
We are still receiving feedback about the Geneanet model which combines a free website with a Premium subscription
As this new year begins, it’s an opportunity to recall the basics of the Geneanet model and to answer some frequently asked questions.
How Geneanet works?
Geneanet is based on three cornerstones: contributive, collaborative and freemium.
Geneanet is the largest community of genealogists involved in mutual aid and sharing in Continental Europe. It’s a website with almost 7 billion of data provided by members, collaborative projects and partners.
The contributive side is about family trees and attached documents (family pictures, archival records, etc.). These are 1.1 million family trees and almost 1.3 billion individuals.
The collaborative side is about projects supported by Geneanet like pictures of graves and cemeteries all around the world (“Save our Graves”), indexes and registers (parish, notarial, military and other archives). It’s also original projects like “Now and Then”.
As of today, there are 2.5 million pictures of graves, 22 million images of archival registers, and more than 96 million individuals in the collaborative indexes.
The site supports heavy loads with more than 100 million requests per day, 5 million visitors per day, 260 terabytes of redundant storage on 60 high capacity servers located into different sites.
All these services are developped and maintened by a team of about thirty enthusiast people based in Paris, France.
Geneanet is a freemium website
Geneanet is based on a freemium model which combines a free website and a Premium subscription.
Every member has access to a free comprehensive offer. This offer allows to create a family tree with an unlimited number of individuals, with an unrestricted use, without any ads, and with a number of customization, printing and alert tools. This offer includes a search engine by last name, first name and place. Unlike some other websites, you don’t have to pay to view the family tree of other members and to contact them.
The free offer also provides access to the contents shared by our members. All the contributive data is available for free for all Geneanet members.
Geneanet also proposes a Premium subscription which includes, among other options and services, the advanced search with additional criteria: spouse, parents, name variants, nearby places, 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 the Genealogy Library with millions of books and newspapers, and more than 3 billion indexed individuals, the access to genealogy society indexes provided by Geneanet partners, and a personalised assistance.
Geneanet, a free website with a Premium subscription
Sharing, mutual help and free access are among the basics of Geneanet. This is a large part of its attractiveness.
When you subscribe to Geneanet Premium, it’s not only for the services and the data reserved for Premium members. When you subscribe, you also make possible to develop the free section of the website.
It is indeed a paradox: Premium members are paying so that Geneanet can still 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.
The Premium subscription was formerly called “Club Privilege”. First subscribers had little benefit and subscribed to preserve the free options and services.
We feel that it is important to recall this basics. For more than 23 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.
Update January 28, 2020
Many members reacted to our blog note and we thank you for the messages of support!
Please note that you’d better post your question in the forum (menu Community > Forums) for a quick answer.
Some comments require more information.
The price of the Premium subscription
Many of you say that a 4.17 Euros per month Premium subscription is an affordable hobby compared to the time dedicated to genealogy research.
In spite of this, some feel that it’s too expensive and others suggest that we should reward our long term members with a special price. This is what we already with the 2-year and the 5-year subscriptions (via the link “Offer a Premium subscription” at the bottom of each page of the site when entering your own username).
The sponsorship can also be a great way to reduce the price of your subscription. If the member you have sponsored subscribe to Geneanet Premium, an additional month is automatically offered to both of you. Be sure to support the member you have sponsored in the use of Geneanet so he/she can benefit from all advantages of the Premium subscription. You can also be offered all or part of your subscription via the service “Offer a Premium subscription”.
It is worth recalling that all subscriptions are calculated from date to date. If you subscribe on the 1st of February, your membership will expire on the 1st of February of the following year. If you renew before the expiry date, the subscription period will be added to the current subscription.
Premium subscription and contribution
Some members think that they should have a free access to Geneanet Premium when they contribute to the site.
This is a good idea only at first sight. First of all, most of the Premium members are contributors. If there is no more Premium members, there is no more Geneanet.
Furthermore, a member should just have to copy an existing family tree or index to be considered as a contributor. This would be done at the expense of data quality, and spirit of mutual help and share which prevail on Geneanet.
Sometimes we reward important contributors by offering a Premium subscription. These members spend a lot of time for the genealogical community, in an altruistic way, and we are pleased to offer them a form of recognition.
