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A Quick Comparison of Free Genealogy Databases

Article by Jeff Kona

It seems there are new free genealogy databases popping up on the Internet every week! You don't have time to sort through every one, so how do you know which ones to use? This quick comparison guide will help you get started in the right direction.

First, let's get this straight up front: quantity is not more important than quality! Who cares of there are 15 quintillion records in the database if the only thing you have access to is the first and last name! You need more information than that. If the database gives you the quality information you need, then it is worth your time to use it.

Here are a few of the Internet's more useful free genealogy databases:

Ellis Island Records. Over 22 million records from between 1892 and 1924. If your family came to America during this time period, then you need to use this database!

Ancestry.com. Over a billion names in their database, but only limited information is available to you for free. For more information you need to subscribe. They are the Google of the genealogy world - consider purchasing a subscription.

1900 Census Collection. 75+ million US Census records from the year 1900 for about US per month.

FamilySearch.org. Over 700 million records in this free database.

Family Tree of the Jewish People. Over 1.5 million records at this free database. Registration required.

FreeBMD. Over 18 million British records in this free database dating all the way back to 1837.

GeneaNet.org. Free database with over 45 million records.

MyTrees.com. Over 1 billion records. Subscription only.

Canadian Genealogy Centre. Hundreds of thousands of records in this free database.

Social Security Death Index (SSDI). Over 66 million records are searchable on the free SSDI database.

WorldConnect Project. Over 77 million records. Free database.

There are so many more genealogy databases on the Internet than what is covered here in this article, but this is a very good start for you. You now have several great places to begin your genealogy research for free! What are you waiting for? Get started today!