We are still receiving feedback about the Geneanet model which combines a free website with a Premium subscription so here are some explanations.
As this new year begins, it’s an opportunity to recall the basics of the Geneanet model and to answer some frequently asked questions.
Some of the questions are:
– “I can’t see the benefits of Geneanet Premium”,
– “You should offer a discount when I renew my subscription”,
– “Your website is too difficult to use”.
These questions show that some of our members are not familiar with the originality of the Geneanet model. This note specifically addresses to them.
Geneanet, a contributive and a collaborative website
Geneanet hosts number of contributive and collaborative contents.
These are 1 million family trees and more than 1.1 billion individuals, and their associated pictures and archival documents. You can create your Geneanet family tree and view all Geneanet family trees with unrestricted access and with no advertising.
These are also multiple collaborative projects supported by Geneanet as “Save our Graves” (pictures of graves and cemeteries all around the world), “Archival Registers” (digitization of parish, notarial, military and other archives),…
As of today, there are 1.7 million pictures of graves, 12 million images of archival registers, and more than 83 million individuals in the collaborative indexes.
The principle is simple: all the contributive content is available for free, and every Geneanet member remains owner of its shared pictures and documents.
The Premium subscription
Why subscribing to Geneanet Premium?
Geneanet Premium offers many advantages as:
• the advanced search with additional criteria: spouse, parents, name variants, nearby places,
• the automatic matches on individuals in your family tree and in the family tree of other members,
• the automatic matching of your entire family tree with the Geneanet database,
• the email alerts wich allow you to receive a weekly email summary of the latest entries,
• the access to genealogy society indexes provided by Geneanet partners,
• the access to the Genealogy Library with millions of books and newspapers, and more than 3 billion indexed individuals.
The best thing to do is to discuss this with Premium members. We therefore invite you to read this blog note comments, and we encourage Premium members to talk about their experience.
The price of the Premium subscription
Some Premium members suggest that we should reward their loyalty with a discount when they renew their subscription.
Usually, discounts are offered to new subscribers.
Geneanet has made a different choice: we propose the same pricing and offers to new and long time subscribers.
For some, the price of Premium subscription is justified compared to the one of other hobbies. For others, it may represent a significant budget. There are two ways to reduce the price of your Premium subcription:
1. Sponsor a friend: If you sponsor a Geneanet member (click this link), they will get a 1-month free Premium membership, and you will get an extra month free.
2. Offer a Premium subscription: This service (click this link) allows you to offer or to be offered a 3-month, 6-month, 1-year or 2-year Premium subscription.
Do not hesitate to invite family and friends to view your private data and pictures, to view relationships between individuals, and to get advantage of the birthday reminders (click the button “Invite this person”).
In return, they may be happy to participate in your Premium subscription if you let them know about this opportunity!
If you find Geneanet difficult to use
Some members have trouble using Geneanet.
Do not remain alone!
The Geneanet forum (click this link) is a place where you can find help from Geneanet and from other members.
Geneanet, a free website with a Premium subscription
Free website and Premium subscription should not be opposed. Geneanet is a Freemium website with a number of free options and services, and a Premium access.
Sharing, mutual help and free access are the basics of Geneanet.
You don’t subscribe to Geneanet Premium only for the additional options and services but also to help the development of the free section of the website.
It is indeed a paradox: Premium members are paying so that Geneanet can be an open and free website.
Subscribing to Geneanet Premium is not only a way to access additional options and services, but also to allow the original model, as described above, to exist.
Some years ago, the Premium subscription was called “Club Privilege”. First members had little benefit and subscribed to preserve the free options and services.
We feel that it is important to recall this bascis. For more than 20 years, we are proud that we succeeded in preserving this balance, in a strong spirit of collaboration.
In conclusion, you are part of a community of mutual help and sharing. You are welcome whatever your level of experience in the use of Geneanet! If you subscribe to Geneanet Premium or if you renew your subscription, keep in mind that it’s not only purchasing a product but sharing a certain idea of genealogy.
12/2/22
apart from this page (that i found search google), no other buttons work to enable to upgrade to premium memebership. Nearly never bothered, as i thought website had closed.
Answer from Geneanet: You will find a link to Geneanet Premium at the bottom of every page on the site.
