There are family tree apps that let you build a family tree for free using the information you already know. The tricky part is that some services don’t cost anything, while others let you build a tree for free, but you have to pay when you want to view certain records or use advanced features.
Here are 12 options worth looking at in 2026, along with what each one is actually useful for.
1. FamilySearch
If you are starting genealogy from scratch, FamilySearch is the first place to try. Its Family Tree app is free and lets you add relatives, edit information, search historical records, and preserve photographs and other memories.
There is one important difference from a private family tree. FamilySearch uses a shared, collaborative tree for deceased ancestors. Other researchers can contribute to the same profiles, which can be extremely helpful when someone has already researched a branch of your family. It also means you should check sources carefully before accepting information as fact.
Good for: Beginners who want free genealogy in FTM research.
2. Gramps
Gramps is for people who would rather keep their genealogy on their own computer. It is free and open-source software built specifically for managing genealogical information.
You can record people, families, events, places, sources, notes, and media, then create different reports from the information you have collected. It isn’t as simple as some phone-based family tree apps, but it gives you a detailed genealogy database without requiring a subscription.
Good for: Researchers who want free desktop genealogy software and control over their data.
3. WikiTree
WikiTree is another collaborative option. Rather than encouraging every researcher to build a completely separate tree, it aims to connect family lines into one shared worldwide tree.
That can be useful when you reach an ancestor who has already been researched by other WikiTree members. You may find sources, relatives, and connections that would have taken considerable time to discover yourself.
The downside is the same advantage: information comes from a community of researchers. Treat other people’s conclusions as leads and check the evidence before adding them to your research.
Good for: People who enjoy working with other genealogists.
4. MyHeritage
MyHeritage combines family-tree building with historical-record searching and DNA research. You can begin a tree without immediately paying for a subscription, although the free experience has a limitation where it caps people at 250.
It can be particularly interesting for families whose ancestors moved between countries. Its matching technology can identify possible connections between your tree, other trees, and records.
If you are interested in genetic genealogy, you should also consider MyHeritage, as its family history and DNA services work well together.
Good for: International family research and people combining genealogy with DNA.
5. Ancestry
Ancestry lets you create a family tree for free. You can add people, photographs, and documents and receive Ancestry Hints that may point toward relevant records.
The catch becomes apparent once you move beyond the information you already know. Full access to much of Ancestry’s historical-record collection requires a membership. That makes it better described as a free-to-start genealogy service than a completely free research database.
Still, the free tree is useful on its own, and you can decide later whether paying for additional records is worthwhile.
Good for: Researchers who expect to spend a lot of time working with historical records.
6. Family Echo
If your goal is to turn information from your parents, grandparents, or relatives into a visual family tree, you don’t necessarily need a full genealogy database. Family Echo is designed for exactly that kind of tree building.
Family Echo is free, and while it isn’t the tool for extensive historical research, its simplicity can be an advantage. You can concentrate on relationships rather than learning a complicated genealogy program.
Good for: A family tree that you can share with relatives.
7. RootsMagic Essentials
RootsMagic is a familiar name in desktop genealogy, and its Essentials edition provides a free way to start organizing your research. The company describes Essentials as free genealogy and family-history software with many of the core features found in RootsMagic.
This is useful if you want something more structured than a basic online family tree. You can build a genealogy database on your computer and move to the paid version later if you need additional tools.
Good for: Beginners who want to start with desktop genealogy software.
8. Legacy Family Tree
Legacy Family Tree is aimed at researchers who want a more traditional genealogy program with detailed family-history features.
With the recent release of the new version Legacy 10, the entire program is now 100% free.
It is a Windows-focused option, so it makes more sense for PC users than for someone looking for a phone-first family tree app.
Good for: Windows users who want detailed genealogy features without starting with paid software.
9. Ancestral Quest
Ancestral Quest is another desktop program with a free introductory version called Ancestral Quest Basics. It supports standard genealogy data formats and provides tools for recording people, relationships, sources, and other family-history information.
It is of great use if your priority is simply organizing your own research.
Good for: Researchers looking for a conventional desktop genealogy program.
10. Ancestris
Ancestris is a free, open-source genealogy program built around the GEDCOM standard.
That matters if you are concerned about being locked into one company’s ecosystem. GEDCOM makes it possible to transfer genealogy information between many compatible programs, so your research is easier to move if you eventually change software.
Ancestris is more suited to people who are comfortable exploring genealogy software than to someone who simply wants a quick family tree on their phone.
Good for: Open-source users who want their genealogy data in a standard format.
11. Geni
Geni is built around the idea of connecting family trees. You can create your own family information and then connect it with relatives and other researchers who have already documented related branches.
The basic service is available for free, while Geni Pro adds additional features.
Like WikiTree and FamilySearch, its collaborative nature can uncover connections you might not find on your own. Just remember that another person’s tree is not automatically evidence. Check the underlying records whenever possible.
Good for: Researchers interested in connecting their family tree with other people’s research.
12. Find a Grave
Find a Grave isn’t really a family-tree app, but it can be extremely useful when you’re doing genealogy research.
Its memorials can contain cemetery information, burial details, gravestone photographs, and other clues about deceased relatives. Sometimes a single memorial can give you a date or family connection that helps you locate the next record in your research.
Use those details as clues and verify them against other sources before treating them as confirmed facts.
Good for: Finding cemetery and burial information to support your family tree research.
Which Free Family Tree App Should You Use?
If you want to spend nothing whatsoever, start with FamilySearch or Gramps. FamilySearch is better for online research and historical records, while Gramps is better if you want a personal genealogy database on your computer.
If you are researching with other people, WikiTree and Geni are worth exploring. Ancestry and MyHeritage make more sense when you expect to use large collections of historical records or DNA-related features.
And if you simply want to put your known relatives into a clean visual tree, Family Echo may be all you need.
Is There a Free Family Tree Maker for Ancestry?
This is where it helps to distinguish between building a tree on Ancestry and using separate genealogy software with Ancestry.
Ancestry currently lets you create a family tree for free, add people, upload photos and documents, and receive some hints. Full access to its historical records is a separate matter.
If you are specifically searching for a free Family Tree Maker for Ancestry, you may actually be looking for desktop software. Family Tree Maker is designed for genealogy research and can work with Ancestry trees, but it is not a free program.
For someone researching heavily in Ancestry, dedicated desktop software can still be useful because it gives you another place to organize and preserve your family-history research.
Should You Use a Free Family Tree Template First?
If you are just beginning, a free family tree template can actually be useful before you choose an app. Start by writing down what your family already knows. Add parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents, including maiden names, approximate dates, and places where known. Don’t fill gaps with guesses simply to make the tree look complete.
Once you’ve organized those starting points, you can enter them into your genealogy software and use the missing information to guide your research.
For more information about using a family tree, you can contact Family Tree Makers Support. Experts here can help you with all your queries.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to pay for genealogy software to begin researching your family.
Start with the information your family already knows, put it into a free family tree app, and work backward one generation at a time.
FamilySearch and Gramps are excellent places to begin, while Ancestry, MyHeritage and the collaborative platforms give you other ways to expand your research.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the best completely free family tree app?
Answer: FamilySearch is one of the strongest choices because its Family Tree service is free and it also provides access to historical-record research.
- Can I build a family tree on Ancestry without paying?
Answer: Yes, Ancestry currently allows you to create a family tree for free and add people, photos, and documents.
- What is the best free genealogy software for a computer?
Answer: Gramps is a strong choice for researchers who want open-source software at no cost.