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Home › Pay › Common problems › Genealogy and DNA test services
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Genealogy and DNA test services

Family history research is rewarding, but paid genealogy sites can add up quickly. A DNA kit may lead to an ongoing membership, and trial plans often renew automatically. Many key records, like census pages, are available free through FamilySearch, the National Archives and public libraries.

Common problems to watch for

  • A free trial that renews into a monthly or six-month plan
  • DNA results that need a paid membership to see full matches or trees
  • Pricier tiers sold for records you could see free elsewhere
  • Auto-renewal at a higher rate after a discounted first term
  • Privacy settings that share more DNA data than you expected by default

Had one of these happen? Telling others what you were charged helps them avoid it.

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Free and low-cost alternatives

FamilySearchA free account gives access to billions of historical records and a shared family tree. It's run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and open to everyone.
National ArchivesThe National Archives offers free census images online for some years and points to free sources. Some paid sites are free on its own computers.
Your public libraryMany libraries offer genealogy databases you can use free in the library, and some have local history staff who can help.

Availability depends on your device and model. AblePro has no relationship with any company named here.

What fair pricing looks like

Many records are free through FamilySearch and the National Archives. A paid plan makes sense if you need specific records you can't find free, for a set period.

Before you pay

  • Search FamilySearch first for the records you want
  • Ask your library which genealogy databases it offers
  • Note when a trial ends and the renewal price
  • Read DNA privacy settings and data-sharing choices before testing
  • Pay for one short term rather than auto-renewing

How to cancel

  1. Sign in to your account and turn off auto-renewal in membership or billing settings.
  2. If you subscribed in an app, cancel in the App Store or Google Play subscription settings.
  3. Download your family tree or research notes before your plan ends.
  4. Review DNA settings and ask how to delete your data if you no longer want it stored.

Step-by-step cancel guide for iPhone, Android and PayPal →

Common questions

Is FamilySearch really free?

Yes. FamilySearch says it is free for everyone, regardless of religion. With a free account you can search billions of records and build or view a shared family tree. Details about living people stay private unless you choose to share them.

Where can I see census records for free?

The National Archives lists free and paid places to find census records. FamilySearch is free with an account, and the National Archives Catalog offers free images for some census years. Some paid sites are free on computers at National Archives locations or in public libraries.

What happens to my DNA data if I cancel?

Cancelling a membership doesn't always delete your DNA data or results. Check the company's privacy settings and help pages to see how to download your data, stop sharing it, or request deletion. Read these choices before you test, too.

General consumer information, not legal or financial advice. Reports reflect the experiences and opinions of their writers, not AblePro, Inc. We check reports against our posting rules but do not verify them.