Geneanet without Premium or Geneanet fully paid?
A member told us that he would prefer Geneanet to be a site with advertisings, less options and services, but totally free…
With such a model, the free part of the site would probably be smaller and hard to use with the omnipresence of ads and a limited technical infrastructure. Our actual model allows us to first and foremost serve our members without depending on advertisers which are intrinsically volatile.
Some others suggest that we should force all members to pay a cheap subscription.
It would be against the model of a free and open site.
We assume our “Freemium” model and we are proud of all our members, whether they are Premium, contributors or users. We are proud to welcome all our community in its diversity and to share a certain idea of genealogy.
Geneanet is not only a company with employees managing a website with “customers”. It is mostly a wonderful community which practice mutuel help and share, and participate in multiple collaborative projects.
Note: Do not hesitate to post your testimonial in the comments below!
3/25/20
I presently have my family tree developed in GENOOM and I would like to upload it here. How could I do it?
Answer from Geneanet: Export a GEDOM file from GENOOM then import it to Geneanet at https://my.geneanet.org/arbre/
3/20/20
Thanks for the info. I’m glad to be a member subscriber.
2/19/20
thanks for all your help
2/19/20
It would be nice if matches were free. It makes sense to make people pay for other services.
2/19/20
This is exciting!
2/18/20
I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of LDS and I have Family Search as a partner account. If you care to contact them to verify my account with Family Search, they will verify my Family History
2/18/20
I am trying to find my great grandfather’s family, the only information I have is from his marriage certificate, which states his name Edouard Seignard, his parents Julien Seignard and Josephine, he was born in 1853 in Nantz, I have been trying to find something for 50 years please can anyone help
2/18/20
i am having problems using this site as i dont know the year my grandfather was born but i now he died on 20th december 1958
2/17/20
Geneanet has allowed me to contact French and Belgian relatives that I didn’t know existed as my grandmother died before I was born in Wales. Personally, any subscription fee is money well spent to have the access to others’ trees and knowledge. Thank you all contributors.
2/17/20
All I get is our surnames from France, these are of no use. I need them for UK and Aust, how can I Limit the output accordingly.
Have had good response when researching other family surnames.
2/17/20
Many thanks to Geneanet for their website. Haven’t found any new information but it’s nice to know you are up and running and there are people to help.
2/13/20
Great. thanks for all your help
2/10/20
I am looking for Aislabie family links, I haven’t had a lot luck through this site, but is always great to others that do.
2/10/20
Don’t change a thing. This is the most informative and fairly priced genealogy website of all … just as it is as a ‘Freemium cornerstone’ model; contribution, collaboration, and freenium. The entire Geneanet team do a wonderful job as the site’s stats are evidence of their dedicated and hard work. I really do appreciate it.
2/6/20
I have been able to expand my family trees using your site. My paternal great grandfather is where most of the distant relatives stumbled, as he moved from Zeeland, to Groningen. I found though these other researchers that the van der Zande family seem to have originate near Antwerp. Interesting as my aunts and uncles often stated this, none did any research. I was born in the Netherlands and my parents left in 1952 for Canada. I have contact with my relatives and I am the only one who wishes to know about of ancestry. I will continue to use Geneanet and will renew. Thank you!
2/6/20
If my ancestors are all UK can Geanet add anything?
2/6/20
Thank you for allowing some of us to keep subscribing to your free option. I do appreciate that.
2/5/20
As a historian of the Mascarenes, I’m interested in reconstructing the families of Réunion and Mauritius. I’m grateful to the Geneanet community for assisting me in these efforts.
2/4/20
I’ve used your service “Ask an Expert” a number of times, I’m extremely pleased of the out come, it was money well spent.
I’m also a Geneanet Premium member, very pleased, keep up the good work.
Thank-you
Canadian Member
2/3/20
How might I locate within your database mayflower lineages.
2/3/20
I am pleased with Geneanet the way the pricing structure is currently setup. I initially came onto the free site, but upgraded to a Premium membership to provide for greater search capability. I think the price is fair and I’ve made good contacts through the forums on family research.
2/3/20
Brilliant website. Very reasonable pricing structure. Great work and thank you so much.
