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Family Tree Circle vs Ancestry, MyHeritage and FamilySearch
Which family tree service fits your family? An honest look at what each one is built for.
The short answer
Choose Ancestry, MyHeritage or FamilySearch to research ancestors in historical records and DNA matches. Choose Family Tree Circle when you want a private tree that your living relatives build together, with photos, stories, birthday emails and admin controls, for one simple yearly price.
Many families use both: a research site to find great-great-grandparents, and Family Tree Circle as the private home where the whole family actually gathers.
Side by side
| Family Tree Circle | Ancestry / MyHeritage | FamilySearch | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built for | Your living family, together | Researching ancestors | Researching ancestors |
| Historical records and DNA | No | Yes | Records, no DNA |
| Who sees your tree | Only invited family | Your settings | One shared world tree for people who have died |
| Your own domain, or run it on your own server | Yes | No | No |
| Price | From $0.99 a month per tree, or $39.99 a year for Unlimited | Subscriptions for records and DNA | Free |
Ancestry, MyHeritage and FamilySearch are trademarks of their owners. Their features change over time; check their sites for current details.
When Ancestry or MyHeritage is the better fit
If your goal is to trace your family back several centuries using census records, immigration documents and DNA matches with distant cousins, a research subscription is the right tool. Family Tree Circle doesn't search historical records or offer DNA tests.
When FamilySearch is the better fit
FamilySearch is free and has a huge collection of records. Its tree for people who have died is one shared world tree that other users can also edit. That's great for research, but it isn't a private space for your living family.
When Family Tree Circle is the better fit
- You want a private tree only your family can see, with contact details kept to members.
- You want relatives to help: invite them, give each branch a family head, and let everyone add photos and stories.
- You want the tree to be easy to read for grandparents and kids alike, with five tree views and a "How are they related?" finder.
- You want to stay close: birthday and anniversary emails with a card for everyone, family stories, messages.
- You want control: your own domain, export to Excel or JSON any time, or run it on your own server.
Can I move my tree from another site?
Yes. Export a list of names from wherever your tree is now into Excel or CSV, then use Admin → Import. You check every match before anything is added. Start from our Excel template if you're typing names in fresh.
See it with a real family
The live sample shows every feature with no sign-up.