW BACK i SEE IS THAT YOU CAN ONLY ACCESS 4 TO 7 GENERATIONS AT ONE TIME SO IT IS not POSSIBLE TO VIEW ALL OF THE GENERATIONS OF ANCESTORS AT ONCE OR TO PRINT ALL AT ONCE.

7 years ago

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McKinzie Figueroa Provo, UT

I have really enjoyed using FamilySearch. I love that now they are allowing you to upload documents and pictures of your ancestors. It has been so fun to go through and see what is already up and to learn more about my genealogy. I also think the calendar is fun where you can go and see if you have any family members who have birthdays on a specific date. It's lots of fun and is a great way to feel close to your ancestors.

7 years ago

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Kory Staheli

I am a big fan of FamilySearch. I have been using it for several years now and have found it to be a very effective tool for both locating and learning about my ancestors. I like that it is constantly being updated with new information. Their fan charts are great for those of us who are visual learners and I have also enjoyed their new relative finder feature.

9 years ago

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Patricia Terrill Saint George, UT

I love familysearch.org. Some have complained about mistakes in their trees. It is usually fairly easy to correct the mistake and add documentation to prove what has been corrected. This seems to work very well. The search engine is excellent although it would be nice to have a feature to update information in my tree when a record is attached. Overall, I think it is a marvelous site which continually gets better. Kudos!

11 years ago

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Alicia Mesa, AZ

FamilySearch is the main site I use when doing family history and I really enjoy it! I love that I can access and talk to others that have been working on a specific person. I feel like it's fairly user friendly and once you learn how to use it, it's a really great way to keep all the information on your family tree straight! I think the best part about this site is that there is a section dedicated to memories where you can add photos and videos of family members so you have a place where all of that can be recorded and seen by all of your family! I would recommend it to anyone excited about and wanting to get in to family history!

4 years ago

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Tami Allen Gilbert, AZ

I have used Family Search for years to try to piece together the puzzle that is my family tree. It is a great website that has really improved it's functionality and content over the years I've been using it. It allows you to not only build your family tree, but to put pictures, video, or even recordings in so that others can share those precious memories you have of your loved ones. I love the connections I've made with relatives I didn't even know I had through Family Search. Using this website along with Ancestry has made it possible to find even more information on my loved ones that have passed away and to preserve that history for future generations.

8 years ago

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JJ Jenkins Phoenix, AZ

Family search is a wonderful online resource that helps me find ancestors in my family tree. It also provides a place for me to store photos, stories, and information soon about me and my loving relatives. It has been a wonderful resource for me to connect with both living relatives and find deceased relatives.

5 years ago

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Eddie Rios Ogden, UT

FamilySearch.org is a great genealogy platform. You can find info that has been long lost to your family. It is a great insight to the past with records, forms and public info stored but ready to access. I like the ability to do deep searches, great tool for lost info.

6 years ago

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Summer Porter Managua, MN

FamilySearch is a wonderful company designed to help connect us with our ancestors. Their data base is immensive and the website essentially walks you through the 'go-to' of it all from the beginning. With their mobile app as well, you can do genealogy work on the go.

6 years ago

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Sandra Barnes

Familysearch is a free, structured forum where family members and amateur historians can input their discoveries for others to add and or improve. Familysearch connects hundreds of databases and acts, at minimum, as an informed suggestion to firsthand sources.

7 years ago

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Shauna Horne American Fork, UT

We used familysearch.org on a regular basis. It is a really useful way to find out information about our family history. One of my favorite things is that it sends out weekly emails that tells me more about my ancestors, including stories and pictures of them. It makes me feel more connected to my ancestors.

7 years ago

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Isabelle Hong Pleasant Grove, UT

Family Search is a great resource to come to know your ancestors. For members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints it allows them to perform temple ordinances of their relatives. This is very important to them and Family Search is an easy way to help them.