2/3/20
I’m very grateful that I’ve found my great grandfather Joubert family by using your web site. I can trace my family more than 8 generations back
2/1/20
I, too, “stumpled” upon this site! So far it seems great . I’m still getting used to it and learning about the site! Since Ancestry.com has ruined Rootsweb Worldconnect I hope a lot of people will migrate their Trees to Geneanet!
2/1/20
Since the currency of a normal family tree site is the information you give it, and this site is more like a family, then a traditional site, ad’s would make it more non personal and more like anscestry.com, before they added social media into the mix, but site advertising, would make the site money weather it was to bring more people in, and there for out sourceing ads, out on the home page, or directed user ad’s depending on what you use, your anti-ad block stuff use on the site that prevents some one using the the site, with out taking them off, or removing the vpn, means, you will force them to find another tree site, or you will force them to watch your ad’s so you will need to be careful, with that. mean’s if you bring any of that in you need to know all that you dirrected it at. May be the ad’s will be about the Premium, with most groups and company’s do. But given the exchange rate there are some, like me that 4 Euros comes out to a lot. This is one of the most enjoyable sites, I have enjoyed using in 20+ years. Simply, because it lets me work, it doesn’t take over my research. which is nice, other site people think they have a link and the mess with your research, and they don’t ask, and it is often the wrong join.
2/1/20
Thank you, to everyone who have responded to my queries, for the best website in regards free access, and the alternative sites that you also direct users too. I will support your site by purchasing a premium subscription; in the hope that others have the same success as I have.
However, I’m hoping that further information will become available on islands such as, St Lucia and Dominica.
Thank you All
1/31/20
Glad to be of help :)
1/31/20
I have been searching for Petrys from Bas Rhin who relocated to Wallhausen,Germany, and although there are many Petry trees, I have not been able to find mine.
1/31/20
Much of what I research is not posted any where online, so I post to Geneanet so it may help others in the future.
1/31/20
I have come to a stage where I have exhausted the possible links to the French side of Grandmother’s family. Having traced a direct line to 16th century for both of her parents. I am in touch with a distant cousin , our Great Grandfathers were brothers. Concentrating on issue from her siblings has produced two brothers and one sister but it was only the sister had issue.Family of her mother’s Family exist and I have approached both groups. However, it is clear that they are not wanting to pursue links and I respect that approach. I continue to subscribe to the forum in the vain hope there might be a change of mind or one of there issue might decide to pursue their family Tree.
1/31/20
thank you Geneanet for your support. to date, I have received information about my father’s family which I might never have known as they are from France and i live in New Zealand. this has helped me link our family who were displaced as a result of wars and invasion. my sincere thanks. Edwina
1/31/20
I am from Mauritius and My great great Grand father came from Scotland but up to now I have not been able to trace my family tree. Can someone help please
1/31/20
Second post Suggestions: 1] I say NO to advertizing, it’s a distraction. 1] I understand the need for a Premium. to raise funds, but doesn’t help with those E-mail alerts I get.
1/31/20
I tried this years ago, to put my European Family [IT, IRE, GR, ESP.] on line, so I could find my elusive Bis-nonni – So far, none found here. But Jean Yves has always been a big help & answered my many questions quickly. So I tried Premium for 1 year. Thus far, 11 months in, I’m a bit disappointed. I’ve only found a few US items in the Library, but no family names in the US, Italy, Ireland, Germany, or Spain. & Much of the “library” items are in French [no translations available] which our family never lived in. So I’ll end my Premium, but will keep my free GeneaNet Tree active.
1/31/20
I have used this site since 1907. I am not a pro at genealogy but I have found thousands ancestors. some close and some far cousins. It is the best site that I have found for my family. I have been in touch through Geneanet with many people who have shared their families with me. I am forever grateful for the day that I found this site. I have shared this site with many of my friends, and I will keep on doing it.
1/31/20
I am very pleased that I became a Geneanet member. Thanks to them I’m able to add more family members to my family tree. Not only am I a novice at this but I’m learning and My Premium subscription will continue on. I feel that this site should stay Premium without any ads.
