Familysearch Reviews

familysearch.org
2.14
28 reviews
Poor Rating
Based on 28 user experiences

Rated 2.14 out of 5 by 28 Happy Customers

28.6%
0%
0%
0%
71.4%
All 5 ★ 4 ★ 3 ★ 2 ★ 1 ★ 😊 Positive 😐 Neutral 😞 Negative Reset Filter
AI Review Summary Based on 28 reviews

Reviews are sharply divided. Negative reviews cite loss of privacy, inability to delete data, spam, inaccurate collaborative edits, and security concerns after a breach. Positive reviews praise the free collaborative model, extensive records, and usability. The mixed feedback reflects tension between open collaboration and data control.

What customers love
  • Free collaborative tree
  • Historical records access
  • Useful search tools
  • Helpful hints system
Common concerns
  • Unwanted spam emails
  • Inaccurate public edits
  • Privacy/data concerns
  • Difficult deletion process

Last updated 1 month ago

M

Family Search Warning Do not make a family tree and contribute your research

I wish I had never put my family genealogy on Family Search Family Search has absolutely no respect for my decades of research with original records from handwritten Norwegian Parish records dating back to the 1600s and 1700s These records are difficult to decipher and were contributed by a cousin and her husband who could read old Norwegian language and scripts Family Search adds very inaccurate information attaches erroneous records that are just attached and not researched These records then become so official and cannot be challenged or corrected The idea that US census records state records birth records etc may have serious inaccuracies don t appear to be considered Contributors have deleted sourced records I add have been very very rude closed minded and refused corrections Some editors and or contributors also do not discern common names that appear to be the correct person but are not the same person who may even come from the same area county state US Or they don t understand the numerous name derivatives of foreign family names farms towns churches that are in a historical different culture Some of these names changed throughout time There appears to be no thought or research in their method of adding sourced records There is no acknowledgement that I or any family member may have spent decades researching and have so much to offer Family Search and other users I wish I could delete any and all numerous contributions of my family to Family Search but it is out there online and will remain with incorrect research that will continue to next generations Avoid this site or use it as a source only I wish I had never made a family tree in Family Search They are right and I am wrong Black and white and unconscionable thinking and research I wish I avoided all world wide community genealogy trees What a nightmare I wish I had kept all my genealogy offline and only used any genealogical site as a resource to download
I

Ignores removal requests

No official opt out so I sent an email to remove some private info never got a response Unacceptable
N

YOU CANNOT DELETE YOUR COMPLETE

YOU CANNOT DELETE YOUR COMPLETE INFORMATION DO NOT PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN ONLY DELETE YOUR ACCOUNT I emailed them and they gave me the same BS view of their terms of blah blah blah I wanted to look for my family history and then it occurred to me my parents moved away because other family were abusive So I changed my mind and deleted most information a week later The info is not DELETED It shows that I ve made changes and who I made changes to Not very church like if you ask me They say its private information and no one can access it but me If that was true the site wound be endorsed by Facebook for its data security and we all know Facebook just had phone numbers stolen to be sold This site is ran by people with rose colored glasses I want my information I entered permanently deleted with the account PERIOD STAY AWAY FROM THE WEBSITE AND ANYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SITE FamilySearch spare me your reply Keep it where the sun don t shine
J

Questionable accuracy and reliability

A very poor site very easy to add information to the site but almost impossible to correct even when the incorrect information concerns close family I have discovered multiple errors in my family tree entered by a number of individuals I reported the errors where even the sources used to justify the inclusion did not match but FS did not do anything except advising me to put my comments on the forum I don t see any point in using FS if anyone can alter the data and trees anytime they want to I am very concerned about the accuracy and reliability of Family Search and now regret adding any data to it will not be using Family Search from this point on
W

7 months to tell us about a cyber attack

I was notified today 20 10 22 by email from familysearch org about an unauthorised network intrusion on 23 3 22 which has been hushed up in order to keep the incident confidential to protect the integrity of the investigation The company does not indicate whether they were instructed or merely asked by the FBI to do so They go on to say that The forensic investigators who assisted in investigating the security breach have not detected any further unauthorized access or activity since April 3 2022 This gives me the impression that there were not just one but at least two breaches of data security as there is a 11-day gap between those two dates This instruction was lifted on October 12 2022 It begs the question why familysearch org waited another 8 days to notify me This statement We are notifying you and others worldwide whose data may have been affected even where this is not legally required really takes the biscuit For a whole 7 months we have all been sitting in blissful ignorance of an event which personally affects all site members I am deleting my account and would encourage others to consider taking the same action
F

Familysearch is now a useless search engine

what on earth has happened to Familysearch Up until the recent changes made by FS tech design team the site used to be an invaluable asset to researchers and an easy to use and helpful site But now it is just a complete and utter shambles Even though you can still enter all the details of the person you are searching records for - including country the results you get are for every other country in the world and more annoyingly a vast selection of birth dates even if you enter the closest dates Familysearch now is a complete and utter waste of search time The tech design team have completely ruined it I used to recommend this site to anyone who was having difficulty finding info but now I will not recommend it and will in fact tell people that it is a useless site and waste of time Yes it may be free but if it cant show any records or names the person is looking for then its a useless free site Is this the issue Familysearch Is it because you dont charge that you have now made the free version useless I have tried to find a contact number to speak with someone at Familysearch - but this doesnt exist there isnt one
P

