In depth genealogy websites?

Question

Alright, I've been obsessed with genealogy for awhile now, and I know a whole lot of free sites that have helped me tremendously. But I have been considering joining one of the major genealogy websites (which you have to pay for). So, is anybody a member of any genealogy website that you have to pay for, and is it worth it?

Answer 1

Ancestry.com is definately worth it as I'm sure many other members will tell you.  It is the most popular genealogy site with over 23,000 databases..

You can always try it out first with their 14 day free trial, but I have heard to be very careful if you want to cancel, make sure you read the fine print to cancel correctly.

Answer 2

Ancestry is good and worth the money, I have a UK subscription. Some of their indexing on the census sure does suck though.

Answer 3

I've subscribed to Ancestry.com for a couple of years, and have found it to be worth the money.  I've found so much information on my family and have helped others, also.

Answer 4

you think we care?

there you go thats what you get for not answering my question the way i wanted it answered. =)

Answer 5

Ancestry is worth the money.  I got TONS of records that I could not get any other way, or for less money if I went and dug them up myself and had to pay for travel and hotel expenses to go to those places.  Add that to the fact that you can look at Ancestry from the comfort of your own home at 2:00am if you want.  You can't do that in any courthouse records basement.

I read what Scottie said to you, and I looked at his questions he was asking.  The questions he was asking did not seem like something he was just wanting to know for himself.........seemed more like questions he copied off of a homework assignment or test that he wanted to cheat on and get everyone else to answer his questions instead of doing his own homework.

Answer 6

My mantra around here, is the more you use, the better your odds. I have been actively researching for 25+ yrs, and never subscribed to ancestry.. until just a month or two ago.  I have picked up a lot of new data, mainly using census records. Having 24/7 access to that, is worth it, in my mind. I probably have not used many angles of it that are worth it.  I do use it A LOT for helping persons here.

I also see sites popping up that are trying to jump on the "let's make money with genealogy" bandwagon, some of which seem to be useless.

Have you subscribed to email lists, based in your counties of interest? Many of these have persons (like you or me) that don't live in the area.. others have local people who have a good ear to the ground. That is often worth while.

Last.. when I hear the words "in depth".. I think more about resources that are NOT online.

Use everything you can lay your hands on, as long as it isn't trying to sell you your family history on a scroll, or keychains.

Answer 7

I subscribe to Ancestry. I often compre it to HBO. If you love movies, HBO is worth it. If you only watch one once a week, it is not.

If you just dabble, Ancestry is not worth it. Since you are obsessed, it would be, assuming you have USA or UK roots and a fast connection. (Or, as I do, can multi-task while the 1.5 MB census images down-load.)

I haven't tried Heritage Quest. Your ideal answerer would have tried both and could compare them.

Ancestry's census images are wonderful. Every once in a while I get another hit, from WW I draft cards, passport applications, local and family histories or one of their specific databases, like "Kentucky Marriages 1800 - 1911".