1/31/20
I have been a premium member for two years, and because this membership is so reasonably priced, I will continue to be a member as long as I am involved in genealogy. Geneanet has so much information to search through, and even if I cannot find what I’m looking for, I keep searching because new information is always being added and I’m hoping that eventually the areas I’m looking for will be available. I have also made some great contacts through this website for help in searching records in France and in morocco. I highly recommend becoming a member of Geneanet!
1/31/20
I’ll think about it., not much on your site for Aussies, Down Under.
1/31/20
Thank you for offering both options. I’ve been able to connect to distant cousins in France while researching on geneanet.org. Merci!!!
1/31/20
Genealogy is for me not just dates and names; Geneanet has linked me with others in deepening an understanding of a scattered family with roots in Europe, sharing the results is one of the joys of this otherwise absorbing – obsessive- occupation.
1/31/20
I tried just now to delete my account. I was very surprised to be told that as I am a “Premium” member I am not permitted to delete my account unless I write a letter to France. Really?? What sort of premium privilege is that? And how can I be sure that the letter (a) arrives and (b) is acted upon? Furthermore, I cannot see anywhere in the website where I can cancel my automatic subscription renewal. Regardless of any benefit that Geneanet’s resources can bring, putting such obstacles in members’ way and effectively locking them in with no way out leaves a very negative impression of the culture of Geneanet.
1/31/20
I would like to subscribe for the maximum number of years you allow. 2 years is $90. Where do I mail the check? No electronic options, please.
1/31/20
If there is a pay option will you guarantee the information is correct so that a Member is never paying for false information?
Regards,
Gilly
1/31/20
The greatest facility in the world for genealogical studies.
I was , at times, amazed what I found about my Jansma family.
1/31/20
Genes net has been a very useful tool in my genealogy kit for research in Europe. Thank you.
1/30/20
After subscribing to your website, I was able to fill several holes in my tree. Glad I joined…
1/30/20
Looking for people related to Earline Moreau, born in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, USA
1/30/20
Thanks to a Geneanet forum, I was able to find and meet up with distant relatives in Europe. Experience of a lifetime!
1/30/20
I moved to Canada in 1963 and use Geneanet to research my family history in Belgium.
1/30/20
I immigrated to Canada in 1963 and and use Geneanet to do some family research and have made some family contacts..
1/30/20
Through this site I have been able to research my Belgian family from a distance here in Wales,UK after visiting 2 Archives – Mons & Leuven. – I can continue looking for my ancestors in the Bergiers & Vandergooten families from Overisje & the Wilquins etc from Dour, Mons.
1/30/20
It would be helpful if we could join Premium for a month to see if is has any useful information while researching. To join for a year and then find nothing would be upsetting.
1/30/20
Thank you for a great site, I only use the free site at the moment as I look people up intermittently, when I have more time I would love to take out a premium membership.
1/30/20
Considering the cost of most paid sites, I think your cost is reasonable. Would I like it to be less…? Of course, I always like to pay less! However, you are reasonable at this rate.
1/30/20
With all due respect, what are the advantages or disadvantages between Geneanet and Ancestry. Bearing in mind I live in The United Kingdom.
1/30/20
Hi, love your site. I researched my paternal ancestry, and come to find out, I am a direct descendant of the Royal Brandenburg family of ancient Prussia/Germany. I found my direct line back to 980 AD. Hopefully in the future I’ll be able to subscribe. Thank you so much.
1/30/20
I have found this site awesome in finding my relatives in the past from Frances!!!!
1/30/20
Though I use an Italian moniker, I am not an ounce of Italian. Through your website I have been able to find my French ancestry back to 1550 with the help of a couple people in France. The interaction helps a great deal though one person kept trying to correct my records which i took from the church, written over one and halt centuries by the various priests. I found that the Mormons are a good source to head you in a direction, but you best verify whatever you run across.
1/30/20
I am a fifth generation American, descending from Pierre Durrua who left Agen, via Bordeaux, for New York City in 1811. I knew nothing of his ancestry or immediate family until I met several friendly and very helpful Geneanet members who willingly shared what they knew, and helped me take my family tree back to the 17th century. I am deeply grateful to these kind people, and to Geneanet for making this possible.
1/30/20
A superb database. A genealogist’s dream.
