Is FamilySearch free to use?

Yes, FamilySearch really is free. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provides FamilySearch free of charge to everyone, regardless of tradition, culture, or religious affiliation. Originally intended for Church members, FamilySearch resources help millions of people around the world discover their heritage and connect with family members.

To accomplish this goal, FamilySearch collaborates with other family history sites. In some cases, as a service, we link to third-party company sites. We do not guarantee full, free access to third-party resources.

Feelings of family connection can help us overcome the ups and downs of life. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints funds FamilySearch to help people draw strength from their family relationships—past, present, and future. You can learn more about Church teachings related to families at ComeUntoChrist.org.

Why create an account?

You can access some of our resources without an account. But you need an account to have unlimited access to all of the tools and records within FamilySearch. Remember, FamilySearch only has one type of account: a free one.

You do not need an account to search these resources:

  • The FamilySearch Catalog to see if we have the historical records you need. 
  • The FamilySearch Wiki and other help and learning resources 

To gain access to more resources, create an account:

  • Search for your ancestors from the following sources:   
    • Indexed historical records
    • Digitized records that are not indexed
    • Online genealogies
  • Use scanned books.
  • Use Family Tree to connect yourself to your living and deceased ancestors.  
    • Participate in indexing projects. 
    • Contribute to the FamilySearch Wiki. 
    • Upload photos, stories, documents, and audio files.  

We protect your privacy

Personal and family information that you add to FamilySearch helps you discover, preserve, and share your family story. We do not sell your information to other companies. Information you enter about living people is kept private for you. We share genealogy details of your deceased ancestors with other researchers in Family Tree.

How do I create a free FamilySearch account?
How do I share information from the Ancestor discovery page to social media?

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