Ancestry.co.uk Reviews 

9,514
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

10K reviews

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3.7

All reviews

(9,514)

1,375 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 3 out of 5 stars

Change for the sake of change

I have been a member now for over 15 years. Each time there is an update to the site it seems to make researching more difficult and less user friendly. They seem to change things for the sake of change, usually for the worse in my experience.
There are so many errors in people's trees which the system then promotes as hints, so perpetuating errors.
Ditch the AI and leave humans to do their own research with the good set of proper records available.

July 7, 2026
Ancestry.co.uk logo

Reply from Ancestry.co.uk

Hi Liz, thank you for being a loyal member of Ancestry for over 15 years and for sharing your honest feedback with us. We understand how frustrating it is when site updates feel like they disrupt familiar research workflows or make navigation more difficult. Hints are generated algorithmically as starting points for research, but we agree that human verification using official primary records is essential to building an accurate tree. If you'd like to send us some feedback on any particular page layouts or tools that you feel are counterproductive to your research, you can do so through the following link: https://support.ancestry.co.uk/s/article/Providing-Feedback-About-Ancestry

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Available documentation y

There seems to be more information available in the form of documentation. I can then use it to research the background of ancestors and build a more detailed picture of their lives. Eg. Irish tenancy valuation reports.

August 11, 2026
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Reply from Ancestry.co.uk

Hi Lesley, thank you so much for taking the time to share your review! We're thrilled to hear that our record collections, like the Irish tenancy valuation reports, are helping you add rich context and detail to your ancestors' lives. Uncovering those unique historical documents is what makes family history research so rewarding. Happy searching!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

A couple of years ago it would have…

A couple of years ago it would have been 5 stars but not now as the website modifications make things more complicated and things I used to have included now have to be paid for which makes my research less affordable. One thing that would be useful is missing, a function to return to the top of a page at just a click. I was thrilled with my initial DNA report as it fitted well with my family tree but updates I've received in some cases bear no likeness to my knowledge of my roots .No way do I have roots in Eastern England or the north.I loved Ancestry when I first subscribed but don't find it as loveable as I did any more. Sorry but I am being honest and as an oap with limited income don't find it good value for money as much as it was. Sometimes a backward move is an improvement.

August 12, 2026
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Reply from Ancestry.co.uk

Hi Gwendoline, thank you for your honesty and for being a long-time member of the Ancestry community. We appreciate your feedback regarding recent navigation changes, subscription pricing, and feature requests like a "back-to-top" button suggestions like yours are essential as we look to make the site easier for everyone to use. Regarding your DNA updates, as our global reference populations expand and science advances, ethnicity percentages can shift or reflect broader regional migration patterns across neighboring areas. We truly value your support over the years and will pass your detailed feedback along to our product team!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I have been a member for many years

I have been a member for many years - researching as and when time permitted. Now retired, I am endeavouring to complete my research, when out of the blue, about a month ago, came many more hints about my paternal line, with information going back to the Norman Conquest and the role some of my ancestors played!!! Unbelievable I know. Now I am busier than ever researching their lives and history. Will I ever be able to stop??? Enjoy your search.....

August 10, 2026
Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Hints can be useful

Hints can be useful. But, you have to be very careful what you accept and save to your tree. There are many incidents where it has been a wrong path, and then it is a pain re-filtering the information and correcting where it has led me on false or incorrect information.

August 12, 2026
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Reply from Ancestry.co.uk

Hi Michael, thank you for taking the time to share your review! You make a great point—while hints can save time, carefully reviewing documents before merging them into your tree makes all the difference. We appreciate your feedback and wish you happy, accurate searching!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Found my family in Australia on my…

Found my family in Australia on my Dad's side, actually my Dad's sister that I didn't know he had. Have spent 2 holidays with them in Australia now. 15 of us went on days out and having meals together. Sadly when my Mum and Dad split up I wasn't allowed any contact with his family. My first connection when to Brisbane to a daughter of one of my half brothers who had emigrated there and married an Australia lady.

