10 Free Genealogy Resources You’re Probably Not Using

Unearth Family History Without Spending a Dime

Think genealogy has to break the bank? Think again. While subscription sites like Ancestry and MyHeritage offer great tools, there’s a wealth of free genealogy resources available online—many hiding in plain sight. Whether you’re just beginning your family history journey or trying to crack a centuries-old mystery, these ten resources can help you uncover records, connect generations, and breathe new life into your research—without spending a dime.

1. FamilySearch.org

Run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, FamilySearch is the largest free genealogy database in the world. It offers access to billions of records including censuses, immigration manifests, church registers, and digitized books. Its global collaborative tree allows researchers to build, source, and verify ancestors together.

Why it matters: FamilySearch bridges documentary and digital discovery, making it easy to trace ancestors across continents. 

Pro Tip: Always save the original image citation rather than relying on user trees—this maintains the credibility of your documentation.

2. Internet Archive (archive.org)

Internet Archive is a treasure trove of digitized genealogy books, local histories, maps, and out-of-print family genealogies. You can search by surname, county, or keywords like “probate,” “cemetery,” or “pension rolls.”

Why it matters: Many 19th- and early 20th-century family and county histories are digitized here—texts that are otherwise impossible to find.

Search Hack: Use filters like “Year,” “Language,” or “Full Text” to narrow results and locate public-domain works quickly.

3. Chronicling America

Hosted by the Library of Congress, Chronicling America is a digitized newspaper archive featuring millions of pages from 1777 to 1963. Search by name, place, or event to find obituaries, land sales, and community news.

Why it matters: Newspapers capture the texture of daily life—births, marriages, crimes, and travels—that traditional records miss.

Use Case: Trace migrations, verify family stories, or locate forgotten legal notices and estate settlements.

4. Find a Grave

A global, crowdsourced cemetery database, Find a Grave provides photos, transcriptions, and sometimes full biographies. Many entries link entire family plots, offering unexpected lineage connections.

Why it matters: Cemeteries often reveal relationships and dates that don’t appear elsewhere.

Watch For: Transcription errors—always confirm dates and spellings with other records or photos before accepting as fact.

5. USGenWeb Project

The USGenWeb Project is a volunteer-driven initiative offering free genealogical content organized by state and county. Each page’s depth varies—some are sparse, while others are overflowing with transcriptions, maps, and images.

Why it matters: It’s one of the oldest grassroots genealogy projects online, preserving local records that never made it to major databases.

Pro Tip: If a link is broken, check the Internet Archive Wayback Machine—archived versions often preserve the information.

6. Google Books

Google Books is an underrated research powerhouse for genealogists. Thousands of local histories, biographical sketches, and directories—especially pre-1927 publications—are freely accessible and searchable.

Why it matters: Many rare printed genealogies and county histories have been digitized through Google’s library partnerships.

Bonus Tip: Combine surnames with locations in quotes (e.g., “Baird” “Monmouth County”) and filter to “Full View” to access complete public-domain texts.

7. National Archives (NARA.gov)

The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) provides free access to millions of digitized records—military service files, land patents, passenger lists, and homestead applications. While not everything is online, their catalog and finding aids are detailed and downloadable.

Key Collections:

• Freedmen’s Bureau records

• Revolutionary and Civil War pension files

• Homestead Act land records

Why it matters: These original government records are foundational for verifying service, property, and citizenship lines.

Tip: Use the catalog’s “Advanced Search” and check if records link out to partner sites like Fold3 or FamilySearch for free viewing.

8. State Digital Archives

Nearly every U.S. state has its own digital genealogy archive or heritage collection, offering free access to vital records, land deeds, newspapers, and photos. Examples include Missouri Digital Heritage, North Carolina Digital Collections, and Ohio Memory.

Why it matters: State-level archives often preserve unique material not available through national platforms—especially for pre-1900 research. 

Start With: A simple Google search such as “New York digital genealogy archives” to locate your state’s online portal.

9. AccessGenealogy

One of the most comprehensive free genealogy directories online, AccessGenealogy hosts over 250,000 links to record collections organized by state, topic, and tribe. It’s especially strong in Native American, military, and cemetery resources.

Why it matters: This volunteer-curated portal is continuously updated and easier to navigate than most link aggregators.

Best For: Locating specialized databases and county-level resources that rarely appear in search engines.

10. State & Public Libraries with Genealogy and Local History Departments

Many state libraries and public library systems quietly preserve some of the richest genealogical collections in the country—often free to access both in-person and online. State libraries like those in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and California host digitized surname files, family Bibles, county histories, and city directories. Local public libraries frequently maintain obituary indexes, cemetery maps, vertical files, and donated family manuscripts.

Why it matters: Libraries are the unsung heroes of genealogy. Their local collections often contain original research, transcriptions, and rare materials unavailable on commercial sites. Many even accept and preserve family papers—turning today’s researchers into tomorrow’s archival donors.

 Example: The State Library of Pennsylvania’s digital genealogy collection indexes thousands of surnames from family histories and county archives, all available for free online.

 Tip: Search your state or county library website for terms like “genealogy,” “local history,” or “family records.” You might uncover a hidden gem right in your own backyard.

You Don’t Need a Subscription to Be a Successful Genealogist

While paid genealogy sites offer convenience and large user bases, the best research often comes from layering sources—many of which are completely free. From historic newspapers and digitized archives to local libraries and state heritage portals, these resources can reveal stories that paid databases overlook.

Start exploring, keep detailed source citations, and remember: the best genealogists aren’t those who spend the most money—they’re the ones who know where to look.