5/31/21
Can I go back to Geneanet free if I don’t like Premium ?
Answer from Geneanet: You are not a Premium member.
4/13/21
I would like to cancel my subscription
Answer from Geneanet: Please go to https://en.geneanet.org/mon_compte then click “Delete account” at the bottom of the page
10/28/20
I started a family three but now I don’t know how to get back in to it could you help me please
Answer from Geneanet: You don’t have a family tree in your Geneanet account. Please go to https://en.geneanet.org/create-your-family-tree/ to create your family tree or to import a GEDCOM file.
7/28/20
I would like to cancel my subscription
Answer from Geneanet: The automatic renewal of your Premium subscription has been cancelled. Your Premium subscription will expire on October 6, 2020, and you will not be charged after this date. Just ignore the reminders you will receive. To view the history of your Premium subscription, please go to https://en.geneanet.org/privilege/history
6/27/20
As a Premium Member do I have access to Registration documents [Births, Marriages, Deaths]?
Answer from Geneanet: We only have indexes, not the digitized documents.
6/1/20
I have guest access only. How do I link with a person who has sent an alert to me?
4/30/20
Thank you for the above info. My introducer was on the net. I have yet to include him on the tree. I have to say that some of the operations are a little confusing. Usage will no doubt improve my understanding.
12/26/19
I was unable to get Premium access – message said unavailable to the U.S. Is it possible for me to see any Premium family trees?
Geneanet Premium is available in the U.S. Please click the following link: https://en.geneanet.org/premium/
4/21/19
I have found some interesting informations on Geneanet some years ago. I do not need to pay for Premium access at the moment. Geneanet is fair, free access if needed, Ancestry and other sites make you pay straight from the beginning .
4/6/19
I have come across some interesting details on my French ancestor but I need to have a translation from French to English–how to do this?
3/25/19
I am a naturalized American but all my families remain in France or have past away so this is the only place where I could find any of my deceased loved one…Great family genealogy site….
This user is a Premium member who get advantage of advanced features and options: more search criteria, unlimited access to the collections, hints and email alerts for finding new information and ancestors, etc.
Discover the Premium subscription2/26/19
I am Australian with French Heritage, I enjoy this site which is cheaper than any other and more factual. I have contacted cousins through this site and am a Premium Member for several years. Excellent.
This user is a Premium member who get advantage of advanced features and options: more search criteria, unlimited access to the collections, hints and email alerts for finding new information and ancestors, etc.
Discover the Premium subscription1/30/19
Geneanet and its members have been very valuable to me and my family’s genealogy. It was a member of Geneanet, who initially contacted me and verified my Great- Grandfather name and birthday, connecting him with his French Relatives, which allowed the extension our family genealogy by several generations. I have been a Premium Member for a few years and think it is a fair price and provides a good return for membership.
This user is a Premium member who get advantage of advanced features and options: more search criteria, unlimited access to the collections, hints and email alerts for finding new information and ancestors, etc.
Discover the Premium subscription1/30/19
I just renewed for two years as a premium member I have enjoyed the extra services available. It is so much cheaper than other website I used previously and which incidentally didn’t let me share other website information without having to pay more. This is why I will never stop supporting Geneanet. It needs our support.
This user is a Premium member who get advantage of advanced features and options: more search criteria, unlimited access to the collections, hints and email alerts for finding new information and ancestors, etc.
Discover the Premium subscription1/30/19
I think it’s fair price for the material available. I’m not likely to visit so any countries so the information here with Premium membership is priceless to me. Brushing up on my college French has fired up numerous brain neurons that were covered in cobwebs. Trying to decipher the cursive script especially the first letter is always interesting. A great site that I hope to learn more about.
This user is a Premium member who get advantage of advanced features and options: more search criteria, unlimited access to the collections, hints and email alerts for finding new information and ancestors, etc.
Discover the Premium subscription1/30/19
I have also found many cousins in France, thank you. email alerts are very useful.
This user is a Premium member who get advantage of advanced features and options: more search criteria, unlimited access to the collections, hints and email alerts for finding new information and ancestors, etc.
