Ancestry: Family History & DNA
Ancestry.com
4.1
DownloadPrevious Apk Versions
About This App

  • Category

    Parenting

  • Installs

    10M+

  • Content Rating

    Rated for 3+

  • Developer Email

    [email protected]

  • Privacy Policy

    http://www.ancestry.com/cs/legal/privacyphilosophy

Screenshots
Editor Reviews

Ancestry is a genealogy app used for tracing family history and exploring DNA origins. I downloaded it from Google Play a few years ago when I first got curious about my roots. The app itself is free to install, and it's been around for a long time, originally launching its online service way back in the 90s before the mobile app came to both Google Play and the App Store. It has over 10 million downloads on Google Play alone. You don't need to pay just to download and install the app, but to really unlock all the historical records and detailed DNA features, you need a subscription. Registration is required to create your family tree and see any results. I haven't noticed many intrusive ads in the main app experience, which is nice. The in-app purchases are basically those subscription plans to access different record collections.

I use the app mostly on my tablet because the screen is bigger for looking at old documents and building my tree. The main thing you do is start by adding yourself, then your parents, and so on. The app then suggests "hints" – links to census records, birth certificates, or other family trees that might match your ancestors. A simple tip from a real user: don't just accept every hint automatically. Take a minute to check the details, because sometimes the system can link to the wrong person with a similar name. I also connected my DNA test results through the app. Once your results are in, it shows you an ethnicity estimate and a list of DNA matches—potential relatives you never knew about. I like to use the app in the evenings to slowly piece together stories. It's become a quiet hobby.

Compared to other family history apps like MyHeritage or FamilySearch, I keep coming back to Ancestry. The main reason is the sheer size of its database. It feels like Ancestry has more exclusive record collections, especially for the U.S. and U.K., which is where my family is from. FamilySearch is fantastic and completely free, but its app feels a bit more geared toward simple tree-building for the global LDS community. MyHeritage has cool features like photo colorization, but its record collection for my specific search wasn't as deep. For me, Ancestry strikes the best balance between a powerful search engine and a user-friendly mobile app. The DNA side is also more integrated, and since more people have tested with Ancestry, I found closer relatives there than on other platforms.

Features

  • 🌳 Build and Grow Your Family Tree: The core function is an interactive tree you can build by tapping to add relatives. It's intuitive and visually clear, much better than trying to draw one on paper. Compared to the FamilySearch app, Ancestry's tree builder feels more modern and gives you more control over how you layout and view your branches.
  • 🔍 Search Billions of Historical Records: Once you add names and dates, the app constantly searches its database for matching records like census, military, or immigration documents. This automated hinting is a standout feature. While MyHeritage offers similar hints, Ancestry's catalog of exclusive, digitized records often provides more direct sources and higher-quality images for review.
  • 🧬 Explore DNA Origins and Matches: If you take an AncestryDNA test, the app seamlessly integrates your results. You get a detailed ethnicity estimate with a map and a list of DNA matches. This function is what truly sets it apart from apps that only do family trees. The ability to message matches and see how you're potentially connected through your shared tree is powerful for breaking down brick walls.
  • 📖 Discover Ancestor Stories and Insights: Beyond dry facts, the app tries to build narratives. It can generate little stories about an ancestor's life based on the records found, and you can attach photos to their profiles. This turns a list of names into a more meaningful family history, which is a nicer user experience than the more administrative feel of some other genealogy tools.

Pros

  • ✅ Huge, Constantly Updated Database: Its collection of records is unmatched for certain regions. New documents are added all the time, which means you can find new hints months after you first search for someone.
  • ✅ Excellent Hinting System: The algorithm for suggesting records is generally very accurate and saves countless hours of manual searching compared to using a site like the free FamilySearch without such aggressive hinting.
  • ✅ Deep DNA Integration: Having the world's largest consumer DNA database connected directly to your tree is its biggest strength. The tools for reviewing and filtering DNA matches are more advanced than on most other platforms.
  • ✅ User-Friendly Mobile Experience: They've done a great job making complex genealogy feel approachable on a phone. The app is well-organized and stable, which isn't always the case with data-heavy research apps.

Cons

  • ⚠️ Costly Subscription for Full Access: The biggest drawback is the price. To view most record hints and messages, you need a paid subscription, which can feel expensive compared to completely free alternatives like FamilySearch.
  • ⚠️ Can Be Overwhelming for Beginners: The sheer volume of hints and data can sometimes feel chaotic. Other apps, like Simple Family Tree, offer a more streamlined, less intimidating starting point for total newcomers.

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