Online Family Trees
Where should you build your family tree — and where should you search for other people’s research? Deciding on a platform to host your pedigree is one of the most critical decisions in your genealogy journey. A family tree is not just a digital scrapbook; it is a highly structured database that can either accelerate your discoveries or lock your valuable research behind proprietary paywalls.
For a genetic genealogist, online family trees serve as the ultimate lens through which DNA match lists are interpreted. Below, we compare the world’s leading genealogy platforms side-by-side, analyze the profound structural differences between individual and collaborative tree models, and explain how to strategically leverage online trees to smash through stubborn DNA brick walls.
No matter which platform you choose, always verify that it supports GEDCOM export. GEDCOM is the universal file format for family trees. Ensuring your chosen platform allows you to export your data means you own your research and can transfer your tree to offline software or secure client-side viewers (like our free GEDCOM Tree Viewer) at any time.
📊 Online Family Tree Platforms Compared
Comparison MatrixAn independent, objective review of how the major online family tree databases compare across structural models, historical records, and DNA integration features:
| Platform | Tree Model | Public Trees | Collaborative | Historical Records | DNA Integration | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ancestry | Individual | Yes (or Private) | Limited | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | US/UK Gen + AncestryDNA |
| MyHeritage | Individual | Yes (or Private) | Limited | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | Global & European Gen |
| FamilySearch | One Shared Tree | Yes | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★ | 100% Free Research |
| WikiTree | One Shared Tree | Yes | ★★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★★ | Collaborative Gen |
| Geni | One World Tree | Yes | ★★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | Global Connection |
| Geneanet | Individual + Shared | Yes | ★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ | Continental Europe |
| Findmypast | Individual | Yes (or Private) | Limited | ★★★★★ | ★★★ | UK & Irish Research |
| WeRelate | Wiki/Shared Tree | Yes | ★★★★★ | ★★ | — | Wiki-Style Tracking |
⚖️ Two Very Different Types of Online Family Trees
ArchitecturesBefore clicking “Sign Up” on any website, you must understand that the genealogy world is split into two fundamentally different tree architectures. Choosing the wrong model can lead to endless frustration, especially when analyzing genetic matches.
Individual Trees
In an individual tree model, you are the absolute owner of your database. Nobody can modify, merge, or delete ancestors in your tree without your explicit permission. You decide whether your tree is public, private, or hidden from search engines.
Key Platforms:
- Ancestry: Perfect for pairing with AncestryDNA matches and searching massive record pools.
- MyHeritage: The absolute leader for European research, offering private trees and elite automatic matching tools.
- Findmypast: The go-to database for direct, private British and Irish pedigree tracing.
- Geneanet: High-utility European database allowing completely free individual tree hosting.
Collaborative / Shared Trees
In a collaborative model, there are no “private” duplicates. Instead, the entire platform is building a single, shared “World Tree.” If you and another user share a great-grandfather, you both edit the exact same profile. Anyone on the platform can merge or edit profiles.
Key Platforms:
- FamilySearch: Run by the Family History Department of the LDS Church. Entirely free, holding billions of linked profiles.
- WikiTree: A highly strict, accuracy-first shared wiki requiring sources and DNA confirmation tags.
- Geni: A massive commercial “One World Tree” owned by MyHeritage, designed for global interconnection.
- WeRelate: A academic, wiki-based shared tree supported by the Foundation for On-Line Genealogy.
To protect your research while leveraging the wisdom of the crowd, we highly recommend a hybrid workflow. Maintain your “source of truth” as a private or individual tree on a platform like MyHeritage or Ancestry (or in offline software). Once you verify a branch with absolute confidence, export it to collaborative platforms like FamilySearch or WikiTree to help cousins connect and tag your verified lines with DNA evidence.
🧬 Why Online Family Trees Matter for DNA Research
DNA WorkflowsWithout a family tree, a list of DNA matches is just a meaningless collection of names and centimorgans. To trace your genetic inheritance back to physical ancestors, you must follow the golden pipeline:
DNA Matches
Identify shared centimorgans (cM)
Family Trees
Map out matching lineages backward
Common Ancestors
Isolate the shared great-grandparents
Find Trees Belonging to Your DNA Matches
When reviewing your DNA matches on MyHeritage or Ancestry, the very first step is to check if they have attached a family tree. Even a tiny tree of 5 to 10 names can provide the crucial clue—such as a specific surname or localized parish—that connects them to your family.
Compare Surnames and Locations
Scan your matches’ trees for overlapping surnames and geographical locations. If you share 45 cM of DNA and both of you have ancestors from a tiny parish in northern Sweden or Yorkshire, UK, you have immediately isolated the target branch of your search.
Identify Recurring Ancestral Couples
When you cluster your DNA matches using our recommended match analysis strategies, examine the trees of all matches within a single cluster. Look for recurring ancestral couples who appear in multiple independent trees. This couple is almost certainly your common ancestral source.
Identify Potential MRCA Candidates
Compare the total shared centimorgans of your matches with the generational depth of their trees. If our DNA Relationship Calculator estimates a 3rd cousin relationship, focus your search on trees that extend back to the great-great-grandparent level to find your Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA).
Compare Independent Trees to Spot Errors
Because collaborative trees (like FamilySearch) link all records, you can cross-examine how different cousins have mapped the same branch. Comparing independent trees allows you to spot where a cousin made a “wishful merge” or linked to the wrong person with a similar name.
The single biggest mistake in genealogy is copying another user’s online tree without verifying their sources. Millions of online trees contain critical errors—such as merging two different historical people of the same age, or inventing parents to link a family line to nobility.
An online tree is a hypothesis, not biological proof. Every parent-child link in your tree must be verified by primary sources (such as birth records, marriage registers, and census sheets). DNA matching can support your tree, but only when paired with documented, archival evidence. Always practice strict källkritik.
DNA Academy - Quick Answers
What formats are your free templates available in?
Our templates are available as downloadable Excel/Google Sheets files (for digital tracking).
How do I use a research log effectively?
A research log helps you track which records you’ve searched, what you found, and what’s still missing. We recommend filling it out as you go, it prevents duplicate searches and helps you identify patterns. Our template includes columns for date, source, location, and findings.
Are the templates available in languages other than English?
Currently, our templates are in English only. We are exploring translations into Swedish, Spanish, and German based on user requests. If you need a specific language, contact us and we’ll prioritize it.