7 years ago

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Larry Hawker Las Vegas, NV

Probably the best of the geneology search engines. System works well. Only problem is that people can make changes that are sometimes incorrect. This company is on the cutting edge of family search and has access to more records than anyone.

8 years ago

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Cassidy Gundersen Orem, UT

Family search is one of my favorite tools! It is has helped me significantly to build my family tree and find ancestors. I love their service and recommend it frequently to those looking to get into family history. Its especially useful if you are LDS because you can track temple ordinances.

8 years ago

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Kyle Cardwell Riverton, UT

FamilySearch.org makes family history a cinch and pretty fun! The other day at work my boss showed me a new "family nearby" feature and we found out we're 15th cousins! It's also cool to look through your genealogy and see what well-known people in history you're related to.

8 years ago Edited September 14, 2021

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Coleen Daniels Myersville, MD

I have used family search for several years! It is one of the the best websites for searching information about your ancestors. It is easy to use and if you need help, there is a contact number that you can call and really talk to a live person who will walk you there it! Great site!

8 years ago

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Derek Heiner Centerville, UT

This is the best genealogy companies because it's all free and it's all really easy to use once you learn how to do it. I like the layout that they use because it's really simple and efficient. The website only has the things you need which makes it so easy. I'd recommend FamilySearch to anyone.

8 years ago

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Sav Flo

I like how the LDS church has been able to find thousands upon thousands of records. I have had a hard time looking for my ancestors on other websites but this website is the place I turn too when I want accurate results. I also like the feature of being able to index because when I don't have much luck finding my own ancestors I have a chance to help others through indexing.

9 years ago

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Kari Staheli

Familysearch.org is the first site I visit when I do my geneological research. It is pretty comprhensive and the best part is-IT"S FREE!. I love how people have submitted stories and pictures of common relatives. I have been able to learn alot about my ancestors.

9 years ago

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Kathleen Washington, MO

I personally prefer FamilySearch to any other genealogy website. They have a better search engine and it is easier to find what I am looking for. I like that images are linked to most records, even if some are on Ancestry.com and Fold3. I also like how easy it is to find digitized records that are browsable.

11 years ago

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Ruth Loughlin Hatboro, PA

I found the site very helpful. Yes I do have problems with the page freezing up but only at times when there are alot of people using it. So, I try to do on off hours. I do have some trouble find the family member, but that is because they did not want to be found, or they are Native American Indians. I did find info I did find very helpful and made me search a little deeper. I would recommend this as a good first place to search as it is easier to use then others.

11 years ago

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Cindy Turner Dodd Omaha, NE

I have used Family Search for many years and love all the information provided. However it is a disappointment that you have partnered with paid sites. I understand not wanting to duplicate information but in these financial strait days it was nice to be able to access information with paying out tons of dollars. Please continue to provide information to all.

11 years ago

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mflyman Gunnison, UT

I love familysearch.org and use it almost every day. I used to have to send for these documents at a cost of $$ and wait for 4 to 6 weeks. Now I have those documents for free and can attach them immediately to my family. Thank you so much for all the work and effort you all put into Familysearch.

11 years ago

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Shopman Herriman, UT

FamilySearch is the best family history website out there! I have found hundreds of family members. I have also been able to connect with living family members and work together to find our missing deceased family. The record hints are so helpful. I have been able learn about my family in a way I never thought possible. The best part of it is that it is free!

4 years ago

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Wendy Barney Vancouver, WA

Family search has provided me a way to teach my children their legacy of our own family’s military history from the founding of the United States to those that fought in WWII. I want them to know that their own ancestors were proud to represent their country. Familysearch.org makes it easy to find those registration records. While it’s helped my own kids, their cousins and my siblings have been thrilled to hear the legacy that they come from. Especially my brother who served in the Army.

