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Should I use The Family History Guide?

Your free learning, research, and activities center for family history. - thefhguide.com

Worth it. A free, well-regarded genealogy training site — if you're learning or teaching family history, there is no cost to trying it. Skip it if you want a records database or family tree storage; that is FamilySearch or Ancestry's job.

Confidence

Medium. Based on 40+ public sources; reviews are mostly community posts, not formal review platforms.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Feature depth
  • Support quality
  • Security posture

Pricing

$0

Everything

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierYes

Best for

  • Genealogy beginners
  • FamilySearch and Ancestry learners
  • Family history consultants and trainers
  • LDS ward and stake classes

Not for

  • Anyone wanting to store a family tree — it's a guide, not a database
  • Pros needing original-record search — use Ancestry or FamilySearch directly
  • People wanting hands-off, automated ancestor discovery
  • Buyers expecting support SLAs — it's a volunteer nonprofit

Gotchas - check before you buy

medium

Site is free, but Ancestry, MyHeritage, and Findmypast subscriptions are where research costs land.

low

Donation-funded nonprofit runs GoFundMe appeals; long-term content continuity depends on donations.

low

Pages get retired; bookmarked lessons and training links can break.

low

Help comes from volunteer communities and consultants, not a support desk.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Completely free — no ads, no fees
  • Structured lessons for FamilySearch, Ancestry, MyHeritage, Findmypast
  • Widely recommended for beginners in Reddit genealogy communities
  • Free trainer materials and class prep for consultants
  • 98% recommend on Facebook (28 reviews)

Cons

  • It's a learning guide — holds no records or family trees
  • Strong LDS/temple orientation may not suit secular researchers
  • Small formal review base: 28 Facebook reviews
  • Real research happens on the paid sites it teaches
  • Pages get retired and reorganized over time

Sources & method

Analyzed 9/30/2026 - 12 sources - No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

official x4review x4security x2news x2

Key stats

  • Value for money: 5/5

    Rating

  • $0

    Starting price

  • 12

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 5/5. Free, donation-funded, no ads
  • Ease of use: 4/5. Step-by-step projects and levels
  • Feature depth: 4/5. Four platforms, country guides, DNA, training
  • Support quality: 3/5. Volunteer community, no paid support
  • Security posture: 3/5. Publishes security guidance, no known incidents
  • 98% Facebook recommend 28 reviews
  • $0 Price No ads, no fees
  • Yes Free tier Entire site and materials
  • 501(c)(3) Nonprofit GuideStar EIN 82-1081685

Pricing

Everything

$0

  • All projects, country guides, and trainer materials
  • No ads, no fees
  • Donation-supported 501(c)(3)

Security

No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

What users say

Beginner genealogists and family history consultants on Reddit and Facebook consistently recommend it as a free starting point.

Companies that use it

  • Kent Washington Stake (LDS family history staff)
  • Brigham Young University
  • National Genealogical Society (2021 conference)
  • Granite Family History Center⁹
  • FamilySearch (hosts and distributes its materials)
Full analysis

Based on 40+ public sources; reviews are mostly community posts, not formal review platforms.

Free, well-regarded genealogy training site. Great for beginners and consultants — not a records database or tree app.

Methodology

Based on 40+ public sources; reviews are mostly community posts, not formal review platforms.

Sources

  1. The Family History Guide (official site)thefhguide.com
    official
  2. TFHG brochure — Free, no ads, no feesthefhguide.com
    official
  3. Trainers course catalogthefhguide.com
    official
  4. Donate page (501(c)(3))thefhguide.com
    official
  5. GuideStar nonprofit profileguidestar.org
    news
  6. Facebook page — 98% recommend (28 reviews)facebook.com
    review
  7. Reddit r/Genealogy — In search of ancestryreddit.com
    review
  8. Family Locket podcast RLP 147 reviewfamilylocket.com
    review
  9. Granite FHC — for experienced researchers?granitefhc.com
    review
  10. Security pagethefhguide.com
    security
  11. Blog — Some Common Steps to Online Securitythefhguide.com
    security
  12. GoFundMe fundraiser coveragegenealogysstar.blogspot.com
    news

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