Ancestry.co.uk Reviews 

9,404
TrustScore 3.5 out of 5

3.6

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Looking at 1,221 reviews, most reviewers were somewhat happy with their experience overall. Consumers generally find the online platform easy to search for ancestors, build family trees, and explore helpful DNA resources. People appreciate the vast amount of historical records available and the straightforward tools that make research engaging and enjoyable. However, some customers also noted frustrations regarding unexpected subscription renewals and difficulties reaching support when assistance was needed. Reviewers additionally mentioned that family history hints can occasionally be inaccurate, requiring careful cross-checking against other genealogy sources. A few users also experienced ongoing challenges with account management and complex navigation features on the website.

What people talk about most

User experience

Customers had ambiguous experiences with user_experience, noting both helpful features and significant... See more

Product

Reviewers highlight ambiguous aspects of product, showing both strong appreciation and significant... See more

Website

Users describe ambiguous interactions with the website, highlighting mixed experiences. On one hand,... See more

Subscription

Reviewers mention negative feedback about subscription, highlighting unexpected automatic renewals and... See more

Customer service

Clients share ambiguous opinions on customer_service, reflecting a wide division in their experiences. On one... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Huge amount of information but the 'hints' are sometimes wrong (Name, place etc.). To many have just copied off others trees which means that some of the hints are completely 7 utterly wrong - it is a... See more

Company replied

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

Ancestry can be a good starting point but the information it provides should never be taken as certain or 100 per cent accurate Double check what it is providing against other sources or genealogy... See more

Company replied

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

Ancestry is by far the best family history site and the DNA tools are better than say, My Heritage. The quality of trees on Ancestry is extremely poor many "members" do not have trees or have very sm... See more

Company replied

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

I’ve solved the mystery of my paternal grandfather’s identity, with the invaluable help of Ancestry’s dna database. I still have mysteries further back to solve. It would help enormously if I could up... 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


Contact info

3.6

Average

TrustScore 3.5 out of 5

9K reviews

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3.6

All reviews

(9,404)

1,149 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Brilliant: but web-based is better than the app.

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 is not visible on Netbooks. This makes it difficult to use the compare feature to see if the search result matches the majority of your own record.
Ancestry itself is a brilliant service. Since 2019, I have created an Allen Family Tree that now has 3,000 entries: going back to my ancestors born in the 1720s on both of my parents' families side.

12 August 2026
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great Tool for Discovery

I have been a member of Ancestry for a number of years. I have discovered so much about my family using the many records which were out of reach when I started researching. I discovered a link to a branch of my family we knew nothing about through my DNA result. The hints have also been a valuable tool in progressing my research further. I would highly recommend Ancestry to anyone researching their family tree.

11 August 2026
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Surprising Results

After receiving DNA results it actually surprised me. I knew I had Irish and Scottish ancestors but to find I had German ancestors as well was great. I still haven’t found the German connection yet, but I’ll keep trying. It also gave me some very personal information that I can’t divulge as I’d like to keep it private. Needless to say, it was a shock, but I’ve now learned more and happy that it all turned out for the best.

12 August 2026
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

A brilliant data base, or just a starting point

Clear and fast searching, or sometimes just an intriguing hint that might lead to records that Ancestry don't hold, but wouldn't have been accessible without Ancestry. For example, Ancestry led me to a military deserter in the 1800s, and I wrote to the regiment for detailed information, and was delighted with what I received.

12 August 2026
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

DNA RESULTS

EXCELLENT RESULTS FROM MY DNA AND MY HUSBAND'S DNA. ABLE TO ANSWER MANY QUESTIONS ON OUR HERITAGE. GREAT RECORDS, ESPECIALLY THE 1921 AND 1939 CENSUS.

12 August 2026
Rated 4 out of 5 stars

I'm an Ancestry addict!

I was given a subscription to Ancestry as a gift 6 years ago and I've been delighted with it. Sadly, my father died a few months after I was given the description and I think I found great comfort in trying to research all his family. Nothing in the world would replace my dear father but finding his family, his roots, my great grandparents, and where their parents and grandparents came from was fascinating and made me feel part of a much bigger family in my mind, whereas the reality was that my family has shrunk away.
I think I became an Ancestry addict for a few years, staying up til 3am at times because I felt I was on the scent of making a new discovery. It's like being a forensic scientist! I still know that if I start looking at something on Ancestry I shan't be able to peel myself away!
I have also managed to make contact with a few newly discovered cousins who also had some family photos I had never seen before, and that was such a wonderful thing at a time of sadness. Some people hold stories which are immensely valuable to other family members and help to answer questions.
Finally,interestingly, all the things that my father told me about his family - things that were hearsay passed down through the generations-all proved to be accurate which is pretty incredible. I highly recommend Ancestry.

1 September 2025
Rated 3 out of 5 stars

Good tool, but could be improved

The app often indicates that I have a new hint, but when clicked it isn’t there. It is better for going back in time than going forward (eg to find living relatives).
The price has been hiked up far too much in recent years that o have been forced to reduce my membership

10 August 2026
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

An enjoyable way to discover your family.

I have really enjoyed finding out about my family, very distant cousins have contacted and we’ve all helped each work out the missing information and I’m now back to the 1500’s. The best part was doing the DNA test, it linked me to some family I’d never met but knew of. They’d done the DNA test looking for us. It meant a reunion in 2 different places (one abroad) with some family members having not seen each other for over 50 years. We didn’t know where to start so that was thanks to Ancestry.

12 August 2026
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I bought about 7 dna tests when they…

I bought about 7 dna tests when they had one of their sales and I have absolutely loved discovering lots about my ancestry. I don't just use ancestry.co.uk, I combine it with others but could not do without ancestry. I have also joined FB groups - some have discount links for the memberships. So you can get help even if starting out. Different companies have indexed differently and/or got rights to different records anyway.

Ancestry hints - don't just accept. But i like looking at that just in case as it does give me ideas.

I'm not at all interested in traits but my husband is so it's a fun little thing if it's your thing.

I use ancestry mainly for finding records and building my tree. The pro tools is an absolute game changer and it has enabled me to colour code groups of dna matches that have a common ancestor. I watched some YouTube video how strategies on how to do this.

Overall, I absolutely love researching my genealogy and ancestry.co.uk is a vital tool in that journey. Highly recommend it.

12 August 2026
Rated 3 out of 5 stars

The truth about Ancestry

I absolutely dislike Ancestry asking me st spend even more money for further information that in most cases does not apply to me.£20.00 a month is too much already but I pay that for what I get. If & when you increase prices I will have to rethink my priorities. Even this comment is troubling me. I have to write the date in an alien format.

12 August 2026
Rated 4 out of 5 stars

It's a bottomless hole

Ancestry is a voyage of discovery that will take over your life if you're not careful
Have found out some amazing facts, hopefully there's more to come.

12 August 2026
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I love using Ancestry and I have found…lots of interesting information

I love using Ancestry and I have found lots of ancestors and cousins, I am in touch with one of them, which is a bonus, but unfortunately all of the my parents generation have died so and non of my living relatives can give my any information about the hints I receive as to wether they are right or wrong, so I am now stuck so I don’t know wether to carry on looking.

18 December 2025
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Value of Ancestry

Without Ancestry I would never have been able to trace so many of my ancestors and would never have been able to get so far back into history as I have been able to.

12 August 2026

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