fammtree vs FamilySearch
FamilySearch is free and powerful — but your tree is public and editable by anyone. For a private alternative, there's fammtree.
The Key Differences
| Feature | fammtree | FamilySearch |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free / One-time | Free |
| Account | Not required | Required |
| Tree privacy | Private (on-device) | Public (anyone can edit) |
| DNA testing | None | Yes |
| Historical records | None | Billions (free) |
| Learning curve | 5 minutes | Moderate to steep |
| Ownership | You own your tree | Collaborative ownership |
| Target user | Families | Genealogists |
When FamilySearch Makes Sense
FamilySearch is remarkable for what it offers for free:
• Billions of free historical records
• DNA testing and matching
• A massive collaborative family tree
• Run by a non-profit (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
• No subscription fees ever
If you want deep genealogy research without paying subscription fees, FamilySearch is genuinely valuable.
When Anyone Can Edit Your Tree
FamilySearch operates on a collaborative model: there's one giant family tree that everyone edits together. The idea is beautiful — humanity's shared family tree.
But it creates real problems:
Anyone can change your entries.
Add your grandmother, and a stranger might "correct" her information based on their research — even if they're wrong.
No private trees.
Everything you add is visible and editable by other users. There's no option for a personal, private family tree.
Verification chaos.
With millions of users editing, accuracy varies wildly. Serious researchers often find errors introduced by well-meaning but incorrect contributors.
Collaborative vs Personal
FamilySearch Model:
One shared tree, edited by everyone, focused on genealogy research and historical accuracy.
fammtree Model:
Your personal tree, controlled by you, focused on visualizing your family.
| Aspect | fammtree | FamilySearch |
|---|---|---|
| Who can view | Only you (or who you share with) | Everyone |
| Who can edit | Only you (or collaborators you invite) | Anyone with an account |
| Focus | Visualization | Research |
| Accuracy control | Complete | None |
| Deleted content | Only by you | By anyone |
Public by Default vs Private by Default
FamilySearch doesn't really have a privacy option for trees. Everything you add becomes part of the public, collaborative tree.
fammtree is the opposite: private by default. Your data stays on your device unless you explicitly choose to share it.
This isn't about which is "better" — they serve different purposes. But if privacy matters to you, the choice is clear.
Which Tool Is Right for You?
Choose FamilySearch if:
- •
You want free access to historical records
- •
You're okay with a public, collaborative tree
- •
You want to contribute to a shared genealogy project
- •
You're interested in deep research
- •
You don't need privacy for your tree
Choose fammtree if:
You want a private tree you control
You don't need historical records
You want a simple visualization tool
You value ownership and control
You want to share selectively, not publicly
Use Both
Many users do their research on FamilySearch (it's free!), then create a clean, private family tree on fammtree for:
- Sharing with family who find FamilySearch confusing
- Printing for reunions or gifts
- Keeping a personal, uneditable copy
- Visualizing without the research clutter
fammtree isn't trying to replace FamilySearch for research — just offering a simpler, private option for visualization.
Your Tree, Your Control
Create a family tree only you can edit. Share it only with people you choose.