1/30/20
I’ve been a premium member for many years. I feel it is well worth the price. I applaud the freemium model and would be unhappy to see that changed. Having the free option for people to “contribute” gives them a valuable backup for their data that can be downloaded easily. Other sites like Ancestry that requires you to pay monthly are awful. If you can no longer afford to pay the price, you lose access to your own data. I think geneanet has created a wonderful blend that is admirable. I don’t really have to have the premium account, but do it to support them in their hard work.
1/30/20
I love your site. I would never have found my heritage without you. I am thankful it is free because my husband is in control of the money and would not pay for me to use any site on line. I hope I will still be able to use this. I am still searching for my Tante who left Fr. during WW2. I finally learned my grandparents names and my grandfathers family tree. I means so much to me to discover who I am since my parents left France & Bretagne in 1949. For the first time I can learn who my family is. No amount of money can equal that knowledge . Thank so Much
1/30/20
Where can I find when my subscription expires so that I know when to renew and for how long?
1/30/20
I am content with the payment schedule. It allows temporary and long term membership that is convenient and affordable to researchers. It follows other models of information access such as JSTOR, Ancestry.com, and some European archives I’m happy to support Geneanet’s valuable services, and I look forward to renewing my membership.
1/30/20
This is the biggest bargain in the genealogy world, people! Have you seen what Ancestry.com in the USA charges? At least 5 times as much…and, they charge extra for almost every additional service. Price and Value are very different; I submit that Geneanet is a great Value, and the more free views it gets, the more paying customers it will accrue…that’s how I got involved, and I’m sure many or most of you, as well.
1/30/20
Thank you for keeping free access, even if limited.
1/30/20
Very contributive to our search. Help me out in working. Very good roots and reference worldwide
1/30/20
I do not know how to use the site.My only search is related to the last name, I will try this year to use it more often.Congratulation on the effort to help people like me.
Thanks
Hector
1/30/20
I am trying to place all the family in the tree today but I had to remove one person and that was, and still is, very difficult for me. Maybe you will help me? One ‘Claudius’ Sonnemans is enough!
Another question is; how can I see the totality of the tree?
I like the possibility of adding pictures.
Sorry for my English
1/30/20
Dive into the uploading of DNA from premium sites. Premium members can use this service to further there research.
1/30/20
I love GeneaNet. This site has been so helpful with tracing my father’s family origins in France and other European countries. it is a thrill to look at the actual documents in the old ledgers. thank you for your site.
1/30/20
Very happy to continue along the free / premium lines.
1/25/20
How do I login. Just keeps wanting me to sign up for Premium
1/25/20
Glad you found info to help you.Can I ask you – who was your
uncle? Federico? Where is your home? I work on this as a hobby. So I happen to catch this
1/24/20
I love the familytree construction, which is easy to understand and to search trough. Unfortunately, I see no data from South America, Africa and the Caribbean area, what gives restrictions in my research. I hope Geneanet does not change the features but improves. An issue to consider is to lower the premium rates, what will make it attractive to more users and will result in a bigger turnover.
1/24/20
Love all this knowledge and worthwhile contributions
1/23/20
being a family search member thought you could help me with my french side family. but, it looks like you have no information of help.
1/22/20
How can I view member trees with a common ancestor. I I have now found my missing French uncle Paul Farret (1920-1977). He had children, possibly twins. The family resided in the Bordeaux area of Gironde. I’d love to learn more about this side of the family.
1/21/20
I have been looking for a Joseph Lamorelle who emigrated to the USA on or about late 1780’s or early 1790’s. He became a US Citizen in 1804 and listed his birthplace as Poitou, France. According to his death certificate in Philadelphia, Pa. USA in 1840, his birthdate was abt.1766. Would love to find records of his parents and the place where he was born in France.
He listed his profession as “merchant” on a manifest for a ship sailing between USA and the West Indies in the early 1800’s
1/21/20
I joined the free website first and soon subscribed to the Premium subscription. I have gone back so many generations that I am very happy with this gift to this genealogist. Thanks. Pat Piglrim
1/20/20
how would I get records from 1900 to present day in Algeria I find the site very good and have found some records prior to 1900 thank you
1/20/20
Thanks so much I had been searching for my uncle, Federico and you had him right in the first place I looked at!! Finally found him
1/20/20
I was looking for a cousin of my father, who migrated to the US in the 40’s, on internet and came your website across. So I started digging for my family name and found my family tree going back to 1680. Impressive, I will now start contacting the owner to complete the tree from myf amily side.
