By AppHub Editorial Team · Updated August 3, 2026
Ancestry: Family History & DNA
Overview
Books & Reference
Ancestry.com
Free
Nov 2, 2011
$0.99 - $169.99 per item
No
Mar 30, 2026
Features
Explore who and where you personally came from through photos, stories, historical records, and so much more— even your ethnicity and family communities if you’ve taken an AncestryDNA® test. And with just one relative’s name, you can start to discover your family history anytime, anywhere with Ancestry®, the top genealogy app
Why you’ll love to discover your family story using the Ancestry® app:
Explore who and where you personally came from through photos, stories, historical records, and so much more— even your ethnicity and family communities if you’ve taken an AncestryDNA® test. And with just one relative’s name, you can start to discover your family history anytime, anywhere with Ancestry®, the top genealogy app
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Ratings breakdown
178,000 reviewsDeveloper contact
Name
Ancestry.com Operations Inc.
Address
1300 W Traverse Pkwy Lehi, UT 84043 United States
Website
http://www.ancestry.comPhone
+1 385-335-3136
Support
MobileApps@ancestry.com
Privacy
View policyFrequently Asked Questions
Does the Ancestry app let me build a family tree for free? high
Yes, the app description states you can build a family tree for free. You can also search over 1.1 billion free records and receive hints. However, users report that adding ancestors from matches or accessing the full record database now requires a paid subscription.
Source: app_metadata, user_reviews
Is the Ancestry app worth the cost of a subscription? low
Based on 2 of 5 sampled recent reviews, some users find the subscription price high for what it offers, comparing it unfavorably to other streaming services. The app has a 4.6 overall rating, but the sample of recent reviews suggests some users are disappointed with the current subscription model.
Source: user_reviews, ratings_data
Can I manage my AncestryDNA results in the app? medium
Yes, the app description says you can activate your AncestryDNA kit, view ethnicity results, see DNA matches, and compare results. However, one sampled review reported problems with the DNA section, including a 'no kit submitted' error and issues displaying matches.
Source: app_metadata, user_reviews
What are the in-app purchase prices? high
The app metadata lists in-app purchases ranging from $0.99 to $169.99 per item.
Source: app_metadata
How to Use
Explore your family history by building a family tree, searching billions of historical records, and viewing AncestryDNA results, all within a single mobile app. (app_description)
Getting Started
Source: app_description_and_user_feedback_noted
- Download the app and sign up for a free account.
- Enter the name of a relative to begin building your family tree.
- Use the free features to search census records and upload family photos.
- If you have an AncestryDNA kit, activate it through the app to view your ethnicity estimates and DNA matches.
Key Features (from app listing)
Source: app_description
- Build a collaborative family tree with photos and stories.
- Search over 30 billion historical records (with a subscription).
- Receive personalized Ancestry Hints® to discover new ancestors.
- View and compare AncestryDNA® results, including ethnicity and traits.
Derived from a user complaint in recent_reviews #5, who noted that the app 'doesn't have the full functionality of the website' and prevents zooming in on images and documents.
How this content was created
Content type: pattern_analysis_of_user_reviews_and_metadata
AI generated: Yes
- Google Play user reviews (5 per app), October 14, 2025 to April 09, 2026
- Google Play ratings distribution
- App Store listing metadata
- Review samples are not statistically representative of all user sentiment.
- The sample of only 5 recent reviews is highly limited and may not reflect the app's 4.6 star overall rating.
- No high-engagement positive or negative reviews were available, limiting the analysis of passionate user sentiment.
- Claims are based on a single bucket and a small sample; all claims are caveated by this limitation.
- No real-world app testing was conducted.
- Feature availability may vary by region, device, and app version.
Pros & Cons
Based on analysis of Google Play user reviews
Pros
- Useful for quick viewing of family tree and basic research on the go.
Theme 'convenience for quick use' identified in recent_review #4 and #3
Evidence (2)
“Overall, the app works better for viewing something quickly instead of doing lengthy research.”Rating: 2★ March 07, 2026 11 likes“it once worked ok. but now it's almost useless.”Rating: 2★ March 28, 2026 3 likes - Provides a list of potential relatives to help build a family tree from scratch.