Discover the Premium subscription1/30/19
I like my Premium subscription thank you, I encourage my Australian friends to also join the Premium site too
This user is a Premium member who get advantage of advanced features and options: more search criteria, unlimited access to the collections, hints and email alerts for finding new information and ancestors, etc.
Discover the Premium subscription1/30/19
I am very pleased with Geneanet. I had no second thoughts about becoming a Premium member. Geneanet has provided more of my ancestry information that I could find on other Ancestry sites The Canadien info is SUPER, and I assume that other participating nationalities are just as informed. Also,the price is reasonable.
1/30/19
Geneanet has provided me data for THOUSANDS of ancestors!!!!
This user is a Premium member who get advantage of advanced features and options: more search criteria, unlimited access to the collections, hints and email alerts for finding new information and ancestors, etc.
Discover the Premium subscription1/30/19
I always tell people to go to this web side, and some of them did it and loved thank you very much for this excellent program
1/27/19
This is ANOTHER request for assistance. I have yet to glean a single scrap of “new” info from my use of Geneanet. Plugging known (facts) info into your Super Search does not return any useful information to further my research. Please assist to show me how to improve my experience! Thanks. Alex F.
1/26/19
My tree is too big to be able to make an input of it ..od today it has 150 000 names ca. So if anyone could have a solution of it I am would be thankfull to share what I have found lateest 12 year. My original ‘Father’ was seated at Alsace in France and with the surname ‘Rüdinger’ who sometimes
married to Rüdings/Ryding’s I was told as 12 year old tha this was my families origin and today I can
verify it was true.
Kindly
Maud Marie Ryding Lönnberg
1/25/19
I shall not use geneanet. I am too old (87 years old) to start with it.
My children told me not to do it.
Thank you.
1/25/19
I am not a Premium member but am grateful for being able to be part of this wonderful group. With African exchange rates being so bad we are not all able to afford to be Premium members.
1/25/19
I used the premium service for a year. My concern was that the data I was collecting by comparing a tree with my own I often found that errors were directly copied across. There was no verification that the data in the other tree was in fact correct. Based on this I have reverted to relying on my own research often in collaboration with various groups in Yahoo and others. In addition being a pensioner based in South Africa where we have a much weaker currency $50 is to expensive.
1/25/19
I found your site frustrating. We travel too much to maintain a membership. Your emails only send out that you have something new but zero information. I finally sent them all to junk rather than see you have information but will share nothing. I’d rather not know.
1/25/19
I subscribe to Ancestry and most of the information I find on my family is there. I’ve also done my DNA there and have found many relatives. I can’t afford more than one subscription.
1/25/19
I’ve been searching for my 3x great grandparent’s roots (Adam Mager) b. 1783 and his sone Henri, and Katherine Kallenbach b. 1800) for 38 years and I’ve used email alerts for 10 years but I’ve never found even a hint of their existence. I tried Premium for a year and found nothing. It’s probably a brick wall so a premium subscription would not be worth it.
1/25/19
I have just become a Widow & will be finding it harder to do Family History Research joining all groups.I realise one does have to pay something,but just at the moment I am on a Pension & have to see how much I can afford.Thank you for your help .Adele Cathro.
This user is a Premium member who get advantage of advanced features and options: more search criteria, unlimited access to the collections, hints and email alerts for finding new information and ancestors, etc.
Discover the Premium subscription1/25/19
I thought I would try the free Geneanet Program & I really like it. I’m not good at it, but this one is user friendly. The free Program was just what I needed since I am not very experienced.
1/22/19
Geneanet.org needs to encourage people who submit information to source that information. Ancestry can’t be relied upon because they accept anyone’s information without proof … don’t let Geneanet go the same route.
1/19/19
Hello Geneanet! I have tried Geneanet “Super Search” for several persons in my Family Tree. I have yet to receive a single scrap of “useful” information from any of my searches for about 30 different individuals. Although I have known facts – NOTHING is returned! I am familiar with many software packages and even build/repair/update many computer systems. But – NOTHING! Could you please let me know what I’m doing wrong??? Thanks. Alex F.
This user is a Premium member who get advantage of advanced features and options: more search criteria, unlimited access to the collections, hints and email alerts for finding new information and ancestors, etc.
