Huge amount of information but the 'hints' are sometimes wrong (Name, place etc.). To many have just copied off others trees which means that some of the hints are completely 7 utterly wrong - it is a... See more
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Ancestry can be a good starting point but the information it provides should never be taken as certain or 100 per cent accurate Double check what it is providing against other sources or genealogy... See more
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Ancestry is by far the best family history site and the DNA tools are better than say, My Heritage. The quality of trees on Ancestry is extremely poor many "members" do not have trees or have very sm... See more
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I’ve solved the mystery of my paternal grandfather’s identity, with the invaluable help of Ancestry’s dna database. I still have mysteries further back to solve. It would help enormously if I could up... See more
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Company details
- #8 of 8 best companies in Genealogist
About Ancestry.co.uk
Written by the company
Ancestry® is the UK’s largest online family history website. Discover your family story with access to the world’s biggest online collection of family history records and the number one selling DNA test.
With an Ancestry® subscription, you could search over 27 billion records from over 80 countries, helping you grow your family tree and uncover your genealogy. Start exploring today with a 14-day free trial.*
START A FREE TRIAL
AncestryDNA® is a simple one-off test that reveals your origins and the countries, counties and towns your ancestors called home. You can connect with DNA matches around the world to discover your shared family history. Regular updates mean your results can become more refined with even more detail.
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Together, an AncetsryDNA® test and family history membership can help unlock undiscovered details about your family story.
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*Free trial terms apply
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3.5
Average
9k reviews
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Love this site
Love this site, easy to use, if you need to ring them always helpful, I tell loads of Friends about this site, well done Ancestry, it's also a great Birthday Present for someone who as everything lol
29 June 2026
Reply from Ancestry.co.uk
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback, Sharon! Word-of-mouth recommendations from members like you mean the world to us. You are completely right that a DNA kit or a gift membership makes an incredibly unique birthday present for those hard-to-shop-for loved ones. We appreciate your support and wish you the absolute best with your family history journey!
Ancestry is the best but could be so much better
Ancestry is by far the best family history site and the DNA tools are better than say, My Heritage. The quality of trees on Ancestry is extremely poor many "members" do not have trees or have very small trees. This lack of quality appears to be accepted by Ancestry. Ancestry also seems to be reluctant to invest in their tools this is demonstrated by the poor implementation of AI (eg "Ideas", "Listen and Explore" and "transcription of records" is extremely weak. "ProTools" is excellent but is an extra charge ....
29 June 2026
Reply from Ancestry.co.uk
Hi David. Thank you for your valuable feedback.
While we are glad you find our DNA tools to be the best in the field, you raise valid concerns regarding user tree quality, our current AI features, and the add-on cost for ProTools.
Because we cater to all skill levels, tree creation remains optional for users, but we hear your frustration regarding small or missing trees. Your critiques of our newer AI tools are incredibly helpful for our development teams as they work to improve transcription and discovery features.
We are glad you find ProTools excellent, and while it is an extra charge to cover the engineering required for heavy data sorting, we appreciate your perspective on how we balance our features and pricing. If you ever have further suggestions, please feel free to reach out to our support team via live chat or phone.
https://support.ancestry.co.uk/s/phonesupport
I took my DNA test but you introduced…
I took my DNA test but you introduced AI and I found it was more of a problem to have it ... I also found that as your a commercial company you charge for records that are free to look at. When had enough got rid of that account then made a new account but still have my dna results it would not let me so the experience leads me to believe your all about money and not about what you should be. Not happy customer
16 November 2025
Reply from Ancestry.co.uk
Hi there! We are sorry to hear that your experience with our site has left you feeling this way, and we appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns directly.
Regarding historical records, while many of the public archives we host can be found for free if you visit individual government repositories or local archives in person, Ancestry invests heavily in digitizing, indexing, and organizing billions of these documents. This process makes them searchable from home, which is what the subscription covers. We do also offer a completely free account option that allows you to build and share your tree, and our entire database can be accessed for free at any local library that provides the Ancestry Library Edition.
Regarding your DNA results, for strict privacy and security reasons, a DNA test kit can only ever be linked to one specific Ancestry account at a time. When you deleted your original account, the account data was permanently closed, meaning the DNA results cannot automatically transfer over to a newly created profile.
We would like to look into your account status to see how we can best help you with your DNA data. Please reach out to our customer support team via our live chat or by calling our phoneline so we can review your account details securely.
https://support.ancestry.co.uk/s/phonesupport
History in my DNA
Helpful hints and emails with DNA matches, a really helpful breakdown of the countries or blood comes from really enjoying it.
