Ancestry Reviews
Ancestry Customer Reviews (3)
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Ancestry Customer’s Q&A
Ancestry Features and Benefits
Ancestry.com offers a variety of features and benefits:
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Family tree hosting: Users can create multiple family trees and have unlimited space to attach documents to their tree. This includes documents found within Ancestry.com’s records, outside links, and documents uploaded by the user.
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Extensive record database: Ancestry.com provides access to billions of historical records from around the world. This includes family tree hosting, thousands of records, and DNA testing, all within one platform.
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DNA testing: Users can take an AncestryDNA test to be matched with genetic relatives and learn about their ancestral origins.
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Ancestry Hints®: These provide clues for further research. Users can easily click on a link and analyze the document to determine if it matches the person they are researching.
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Membership options: Membership is available at a variety of levels and price points. Users can choose the plan that best suits their needs.
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Community support: Users can connect with a supportive research community, which can greatly enhance their genealogical journey.
These features and benefits can greatly enhance a user's genealogical journey by providing them with the tools and resources they need to uncover their family history.
Ancestry Pricing
Ancestry.com Pricing Overview
Subscription Plans
Ancestry.com offers several subscription tiers with varying access levels:
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U.S. Discovery Plan:
- Price: $24.99/month
- Access: All U.S. records, including censuses and public member trees.
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World Explorer Plan:
- Price: $39.99/month
- Access: All U.S. and international records.
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All Access Plan:
- Price: $59.99/month
- Access: Comprehensive access to all Ancestry.com records, plus additional content from Newspapers.com and Fold3.
Additional Options
- AncestryDNA Plus: Approximately $4.99/month, billed every six months, providing enhanced DNA tools.
- Pro Tools Add-On: Available for an additional $10/month.
- Preserve My Tree: Costs $5/month for tree preservation features.
Discounts
Discounts may be available for students and members of organizations like AARP, potentially reducing overall costs.
About ancestry.com Payment Method?
Ancestry.com accepts several methods of payment. These include Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Apple Pay, and PayPal. If you want to change your method of payment from PayPal to a credit card or vice versa, you need to set your membership to cancel, then restart it after it's ended using the new method of payment. Memberships renew automatically using the payment method you have on file unless canceled. To prevent being billed automatically, you need to cancel your membership before your renewal date. A payment method is required to start a free trial to ensure that each person receives only one trial. A small pre-authorization charge will appear (and disappear) during your free trial to verify your card information. You may end your free trial during the trial period without being charged. Your payment method may not have been accepted for several reasons, such as an error in the payment information (like the credit card number, expiration date, billing address, etc.) or if a special character (like a period or space) was entered. If you need help, you can contact Ancestry.com for assistance.
Ancestry FAQs
How To Open A Ancestry Account?
Steps to Open an Account on Ancestry.com
Visit the Website
Go to Ancestry.com.
Click on Sign Up
Locate and click on the "Sign Up" button, usually found on the homepage.
Fill Out the Registration Form
Complete the registration form with the required information:
- Email Address
- Password
- Username (optional)
Agree to Terms and Conditions
Read and accept the terms and conditions by checking the appropriate box.
Click on Create Account
Press the "Create Account" button to finalize the process.
Verify Email Address
Check your email for a verification link from Ancestry and click it to activate your account.
Following these steps will successfully open an account on Ancestry.com.
Ancestry Alternatives
Here are some top alternatives to Ancestry.com:
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23 And Me: This DNA test analyzes multiple aspects of your DNA to determine what haplogroups you are part of, and this allows the test to determine where your ancestors are from. The ancestry test alone is 99 dollars. If you get the ancestry test along with a detailed look at how your DNA affects your health, it will cost you 199 dollars.
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My Heritage: My Heritage is a popular company that offers DNA testing and access to a genealogy database. Access to the database and the DNA test are relatively affordable. It’s possible to get a free trial of the website, and this lasts for 14 days.
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Gramps: Gramps is a Free Software Project for Genealogy, offering a professional cross-platform genealogy program, and a wiki open to all.
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FamilySearch.org: FamilySearch is a genealogy organization operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. FamilySearch maintains a collection of records, resources, and services designed to help people learn more about their family history.
