Free Online Genealogy Resources

Genealogy is the study of your family's history - who your ancestors were, where they lived, and how you're all connected. It's easier than ever to start digging into your roots, and you don't need to pay a dime to begin. Whether you're curious about your great-grandparents, trying to trace immigration records, or just love a good mystery, this article will outline the best free online resources available. It's written for beginners, budget-conscious hobbyists, and anyone who wants to uncover their past without getting overwhelmed or spending a lot of money.

What you need before you search

Before jumping into records and databases, gather what you already know. Start with yourself and work backward. Write down names, birth and death dates, places your relatives lived, and any family stories - no detail is too small. Talk to older relatives if you can. Even vague memories, like "he was in the Navy" or "they lived near Chicago," can open up valuable clues.

Keep everything organized in a notebook or use free family tree tools like FamilySearch Tree or WikiTree. I think you'll be surprised how fast the puzzle pieces start to fit.

Top free genealogy websites

There's no shortage of genealogy websites, but most of the big names charge for access. Luckily, these free platforms still offer a surprising amount of depth.

FamilySearch.org

Run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, FamilySearch is one of the most comprehensive free genealogy sites in the world. You'll find U.S. and international records, including census data, birth and death certificates, marriage records, and church registers.

Key features:

• Requires a free account to access records

• It lets you build and share your family tree

• Includes digitized documents and even family history books

• Collaborative tree model (others can contribute to shared ancestors)

National Archives (archives.gov)

If you're doing U.S.-based research, the National Archives is a goldmine. Their online collections include census data, military service records, naturalization papers, land grants, and even passenger arrival lists.

Key features:

• Access WWII draft cards, Revolutionary War pensions, Civil War records, and more

• Searchable via their Access to Archival Databases (AAD) tool

• You can also request copies of records by mail

Pro tip: Their site can be clunky - start with the Genealogy section or use catalog.archives.gov directly.

Find A Grave (findagrave.com)

Think of this site as a virtual cemetery. Volunteers upload photos of headstones and burial information, often including personal notes and obituaries.

Key features:

• Helpful in verifying names, birth/death dates, and family connections

• Many entries include GPS coordinates of the grave

• You can also leave virtual flowers or messages

Ellis Island & Castle Garden

Looking for immigration records? These two sites cover New York's ports during different time periods:

• EllisIsland.org (1892–1954)

• CastleGarden.org (1820–1892)

Key features:

• Free search tools for passenger lists and ships

• Original manifests often include names, ages, hometowns, and occupations

USGenWeb Project (usgenweb.org)

This grassroots project is run entirely by volunteers. It's organized by state and county, making it great for finding local transcriptions, cemetery surveys, newspaper archives, and even family Bibles.

Key features:

• Often includes documents not found elsewhere

• Especially useful for rural areas and pre-digital records

• Quality and coverage vary by location - but when it's good, it's good

Google Books & Internet Archive

Don't overlook these digital libraries. Many old family genealogies, county histories, and local directories have been scanned and uploaded. You can search for surnames, towns, or specific events.

Key features:

• Google Books includes digitized out-of-print books, many fully readable

• Internet Archive includes scanned yearbooks, war rosters, church records, and more

• Great for tracking migrations, occupations, and surname origins

Free family tree and DNA tools

Once you've gathered some names and dates, it helps to organize everything in a family tree. WikiTree.com is a free, collaborative platform where users build a shared tree of the world's ancestors. Unlike private trees on paid sites, WikiTree encourages accuracy and sourcing, making it a good option for serious hobbyists.

If you've taken a DNA test through a service like AncestryDNA or 23andMe, you can upload your raw data to GEDmatch. This free tool offers advanced DNA analysis and helps you find matches across testing companies - even if they tested with a different service.

Free tools are great for getting started, but they do have limits. Sites like Ancestry.com offer more records, DNA match tools, and hints, but they come with a price tag. Use the free tools to build a solid foundation before deciding if paid services are worth it for your goals.

Additional digital tools

There are even more free digital tools that might help, especially if you're researching a specific region, surname, or historical time period. These sites don't always get the spotlight, but they can lead you to records and connections that bigger platforms miss.

• Cyndi's List (cyndislist.com): A massive directory of 300,000+ genealogy links, sorted by topic and location. Great for finding niche databases or regional archives.

• Linkpendium (linkpendium.com): Similar to Cyndi's List but more U.S.-focused, with surname and locality-based research options.

• Chronicling America (chroniclingamerica.loc.gov): Hosted by the Library of Congress, this site offers access to thousands of digitized historical newspapers - great for obituaries, local news, and context.

• Family Tree Maker (free trial): While it's paid software, many people use the free trial period to export GEDCOM files or clean up their trees before committing.

Offline tools and strategies

Some of the best records still aren't online. Consider:

• Local libraries and historical societies: Many have genealogy rooms, microfilm collections, or exclusive archives not digitized anywhere.

• County courthouses: Birth, marriage, death, land, and probate records are often held here and can be viewed for free.

• Churches and cemeteries: Old parish records, handwritten burial logs, or private cemetery maps can fill in gaps.

• Interviewing relatives: Record conversations with older family members using your phone or a free app like Otter.ai. Their memories can lead you to names, photos, and clues you'd never find online.

Tips for smart searching

Genealogy research is full of surprises and mistakes. Names were often spelled phonetically, especially by census takers and immigration officers. Try searching with different spellings (like Jonson, Johnson, and Johnsen) or first-name variations. Always double-check sources. Just because a record seems to match doesn't mean it's your relative.

Start with broad searches, like just a last name and state, then narrow down by birth year, town, or family members. And when in doubt, step away and come back later. Fresh eyes can spot things you missed!

Staying organized

As your research grows, staying organized becomes essential. Use free tools like Google Sheets to track names, dates, and sources, or try Notion to keep notes, timelines, and photos all in one place. Some genealogy apps like FamilySearch Tree or RootsMagic Essentials also offer free ways to manage your tree.

Create folders on your computer for each family line, and save scans or screenshots with clear file names (like "Smith_1920_Census"). Back everything up to the cloud or an external drive - you don't want to lose hard-won discoveries.

A note from our studio

You don't need to spend money to uncover your family's story. With the right free tools and a bit of curiosity, you can start building your tree today. Begin with what you know, explore one branch at a time, and enjoy the detective work along the way. Found something surprising? Share your favorite discovery - I'd love to hear what you've uncovered.