Name: Ancestry: Explore your family tree & unique story
Rating: 4.5 (31554 reviews)

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Ethnic Background Research Update Apr 24, 2020

By JustinDavine

Love this app. It was amazing for me to learn that I have ancestors across 3 different continents when I did the DNA test. The “Thrulines” feature is amazing too but I would like to suggest in future updates that there can be some way to search for DNA matches that share varying percentages of ethnic backgrounds. I am very interested in connecting the dots with the Latino side of my family and finding out if possible where I can trace my African heritage as well. Since I have nearly 100,000 DNA matches and not even close to half of the people have pictures associated with their profile, it is hard to tell what ethnic backgrounds are shared with people without clicking individually on every profile. If there was a way to show any or all DNA matches who have, say, more than “10% total Sub-Saharan African and/or 25% Central American” that would be REALLY helpful in potentially connecting dots and further filling in my family tree. I would love to find where those connections are but it is really hard to do without a filter in the search that allows you to bring up DNA matches with people in specific categories. Thanks for your help! I really hope this is a feature you guys will be able to add in the future.
more
Feb 13, 2021

By Just Me

Love the features of this app, it would be 5 star review but my app regularly suffers glitches within the app without cause or reason which is annoying especially the error messages that appear. It would be ideal if the app allowed for documents & records to be downloaded at consumers convenience & for the record hints to display for ease of use.
more
Dna section not working properly Sep 8, 2019

By JingleCat

Update: working much better! Old: Let me start with the positive: the tree section is lovely, helpful, works well, and I love it. Now, the negative: the DNA section, which updated on the 1 July is not great. It is set up similar to the website, but please consider that apps are used on devices, such as a phone. The DNA section has become a behemoth if information, difficult to manage or view, crashes if you try and look at Cousin matches for a second person... it used to be quite simple and elegant with the 11 generation view, and option but not requirement to open other users’ entire trees. How can I possibly appreciate their full multi- thousand tree of information on my iPhone? I hate to complain, I use the Ancestry app daily. Some people do crosswords or sudoku. I work on the family tree, it’s my favorite puzzle. I just wish I could use the DNA cousins’ section with ease, but it seems to have become way too huge to appreciate as a simple task in bed or during down time, with the phone. It has become a project strictly for sitting at my computer. Is there any chance to make it more convenient for device use? It’s an app, after all. Thanks :)
more
Unlocking My Past Aug 5, 2018

By cmsmyer

Ancestry has been a joy to explore. I first started my tree several years ago, but had suspended my membership for lack of time to devote to the project. Earlier this year I decided to explore my genetic history through AncestryDNA, so wanted to continue my tree as well. I’ve been thrilled with the enhancements the site has made in the intervening years. It’s been even easier to connect the family dots through the system of ‘hints’ provided by the app. Each time I feel I’ve begun to hit a wall, a new hint is revealed that keeps me going. I’m also pleased with how the genetic app is enhancing my search. I have barely begun to explore the many connections that submitting my DNA revealed. As just a beginning, I can engage any person who is 4th cousin or closer - and who chooses to keep their connection open as well. What I’m most looking forward to is searching for all those Scandinavian relations that make up a full third of my DNA. I had no idea there was any measurable Norse blood in my past! I really am pleased with Ancestry, and AncestryDNA, and have only scratched the surface of the app’s many features and my past.
more
Good App, Convenient Feb 21, 2019

By BlooDude

I really appreciate the convenience of being able to do ancestry on my phone! It makes it so easy to hop on and do a few leaves between activities. The app works well, but with a few issues. Occasionally, when trying to view something with a photo/attachment, it will say I need a paid account to view it, but usually when I go back and then click on it again, it works. Also, there are a few hints that take you to a website that you have to pay to be a member, just to see if that hint is the person in your tree (e.g. family search); I always skip those hints. Thirdly, a few hints always mess up no matter how many times you try to accept them; it just says something went wrong; try again later. (I’ve noticed this with newspaper articles.) I only give 4 stars because the census pictures only show you one page, whereas on the PC you can click to view the next page or previous page. Often the family is split between two pages, and I can’t confirm anything that is not on the page that it chooses to show me. If this were changed, I could give 5 stars, though those other problems still need addressed too.
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Feb 1, 2021

By B Sumisu

Last update leaves a big white banner at the bottom with a "start your free trial" button on it. That would be fine if you could swipe it off or it went away. It stays, even after restarting app. This is aggressive and distracting. Considering just deleting the app since this is clearly going to paid accounts only.
more
Feb 8, 2021