1/20/20
I need and what help. and don’t know where and how to get help. so, I’m not redoing mine.
1/20/20
J’ai en un temps record constitué une grande partie de mon arbre généalogique et je vais continuer, tout cela grace à ce système coopératif qu’est Geneanet, merci !
1/18/20
Same Denise–thankyou so much Geneanet to help link me to my French relatives, of whom I was able to personally visit!
1/14/20
I would have never found my French ancestors without the help of Geneanet. Thank you so much for all you do.
1/13/20
I have been researching my cousin’s Belgium, De La Montagne relatives Birth, Marriage and Death records in Family Search for a number of years. I then use Roots Chat to ask for help in translating the records from either Dutch or French into English. In November of 2019, one member of Roots Chat sent me 2 links to De La Montagne family trees in Geneanet, this was very helpful as it confirm what I had already found out. I hope to contact the owner of one of these trees, later this month.
I will renew and thank you for allowing me to use your very useful website.
Best Regards for the Future
1/12/20
yes, Geneanet has connected me with many remote previously unknown relatives who have researched my surnames and heritage. Thank you Geneanet.
1/11/20
My research started in 2019 and was centred on the Caribbean,in particular Barbados and the site did not have any records for the country I raised this question at the beginning.. I had to subscribe to Ancestry and even then, they did not have access to many of the records.
In my experience records for the European side of my ancestry can be seen,but the side coming out of Africa for the same period cannot be researched. For example my African heritage ,parents and grandparents and before records,(say before 1902,1926,1929) are not available,who knows why.I can get back 18th century on the European side
.All my tree information posted here appears from my Ancestry tree,and any searches I make still do not provide results.
All this is not meant to be a criticism,but the reality is that I cannot get any records on the ancestry on this site.
I feel sure that the website will continue to grow and collaborate with other providers.
I cannot renew .
Thank You very much.
1/11/20
Geneanet has been very helpful reseaching my family tree. I have received more information than other sites.
1/10/20
I like the whole idea of it!
1/10/20
Please remove me from interest in the Canada Portal. I need help in searching for the ancestors of the Philipp family, well known circa 1600 & on to 1899 as “go-to” for trust in handling “castle business management” in the absence of heir etc.
1/10/20
I love Geneanet. I started looking into my ancestors with the intention of developing a “small” family tree for my grandson for the purpose of ensuring that he realized that, although I think he is the most wonderful person in the whole world, many, many persons contributed to what he is today. However, because of geneanet and the absolutely incredible support I have received from your colleague Maia Bera I have become passionate about genealogy and my family tree gets better every day.
Since you ask for suggestions I would like to propose that the extraordinary support that you offer would be enough to legitimize the premium expense you seek (although it could be lowered a bit to compete with heritage and ancestry). What I object to and find “a bit hard to swallow” is the premium charge being linked to accessing information
that another user has found and put in his or her tree without restriction. It seems that geneanet is preventing the access unless a payment is made…and the amount not being given to the person who found the information but to geneanet. I would be extremely annoyed if you limited access to some information under 123boivin – I want to share everything I find with anybody for free. I understand you are wanting to be paid for having created the geneanet environment and creating the links that make geneanet so great but again I repeat, your support would be worth the premium charge. Sincerely Christiane Boivin
1/10/20
I was wondering how do I change my alerts they send to me in my email. I now want them to search a different ancestor.
1/10/20
I must admit that Ancestry has a lot going for it, mainly because of its size and on the DNA front it’s ThruLines which, if used with caution, is excellent for finding connections etc.
But could be so much better.
I am new to GENEANET but what stands out to me immediately are the TREES.
– Since the “effective” demise of Ancestry’s Rootsweb trees I stumbled on Geneanet trees. They are even better than the old Rootsweb trees, and far simpler than the Ancestry trees which have so many restrictions regarding sharing, a pain to navigate, … long list here ….
