Self-Hosted Alternatives to FamilySearch
Why Replace FamilySearch?
FamilySearch is free, run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It has 7+ billion historical records and a shared global family tree. So why would you self-host instead?
Updated March 2026: Verified with latest Docker images and configurations.
The shared tree is the problem. FamilySearch uses a single collaborative family tree where any registered user can edit anyone’s entries. Your great-grandmother’s birth date can be changed by a stranger. Edits can’t be locked. While there’s a change history, persistent incorrect edits are a constant frustration for serious genealogists.
Privacy concerns. FamilySearch’s terms of service allow broad use of contributed data. The shared tree is public — anyone can see your family connections. For some families, this raises privacy concerns about living relatives’ information being visible.
No offline access. FamilySearch is entirely cloud-based. No internet, no access to your research. Self-hosted tools work offline and are accessible from your local network regardless of internet availability.
Self-hosted genealogy tools give you a private family tree that only you and invited family members can view or edit. No stranger edits. No public profiles. Full control.
Best Alternatives
webtrees — Best Overall Replacement
webtrees provides everything you need for private family tree management: GEDCOM support, multi-user access with permission controls, interactive charts (pedigree, fan, descendancy), timeline views, relationship calculators, and statistical reports. You control who can view and who can edit.
| Feature | FamilySearch | webtrees |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free (self-hosted) |
| Family tree | Shared global tree | Private per-instance |
| Editing control | Anyone can edit | Permission-based |
| Historical records | 7B+ searchable | Not included |
| GEDCOM export | Yes | Full GEDCOM 5.5.1 |
| Privacy | Public profiles | Fully private |
| Multi-user | Yes (uncontrolled) | Yes (role-based permissions) |
| Charts & reports | Basic | Extensive |
| Offline access | No | Yes (local network) |
webtrees doesn’t replace FamilySearch’s historical record search — use FamilySearch (or archives.gov, local libraries, etc.) for research, then enter findings into webtrees for permanent, private storage.
services:
webtrees:
image: ghcr.io/nathanvaughn/webtrees:2.1.21
container_name: webtrees
restart: unless-stopped
ports:
- "8080:8080"
volumes:
- webtrees_data:/var/www/webtrees/data
environment:
- DB_TYPE=mysql
- DB_HOST=db
- DB_PORT=3306
- DB_NAME=webtrees
- DB_USER=webtrees
- DB_PASS=changeme_webtrees_password
- BASE_URL=https://family.yourdomain.com
- WT_ADMIN_USER=admin
- WT_ADMIN_PASS=changeme_admin_password
depends_on:
- db
db:
image: mariadb:11
container_name: webtrees-db
restart: unless-stopped
volumes:
- mariadb_data:/var/lib/mysql
environment:
- MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD=changeme_root_password
- MARIADB_DATABASE=webtrees
- MARIADB_USER=webtrees
- MARIADB_PASSWORD=changeme_webtrees_password
volumes:
webtrees_data:
mariadb_data:[Read our full guide: How to Self-Host webtrees]
Gramps Web — Best for Advanced Research
Gramps is the most powerful open-source genealogy research tool, used by serious genealogists for decades. Gramps Web brings that power to a web browser. It handles complex relationships, source citations, evidence analysis, and research notes better than any other self-hosted option.
Best for: Genealogists who want research-grade tools with source citation management and evidence analysis workflows.
[Read our full guide: How to Self-Host Gramps Web]
Migration Guide
- Export from FamilySearch — go to Family Tree → Tree → GEDCOM Export (or use the FamilySearch API via third-party tools like RootsMagic or Ancestry)
- Note: FamilySearch GEDCOM export includes your direct lines, not the entire global tree
- Import GEDCOM into webtrees — upload via the admin panel. Large files may need the PHP upload limit increased in the container configuration.
- Download source images — FamilySearch doesn’t include attached images in GEDCOM exports. Download relevant record images separately and re-attach them in webtrees.
- Set up user accounts — create accounts for family members who should have access. Assign Viewer or Editor roles based on trust level.
