Ancestry.com is a leading online platform specializing in genealogy and family history research. The company offers a variety of tools and resources that enable users to trace their ancestry, build family trees, and discover historical records. Through its extensive database, Ancestry.com provides access to billions of historical documents, including census records, birth and death certificates, and immigration records, making it a valuable resource for individuals interested in uncovering their personal heritage.
The primary customers of Ancestry.com include genealogists, family historians, and anyone looking to explore their lineage. The platform caters to a diverse audience, from beginners seeking to learn about their family history to experienced researchers delving into complex genealogical inquiries. By offering subscription-based services and specialized resources, Ancestry.com supports users in their pursuit of understanding their family connections and cultural heritage.
Ancestry.com receives mixed feedback from users, with a significant number expressing dissatisfaction. While some customers appreciate the opportunity to explore their family history and report positive experiences with the results, others find the service confusing and feel overwhelmed by the amount of information provided.
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Common complaints include issues with the cancellation process, unexpected charges, and a perceived lack of value for the money spent. Many reviewers mention that the results can be misleading or incomplete, leading to frustration. Additionally, the slow processing times for DNA kits and results contribute to negative sentiments. Despite some positive experiences, the overall sentiment leans towards disappointment, highlighting significant areas for improvement.
1,000 customer reviewsLatest review over a year ago
Where the score comes from
Each source counts by its number of reviews. Only reviews written by people are scored.
Rating, volume, share of the score, six-month trend and fake-review risk for each source
Source
Rating
Reviews
Weight
6-mo
Fake risk
★
Trustpilot
Imported Trustpilot reviews
2.7
1,000
100%
+0.1
● Low
2.7 / 5 overall
=
1,000 reviews across 1 scored source
How fake risk works ⓘ
Reputation trend
Monthly average rating from reviews written by people · latest review Aug 2025.
Last 3 months
2.8▲ 0.1
12-month avg
2.7
All-time
2.7
Category avg
3.8
Monthly averageCategory average
Monthly average rating and review count
Month
Average
Reviews
Apr 25
2.8
218
May 25
2.6
269
Jun 25
2.9
250
Jul 25
2.7
234
Aug 25
2.4
29
What people praise & complain about
Share of positive (4–5★) and negative (1–2★) reviews mentioning each topic · based on the 500 most recent reviews.
Top praiseof 172 positive reviews
Easy to use8%
14 mentions
Fast & efficient6%
11 mentions
Helpful support5%
9 mentions
Customer service5%
8 mentions
“Was easy to do and results came back in no time”
On “Easy to use” · Jul 31, 2025
Top complaintsof 253 negative reviews
Payment issues19%
49 mentions
Account issues10%
26 mentions
Customer service9%
22 mentions
Subscription9%
22 mentions
“Thought the idea of this makes sense, once you actually start receiving information on your family tree it starts get...”
On “Payment issues” · Aug 8, 2025
How it compares
Same method for every company: overall rating, legitimacy checks, the average rating of reviews mentioning each area and the 6-month trend · Media & Publishing.
Overall rating and review count for this company and similar companies
The service is ridiculously slow and they seem to bleed you for every extra penny. Kit returned a week ago and it’s still saying at registration stage only. Every time I check I am being encouraged to pay to get the results expedited. I do not wish to give you any more money and I suspect you won’t be getting much more if you carry on this way. I wish I’d read these reviews beforehand.
The people I spoke to could not speak English and could not understand me. The product I received from you was northing like what was advertised and just a digital. No hard copy. Some of the hints were interesting but nothing I did not already have. It took two calls to get the dna bottle to me. The whole experience was very poorly done. I DO NOT WANT ANYRTHING MORE TO DO WITH ANCESTRY. PLEASE CANCEL ALL.
Ancestry.com's refund policy can vary based on the subscription type. For specific details regarding refunds, please visit our website or contact customer support.
How do I cancel my Ancestry.com subscription?
Cancellation processes can sometimes be confusing. We recommend visiting our website for detailed instructions or reaching out to our customer service for assistance.
What services does Ancestry.com provide?
Ancestry.com offers a range of services including family tree building, DNA testing, and access to historical records. For a comprehensive overview, please check our website.
Is there a free trial available for Ancestry.com?
Ancestry.com often offers a free trial for new users. For the latest information on free trial availability and terms, please visit our website.
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How long does it take to receive DNA test results?
The time frame for receiving DNA test results can vary. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please refer to our website or contact our support team.
Anyone can write a CrowdTrust review. People who write reviews have ownership to edit or delete them at any time, and they'll be displayed as long as an account is active.
1/2 my family is from some part of the Caribbean both my families have darker skin than me I thought that side of me would show but my Spanish side which I am part of is strong which explains why I don’t resemble my family’s composition
The DNA results was a waste of time, nothing that related to immediate family. Some rubbish about traits and most of the DNA match was only 1% which we can all have. Ancestry itself is a waste of money, you can find people but nothing else relating to them, its just a general overview based on general information on that name and area they were born. familysearch.org gives the same information for free.
Wife purchased a kit for two people. Sent at same time, took ages for my wife’s to return - mine still has no record of DNA test. Family tree was in the main already know. Cost so my much higher than competitors and then deducted another £50 for upgrade which offered nothing - so £250 later and a little bit of info on my wife’s genetic make up of which country her ancestors may have come from - again nothing surprising. What a scam
I don’t know why but twice I’ve had my saliva rejected. I would like to be refunded as I’m getting annoyed with this. How do you screw up someone screw up two test in a row?
Shit company. I have email .fr not .com but this shit 💩 company change it from .fr to .com. I didn’t receive notification after that I try to change email I can’t. Update information after that I received kit I sent kit 2month after. They cancel it I don’t know why and they told me I will receive an other kit. I asked refund they said no I had to contact my bank and open dispute. There is lot off dna 🧬 company in market don’t use this shit.company they are not professional
Sadly, it was immensely disappointing. I chose ancestry because I thought it would be the most accurate. Instead, as it described my ancestors, it chose to belittle and devalue them by focusing more on politically
correct topics instead of the actual lives of my ancestors. I didn’t pay for that. I paid to learn about my family’s history.
I would like to know why my DNA results were not included in the email that told me the wait was over.. my results were in. I have spent ages trying to figure out if I’m doing something wrong.. maybe AncestryDNA forgot to send them? Anyway.. the dozens of emails leading up to the “final” one were frustrating enough, but even more disappointing not to actually get them!!
Ancestry.com is a leading online platform specializing in genealogy and family history research. The company offers a variety of tools and resources that enable users to trace their ancestry, build family trees, and discover historical records. Through its extensive database, Ancestry.com provides access to billions of historical documents, including census records, birth and death certificates, and immigration records, making it a valuable resource for individuals interested in uncovering their personal heritage.
The primary customers of Ancestry.com include genealogists, family historians, and anyone looking to explore their lineage. The platform caters to a diverse audience, from beginners seeking to learn about their family history to experienced researchers delving into complex genealogical inquiries. By offering subscription-based services and specialized resources, Ancestry.com supports users in their pursuit of understanding their family connections and cultural heritage.