I am pleased to see that Geneanet has not succumbed (yet?) to the recent fashion of new websites, with loss of functionality, with “bells and whistles” and often made for phones and hence little information on a screen. Trying to navigate the Ancestry trees with any speed is very frustrating while the Geneanet trees are not only fast but have lots of information on a page without the need to navigate back and forward.
So, my suggestion for Geneanet is to promote their trees for easy sharing to take the place of Rootsweb trees, hence hopefully introduce the site to potential premium users. This of course would also increase the potential matches for premium users.
Having to register to view shared trees might put some people off, I just advise that registration is “free and easy”. I’m not sure if the business model would permit no registration.
1/10/20
Geneanet has been really beneficial to me and i have had some very interesting finds ! Great site …..
1/10/20
I absolutely depend on Geneanet search tools when researching my myriad European ancestors from before the 1600’s.
1/10/20
Pour moi, l’ année 2020 sera une mauvaise année, celle de de mes 96 ans. Ainsi va la vie!
1/10/20
I have had more hits and Contact from other member re my tree
compare ancestry been over 14 years and have never hat a hit or contact
keep doing what you do best, vive Geneanet
1/10/20
ndmother was Lillian Nora Cheneval born in Sydney Australia 1891 – 1971 died in Queensland Australia
1/10/20
once you see an ancester in someone else tree, is there a button to just add automaticaly the tree to yours ?
1/10/20
DARN GOOD GENEALOGY WEBSITE
1/9/20
I really like geneanet. I used only ancestry until now but for my kind of background (Spain/France/Italy) this is far superior. The interaction with other members has been extremely valuable and took my search to a much higher level. I am very glad I stumbled upon this site which is now the core of my family tree search.
1/9/20
Brilliant responses from several members of Geneanet !!
1/9/20
I had very good,exchanges of information with two
members of Geneanet. That was very interesting!
It is fun to make new discoveries!
1/9/20
need help finding where the uterstade family came from.
1/9/20
Myself I have been very busy but I intend to spend time here. thanks to Geneanet.
1/9/20
I am new and yet to discover the delights of Geneanet.
1/9/20
In terms of building your family tree, compared to Ancestry.com … Geneanet is absolutely phenomenal! After 6+ years working on my paternal & maternal family trees, Geneanet has been a very useful resource.
1/9/20
Thank you for all of your help. This is a very useful site to add to all our family trees. Thank you again.
1/9/20
Thank you very much for helping me to continue my grandfather’s work and to preserve and share it. Happy New Year!
1/9/20
In 2010, when I started the family project, Geneanet helped me a lot in discovering my European roots. Geneanet is an excellent tool for genealogy. Most of all, the alert system helps you in building bridges with other genealogies.
1/9/20
I am very happy that I became a Geneanet member thanks to them I am able to add more family members to my family tree. There research system is superb. I thank all members and staff of Geneanet .
1/9/20
This website is absolutely fantastic. During 2019, I was able to solve mysteries about where in Europe two branches of my family came after searching for over 50 years. I did this by contacting Geneanet members who had the same surnames in their files. They also had my ancestors and I made contact with cousins in France. Wonderful service and capability. I love it.
1/9/20
I would like a Births and Baptisms search panel by year place and country of origin eg.
any of the French and English colonies of the time period 1750 to 1850.
In my case I am still unable to find his parents names or his birth place, he might even have been an abandoned or orphan child returned from the French colonies or even the East Indies who knows.
1/9/20
I have been able to help fellow members and been helped by members. That is what it is all about.
Dave.
1/9/20
Great site.
1/9/20
I love Geneanet. It’s 1000 times better than Ancestry.com. I’ve met so many cousins from Ardèche and Alsace via Geneanet, and I’ve been inspired to travel and visit many of my ancestral villages. My life has changed for the better and I have a deeper understanding and love of my French and German heritage. Merci!
1/9/20
I have not used the site a lot as yet, but it is fantastic idea and set up up for sharing for free which helps all. I will certainly look in the future to subscribe to the premium. Thank you for all the dedication that goes into the site from both staff, volunteers and the general public using it and feeding in the data. B Bennett
1/9/20
The collaborative aspect is a model for how we get along as a race
1/9/20
Tell me where to mail a paper check & for how much. bd.navorska@verizon.net
Answer from Geneanet: It’s not possible to pay by check. You can pay by credit card, PayPal or bank transfer.
