Ancestry.co.uk Reviews 

9,494
TrustScore 3.5 out of 5

3.7

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Evaluating 1,403 reviews, most reviewers were somewhat happy with their experience overall. Consumers generally find the platform very engaging for building detailed family trees, exploring historical records, and uncovering fascinating ancestral stories over time. Many people appreciate the helpful hints and DNA features that significantly assist in connecting with distant relatives and confirming historical accuracy. Some reviewers were not happy with the customer service, experiencing complete silence when trying to resolve billing questions and unexpected automatic subscription renewals. Others mentioned that recent website updates made navigation difficult, slowed down research, and introduced frustrating errors into shared family trees. People also noted that reaching out for a refund proved extremely challenging due to automated communication systems.

What people talk about most

User experience

Consumers find user experience to be ambiguous, reporting a mix of helpful features and frustrating hurdles.... See more

Product

Customers consistently note ambiguous experiences with product, often highlighting the vast databases and... See more

Website

Reviewers highlight ambiguous aspects of website functionality and design. Many consumers praise the platform... See more

Subscription

Customers had ambiguous experiences with subscription models, with many long-standing members expressing... See more

Customer service

Reviewers mention ambiguous feedback about customer service, reflecting a wide range of differing... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

The web-based version is much better to use than the app. Even using the web-based version there are problems with "frames" on Windows machines with less than a 14" display. The vertical scroll bar i... See more

Company replied

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

The most amazing thing about using Ancestry and the DNA test it offered was that I was able to discover a 100 year old family mystery - who my grandfather was! I was then able to build my family tree... See more

Company replied

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Searching for details on your past in your family tree can be a great way to pass the time, and can become quite addictive so allocating time for research is a good thing. It can also become quite fru... See more

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

This is quite addictive, Researching my family and my husband's . It can be revealing. I would say you have to be careful and where possible double check when information has come from someone else... See more

Company replied


Company details

  1. Genealogist

About Ancestry.co.uk

Written by the company

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Ancestry® is the UK’s largest online family history website. Discover your family story with access to the world’s biggest online collection of family history records and the number one selling DNA test.

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With an Ancestry® subscription, you could search over 27 billion records from over 80 countries, helping you grow your family tree and uncover your genealogy. Start exploring today with a 14-day free trial.*

START A FREE TRIAL
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AncestryDNA® is a simple one-off test that reveals your origins and the countries, counties and towns your ancestors called home. You can connect with DNA matches around the world to discover your shared family history. Regular updates mean your results can become more refined with even more detail.

GET A DNA KIT

Together, an AncetsryDNA® test and family history membership can help unlock undiscovered details about your family story.

VISIT OUR SUPPORT CENTRE

*Free trial terms apply


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3.7

Average

TrustScore 3.5 out of 5

9K reviews

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3.7

All reviews

(9,494)

1,359 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Found at last!

I had searched for decades for my ancestors in Ireland, in vain. One week on Ancestry gave me all the details I'd been searching for. One week!
Likewise, I discovered a strong Luxembourg connection I never knew I had. Ancestry also connected me to others searching some people which linked our family trees and pooled our resources.Ive also enjoyed the traits from my DNA. I recommend Ancestry without reservation.

June 15, 2026
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Reply from Ancestry.co.uk

Wow, that's incredible Tom. We're delighted to hear that we were able to help you find the answers you've been searching for for years and have made some fascinating connections. It's wonderful that you've been able to collaborate with them on your shared family history and this has helped further your own research. We are so excited to see where the rest of your DNA journey takes you.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Comprehensive Efficient Genealogical Support Model

I have been with Ancestry for some years and I find the software being continually improved and very comprehensive. I have not had occasion to interact with customer support so cannot comment on that - but the reason for that is there has been no need.

August 12, 2026
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Reply from Ancestry.co.uk

Thank you for sharing this lovely review with us, Andrew. We're absolutely delighted to hear that you have had such a wonderful experience using Ancestry to date and have had no reason to contact our customer support team. Should you ever need to speak with us, you can reach them on the number listed below.

+44 800 032 6469

Monday - Friday: 9:00 am - 9:00 pm GMT
Saturday - Sunday: 12:00 pm - 9:00 pm GMT

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great subscribe

Great subscribe

August 13, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Ancestry.co.uk

Thank you for sharing this lovely review with us, Mike. We're delighted to hear that you are enjoying your subscription and wish you the best of luck with your family tree research.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Ancestry.Com records are very reliable…

Ancestry.Com records are very reliable and having researched, let's say a date of birth, there are links to further records about that person.
Looking to compare other member's trees also valuable but always always check their sources.
Links to find a grave also add to the information about a person and invariably led to other family members.