Discover the Premium subscription1/19/19
I tried to subscribe a couple of months ago and my credit card which had more than enough available credit was declined twice. I’ve never bought anything from Europe, is there something extra I need to do to get my card to work? Thanks, Terry Reinheimer
1/18/19
I quit because I have no French ancestry whatsoever and all clues for me were from France. It was a waste of money.
1/17/19
Looking for Thuotte and their ancestors in and around Quebec.
1/17/19
I am still learning about Geneanet as I have only had my membership for about 5 weeks. I have been compiling my family tree for years and I have found Geneanet to be useful and informative, though I feel because I have been a member for only a short time I can’t give a review either way.
1/16/19
Great system. As mentioned by Martine and Susan above, I have been able to find many potential relatives in France and I found it quite useful researching French soldiers in WW1 and WW2 who were Robitailles. I am glad I joined!
1/16/19
Was going to join Premium 1st of the year. Was locked out until today Jan 16. Been on free Geneanet a long time, so lost nothing when locked out. A concern if I go Premium.
1/15/19
I left a comment and pressed submit, and it disappeared! I am not going to write my apprecations once more. Sorry.
1/15/19
I really sympathise with the idea of a free access to Geneanet. That is the reason I pay for a premium membership. I have used the ticket contact a few times (it was not mentioned above as a premium advantage), not the other advantages. I’m not so fond of the forum, confucing to navigate in.
I appreciate very much that Geneanet does not have the aggressive way of promoting itself that is the case with many other genealogy organisations.
Thank you for that !
This user is a Premium member who get advantage of advanced features and options: more search criteria, unlimited access to the collections, hints and email alerts for finding new information and ancestors, etc.
Discover the Premium subscription1/15/19
I have subscribed to Geneanet for quite a few years as a Premium member. Through Geneanet I have managed to make contact with cousins in France that did not know of my existence. I find the e-mail alerts very useful and have gained a lot of information from them. Compared to other genealogical websites – I am also a member of Ancestry – I think Geneanet is priced very fairly and is very good value for money.
This user is a Premium member who get advantage of advanced features and options: more search criteria, unlimited access to the collections, hints and email alerts for finding new information and ancestors, etc.
Discover the Premium subscription1/15/19
I love Premium Geneanet. It has helped me find a lot of new information and the contacts with other members is very helpful to my research. Thank you!
1/15/19
Keep it free
1/15/19
Your site is not difficult to use, and the subscription service is a godsend for me, so it must be for others as well. I appreciate the membership and will continue to use it as long as I do research. It has been an invaluable tool for me.
This user is a Premium member who get advantage of advanced features and options: more search criteria, unlimited access to the collections, hints and email alerts for finding new information and ancestors, etc.
Discover the Premium subscription1/15/19
I have never found it necessary to subscribe to Premium as I have discovered most of what I seek without it. To complete my family tree of my French line contact with a grandchild or Gt Grandchild of siblings of my grandmother access to the information is limited by the time limits prescribed by law and where I have the information and made contacts the individual(s) have exercised their rights not respond under their choice – so be it.
Leave things as they are.
This user is a Premium member who get advantage of advanced features and options: more search criteria, unlimited access to the collections, hints and email alerts for finding new information and ancestors, etc.
Discover the Premium subscription1/15/19
i would prefer a free Geneanet. As a person on a limited income I can’t afford to pay.
This user is a Premium member who get advantage of advanced features and options: more search criteria, unlimited access to the collections, hints and email alerts for finding new information and ancestors, etc.
Discover the Premium subscription1/15/19
I would offer an whole rage of positive and appreciative commendations in relation to the product which is Geneant, but the list would be too long for this space. However, I have one single concern that I would wish to voice in relation to Subscription and its Renewal. As a British user with French ‘cousins’, I am keen to continue my use of and Membership of Geneanet, but to do so you demand that I pay in Euros. This means that I have to pay money exchange fees as well as a surcharge for paying in a foreign currency. I have asked before that you convert the Euro charge to GB Sterling, so the extra charges are not part of my Subscription – but my plea has been diplomatically ignored. Could I ask you to reconsider my request and provide a suitable solution? (As an aside, I wish we had adopted the Euro in England; and I wish this country could understand the damage it is doing by trying to remove itself from Europe. It is our children and grand-children who will inevitably suffer this reckless action. I regard myself as a European and I remain loyal to the EU concept.)