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WikiTree.com
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WeRelate
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LivingDNA: Best for deep ancestry research
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OneGreatFamily: Best for tracing ancestral trees
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Findmypast: Best for researching ancestors
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GenealogyBank
These alternatives offer a variety of features and services, from DNA testing to access to extensive genealogy databases. Some of them are free, while others offer affordable plans. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it's important to choose the one that best fits your needs.
What are the payment options for Ancestry?
How can I view my AncestryDNA results?
When will I receive my AncestryDNA results?
Is there a free trial available for Ancestry?
How secure and private is AncestryDNA?
What is the difference between AncestryDNA® and Traits and other DNA tests?
AncestryDNA® is a popular DNA testing kit that provides an ethnic breakdown of your DNA. It uses an autosomal DNA test that surveys a person’s entire genome, looking at over 700,000 locations in your DNA, covering both the maternal and paternal sides of the family tree. This test is gender neutral, meaning both men and women can take it as they carry the same 22 pairs of chromosomes.
The AncestryDNA Traits is a feature that allows users to see how their genetic inheritance relates to their DNA and heritage. It breaks down 18 different appearance and sensory traits such as earlobe type, iris patterns, male hair loss, asparagus metabolic detection, cilantro aversion, and much more. It also includes a Compare feature that allows you to see how your results stack up against your DNA matches and an Around the World feature that lets you compare traits by region.
On the other hand, there are other DNA testing kits that focus more on how your DNA affects your health and traits like 23andMe Health+Ancestry. This DNA testing kit also provides an ethnic breakdown of your DNA and much more. The results from 23andMe are more varied and informative than AncestryDNA. It also costs more compared to AncestryDNA.
About ancestry.com Prices and Cost?
Ancestry.com offers several membership plans. The U.S. Discovery plan provides access to all U.S. records and costs $24.99 per month or $21.99 per month for a 6-month commitment. The World Explorer plan, which includes all U.S. and international records, is priced at $39.99 per month or $32.99 per month for a 6-month commitment. The All Access plan, which includes all records on Ancestry, Fold3, and Newspapers.com Publisher Extra, costs $59.99 per month or $49.99 per month for a 6-month commitment. Please note that these prices are subject to change and it's always best to check the official website for the most current pricing..
How do I sign up for a membership plan on Ancestry.com?
To sign up for a membership plan on Ancestry.com, you can follow these steps:
- Open the Ancestry app and sign in.
- In the top-left corner, tap your profile (photo or letters).
- Under Settings, tap Account (iOS) / Account settings (Android).
- Under Membership, tap See Plans.
- Choose a membership. You can cancel anytime.
- Review your membership selection, then enter or select your payment method.
If you want to join a Family Plan, you can accept an invitation link sent by the Family Plan manager. If prompted, sign in to your Ancestry account or create one for free. If signed in with the correct account, choose Yes, join now; otherwise, select No, use different account. Finally, select Join plan. Please note that Family plans are only available in the United States currently.
About ancestry.com Popular Products and Services?
Ancestry.com offers a variety of products and services. The most popular ones include:
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Family History Memberships: These memberships provide access to Ancestry's vast collection of records. There are different plans available, including U.S. Discovery, World Explorer, and All Access. These memberships can be purchased on a monthly, 6-month, or 1-year basis.
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AncestryDNA® and Traits: This service allows you to explore your origins, personal traits, and more. You can discover where in the world you're from, what you inherited from each side of the family, and how your genes may influence your personal traits. There are two kits available: AncestryDNA® and AncestryDNA® + Traits.
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Special Offers: Ancestry offers special rates on memberships for students and AARP members. Eligibility requirements and terms and conditions apply.
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Gift Memberships: You can purchase any of Ancestry's memberships as a gift for someone else. These are available for new gift memberships only and not for renewal of current gift memberships.
Please note that prices and availability of these products and services may vary. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please visit the Ancestry.com website.
How do I get started with AncestryDNA®?