August 13, 2026
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Invaluable on line resource

Invaluable on line resource, with many original documents . These are more reliable than transcriptions and can provide additional clues , For example, some individuals are assigned Jnr or Sen. And witnesses are often family members.

I’m a huge fan of the DNA analysis which validates my work and lineage and can provide new clues. I cannot fully account for my French or Dutch ancestry yet . That was a surprise and requires new lines of enquiry and more research

I also met a second cousin through the hints section with whom I have a close DNA link . Our paternal grandmas were sisters and our grandpas, brothers . The paternal side of our trees are identical and it has been good to collaborate !

I now have an elite tree and been a member for almost a quarter of a century . I’m online most days ! Joanne

September 10, 2025
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I need to know more.

Using Ancestry has enabled me to find out a considerable amount, going back many generations in some cases, about all the stems in my family Tree and with the help of Ancestry I have managed to do this in the majority of cases.
Ancestry is one of the most useful tools for research into one's past.

August 13, 2026
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Reply from Ancestry.co.uk

We really appreciate you sharing this lovely review with us. We're delighted to hear that you've enjoyed so much success researching your family tree to date and can't wait to see where this journey will take you.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Thousands of records available to search.

Their website is easy to use, they have thousands of records available to search. They are updating their records all the time, and I have been able to find the identity of my paternal grandfather, using DNA, and comparing with other trees. They also have online guides of UTube that I have found helpful.

August 13, 2026
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Reply from Ancestry.co.uk

Thank you so much for sharing your story, Mel! We’re thrilled to hear that our record updates and YouTube guides helped you uncover the identity of your paternal grandfather. Happy researching!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Finding my Morher in Laws Grandparents…

Finding my Morher in Laws Grandparents marriage, not in Ireland, not in America but in Liverpool.

August 13, 2025
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Reply from Ancestry.co.uk

Thanks for sharing this lovely review with us, Annamarie. We're delighted to hear that you managed to find your mother-in-laws grandparents in Liverpool! It sounds like you had quite the search to find them but it sounds like this has helped solve a family mystery which must be very satisfying. We wish you continued success with your research!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Ancestry - User Friendly

I find Ancestry the most user friendly of the available family history sites.
I have been researching for over 5 years now and have gained insight into my family going back generations.
Although I have taken the DNA test, it has not, as yet found anybody I have been looking for.

August 12, 2026
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Finding my ancestors & their history

Providing DNA results, access to official records & also to other peoples' family trees.
Families live during history, so going back in time you'll find adopted children, illegitimate children (sometimes their father is named, as mum was probably in service working for families (census records) or e.g. she met men on temporary employment in her area), as well as many more legitimate ones.
Also those parents who remarried upon the death of their other married one - so you'll find some children become stepchildren. You will find men who fought & survived, or were wounded or some even sadly died in battles & which battles they were.
Also which part of your ancestral family emigrated & to where!
Also you'll find families that had common Christian & family surnames that were passed down to the next generation - so you will need to check their dob times & places on the Ancestry records. Further research can also give you causes of deaths e.g. cholera, scarlet fever, polio etc. before official vaccinations came in & from epidemics in some cases!! Not all dobs & census records were recorded/kept from the early days,& some church records were lost.
Researching Family History can inspire you to go hunting to the areas your forbears came from, so you find their graves, the areas they lived in & it's history. Just enjoy yourself doing your family history even if it takes some time as it's Your Family that's important to you & Ancestry can help you do it.

January 1, 2026
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Reply from Ancestry.co.uk

Thank you so much for sharing your journey, Alison! We’re thrilled to hear how much insight you’ve gained about your ancestors through records and DNA.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

The wonders of Ancestry

Ancestry offer a good product which is continually improving BUT the major issue for me is DNA Matches. Don't join Ancestry expecting everything to unfold without effort - many who have taken DNA tests either have no tree; do not link their result to a tree or they do not respond when you try to contact them - which is VERY frustrating.
Additionally you may find trees that are relevant to your research BUT very often they are full of mistakes - because they have not checked against primary sources.
Beware of trees taking you back centuries - very often they are fanciful, to put it mildly!
Enjoy Ancestry - I do, BUT it is not a magic bullet!