29 June 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Ancestry.co.uk
We're thrilled to know that you've enjoyed your DNA journey so far, Claire! Just in case it can help you even more, we'll link to a fantastic live class on the topic of working with your DNA Matches to make new discoveries. We look forward to the insights you could make in your research!
Link: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/c/discover/education/cousin-connection
I have found Ancestry useful in tracing…
I have found Ancestry useful in tracing my father's family, but a chromosome browser is very much needed. Also my matches are very poor at replying but that is not within Ancestry's control. A lot of duff info on a lot of trees, I wish there was a way of reporting this as the same mistakes are being repeated across multiple trees.
28 June 2026
Reply from Ancestry.co.uk
Thanks so much for sharing your feedback with us, James. We're delighted to learn that you've had success in tracing your father's family!
Due to privacy concerns, a chromosome browser isn't a feature that we currently offer, though we can certainly take your thoughts on board. With that said, we do offer alternate tools with our Pro Tools membership, such as Matches by Cluster and Enhanced DNA Matches. You can learn more about these options here: https://support.ancestry.co.uk/s/article/Ancestry-Pro-Tools-Membership
We appreciate that finding incorrect information in the trees of other members can lead to some irritation as well. We have some tips from genealogist, Crista Cowan, on this exact topic that we hope can help you with handling these moving forward. You can find this linked here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiWTx9doYvw
We hope these resources can assist you a little, and we wish you every success in your continued research, too!
I have made a complaint via email on…
I have made a complaint via email on several occasions but have not received a response for approximately two weeks.
28 June 2026
Reply from Ancestry.co.uk
Hi there! We are very sorry for the delay in responding to your emails. We understand how frustrating it is to wait two weeks for a response, especially when you are trying to resolve an ongoing complaint.
Ancestry primarily handles customer inquiries and complaints directly through our real-time channels rather than email to ensure issues can be addressed and resolved immediately. Because of this, email queries can experience significantly longer response times.
We want to make sure your complaint is reviewed and handled as quickly as possible. Please bypass the email queue and connect with our support team directly via our live chat or by calling our phoneline. This will allow us to pull up your account details right away and address your concerns without any further delay.
https://support.ancestry.co.uk/s/contactsupport/
Great detail
Great detail. Easy to search. Can research extra detail. Great service.
28 June 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Ancestry.co.uk
Thanks so much for sharing your experience with us, Kathryn! We love helping you discover those extra details for your research, and we wish you the best of luck as you continue exploring your family history!
Brilliant site and easy to use
Brilliant site and easy to use. I managed to get all I needed to know about my family and ancestors. Well recommended.
28 June 2026
Reply from Ancestry.co.uk
We are absolutely delighted to hear that you found the site brilliant and easy to use, Howard! It's fantastic that you were able to uncover everything you needed to know about your family and ancestors. Thank you for the high recommendation, and we wish you all the best with any future research!
Messy screen and wrong Hints
I do not like the way the screen changes are made in front of my eyes. The latest change makes the screen look a mess, it's an assault on the eyeballs.
The person's profile did not need to be moved from the top of the page where it was easy to see at a glance.
There are far to many Hints that don't even match the name.
28 June 2026
Reply from Ancestry.co.uk
Hi Madeleine. We hear you, and we understand how incredibly frustrating it is when a sudden layout change disrupts your workflow. When you are used to navigating a specific layout, having the person's profile moved away from the top of the page can make the entire screen feel disorganized and difficult to read at a glance.
Our design team frequently updates the interface to accommodate new features, but feedback like yours is vital to letting them know when a change feels like an "assault on the eyeballs" rather than an improvement. Additionally, regarding the high volume of incorrect hints that don't even match the name, our automated system searches for variations and connections across billions of records, which can unfortunately lead to highly irrelevant suggestions.
We take your feedback about both the layout and the hint accuracy very seriously. If you would like assistance in navigating the new profile view or want to review your tree settings to help filter down your hints, please connect with our support team via our live chat or phoneline.
https://support.ancestry.co.uk/s/phonesupport
Excellent Family History Site
This is an excellent site for starting your research into your family history. I have only been using the site for a short time but have already found out so much. There are so many records to help with tracking down your ancestors and to help with double-checking your research. Highly recommended.
27 June 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Ancestry.co.uk
Welcome to the community, Christine! It sounds like you are off to a flying start already. Discovering those initial breakthroughs is always such an exciting feeling.
Reply from Ancestry.co.uk
Congrats on making those unexpected family connections, Mervyn!
Excellent site for family research
Excellent site for family research, always turning up something new with their expanding Record Collections. It's a good job I'm retired!
27 June 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Ancestry.co.uk
We love to hear that our expanding collections are keeping you happily busy in retirement, Ian! Thank you for the wonderful review.
