Ancestry vs MyHeritage: Which Genealogy Platform is Right for You?

An honest comparison of Ancestry and MyHeritage subscription features, pricing, and record collections to help you choose the best platform for your family history research.

Overview

Both Ancestry and MyHeritage offer powerful genealogy research tools, but they serve different needs. This comparison breaks down pricing, record collections, and features to help you decide which platform fits your research goals.

Pricing Comparison

Ancestry

U.S. Discovery: $24.99/month
World Explorer: $39.99/month
All Access: $49.99/month

MyHeritage

Premium: $129/year (~$10.75/month)
PremiumPlus: $189/year (~$15.75/month)
Complete: $299/year (~$24.92/month)

Prices shown are current as of September 2026. Always verify pricing directly with each provider before subscribing.

Record Collections

Ancestry

Over 30 billion historical records
Strong U.S. census and vital records coverage
Extensive U.K. and Canadian records
Immigration and military records

MyHeritage

Over 19 billion historical records
Strong European record coverage
International focus
Newspaper archives

Key Features

Search & Hints

Ancestry

Leaf hints connect records to your tree automatically
Advanced search filters
ThruLines shows potential ancestors

MyHeritage

Record matches
Smart Matching technology
Theory of Family Relativity

DNA Testing

Both platforms offer DNA testing, but Ancestry has a larger DNA database with over 20 million users compared to MyHeritage's 5+ million.

Best For

Choose Ancestry if:

Your ancestors are primarily from the United States
You want the largest DNA database
You need extensive U.S. census coverage

Choose MyHeritage if:

You're researching European ancestry
You want lower monthly costs
You need international record access

Affiliate Disclosure

This comparison may contain affiliate links. Some links are affiliate links. They never change what gets recommended. Always verify pricing and features directly with the provider before subscribing.

Final Recommendation

For U.S.-focused research, Ancestry offers better record coverage. For European or international research, MyHeritage provides better value and broader geographic reach.