March 3, 2026
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

My Hobby

I have been with you many years and its been My hobby for more than 20 years. Ancestry has helped me not have to go to every place to find information. New things come up all the time, sometimes at my age takes me a while to get use to them. My beef is all the add ons can start to make it very dear. DNA has helped and also very interesting.

August 12, 2026
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

DNA Test worth every penny

My mother always thought there was something “funny” about her mother’s family and thought it might be connected to Ireland. My grandmother was a strong Catholic, it turns out she did have Irish roots, her mother was Irish although she was living in London. All my grandmothers siblings were strong catholics too, her younger brother was the Catholic Bishop of Nottingham and I remember him well. It turns out their father was born Jewish, but because their surname was Ellis, none of us had a clue, Granny never let on, when she met and subsequently married my grandfather, both her parents were already dead. I doubt my grandfather knew his dead father in law was born Jewish, it was bad enough she was a Catholic and his parents were Congregationalists, as was he! My great grandfather Abraham Ellis was given a Christian burial, but on one census there was a person from his family visiting them, so he obviously kept in touch with them. I found the revelation absolutely fascinating and without the Ancestry DNA test I’d never have found out.

October 10, 2025
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Ancestry.com always adds to your profile

I'm on a mission to go as far back with my surname as possible trying to confirm, or de-bunk, a long held potential family connection. I haven't made it far enough yet, but so much more has been revealed via Ancestry's detailed and fascinating "Hints". These must not be automatically accepted, but are VERY helpful. The DNA coding, which has been 'shaped' by revisions over time as more ancestors are logged, has been most illuminating.
For me, the subscription has been very worthwhile.

August 12, 2026
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

My Family History with Ancestry.

I began researching my family in the 1970's using microfiche at the library. I came to a holt because records had been destroyed in a fire at the church. Later I joined Ancestry and they have made some amazing discoveries. My 4th ggf was a gardener for the George family at their Bryanston home. There he met and married their daughter Susanna. Her mother Elizabeth was a Seymour so I am directly related to the Dukes of Somerset. My ancestry goes back via them, Lady Catherine Grey and the Brandon family to King Henry V11 who is my 12th ggf. My earliest record so far King Henry 1V 1366.
I have also discovered through Ancestry that for the past 52 years I have been living a couple of miles away from Berry Pomeroy Castle. Once owned by my ancestors. Lord Edward Seymour 1529/1593 and his family have their tombs in the Seymour Chapel in the local church.
All these discoveries have been with the amazing help of Ancestry.

August 12, 2026
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Searching made easy

The addition of AI has made searching for ancestors much quicker and easier. You still have to check that the matches suggested are correct, but it saves a lot of time at the outset.

August 10, 2026
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Very good way to discover your family…

Very good way to discover your family tree, and history. I have used it for many years, and it is an excellent tool.

August 12, 2026
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Reply from Ancestry.co.uk

Thank you for sharing this lovely review with us, Mark! We're delighted to hear that you are having so much fun tracing your family history and can't wait to see what discoveries you'll make as you continue your research.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