Theme 'potential relative suggestions' identified in recent_review #1
Evidence (1)
“I'm lucky to have a list to go through. But even that isn't complete. Now I have no way of filling in gaps without a subscription.”Rating: 2★ April 09, 2026 1 likes - No pros identified; all recent reviews are negative due to bugs, paywalls, and poor functionality.
Theme 'overall negative sentiment' identified across all recent_reviews
Evidence (2)
“This app barely lets you sign in. Then every single time you click on a potential relative it tosses up an error that it isn't available and you need to add it manually. Useless.”Rating: 1★ October 14, 2025 257 likes“Absolutely ridiculous that you can't simply add an ancestor from matches they already have for you, without paying monthly!”Rating: 1★ March 20, 2026 7 likes
Cons
- Frequent errors and bugs, including sign-in issues and error messages after updates.
Theme 'bugs and errors' identified in recent_review #0, #3, and #4
Evidence (3)
“This app barely lets you sign in. Then every single time you click on a potential relative it tosses up an error that it isn't available and you need to add it manually. Useless.”Rating: 1★ October 14, 2025 257 likes“when I select DNA, it says no kit submitted. other times when selecting discovery then dna, it shows everything except my matches. I've tried uninstalling a few times, but nothing changes.”Rating: 2★ March 28, 2026 3 likes“the app doesn't work after recent March 2026 update. I keep getting error messages and "retry."”Rating: 2★ March 07, 2026 11 likes - Essential features like adding ancestors from matches are locked behind an expensive subscription.
Theme 'paywall for basic features' identified in recent_review #1, #2, and #3
Evidence (3)
“Now all I can do is look at my tree and add people manually which is no help for people trying to put a family tree together from nothing.”Rating: 2★ April 09, 2026 1 likes“Absolutely ridiculous that you can't simply add an ancestor from matches they already have for you, without paying monthly! I would pay a fee for the other tools to access, but it's more than a freaking Netflix subscription!”Rating: 1★ March 20, 2026 7 likes“I can't see the pro tools, such as the relationship between two people.”Rating: 2★ March 28, 2026 3 likes - App lacks full website functionality, such as zooming in on images and documents.
Theme 'missing features' identified in recent_review #4
Evidence (1)
“the app doesn't allow for zooming in on images and documents which is hugely frustrating when trying to view a photo or document on a phone.”Rating: 2★ March 07, 2026 11 likes
Recent Reviews
Joules Duncan
1★This app barely lets you sign in. Then every single time you click on a potential relative it tosses up an error that it isn't available and you need to add it manually. Useless. **EDIT: I am not on an older version, as there is no update available. This app is awful. I am not going to email you when you tried to gaslight me into thinking it was my fault that your app is faulty. Work out the bugs and release the update.
Jennifer Lutes
2★Long time user, very disappointed. It used to be you could add potential relatives without needing a subscription. Now all I can do is look at my tree and add people manually which is no help for people trying to put a family tree together from nothing. I'm lucky to have a list to go through. But even that isn't complete. Now I have no way of filling in gaps without a subscription. A pay wall shouldn't block something so simple and important. Do better.
Amanda
1★Absolutely ridiculous that you can't simply add an ancestor from matches they already have for you, without paying monthly! I would pay a fee for the other tools to access, but it's more than a freaking Netflix subscription! This isn't a daily use app, I HIGHLY recommend going with another service that doesn't charge outrageous prices just to add to your freaking matches to your own personal personal tree. We paid for the test, but even the smallest functionalities make the whole thing garbage!
Joycelyn Graham
2★it once worked ok. but now it's almost useless. I can't see the pro tools, such as the relationship between two people. when I select DNA, it says no kit submitted. other times when selecting discovery then dna, it shows everything except my matches. I've tried uninstalling a few times, but nothing changes. I have to sign into my desktop to see everything. when I am able to open my matches a filter is always on, although I had taken it off each and everytime I opened it. FRUSTRATING
Snoopy Girl
2★I'm a longtime user of Ancestry's website. While the app has been convenient, it certainly doesn't have the full functionality of the website. For example, the app doesn't allow for zooming in on images and documents which is hugely frustrating when trying to view a photo or document on a phone. Overall, the app works better for viewing something quickly instead of doing lengthy research. Also, the app doesn't work after recent March 2026 update. I keep getting error messages and "retry."