About This App
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Category
Parenting
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Installs
5M+
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Content Rating
Rated for 3+
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Developer Email
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Privacy Policy
https://www.familysearch.org/legal/privacy
Screenshots
Editor Reviews
FamilySearch Tree is a genealogy app designed to help you build your family tree and discover your ancestors. It's a free app from FamilySearch International, a nonprofit organization that's been around for over a century, though the mobile app launched more recently to bring family history to your phone. You can download it on both Google Play and the App Store, and it has been installed by millions of people interested in their roots. The app itself is completely free to download and use—no purchase needed. You do need to create a free FamilySearch account to use it, which is a quick process. There are no annoying in-app purchases or ads trying to sell you things, which is really nice when you're trying to focus on your family's story.
Using the FamilySearch Tree app is pretty straightforward. After you download and install it, you log in with your free account and you can start right away. I usually start by adding myself, then my parents, and then just keep going back. The cool part is it's connected to the huge FamilySearch online tree, so as you add names and dates, it might automatically find records and hints for you, like census documents or birth certificates. A simple tip from a regular user: always check the hints! They save so much time. You can also take photos of old family pictures or documents right in the app and attach them to people in your tree. I use it on my tablet when visiting older relatives to show them the tree and add their memories.
Compared to other genealogy apps like Ancestry, FamilySearch Tree has a big advantage: it's totally free. Ancestry requires a paid subscription to see most records and build a detailed tree. While Ancestry might have a slicker interface, for someone just starting out or on a budget, FamilySearch is the best choice. It focuses on collaboration, meaning you're building on one shared world family tree with other users, which can help you break through walls. Some people prefer more private trees, which apps like MyHeritage offer, but for me, the collaborative, free nature of FamilySearch makes it the app I always recommend first to friends who ask about getting into family history.
Features
- 🌳 Build and Explore Your Tree: The core function is building a visual family tree. You can add relatives, see your lineage in a clean chart, and navigate through generations easily. It syncs instantly with the massive, collaborative FamilySearch online tree.
- 🔍 Receive and Review Record Hints: The app automatically searches its vast free database (billions of records) for documents matching your ancestors. It presents these as hints you can review and attach with a tap, making discovery incredibly simple.
- 📸 Preserve Memories On-the-Go: You can use your phone's camera to snap photos of old family photos, documents, or even gravestones. The app lets you attach these images directly to profiles in your tree, turning your phone into a mobile preservation tool.
- 🤝 Collaborate with a Global Community: Unlike many apps where your tree is private, this one connects you to a shared universal family tree. You can see research others have done, merge duplicate profiles, and work together, which is a function most other apps lack.
Pros
- ✅ Completely Free Access: Unlike Ancestry or MyHeritage, which lock core records behind paywalls, FamilySearch Tree offers access to billions of records and full tree-building tools for $0. This is its biggest standout feature.
- ✅ Seamless Web & App Sync: Your research progress is always synced between the app and the full website. You can start on your phone and finish on a computer without any manual transfer, which is smoother than some competitors.
- ✅ Focus on Collaboration: The shared tree model means you aren't working in a vacuum. You can build on others' verified work and connect with distant cousins, a unique communal approach compared to isolated trees in other apps.
Cons
- ⚠️ Interface Can Feel Dated: The app design is functional but not as modern or visually polished as some commercial apps like Ancestry. It can feel a bit clunky during navigation.
- ⚠️ Shared Tree Complications: The collaborative strength is also a weakness. Sometimes you find errors added by others, or you can't edit certain locked profiles without help, which can be frustrating compared to having full control over a private tree.