4 years ago

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Michelle Bray Pleasant Grove, UT

This is a program to help you create your family history. It does have a bit of a learning curve. Take your time to learn the program first, then start adding your information. Always check the sources before you merge a record. You can create a pedigree chart and family groups, There are tons of records that you can search to verify your relative. Please take care to verify each source before adding it to your family record. A very cool feature is to upload pictures and stories of your relatives. It really makes researching more personal.

5 years ago

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Jordon Patton Pflugerville, TX

I recently started using FamilySearch again and they've made a lot of really awesome improvements that make it more fun! I am also a youth leader, and we were able to show the youth how to use the website to do fun things like finding stories about their ancestors, seeing things like who won the Super Bowl the year you were born, where your ancestors come from by percentages, and more.

5 years ago

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Brad H Gilbert, AZ

I find familySearch.org very easy to use. Type in a parent name with date of birth and a pedigree chart appears if the parent is in the system. You can also create a fan chart which explores even more relatives. This is a very easy way to start reviewing your ancestry. As you proceed to grandparents and great grandparents the chart keeps expanding allowing you to go back further into the family tree

5 years ago

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Cindy H Gilbert, AZ

Love, love this site. It is free to use and has many resources and also opportunities to participate in indexing as a volunteer. I love how you can see so much family history and also you are able to add pictures and memories to share with those who are here and those are yet to be born. I had a 2nd cousin contact me that i never had met when she signed onto an account! This site is all about bringing families together...past, present and future!

5 years ago

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Betty Brigham City, UT

Family Search is one of the first pre-eminent free information sites. Family Search has a wealth of information from government sites and private records. I love the aspect that it is so user friendly. It has a multitude of instruction and help. One can connect with local live assistant persons by phone. Learning about your ancestors has limitless possibilities.

5 years ago

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STurner Saratoga Springs, UT

I use it on a constant basis. It is user friendly. It is packed with information. I can share information with my family and get information from others. It is by far the best genealogy program out there and it is in partnership with with several other genealogy sites and has easy buttons to click on to go to these sites. This is the best program available and it’s free.

6 years ago

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Mike Ika West Valley City, UT

Family Search has been a very interesting and very useful tool. Being able to find relatives several generations back has been very interesting and fun. I really enjoy the ability to see some of the photos that other family members have been able to find and post on the site. It helps to bring the ancestors to life and make them a little more personal.

6 years ago

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Rommie Bishop III Rexburg, ID

FamilySearch is my favorite Family History website! REALLY!! I have been using it for 7 years now, and enjoy the myriad of services they've got. There are ways to use your phone to upload pictures you take from it directly into your tree without accessing a computer, it has its own research base.. I could probably write an essay on FamilySearch, but no one wants to read that much of a review :P

6 years ago

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GrandpaRod Lehi, UT

This is my favorite website. I love to see information about my family and to be able to add information as well. It is simple and easy to use. I like the many facets of service it provides. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and this is a huge benefit to me for temple work and for service to my kindred dead. Thank you.

6 years ago

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Kylie Howes Provo, UT

Family search has accurate genealogical records for hundreds of years into the past, and is especially reliable if you are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, because the website is affiliated with that organization and has connections to their records. It's an incredible way to become more familiar with your ancestors and your heritage. Plus, it's all free!

6 years ago

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Irinna Danielson Riverton, UT

I'm a huge fan of the memories feature on FamilySearch. I've done interviews with my Dad and an uncle and aunt sharing stories of my grandparents whom I've never met using the FamilySearch Memories app. I've then transcribed those interviews into memories that are priceless. FamilySearch is intuitive, it's more than just a Family Tree and a place to find records. It's my family history site of choice and I love that it's connected with so many partners to help me connect my family.

6 years ago

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Brenda Mertes Houston, TX

FamilySearch is my #1 go-to site to look for anyone related to me. The site is incredibly easy to use and I find myself spending several hours searching for ancestors. It's fascinating to find who all is related to me. My ultimate favorite feature is the "view my relationship" button that shows how certain people are related to me up to 15 generations apart.