To get started with AncestryDNA, you need to follow these steps:
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Purchase AncestryDNA online. You'll receive a DNA kit that includes a sample tube, a pre-paid envelope to mail your sample back, a unique activation code, and instructions.
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Set up an Ancestry account online with an email and a password. Each AncestryDNA test must be linked to a unique account.
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Activate your test kit by entering the tube code online.
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Collect your DNA sample. Fill the tube with saliva, up to the line indicated. Screw the provided cap on securely until a blue fluid is released from the cap into the tube. This is an additive designed to preserve your DNA. Then shake the tube for five seconds to distribute the additive.
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Mail the envelope back to AncestryDNA. Postage is already included to send your sample via U.S. mail.
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Wait for your results. In roughly 6-8 weeks, your results will be ready online.
Remember, your Ancestry account is where you manage and view your DNA test results and DNA matches. It's also important to note that some DNA features may require an Ancestry subscription.
Are there any free services available on Ancestry.com?
Yes, there are several free services available on Ancestry.com. You can use the free Ancestry.com card catalog to make sure Ancestry.com has records relevant to your research. You can also view record previews and take a peek at public member trees. Ancestry Academy offers how-to videos that you can learn from for free. You can also watch Ancestry.com on YouTube. You can test with AncestryDNA and search free records on Ancestry.com’s sister sites. Additionally, you can sign up for a free 14-day trial if you have two weeks to do research. Just remember to cancel your subscription before your trial is over to avoid being charged. There are also more than 1200 free collections on Ancestry, including vital records, military and services records, censuses, tax lists, poorhouse records, employment records and much more from countries around the world. These collections are 100% searchable and include both collections owned by Ancestry and 'Web' collections provided by other sites. Many of these collections are provided in partnership with well-recognized free family history leaders like The National Archives or FamilySearch, and others come from smaller sites. Other collections owned by Ancestry cannot be found elsewhere for free.
What is Ancestry.com?
Ancestry.com is an American genealogy company that operates a network of genealogical, historical records, and related genetic genealogy websites. It helps you understand your genealogy by taking you back generations through the world's largest collection of online family history records. This makes it easy to trace your lineage. You can build a family tree, explore online family history records, take a DNA test, and access AncestryDNA® insights and tools. With precise geographic detail and clear-cut historical insights, Ancestry.com can connect you to the places in the world where your story started—from unique regions to living relatives. It also offers a 14-day free trial for new users..
Can I use a debit card to pay for Ancestry.com?
Yes, you can use a debit card to pay for Ancestry.com as long as it's a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card. They also accept Apple Pay and PayPal as methods of payment. Please ensure that your card details are correct to avoid any issues with the payment process. If you want to change your method of payment, you can do so in your account settings on the website. Remember, memberships renew automatically using the payment method you have on file unless canceled..
ancestry.com Return Policy?
Ancestry.com has a detailed return policy for their DNA kits. If you're returning a DNA kit for a refund, you need to follow certain directions. The refund amounts and eligibility are outlined in their Renewal and Cancellation Terms. Once they receive the returned kit, they initiate the refund process. The processing times vary, depending on your date of purchase and the type of payment used.
As for the shipping policy, AncestryDNA® kits are delivered within 10 business days of the order date. They’re sent via UPS and handed off to a local United States Postal Service branch, who delivers them. If a kit isn’t received within 14 business days, you can contact them for a free replacement kit. Standard shipping costs $9.95 for the first kit and $4.95 for each additional kit. This amount covers shipping to the recipient and return shipping, as well as other shipping related to the provision of the DNA testing service; no additional postage is necessary. Expedited shipping costs $24.95 for the first kit and $12.95 for each additional kit. This amount also covers shipping to the recipient and return shipping, as well as other shipping related to the provision of the DNA testing service. DNA kits should be delivered within three business days of the order date. If the kit isn’t received within five business days, you can contact them for a replacement. Expedited DNA kits cannot be delivered to P.O. boxes. A maximum of two DNA kits can be shipped to a P.O. box in a single order, due to the size constraints of P.O. boxes. When purchasing three or more DNA kits, they recommend providing a street address or submitting multiple orders. When purchasing with expedited shipping, provide a street address rather than a P.O. box number..