I have both, and I prefer the Family Tree Builder program Heritage provides (it's easier for me to use). I also like the photo albums feature, the layout of the "tree" and a number of other features. Ancestry has good databases, but Heritage does, as well. Although most databases overlap, sometimes one site will have a better search system to access the databases. Also, I think that if you want all the high end features, Heritage costs less.

If you are looking to get as many connections to your tree that you can, use My Heritage. If you want flexibility in who is added to your tree, use Ancestry.

In New Zealand Ancestry is free on all public Library's

Yancestry is where i do all my research as that is the best site i have found. However, if you are like me where my great grandparents took on totally new names when they arrived at ellis island, and you dont know their names from the old country, then even ancestry wont help you trace them back there. However, through other peoples trees you might have luck. I signed up to my heritage because they had a special. It cane out to about $76 fir the whole year. But, all this lets you do is add more names on to your tree. Cant search any recirds. If you want to search, then you gotta get the data plan on top of that and these hidden things cost extra money. Sneaky. But i wanted to be able to make a family book that they offer, download it as a pdf change it to a ong file and import it to my blurb booksmart book on line. Blurb makes excellent books. The my heritage makes an excellent family book explaining how everone in your tree is related to you.

Hi Madeline,
I was led to believe that Ancestry concentrated more on South African ancestors, so I chose MyHeritage - I am absolutely comfortable with the latter. Ron.

I use All major family tree sites, and depending on what your looking for I believe Ancestry is the most user friendly. MyHeritage have nasty habit of up selling customers... sell you one package then claim you need to pay additional amount to access new features. Ancestry has licensing and links to Newspapers, Military records, Achives all over the world and has been around so much longer than other sites. The Ancestry app, actually works. DNA although no chromosome browser is clear and precise about amounts of DNA shared. The white papers on Ancestry actually explain all collections, and it's DNA results.

Hi! Madeline,
I use Ancestry for some of my research but keep my main tree in My Heritage. I prefer FTB for my main Tree because I like the way Reports and Charts can be printed. It's also 'easy on the eye'. With Ancestry beware of believing that once you have accessed a record it is yours for keeps. If you cancel your subscription your Tree remains for you BUT I understand that the link to the records is lost.! ALSO if you need to download a gedcom file, FTB gives the option to also download any associated photographs. Ancestry does not. (at least I haven't found out how!)
Rob.

I am sorry, Madeline. I did not use Ancestry so far, so I cann't give you any advice.

I am not to familiar with MyHeritage. I used the site to set up my tree. To me both MyHeritage and Ancestry are tedious. Be prepared to spend some time with either site.

A: Indeed MyHeritage gives you all you need!

My Heritage has some good family charts.

Easier to add family with Ancestry, both want more money to save to your tree unless you pay for premium service.

My heritage is more of a collaboration site. I use both sites. I use ancestry for their databases and my heritage for input family provides

I started out with Ancestry awhile ago. There is a huge amount of information on Ancestry that I find difficult to get through, especially other people's family trees. MyHeritage works differently, that they find matches for you with other people's trees. If you pay for the subscription for record matches, you will get the actual records, like death certificates and the census information for your ancestor. I think it saves a lot of time and you know you will get more accurate information than relying on someone else's family tree.

Re Ancestry, I never have used it. I'm happy with MyHeritage. Besides, I already know my ancestry.

Hi Madeline,

I've only looked briefly at Ancestry and decided that My Heritage was most suitable for my research. Sorry I can't be of more help. Ken

Hi Madeline
Sorry, can't help you there, I'm not familiar with Ancestry!