Free, open-source alternatives to Ancestry
Family tree and genealogy records. 3 apps you can run yourself instead of Ancestry, sorted by how well they replace it. Each one is open source, so your data stays with you.
webtreesBest match
Webtrees is the web's leading online collaborative genealogy application.
Gramps Web
Web app for collaborative genealogy, based on and interoperable with Gramps, the open source genealogy desktop application.
GeneWeb
Genealogy software that can be used offline or as a Web service.
Side by side
| App | Stars | License | Activity | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| webtrees | 828 | GPL-3.0 | PHP | |
| Gramps Web | 226 | AGPL-3.0 | Docker | |
| GeneWeb | 402 | GPL-2.0 | OCaml |
Why replace Ancestry?
Ancestry works, but your data lives in someone else's account, the price can change at any time, and features can disappear. An open-source app you run yourself is yours: you choose where it runs, who can see the data, and when to update.
Questions
What is the best free alternative to Ancestry?
webtrees is the closest open-source replacement for Ancestry in our list. Gramps Web and GeneWeb are worth a look too, depending on what you need.
Can I self-host an alternative to Ancestry?
Yes. All 3 apps on this page are open source and can run on your own server, usually with Docker, or on a managed host that installs them for you.