1/9/20
Yes, the French Government holding out against DNA testing for genealogical research purposes seems to me, like Knut asking the sea to stand aside. I was fortunate to find some of my French ancestors who migrated to the USA in the 1930s, show up in Ancestry.com DNA results. it’s time the French gave up this DNA testing restrictions.
1/9/20
Well stated. Thanks!
1/9/20
Yes agree need DNA in France
1/9/20
I love this website! I am and will continue to be a Premium member, and encourage everyone to be a member. Thank you for all that you offer to us who love genealogy research.
1/9/20
thanks I like your website but if it cost me money to belong I cannot do that. if free I want in but if money to pay I back out thanks
1/9/20
Why do the French oppose DNA testing?
1/9/20
Geneanet is an excellent site, for the reasons you stated.
We have a choice of searches of all kinds of data, as well as family tree, and alerts. What more could we ask for. Your reports of new stories are superb and articles not found anywhere else! Five stars and thank you. Kathrync
1/9/20
This site has enabled me to make contact with distant cousins I did not know and with their knowledge and mine, we were able to more fully expand our families trees to match with our ancestors. Thanks for the service you provide!
1/9/20
Sure would like to have DNA in France
1/9/20
Do not wish to renew or subscribe to Geneanet Premimum. Please cancel my subscription
Answer from Geneanet: You never paid for Geneanet Premium. Your Geneanet account has now been deleted.
1/9/20
What I have been able to figure out with this website is exciting. I have had some problems with trying to navigate this website, it is complicated but you can find family things that I have not seen on any other website.
1/9/20
have a fondness for Geneanet that I do not hold for many other sites. Great site!
1/9/20
I have really appreciated the “freemium” aspect of the web site. It has enabled me to find direct ancestors I had been unable to find by allowing access to other member trees.
The “free weekend” some time ago resulted in my finding more Huguenot relatives in London which was great.
1/9/20
great web site
1/9/20
I certainlhy agree please information on those who have gone before us in
France, like my grandfather..who I know very little about because he died befor my father was born.
1/9/20
I love Geneanet. I have been working on our family history for about 60 years, before there were computer websites to help with it. I just can’t afford to join all of these wonderful websites, but I do enjoy the free ones. I contribute a modest amount when asked, but that’s about it. Many thanks for running the free version for people like me. You can guess how old I am by the amount of time I have been doing genealogy.
1/9/20
I love this site and hope to get a premium account soon keep up the good work
1/9/20
The website is excellent for connecting me with the relatives who am I never thought I had in my family. The information is invaluable.
1/9/20
I thought Geneanet was exclusively Belgian, but if I understood what I read above, all Europe is involved. Tell me, please, how can I access members’ files in Italy and Ireland, if that is possible? Thank you.
Answer from Geneanet: Just make a search in the database at https://en.geneanet.org/fonds/individus/.
1/9/20
The method of searching for a person you now have is not workable. What you had a year ago was useful . I will not add any information because I can not access what I have posted.
1/9/20
Very good site. Keep up the good work Roger
1/9/20
With 5 million visitors a day and say 20% pay a yearly subscription of 50 EUR there is a turnover of 50 million EUR. There must be room for cheaper rates!
1/9/20
Good website. Still trying to find my husbands’ GF’s brother Heikki Pakkala from Lapua, born 1881, no luck so far. We believe he came to the USA and disappeared after that. If anyone has any idea or knows of this person, would love to hear from you. nlpakkala(a)aol.com
1/9/20
Very much enjoy geneanet. thank you
1/8/20
I agree. DNA analysis would be great.
1/8/20
A great web and providing a commendable service worldwide.
1/8/20
I love the web site, easy to handle. Nice charts. Thank you :)
1/8/20
Greetings from Australia, from someone who is proud of their French ancestry. Thank you for this most informative communication, the philosophy behind what you do.Generous and amazing. I will be going Premium.
Best wishes, Stephen.
1/8/20
thank you for the update , best wishes of a very happy good years to all the team , looking forward to search more this year
1/8/20
Good web site keep trying to get dna in France