fammtree vs MyHeritage
MyHeritage offers genealogy research and DNA testing. But if you're concerned about privacy or just want a simple tree, there's a different path.
The Key Differences
| Feature | fammtree | MyHeritage |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free or one-time | $13-35/month |
| Account | Not required | Required |
| DNA testing | None | Core feature |
| Data storage | On your device | MyHeritage servers |
| Data breach history | N/A (no server data) | 92M users in 2018 |
| Historical records | None | Billions |
| Learning curve | 5 minutes | Moderate |
| Target user | Families | Genealogists |
When MyHeritage Makes Sense
MyHeritage is a solid genealogy platform with some unique features:
• Strong international record coverage (especially European)
• DNA testing with ethnicity estimates
• Photo enhancement and colorization tools
• Family tree building with hints and matches
• Competitive pricing compared to Ancestry
For users who want research capabilities and don't mind server-stored data, it's a legitimate option.
The 2018 Data Breach
In June 2018, a security researcher discovered a file on an external server containing data from MyHeritage. The result: 92.3 million users had their email addresses and hashed passwords exposed.
The fallout:
• Class action lawsuit settled in Israel (400,000 ILS)
• Reported by The Verge, Krebs on Security, and listed on HaveIBeenPwned
• While DNA data was reportedly on separate systems, the breach demonstrated the risks of centralized data storage
MyHeritage isn't alone. Ancestry's RootsWeb platform was breached between 2015-2017 (~300k users, plain text passwords). In 2023, 23andMe lost ancestry data for 6.9 million users through their DNA Relatives feature.
The uncomfortable truth: when your data is stored on someone else's servers, you're trusting their security.
fammtree takes a fundamentally different approach: your data never leaves your device in the first place. There's no server database to breach. No central target for attackers.
Why People Look for Alternatives
Subscription Fatigue
Like most genealogy platforms, MyHeritage runs on monthly subscriptions. Cancel and you lose access to premium features. The costs add up over time.
DNA Focus
MyHeritage heavily promotes DNA testing. If you just want a family tree without the genetic component, you'll face constant upselling.
Server-Stored Data
Your family tree and personal information live on MyHeritage's servers. Even without breaches, this means your data is subject to their policies, potential legal requests, and company changes.
Complexity for Casual Users
The research features, while powerful, create a complex interface that's overkill for users who just want to visualize their family.
Privacy by Architecture
Most genealogy platforms promise to protect your data. We promise we never receive it.
MyHeritage's approach:
Your data is stored on their servers, protected by security measures, subject to their privacy policy.
fammtree's approach:
Your data is stored in your browser, on your device. We never receive it. There's no privacy policy needed for data we don't have.
| Privacy Aspect | fammtree | MyHeritage |
|---|---|---|
| Data location | Your device | Their servers |
| Account required | No | Yes |
| Breach risk | None (no central data) | Yes (92M in 2018) |
| DNA data | Never collected | Optional but pushed |
| Third-party access | Impossible | Policy-dependent |
Which Tool Is Right for You?
Choose MyHeritage if:
- •
You want genealogy research with international records
- •
You're interested in DNA ethnicity estimates
- •
You want photo enhancement features
- •
You're comfortable with server-stored data
- •
You have budget for ongoing subscription
Choose fammtree if:
You want a simple family visualization
Privacy is a top priority
You don't want DNA testing
You prefer local, on-device storage
You want free or one-time payment
Take the Private Path
No servers. No breaches. No DNA. Just your family tree, stored on your device.