If you’re looking to trace your family history, there are a number of options available, both paid and free. While paid genealogy sites offer a more comprehensive range of features and information, there are also free options available that can help you get started on your journey of discovery. Here are some of the best free ancestry sites to help you trace your family’s heritage:

1. FamilySearch.org: This is a popular online tool that offers free access to the world’s largest collection of family history records and resources. It features billions of historical records, including birth, death, and marriage certificates, census data, and immigration records, and more. FamilySearch.org also has an extensive library of digitized historical books, including county and local histories, as well as access to over 2 million microfilm reels.

2. MyHeritage.com: MyHeritage allows you to focus on the search for specific ancestors, giving you the opportunity to easily build your family tree, and connect with relatives you may not have known still existed. Although a premium subscription service is available, you can access the site’s “global name search” for free, which can reveal details and other interesting information about your ancestors.

3. Findmypast.com: Like many other free ancestry sites, Findmypast allows you to search for information about your ancestors using various search parameters, such as name, location, and other relevant details. This site’s primary focus is on British and Irish records, but it also offers access to records from other parts of the world.

4. WikiTree.com: WikiTree is a free, collaboratively-edited family tree that you can add to, as well as use to help you track down new information about your ancestors. The unique thing about this site is that it’s all about sharing and collaboration, allowing you to build a richer, more complete picture of your family’s history. You can use it to upload and edit family trees, view profiles of other members’ ancestors, join “genealogy projects” centered around a specific location or topic, and more.

5. Geni.com: Geni allows users to build and share their own family trees, but also offers features such as collaborative research, timelines, and more. With more than 100 million profiles, Geni offers a very powerful search capability, making it easy to track down the ancestors you’re searching for. In addition, when a user adds a family member, Geni automatically adds cousins, aunts, and uncles, which can help you quickly build out your tree.