Last updated May 2, 2024
Advertising Disclosure | How We Rate
OneGreatFamily is an online family tree builder for creating comprehensive family trees and conducting in-depth ancestry and lineage research. The site bills itself as “a single, shared family tree built by people all over the world” due to its large genealogy database. The site is an internet-based collective family tree, meaning that all submissions are working together to create one unified family tree.
The OneGreatFamily site is targeted at casual researchers and curious users interested in viewing their family tree, as well as to genealogists with more serious research needs. Their research database claims to have over 250 million submitted pedigree-linked names.
| Price Range | $14.95 - $79.95 / month |
|---|---|
| Ideal For | Beginners and casual users |
| # of Historical Records | 500 million + |
| # of Profiles/Users | Unknown |
| DNA Test Option | No |
OneGreatFamily uses proprietary Genealogy Handprint™ technology, which identifies a unique genealogical identifier (almost like a fingerprint for lineage research) for a person researching their family connections. This type of matching, according to the site, is more accurate than conducting manual searches and increases the likelihood that users will find additional ancestors.
Some user benefits of OneGreatFamily include:
The site uses online records management software and does not require additional downloaded genealogy software.
OneGreatFamily boasts three patents pending for technologies that help link family trees and eliminate duplication of efforts.
The software is cooperative on a large scale and allows users to interact with their genealogy research in a new, collaborative way.
OneGreatFamily offers some additional ungated genealogy tools for researchers, including a surname index, genealogy learning center, and printable genealogy worksheets.
Genealogy Browser&trade:, the shared worldwide database.
Interactive Genealogy&trade:, unique indicators written for and by other users that allow researchers to annotate their entries and other submissions.
Genealogy Zoom&trade:, in-depth research capabilities that give the user more control over the information they can access and save.
OneGreatFamily searches use their patent-pending Genealogy Handprint™ technology.
Users may invite others to work on their family tree through OneGreatFamily.
OneGreatFamily identifies information differences between entries and provides tools for users to resolve them quickly and easily.
OneGreatFamily is not particularly user-friendly. The site cannot be used easily on mobile devices, as the website layout is not responsive to screen size. Additionally, there are broken links, outdated pop-ups that do not close unless the page is refreshed, and difficult-to-navigate menu items.
Like many other genealogy sites, OneGreatFamily’s gets some mixed reviews.
Here are some common praises for OneGreatFamily:
Their comprehensive database can be very useful for researchers who already have known relatives/familiar connections submitted to the site.
The cost of OneGreatFamily is on the lower end of the pricing spectrum, making this an affordable option for budget-conscious researchers.
OneGreatFamily makes an effort to eliminate duplication of effort so that users aren’t wasting their time doing research that’s already been done.
Some common complaints about the OneGreatFamily service include:
The website is out-of-date and it can be complicated to find answers to questions.
Tutorials on the website will not play when clicked.
The website design is clunky and not intuitive, so users spend a lot of time clicking around to find what they need.
Not all of the resources, links, and videos have been upgraded.
Compared to similar websites, OneGreatFamily does not have as many useful features or data points.
OneGreatFamily offers three affordable pricing options. The annual subscription is the best value, and costs users $79.95 annually (that equates to $6.67/month). The quarterly subscription is $29.95 billed quarterly, and the month-to-month subscription is $14.95.
There is no free plan, but new users may test the service with a free 7-day trial.
OneGreatFamily provides genealogy researchers with additional tools to improve or widen a lineage search. For users interested in a bit of fun, you can browse through their “famous ancestors” of OneGreatFamily—this will even let visitors check out their Genealogy Browser in action without signing up.
OneGreatFamily customer service can be reached by phone between 9am-5pm Mountain Time, or by contact form at any time. Inquiries will receive a response within one business day.
OneGreatFamily’s unique shared family tree is one-of-a-kind and gives users the unique opportunity to find thousands of ancestors automatically. Their internet-based collective family tree is a big draw for people who are curious about a fully chained tree.
OneGreatFamily is an affordable and unique option for researchers seeking genealogy services. Their commitment to gathering and sharing data, as well as eliminating duplication of efforts, is a big deal for researchers who don’t want to reinvent the wheel. However, many potential users might find the site and systems to be difficult to navigate due to the site’s outdated design.