I found my paternal grandfather

My paternal grandmother died when I was 8 years old, I vaguely remember seeing her but she was very frail so I have few memories and I never knew my paternal grandfather. I constructed my paternal grandmothers tree but when I asked about my paternal grandfather, my mum said that my father never knew who his father was, I asked about his birth certificate but there was no father listed. My parents wedding certificate showed a John Thomas Walton (deceased) but John Thomas was killed in a tragic railway accident in 1926, 5 years before my father was born, so he clearly wasn’t my grandfather. I carried on with my family tree hoping that I would come across my missing grandfather and then I took and Ancestry DNA test, on receiving the results there was only one name I recognised, one of my first cousins. About a week after I received the results I was contacted by a lady from London who said that she saw that we were 3rd - 4th cousins but couldn't see how we were connected. From the shared DNA she saw that I was related to her great grandfather who was from Durham, whereas my paternal great grandmother was from Pontefract, she was born, lived and died there. Using traditional geneaology, and DNA testing I did trace someone who ghad moved from Durham to Pontefract and I had a potnetial candidate for my maternal grandfather. I seemed to have hit a brisk wall but I put a request on the Pontefract Facebook group asking if anyone had any photographs of the person I had indentified and his grandaughter replied. She subsequnetly too kand Ancestry DNA test which confirmed that we were first cousins. Using Ancestry I had found my paternal grandfather, unfortunately my father had passed away 3 years ealrlier as he would have been delighted to find out that he had another 9 half siblings.

January 1, 2026
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Reply from Ancestry.co.uk

Wow! Hi Steve, thank you so much for taking the time to share such a incredible and personal story with us. Uncovering your missing paternal grandfather by combining traditional genealogy, DNA testing, and community connections is truly amazing. While we know it brings a bittersweet feeling thinking of your father, discovering 9 new half-siblings and connecting with your first cousin is such a special outcome. Thank you for letting Ancestry be a part of your family’s journey!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I have done my family tree and my…

I have done my family tree and my employers, he was a member of the Royal Family and both he and I found both a great deal of interest.
Easy to use and fascinating to find all the cross references.
Plus found a daughter I never knew I had. Love it.

August 12, 2026
Rated 3 out of 5 stars

The very annoying wrong relationship listings.

The very annoying thing it does continually, is link a relative to me by the wrong relationship.
EG. My paternal aunts comes up with a listing as my sister under her name. I do not have a sister, and she is my father's sister.
I do not seem to be able to alter this on their profile etc.

January 1, 2026
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Reply from Ancestry.co.uk

We're sorry to hear about the issue with relationship linkages on your profile. If you're referring to your DNA matches, you can usually click on the range to view more information. If the issue is on your family tree, it may depend on how you added the information to your tree. For further assistance, please feel free to contact our customer support team at 0-800-032-6469.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

NEW FORMAT IS AWFUL FOR CONFIRMING…

NEW FORMAT IS AWFUL FOR CONFIRMING HINTS AS YOU HAVE TO SWITCH BACK AND FORTH FROM HINTS TO PROFILE. BE VERY CAREFULL WHEN TRYING TO CANCEL ACCOUNT, NOT AS SIMPLE AS IT SHOULD BE. ALSO BE AWARE YOU NOW HAVE TO PAY A FEE JUST TO LOOK AT YOUR TREE, EVEN AFTER PAYING £100'S OVER THE YEARS

January 1, 2026
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Reply from Ancestry.co.uk

Thank you for getting in touch with us lately, Martin. We are sorry to hear of any difficulty with navigating the new Hints layout. When viewing hints for a specific person, the tree profile can be seen on the right-hand side of the page. It will initially just show their relatives, but you have the option to view their timeline too, so you can view details like when they were born or married, for example, and that timeline will also tell you how many sources are attached to that fact. When reviewing the image connected to the hint itself, you can hover over the image to zoom into it, so you can view the image on the same page. You can find out more about the latest update in the blog post below, which we hope can offer some further guidance.

Link: https://bit.ly/45Xnb5n

Nevertheless, we do regret that you have not enjoyed the latest change, and if you'd like to share any additional insights into how we can improve your experience of reviewing and accepting hints, we'd love to learn more from you. You can submit any additional details that you'd like to share with us here: https://bit.ly/44XUsfy

We also appreciate the opportunity to assure you that you do not need a membership to view or edit your family tree. While a membership is required to access the records and research tools that we host, you'll be able to view any family trees that you have built. You can find out more here: https://bit.ly/4zkrrtq

Thanks again for getting in touch so we could provide this insight, and these resources too.

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