By Michael Baker

Notifications don't work at all. It gives me a leaf and says there are hints, but when I take the time and drill down to the hints screen, it says there are no hints. It's the same with messages. I get a notification that I have messages, but when I take the time to drill down to the messages screen, there are none. Clearly the app hasn't been thoroughly tested. Very disappointing.
more
Feb 18, 2021

By Shoaib Khan

Bogus app. Not worth paying when you can't expand the whole tree. I get the point it is easy to navigate if viewing in smaller chunks, but sometimes, we just want to see it all.
Feb 20, 2021

By Lindsay Arisman

I have tried contacting developers and they haven't gotten back. I purchased the world explorer membership and I cannot use any of the features. Now I'm out the money and can't even use it! I want a refund!
Membership Purchase DOES NOT WORK in the App Nov 20, 2019

By Seventh fret

The App is a scam! 😩😡🤬. You risk losing money! They tempt you with a few days free trial and charge your credit card. When your free trial ends, Ancestry deactivates your account so you can no longer see images of documents even though your card has been changed. To get your money back you have to deal with Apple. I have had an Ancestry account for years, but only activate it occasionally for a few months to see if any new information is available. This time I made the mistake of activating it through the app using Apple Pay. The app worked okay for me. If you are using an iPad, the app is more convenient than the site on Safari; however, there are a few things that can only be done on the website (e.g. inviting others to your tree if your tree is private). Occasionally the app locks up and loses connection when you try to add files to your gallery. But the main problem is activating your account through the app, especially along with the free trial offer. If you want an active membership, activate it through the website even though you will not get the free trial. Otherwise, you risk a lot of headaches trying to get a refund when Ancestry doesn’t honor your purchase at the end of the free trial.
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Search the largest database of historical photos, stories, documents, and even records in your ancestors’ mother tongues
Ancestry Hints™ technology searches billions of records for you. Connect with family to grow your tree and share your findings
Upload photos and life events right from your phone, or add relatives from Facebook. Sync instantly with your Ancestry.com tree

Reviewed by Laura S on January 8, 2018

Ethnic Background Research Update Apr 24, 2020

By JustinDavine

Love this app. It was amazing for me to learn that I have ancestors across 3 different continents when I did the DNA test. The “Thrulines” feature is amazing too but I would like to suggest in future updates that there can be some way to search for DNA matches that share varying percentages of ethnic backgrounds. I am very interested in connecting the dots with the Latino side of my family and finding out if possible where I can trace my African heritage as well. Since I have nearly 100,000 DNA matches and not even close to half of the people have pictures associated with their profile, it is hard to tell what ethnic backgrounds are shared with people without clicking individually on every profile. If there was a way to show any or all DNA matches who have, say, more than “10% total Sub-Saharan African and/or 25% Central American” that would be REALLY helpful in potentially connecting dots and further filling in my family tree. I would love to find where those connections are but it is really hard to do without a filter in the search that allows you to bring up DNA matches with people in specific categories. Thanks for your help! I really hope this is a feature you guys will be able to add in the future.
more
Dna section not working properly Sep 8, 2019

By JingleCat

Update: working much better! Old: Let me start with the positive: the tree section is lovely, helpful, works well, and I love it. Now, the negative: the DNA section, which updated on the 1 July is not great. It is set up similar to the website, but please consider that apps are used on devices, such as a phone. The DNA section has become a behemoth if information, difficult to manage or view, crashes if you try and look at Cousin matches for a second person... it used to be quite simple and elegant with the 11 generation view, and option but not requirement to open other users’ entire trees. How can I possibly appreciate their full multi- thousand tree of information on my iPhone? I hate to complain, I use the Ancestry app daily. Some people do crosswords or sudoku. I work on the family tree, it’s my favorite puzzle. I just wish I could use the DNA cousins’ section with ease, but it seems to have become way too huge to appreciate as a simple task in bed or during down time, with the phone. It has become a project strictly for sitting at my computer. Is there any chance to make it more convenient for device use? It’s an app, after all. Thanks :)
more
Unlocking My Past Aug 5, 2018