1/15/19
WELL DONE
1/15/19
Excellent site!
1/14/19
I have found your website helpful in my ancestry quest. I was referred to this site from a cousin in the Azores. He had our ancestry information linked with ours.
This user is a Premium member who get advantage of advanced features and options: more search criteria, unlimited access to the collections, hints and email alerts for finding new information and ancestors, etc.
Discover the Premium subscription1/14/19
As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I have obtained membership and I appreciate it very much, as your services does indeed provide some valuable information that helps me in the Family research. Thank you
1/14/19
It appears that if I to not obtain a premium subscription I will no longer receive “the email alerts which allow you to receive a weekly email summary of the latest entries” that I believe are the periodic notifications that I have been receiving since I first started using Geneanet with a standard subscription. I.e., what was formerly part of the standard subscription (regardless of whether it was part of the “originality of the Geneanet model”) will no longer be part of the standard subscription. I do not object to Geneanet changing their terms – I have been taught “not to look a gift horse in the mouth;” but what appears to me to be double-talk to defend what Geneanet has every right to do does confuse and offend me. Please let me know the cost for retaining this feature – even if a premium subscription is needed – and how I can obtain this without communicating my personal financial information online. If this not possible, then I shall have to make do without the benefit of Geneanet to identify researchers who share interest in the same names as I.
1/14/19
I paid for premium shortly after signing up in order to gain all the benefits. I received confirmation of “premium” membership, but never saw any difference. No additional search fields function, etc. I found the layout of information I did receive quite difficult to interpret with no rhyme or reason.
1/14/19
great website
1/14/19
Too many providers, too many fees, for redundant info.
Also you want to charge me so I can tell you how your data is related so you can sell it to someone else.
1/14/19
Thank you for the Info: I,m just getting started to uncover 400 years of Grandfathers (CHOQUETTE,s) so here we go. Wish me luck.
This user is a Premium member who get advantage of advanced features and options: more search criteria, unlimited access to the collections, hints and email alerts for finding new information and ancestors, etc.
Discover the Premium subscription1/14/19
Great information. Thank you so much.
This user is a Premium member who get advantage of advanced features and options: more search criteria, unlimited access to the collections, hints and email alerts for finding new information and ancestors, etc.
Discover the Premium subscription1/14/19
I love geneanet, do not find it hard to navigate and the price of premium is not too bad (please do not increase).
1/14/19
I find your website unhelpful and not especially user friendly. I hate Ancestry, but find if far more useful. If you end your free services, I will take my 55,000+ person database and go elsewhere!
This user is a Premium member who get advantage of advanced features and options: more search criteria, unlimited access to the collections, hints and email alerts for finding new information and ancestors, etc.
Discover the Premium subscription1/14/19
I am quite happy with Geneanet and having a paid subscription. Certainly gives more access to information available. I’m also happy with the ability to enter my own information on my tree than having it automatically entered. Being both a Geneanet and ancestry member I find both European and American info available. It seems Geneanet is more European and ancestry American and Canadian.
1/14/19
I appreciate Geneanet, I use it often, not only for information but to check for correct information.
I particularly like sources.
1/14/19
I do enjoy GeneaNet, setting email every time my family name appears on it no submitted by members.
1/14/19
It’s a fair model, and I am a premium subscriber.
However, I find that data on my heritage is somewhat more reliable.
It would be nice to have a simple means to report a likely error. I have at times contacted a submitter. I try to validate Geneanet data with other sources I have access to.
Since my tree is not yet adequately reliable I have not posted it. However, a friend, Ruud DeRuiter has posted an earlier copy, but I cannot vouch for its correctness.
1/14/19
Sorry I have decided not to continue at this point in time
This user is a Premium member who get advantage of advanced features and options: more search criteria, unlimited access to the collections, hints and email alerts for finding new information and ancestors, etc.
Discover the Premium subscription1/14/19
I think your model is fine. Geneanet is my preferred site. I particularly like its privacy controls, and no advertisements. I would like however to see your privacy policy, hopefully confirming my belief that you do not make money on the side by selling information of ANY kind based on the genealogical data that users have placed in geneanet.com