6 years ago

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kristin Gneiting Pleasant Grove, UT

FamilySearch.org is an easy way to help you do genealogy. It is the way I started by first just getting interested about my family tree. Mostly it is free to use and many people think you must be a member of the LDS church to use it but you do not. It is just a social network that connects people with their ancestors. It is very user friendly and I have never wanted to try any other source. If you have always wanted to get started and do not know where to begin, this is a good place to start.

7 years ago

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Krystal Taylor Pleasant Grove, UT

This site is INCREDIBLE, and their app is super user friendly. I love being able to whip out my phone and show people pictures of my great-great-great grandparents. I have access to so many documents that I otherwise wouldn't have were it not for this website. I read newspaper articles about my ancestors and learned about their lives. And when it came to putting information into the system it was very easy to upload photos and stories about my deceased family members.

7 years ago

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Kyle Gardner Provo, UT

Family search makes collaborating with other people very easy because on each individuals' profile there is a record of all the changes made to that individual's information and who did it. You can then direct message the person if you have a question of why they made a change or found some information. Family search is also free. That is particularly useful because through your family search account you can access most of the records from other partner sites, including ancestry and family tree.

7 years ago

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Natalie Prestwich Taylorsville, UT

I have had account with familysearch for a very long time but have just started using it more recently. The app is what I mainly use. It is very easy to navigate and find what you are looking for. I love all of the details and that you can add memories of your ancestors. My aunt passed away almost 7 years ago and last time I was on family search, I stumbled on her page and was looking through the memories section which had pictures. It was so fun to see them and reflect on some of those memories.

7 years ago

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Anne Sainsbury Payson, UT

I love this service! I have been able to find hundreds of family members going back a number of generations. A couple of weeks ago I was in Alabama and talked to an elderly gentleman that was working at a local tourist attraction and he mentioned that he has been using familysearch.org for quite some time and has gone back to the 500's. I have been able to learn so much about my ancestors with the sources that have been put on here and I have enjoyed finding more of these sources to share with others who are looking for their family roots as well. What an amazing experience!

7 years ago

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Ashley Pleasant Grove, UT

FamilySearch.org is the first website I used in trying to learn more about my ancestors. You just got to the icon of the tree and explore your own family tree and view historical records for details about your ancestors. You can see what has already been done on your family tree and then you can discover stories about your ancestors. If you are new to genealogy FamilySearch.org is a great place to start!

7 years ago

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Katie Salt Lake City, UT

FamilySearch is seriously one of the greatest resources! As I've been on my journey of discovering my family, it has provided me with a location where my memories and documents can be saved so that future generations can know what my family and I were doing. It is a magical experience when you find a lost family member from your family tree. I love this site!

7 years ago

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Abby Salt Lake City, UT

Family Search is my favorite place to do family history! I use a lot of different websites to find and verify information about my ancestors, but I love how Family Search allows me to keep all of the information from these different sites in one place that I can then share with family members. Its interface is very user friendly and works wonderfully! If I have questions, there are always great people at their headquarters who can help me!

7 years ago

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Steve Anderson Lindon, UT

FamilySearch is one of the best kept secrets in the genealogy world. They offer a ton of records and other service to everyone. You don't have to be a Mormon to use FamilySearch. Best of all, it's FREE! I like that I can coordinate my research with hundreds of others who are also doing research on the lines I'm working on. Where was FamilySearch when I first started my family history research 40 years ago? Things would have been so much easier if I had it when I first started.

7 years ago

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Wendy Glade American Fork, UT

Family Search is great! I love following my family tree way back and discovering new relatives. I love that the temple ordinances are so easy to reserve and print. Using the "Relatives Around Me" feature is fun to do, especially with a group of people to see how closely related people are to each other. Also I love the "Memories" feature where you can add photos and stories of loved ones. Family Search is easy to use and keeps the best family records all in one place.

7 years ago