- Continue using FamilySearch for research — self-hosted tools store your findings; FamilySearch remains valuable for accessing historical records. Use both.
Cost Comparison
| FamilySearch | Self-Hosted (webtrees) | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $0 | ~$5/month (VPS) |
| Annual cost | $0 | ~$60/year |
| Privacy | Public shared tree | Fully private |
| Edit control | Anyone | Role-based permissions |
| Historical records | 7B+ included | Not included |
| Offline access | No | Yes |
| Data ownership | LDS Church servers | Your server |
FamilySearch is free. Self-hosted genealogy costs ~$5/month. The trade-off is privacy and edit control vs access to historical records. Most users will benefit from using both — FamilySearch for research, webtrees for private storage.
What You Give Up
FamilySearch’s historical record collection (7+ billion records including census, vital records, immigration, military, church records) is its core value. Self-hosted tools don’t include any historical records — you research elsewhere and enter findings manually.
The collaborative nature of FamilySearch occasionally produces unexpected discoveries. Other researchers may add information about your family that you didn’t know existed. This serendipitous discovery doesn’t happen in a private tree.
FamilySearch’s record hints — automatic suggestions that link your ancestors to historical records — are absent in self-hosted tools. You’ll need to search for records manually.
The FamilySearch mobile app for capture-on-the-go (photographing headstones, documents) has no self-hosted equivalent. You’ll photograph locally and upload to webtrees later.
FAQ
Can webtrees handle large family trees with 50,000+ individuals?
Yes. webtrees uses MySQL/MariaDB and handles trees with hundreds of thousands of individuals efficiently. Large GEDCOM imports take time (minutes for 50,000+ records), but once indexed, search and navigation are responsive. Pagination and lazy loading keep the web UI fast even with massive datasets. Serious genealogists with deep research collections won’t hit performance walls.
Can I still use FamilySearch for record research while self-hosting my tree?
Absolutely — this is the recommended approach. Use FamilySearch (free) for searching historical records, census data, and vital records. When you find relevant information, add it to your private webtrees or Gramps Web instance with source citations. Self-hosted tools store your conclusions and analysis; FamilySearch remains your research library. The two complement each other.
Does webtrees support GEDCOM import and export?
Yes. webtrees fully supports GEDCOM 5.5.1 import and export. Import your existing tree from FamilySearch, Ancestry, MyHeritage, or any other genealogy software via GEDCOM. Export at any time for backup or to move to another platform. Unlike FamilySearch’s shared tree model, your GEDCOM export includes your complete private tree with all notes, sources, and media references.
Can family members access and contribute to the tree without technical knowledge?
Yes. webtrees provides a web-based interface where family members log in via their browser — no software installation needed. Set up user accounts with Viewer (read-only), Editor (add/modify records), or Admin roles. The interface is straightforward for adding individuals, relationships, events, and uploading photos. Share the URL and login credentials with family members.
How do I protect living relatives’ privacy in a self-hosted tree?
webtrees has built-in privacy controls: it automatically hides details of living individuals from non-admin users. Configure privacy rules by role — editors might see names but not dates, visitors see nothing. You control exactly what’s visible to each access level. This is a major improvement over FamilySearch, where living relatives’ connections are visible to any registered user.
Is there a mobile app for accessing my self-hosted family tree?
webtrees is web-based and works well in mobile browsers — responsive design adapts to phone and tablet screens. There’s no dedicated native app, but the mobile web experience covers browsing, searching, and viewing charts. Gramps has a desktop application (not mobile) plus Gramps Web for browser access. For field research (cemetery visits, archive trips), bookmark your webtrees URL on your phone’s home screen.
What’s the storage requirement for a family tree with photos and documents?
The database itself is small — a 50,000-individual tree with source citations occupies under 500 MB in MySQL. Media files (scanned documents, photos, cemetery images) are the storage driver. Budget 1-5 GB for a moderately documented tree, 10-50 GB for one with extensive photo collections and scanned records. Any modern VPS or home server handles this easily.
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