Dishonest and violative

FamilySearch org does not respect the privacy of living persons nor does it care about the accuracy of its data Someone started posting false information about close living family members of mine including labeling them as deceased when they are not Legitimate genealogy websites will exclude some data about living persons The FamilySearch org website did not allow me to correct the info in any way despite numerous attempts on my part and writing to the person who published the misinformation did not solve the problem either I reported the misinformation to FamilySearch org and told them to correct the misinformation as it is false and a potential violation of privacy and they refused They would prefer to let complete lies that a stranger posted for no reason about my family stand I did a quick search and apparently FamilySearch org has a record of privacy violations link censored FamilySearch org is disgraceful for willfully perpetuating falsehoods about living persons This reflects poorly on the integrity of the Church of Latter Day Saints owner of the site
W

Family search erases parts of family tree

I am a former member of latter days saints church I still use family search But since I have quitte my church membership very often my family tree was erased It happens now about 5 times or more I don t know if they want to tease me because I m a former church member or that it is an error in the program But it makes me sick Who has also this exp rience
T

Cannot block crazies from spamming me or writing all over my relatives pages

FamilySearch is a collaborative Family tree site one big tree unlike other sites where you can create your own family tree and can then collaborate with others with zero DRAMA PROBLEM on FamilySearch I ve run into 3 really nasty wannabe Queens of Genealogy one s sent me 7 direct messages and has written nasty stuff all over my grandmother s page about how she s a master genealogist former Grand-poo-bah in Family History in her last town her relative is a programmer at FamilySearch on on I cannot BLOCK this person from spamming me or my relatives pages The other Hilarity is this site is not backed by DNA testing so these folks are willing to die on their petty molehill without scientific evidence
C

ENDLESS unstoppable SPAM

I ve been trying to unsubscribe from the regular spam mailings from this company for weeks after making the mistake of expressing interest Even logging into my account and explicitly cancelling there doesn t work and the spam keeps rolling in

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Frequently Asked Questions

FamilySearch.org is the world's largest and most widely accessible genealogy organization. It is a completely free, nonprofit service operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Its mission is to connect families across generations by providing tools and resources for discovering personal and family history.

No, FamilySearch is a completely free service. It provides access to billions of digitized historical records, a collaborative family tree platform, educational resources, and assistance at FamilySearch centers without any subscription or usage fees.

FamilySearch provides free access to a vast and ever-growing collection of digitized historical records. This includes census data, vital records (birth, marriage, death), immigration documents (passenger lists, naturalization papers), military records, and church registers from various faiths.

The FamilySearch family tree is a collaborative, shared platform. It is a universal tree where users can build their lineage, connect with ancestors already researched by others, and avoid duplicate work. Users can attach source records, share photos and stories, and connect with relatives, fostering a community-driven approach to genealogy.

FamilySearch is designed to be user-friendly for all skill levels. It features an intuitive search interface with guided filters. For beginners, the site offers an extensive learning center with step-by-step research guides, informative wiki articles on locations and records, and video tutorials covering genealogical methodology.

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About Familysearch

FamilySearch: A Comprehensive Overview

FamilySearch.org is the world's largest and most widely accessible genealogy organization, operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a completely free, nonprofit service, its mission is dedicated to connecting families across generations by providing powerful tools and resources for discovering personal and family history. The website serves as a central hub for millions of users worldwide, from seasoned genealogists to individuals just beginning to explore their roots.

Core Features and Resources

The website's primary strength lies in its vast, ever-growing collection of historical records. FamilySearch provides free access to billions of digitized records, including:

  • Census Data:Population schedules from numerous countries.
  • Vital Records:Birth, marriage, and death certificates.
  • Immigration Documents:Passenger lists, naturalization papers, and border crossings.
  • Military Records:Draft registrations, service files, and pension indexes.
  • Church Registers:Baptism, christening, and burial records from various faiths.

Beyond record searching, FamilySearch offers a collaborative family tree platform. This shared, universal tree allows users to build their lineage, connect with ancestors already researched by others, and avoid duplicative work. The platform encourages collaboration, enabling users to attach sources, share memories like photos and stories, and connect with distant relatives.

User Experience and Learning Tools

FamilySearch is designed to be user-friendly for all skill levels. The search interface is intuitive, offering guided filters to narrow down results by location, date, and relationship. For those needing guidance, the site features an extensive learning center with:

  • Step-by-step research guides for beginners.
  • Informative wiki articles on specific geographic locations and record types.
  • Video tutorials and online courses covering genealogical methodology.

Additionally, the website provides access to a global network of physical FamilySearch centers, where volunteers offer free personal assistance and access to premium subscription websites normally available only by paid membership elsewhere.

Community and Preservation Efforts

A key differentiator for FamilySearch is its massive volunteer indexing initiative. Volunteers from around the globe help transcribe digitized historical records, making them searchable by name for everyone. This community-driven effort continuously expands the searchable database. The organization is also deeply committed to the global preservation of historical documents, partnering with archives and libraries worldwide to digitize and protect fragile records from deterioration or loss.

Conclusion

FamilySearch.org stands as an indispensable, free resource for anyone interested in genealogy and family history. Its combination of a massive record repository, a collaborative family tree, extensive educational materials, and a global community of users and volunteers creates a powerful ecosystem for discovery. Whether you are seeking to build your family tree, find a specific ancestor, or simply learn more about the past, FamilySearch provides the tools and data to facilitate meaningful connections to personal heritage.