By cmsmyer

Ancestry has been a joy to explore. I first started my tree several years ago, but had suspended my membership for lack of time to devote to the project. Earlier this year I decided to explore my genetic history through AncestryDNA, so wanted to continue my tree as well. I’ve been thrilled with the enhancements the site has made in the intervening years. It’s been even easier to connect the family dots through the system of ‘hints’ provided by the app. Each time I feel I’ve begun to hit a wall, a new hint is revealed that keeps me going. I’m also pleased with how the genetic app is enhancing my search. I have barely begun to explore the many connections that submitting my DNA revealed. As just a beginning, I can engage any person who is 4th cousin or closer - and who chooses to keep their connection open as well. What I’m most looking forward to is searching for all those Scandinavian relations that make up a full third of my DNA. I had no idea there was any measurable Norse blood in my past! I really am pleased with Ancestry, and AncestryDNA, and have only scratched the surface of the app’s many features and my past.
more
Found Tons of information& Even my birth Father Dec 11, 2018

By BrndaM

It’s the best gift, I received in my life. For my 62 Birthday my son purchased me a kit. While I waited for my results, I began creating my tree. The app was easier to use than it looks and it took no time at all to master navigating my tree. Then the results arrived and wow it was unbelievable. I never knew my birth/biological father so it was interesting seeing possible relatives. But I didn’t have the nerve to contact them, so I stuck to my mom’s tree & adopted father, then tackled my husbands side exploring leaves. Then one day I had a message in my mailbox and it a matter of minutes I had my first contact with a Second Cousin .... that contact confirmed we’re relatives and although my birth father is deceased, I have Aunts, Uncles, sisters & brothers and of course tons of cousin to reach out to! Perhaps I’m one of the lucky few that find relatives, for that I’m thankful for AncestryDNA. It’s a great app and became a new hobby for a recently retired grandma. With the help of AncestryDNA we may have just figured out my next “Heritage” vacation spot.
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Absolutely Fabulous! Sep 24, 2018

By Lorieann77

I got bit by the ancestry bug in 2009 before I became a member. What started this for me was learning all I could about my great grandfather (my moms dads father.). Great grandpa left the home when my grandpa was three years old no one knew too much about him. Before becoming a member I was able to locate the him and within three weeks I actually drove to a rural cemetery and found his grave!! I was also able to find history. A few years ago I joined Ancestry as a full member and absolutely love it! My family tree, maternal and paternal, goes back for some to the 1500s. Two years ago I did the AncestryDNA (the reports were just updated recently as well!) I can attest to the fact they are accurate because I know where a lot of my family came from and the DNA members it matched me to are relatives, some I know (but didn’t realize they were members.) Totally fascinating and soul fulfilling to know where my people came from know what blood runs through my veins. Rock on Ancestry! I’m hooked ❤️👍🏽
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Feb 13, 2021

By Just Me

Love the features of this app, it would be 5 star review but my app regularly suffers glitches within the app without cause or reason which is annoying especially the error messages that appear. It would be ideal if the app allowed for documents & records to be downloaded at consumers convenience & for the record hints to display for ease of use.
more
Good App, Convenient Feb 21, 2019

By BlooDude

I really appreciate the convenience of being able to do ancestry on my phone! It makes it so easy to hop on and do a few leaves between activities. The app works well, but with a few issues. Occasionally, when trying to view something with a photo/attachment, it will say I need a paid account to view it, but usually when I go back and then click on it again, it works. Also, there are a few hints that take you to a website that you have to pay to be a member, just to see if that hint is the person in your tree (e.g. family search); I always skip those hints. Thirdly, a few hints always mess up no matter how many times you try to accept them; it just says something went wrong; try again later. (I’ve noticed this with newspaper articles.) I only give 4 stars because the census pictures only show you one page, whereas on the PC you can click to view the next page or previous page. Often the family is split between two pages, and I can’t confirm anything that is not on the page that it chooses to show me. If this were changed, I could give 5 stars, though those other problems still need addressed too.
more
I have a tree with over 2000 people Dec 19, 2019

By Photogrphr

If you are interested in the genealogy of your family this app will do it. But the full price of the app is way too high and the claim of newspaper artifacts is quite limited. If your ancestors come from Russia and your Jewish you will not be able to get further back than 1860. Assuming that your family came here in the very early 1900’s. My son in law is from German decent and I could trace his family back to 1675 when they came here as early settlers of Ohio, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Everyone in my family did ancestry DNA and it we found it very interesting. I had thought we were the only family with our last name in the America but with the DNA and matches I found that another family with my last name settled in Chicago around the same time my grandfather came. This I am sure of because I am a match for at least on of that clan. But I cannot figure out how we are related because the answer to that is in the small towns in Russia where the Jews were persecuted by the tzar and forced them to immigrate to the US. Instead of five stars I put four because I think they mislead me with the “all access” when it really isn’t “all access”
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Hope O Creasman Dec 9, 2018