I'm really pleased
I'm really pleased with the information I've found out and the clear information about other Interested parties,my dad Alan was really into his history , he was a sea scout when young and perhaps the only thing he was interested in when young.
27 June 2026
Reply from Ancestry.co.uk
We're so glad you've been able to find clear, helpful information! Your dad Alan's background as a sea scout sounds like a wonderful piece of his history to honor.
Ancestry is the best Genealogical Website
Ancestry is always being updated and therefore gives very good value for money. If you pay a little extra for the PRO tools then the value is even greater. I have tried other websites and would honestly say that Ancestry is the best.
26 June 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Ancestry.co.uk
Thank you so much for the wonderful review and for recommending our Pro Tools, Maureen! We love hearing that you're finding great value in the updates.
Filling in the gaps
My experience with ancestry - it has helped me to fill in loads of gaps in my paternal family through dna matches.
I have contacted very helpful cousins who are willing to share what they know too.
It is a great hobby and you learn a lot of social history along the way too.
26 June 2026
Reply from Ancestry.co.uk
Hi there. It is wonderful to hear how much success you’ve had filling in those paternal gaps! There is nothing quite like the thrill of seeing a mystery solved through a DNA match, especially when it leads to connecting with helpful cousins who are just as excited to share their stories and photos.
You hit the nail on the head regarding the social history aspect. True genealogy is so much more than just collecting names and dates on a chart; it’s about understanding the world your ancestors walked through, the jobs they held, and the historical events that shaped their choices. It truly is an incredibly rewarding hobby.
Thank you for sharing such a positive milestone in your research journey—wishing you many more breakthroughs as you keep exploring your branches!
What I especially like about Ancestry…
What I especially like about Ancestry is how easy it is to build and expand your family tree, then connect your DNA results directly to it. It’s fascinating to compare your family history research with your DNA matches. Not only does it help verify your paper trail, but it can also reveal new relatives and connections you might never have discovered otherwise.
I have found both the Common DNA Connections tool and ThruLines® incredibly helpful in breaking down brick walls in my family research. ThruLines® automatically compares my linked family tree with millions of other user trees to identify potential common ancestors, while Common DNA Connections helps confirm relationships through shared DNA matches. Together, these tools have helped verify my research and uncover new family connections that I might never have found otherwise.
My main criticism is the cost. Many of these valuable DNA tools require an additional subscription, which I feel should be included in the overall membership price. The extra charges are making Ancestry increasingly expensive, and it’s becoming difficult to justify continuing my subscription, despite how useful the service and tools are.
26 June 2026
Reply from Ancestry.co.uk
Hi there, Wentiz! Thank you for sharing such a detailed review of your experience. It is fantastic to hear how successfully you have used ThruLines® and our Common DNA Connections tool to break through brick walls and verify your paper trail against your genetic matches.
Your criticism regarding the cost of these features is completely valid; we realize that requiring additional subscriptions for advanced tools can make the platform feel increasingly expensive and difficult to justify long-term. These add-on fees help cover the immense engineering and server processing costs required to cross-reference millions of DNA kits against billions of tree nodes, but we hear your frustration clearly.
Please remember that if you ever need to pause your subscription to manage costs, your family tree and basic DNA match list will always remain completely free to access. Your feedback is vital to our teams as we work to balance technological innovation with affordability, and we are grateful for your dedication to your family history research.
Review.I find ancestry very easy to use unlike…
I find ancestry very easy to use unlike other sites I have tried.
26 June 2026
Reply from Ancestry.co.uk
Hi Carolyn. Thank you so much for the wonderful feedback! We place a huge emphasis on keeping our platform intuitive and user-friendly, so it is fantastic to hear that Ancestry stands out as the easiest option for you compared to other sites. Dealing with family history involves a massive amount of data, and we believe the technology should make your research smooth and enjoyable rather than overwhelming. We are thrilled that you’ve found your rhythm on our site, and we wish you many more exciting discoveries as you continue building out your family tree!
my family tree
Its so interesting to find out about your family ancestors
to see what jobs they had and what they are all about.
9 June 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Ancestry.co.uk
Hi Malcolm! We're so glad to hear that you've enjoyed your journey so far! We're intrigued to know what the most interesting jobs you found about your ancestors has been! Here's to continued excitement as you keep learning about your ancestors!
Data Discovery Excellence
It allows me to find data that I would not find in any other way.
25 June 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Ancestry.co.uk
Hi Linda, thank you so much for the 5-star review! We are thrilled to hear that Ancestry is helping you uncover records and family connections that you wouldn't have found anywhere else. Helping our members break through those tough research walls is exactly why we do what we do. Happy discovering!
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