August 12, 2026
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Reply from Ancestry.co.uk

Thank you for your honest feedback and advice for fellow researchers! We understand how frustrating it can be when matches don't link trees or respond. We hope you'll find our support article (listed below) helpful for your research, and we appreciate you taking the time to let us know!

https://bit.ly/3ZLzuz7

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Don't always follow hints as sometimes…

Don't always follow hints as sometimes can lead to the wrong ancestor, but can also be helpful, to find children of ancestors.
Not linked DNA as yet, find it a little confusing

August 13, 2026
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Reply from Ancestry.co.uk

Thanks for the great tip on double-checking hints, Karen! DNA results can definitely feel overwhelming at first. We have a support article that can help with this here: https://bit.ly/4qvvSwu

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I have been with Ancestry for several years…

I have been with Ancestry for several years and have found so many Ancestors that I never knew I had. I had to start from the very beginning as both my parents and grandparents had passed away. I had little information of my own but with the help of Ancestry together with many hints I have been able to build a substantial tree back to my 14th great grand parents and so much more.

August 13, 2026
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Reply from Ancestry.co.uk

Going all the way back to your 14th great-grandparents is incredible! Thank you for letting us be part of your genealogy journey.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

DNA gives surprising results

Fascinating results from DNA matching. Well know in my family that a g grandfather was born "out of wedlock" (quote from family papers) but a local man stepped up and married our pregnant gg greatmother. I thought we'd never find the missing gg grandfather but DNA shows close matches with the descendants of the brothers of the supposedly unrelated local man. So he may not be our gg grandfather but one of his family is.

August 13, 2026
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Reply from Ancestry.co.uk

What a fascinating discovery, Joanna! It’s amazing how DNA matches can help solve long-standing family mysteries.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

Ancestry is a Solid [if Expensive] Place for Starting Research

Ancestry has many records available to help in your research, although it is at the more expensive end of the market [and many records are only available with additional subscriptions]. The continual pushing of AI is irritating, and Ancestry has a habit of introducing "improvements" without warning - and with no recourse to go back to previous formats. Ancestry is a good starting point, but for people just starting out on their research journey I would say be very wary of accepting "hints" and other people's trees without double checking the accuracy of them. I have found it to be less helpful in research than it was a few years ago and the help section is not very helpful - especially the AI bot! Personally, I think Ancestry is less of a market leader than it was a few years ago, and would consider a different site if it was easier to transfer all my research over.

August 13, 2026
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Reply from Ancestry.co.uk

Thank you for your feedback, Joy. We appreciate your thoughts on pricing and site updates as we work to improve the experience. If you need any help navigating your account or tree transfer options, please don't hesitate to call us at 0-800-032-6469 for further assistance!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The information I needed was at my…

The information I needed was at my fingertips and I was able to confirm all the research my grandfather had done in the 1950s. I have been able to add more details and extend my family tree.

August 13, 2026
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Reply from Ancestry.co.uk

It’s wonderful that you were able to build upon the research your grandfather started in the 1950s, Stephen! Thank you for letting us help continue your family’s story.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Expensive but very useful for family history research

I like the additional records that are added frequently, this helps when you get stuck when searching for fine details. I am researching booth mine and my wife's history and have uncovered some interesting and unexpected facts. I have reached some dead ends, in particular my great grandfather who went to America and has seemed to Vanish!
I like the boat records as they have proved useful for tracing my grandfathers travels.
I think the membership fees are a little expensive, especially when a lot of records require addition fees like Newspapers and Fold 3 for military records. It is a bit frustrating when the details are there but you cannot see it unless you paid extra!
Overall I am happy with my membership, I like the hints feature and the DNA matches.

August 13, 2026
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Reply from Ancestry.co.uk

Thank you for sharing your detailed feedback, Geoffrey! Passenger lists can yield incredible breakthroughs. We hope you get a lead on your great-grandfather in America soon

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

it just does the job

it just does the job, full of new possibility's every month

August 11, 2026
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Reply from Ancestry.co.uk

Thanks for the review, Graham! We're happy to hear you're enjoying discovering new possibilities every month. Happy researching!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I found my father

I had my DNA tested on Ancestry because I was trying to find who my father was. I was adopted and had already found my birth mother. She gave me details about my father; his name, age, ethnicity, but I just could not find him. I was about to give up and told myself that I would keep my subscription for one more month then that would be it. For my mental health, I had to give up my obsession to find him. Then, a few days later, up popped a match 2300cM with the same surname as my father. The rest, as they say, is history.

March 3, 2026
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Reply from Ancestry.co.uk

What an extraordinary story, Moira! Thank you so much for sharing this with us. We are deeply moved to have played a part in helping you find your father!

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