By Speak Little

I have used Ancestry since its inception. As a previous person stated, At first it was lacking records, but now it is amazing. If they could make the search where it would narrow down some more, because looking through 2,000 or more and having people come up who are in the 1900s when you want the late 1700s is very aggravating to me. Surely if you put the date of 1768, why are 1970s people showing up. Same with state, if I put SC and California is shown, I wonder why did I even put South Carolina, But I have to admit it does give you much more accurate information. And the DNA information amazes me. If the new ones would put their trees online and the stubborn old ones not keep everything to themselves, especially when you have given them information. Especially on the pictures. I have so many to identify and Rosa or Jose is from the same family, but they won’t share. However ancestry has really added to my knowledge and I know it will get better and better because it already has. It is sad to me because I won’t be around to see what’s to come. (I am 73.) So if you want to know is it worth it? I say a definite YES.
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Feb 22, 2021

By Lisa Black

It's good. Pretty stiff learning curve. Wish they had a 24 Hr. Live Help Center. My questions are complex and don't fall under their possible canned questions their automated assistant helps you with.

Feb 13, 2021

By Nancy Edmonstone

I cancelled my subscription and the 19.99 keeps coming out of my account and nsfing another payment going out! Very frustrating! Other than that it has been very useful to me being an adoptee it put my story together.
Feb 5, 2021

By Lisa Walmsley

Problems with ancestry crashing, gives chrome as not responding and freezes completely....the new hint system needs you to add the hint b4 you can view the whole record, on census information this is vital...awful update. But apart from glitches it's a really good system but lacks a chromosome comparison tool.
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Matches aren’t sync to other DNA matches Jan 29, 2021

By All Around the World-1234

Example 1: A person can be matched to 4 siblings, but when clicked on one siblings Shared Matches’s, it doesn’t list the other 3 siblings that are being managed by that one sibling under shared matches but you can see them in the managers profile. Or if you search for them. Example 2: A uncle and niece share a cousin. Both are showing shared 10cm with this person. But when either the uncle or niece click on that shared cousin matches, they don’t see each other as a match. The niece sees not shared matches with the cousin. **Also, please bring back the under 8cm matches. They are very important in helping with researching and connecting. **And we shouldn’t lose information that we have collected and added to our tree, if we can’t afford our membership and have to cancel for a short time. If information is found while on a paid membership, that information should be able to be kept in the tree. Thank you!!
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Membership account access Aug 1, 2018

By SweetButterflyGarden

Before I start on a rant, I would like to say that this app is really good as a starting point in researching your history. Now with that being said I find it difficult to understand y it is so hard to find info on someone that you know has a marriage or birth certificate. Very frustrating when said person is a dead beat dad that holds the key to half of your DNA. And knowing he has other children out there, that can’t be found! Anyway, off topic.... I did a 7 day trail, and was billed on the following day... less than 24 hours and then when my research took to out of the country, I was charged .99 supposedly for said records but was charged the following day for the World package.... so I now have a month of Ancestry to help me on this journey but, I find every time I find something out of the US, I’m being charged more money. Help me to understand what my 2 monthly memberships paid for!
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DNA Sep 28, 2020

By Chelojelo

The tree feature is awesome, and the hints are alright, but I am disappointed in the DNA results, and can’t help thinking the results are dependent on who’s interpreting them. When my aunt first took the test, a small amount of Native American showed up, which was consistent with her family tree, and matched many relatives’ results, then was taken away with the previous update. But yet the tiny amount of african percentage remained. Why was the 1% of NA removed, but not the african? The two were the same amount in the first test results. Actually, the NA was situated above the african. Seems odd that if one was going to be removed, it would be the NA. But yet relatives still show their 1% NA, it wasn’t taken away from them. I was hoping to see it corrected in this latest update, but no. I have mulled it over for awhile, and just cannot get past what a big let down the Dna turned out to be.
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Feb 1, 2021

By B Sumisu

Last update leaves a big white banner at the bottom with a "start your free trial" button on it. That would be fine if you could swipe it off or it went away. It stays, even after restarting app. This is aggressive and distracting. Considering just deleting the app since this is clearly going to paid accounts only.
more
It’s decent but not most accurate Jul 15, 2020

