Free, open-source alternatives to MyHeritage

Family tree platform. 3 apps you can run yourself instead of MyHeritage, sorted by how well they replace it. Each one is open source, so your data stays with you.

  1. webtreesBest match

    Webtrees is the web's leading online collaborative genealogy application.

    828 starsGPL-3.0Updated 1 October 2026
  2. Gramps Web

    Web app for collaborative genealogy, based on and interoperable with Gramps, the open source genealogy desktop application.

    226 starsAGPL-3.0Updated 12 October 2026
  3. GeneWeb

    Genealogy software that can be used offline or as a Web service.

    402 starsGPL-2.0Updated 13 October 2026

Side by side

AppStarsLicenseActivityRuns on
webtrees828GPL-3.0PHP
Gramps Web226AGPL-3.0Docker
GeneWeb402GPL-2.0OCaml

Why replace MyHeritage?

MyHeritage 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 MyHeritage?

webtrees is the closest open-source replacement for MyHeritage in our list. Gramps Web and GeneWeb are worth a look too, depending on what you need.

Can I self-host an alternative to MyHeritage?

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.