By inclined Alpha

In my opinion; This is not very accurate. It says my Half Brother and I have nearly the same DNA however it is impossible since we have different fathers. I have even used my family tree to track my family roots yet it says I’m a majority English which is a lie; my English side is such a small percentage that it shouldn’t even be represented. I’m a majority Germanic and it says my German side is less than 10 percent. I believe they got the DNA right and the percentages wrong which has been more complicated by the current pandemic so I understand it was probably just an accident. It took nearly 3 months to receive my results and yet I have to say I was really let down and disappointed by the lack of accuracy and performance. If you’re thinking of doing this DNA test, I’d say what until after the Pandemic so they don’t “ rush “ your order which is why mine became so inaccurate. Overall the customer support is the best part of this company, not the service itself.
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Broken app on my IPad/IPhone and tech support not helping Jul 13, 2020

By Phaedo5555

The app has that runs on the IPad/IPhone has a bug that has yet to be fixed after trying for years. This Was my favorite app until this bug occurred. The problem is that, although I have a paid membership, which allows me to see and save hints, it no longer works on IPad/IPhone, and shows I’m merely a Guest user, instead of the owner of the tree with a membership license. Still works OK through browsers, but that interface is designed to be used with a mouse and most of the screens are too crowded/busy. I’ve contacted support/customer service/tech support numerous times; sent screenshots, allowed them to sign in to my account; but none of that provided them with a clue as to how to fix it. So, I’m back to the Free version, and will add information the hard way, until I find another app that works.
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Feb 8, 2021

By Michael Baker

Notifications don't work at all. It gives me a leaf and says there are hints, but when I take the time and drill down to the hints screen, it says there are no hints. It's the same with messages. I get a notification that I have messages, but when I take the time to drill down to the messages screen, there are none. Clearly the app hasn't been thoroughly tested. Very disappointing.
more
Feb 18, 2021

By Shoaib Khan

Bogus app. Not worth paying when you can't expand the whole tree. I get the point it is easy to navigate if viewing in smaller chunks, but sometimes, we just want to see it all.
Feb 20, 2021

By Lindsay Arisman

I have tried contacting developers and they haven't gotten back. I purchased the world explorer membership and I cannot use any of the features. Now I'm out the money and can't even use it! I want a refund!
Membership Purchase DOES NOT WORK in the App Nov 20, 2019

By Seventh fret

The App is a scam! 😩😡🤬. You risk losing money! They tempt you with a few days free trial and charge your credit card. When your free trial ends, Ancestry deactivates your account so you can no longer see images of documents even though your card has been changed. To get your money back you have to deal with Apple. I have had an Ancestry account for years, but only activate it occasionally for a few months to see if any new information is available. This time I made the mistake of activating it through the app using Apple Pay. The app worked okay for me. If you are using an iPad, the app is more convenient than the site on Safari; however, there are a few things that can only be done on the website (e.g. inviting others to your tree if your tree is private). Occasionally the app locks up and loses connection when you try to add files to your gallery. But the main problem is activating your account through the app, especially along with the free trial offer. If you want an active membership, activate it through the website even though you will not get the free trial. Otherwise, you risk a lot of headaches trying to get a refund when Ancestry doesn’t honor your purchase at the end of the free trial.
more
Feb 12, 2021

By The Girl From The Well

I've been trying to cancel my subscription for weeks and it keeps beating me around the bush. I use the same Google account for everything and the play store isn't showing me my Ancestry subscription. Ancestry doesn't have a way to cancel in the app. Dont do it.
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What’s Groovy

I can’t complain about the amazing range of relatives I’ve discovered going back centuries. But sometimes the hints I get are a little frustrating, because my tree will tell me that “Joseph Smith” is the father of “Sara Brown” while the hints show that Sara is the daughter of “David Jones.” And often it’s hard on the app to navigate your way back to the more remote branches of the tree. That being said, if you’re lucky enough, as I am, to have two parents going back to pre-Revolutionary days (who happen to be light-complected), and suspect that your parents might be distant cousins, you can sometimes find out they are, and also discover Jewish nth-degree great-grandmothers; darker-complected cousins; pastors and poets and actors; Mary Queen of Scots; a slave overseer for Thomas Jefferson 😔; figures such as Robert E. Lee and Martha Washington; Irish criminals deported to the Americas; and an assortment of French Huguenots by way of the British Empire. Your husband might have the DNA test confirm that yes, despite a Greek name and an immigrant from Germany, he is nearly half-Jewish and is attached to storied family fur-trading company owners from Kastoria in Greece who immigrated to the US via Germany. And your children won’t have inherited the same percentages of genes as their siblings. Viva la difference!

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What’s Subpar

Nothing ever works on the app, you add someone and you have to reload. It really puts you off to open something just to not be something useful and have to reload and hope you can get to the top of the tree. For having to pay every month you would think you could have an app that worked.

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