Confusion. Too many “favorites” lists. Too many “Top 100” lists. Too many opinions. Indeed, that’s just what the myriads of “top website” lists are: somebody’s opinion. Well, it’s time to make a better and truly useful list! Based on an extensive study of genealogical web traffic, here are the 50 most visited real genealogy websites. Since these are the most visited sites, they must be doing something right and providing some value to their visitors. Count them down, and learn what you’ve been missing!
Discount code: popular26 (valid at Familytreewebinars.com)
Valid through: March 3, 2026
In this dynamic Legacy Family Tree webinar, professional genealogist Kory Meyerink unveils the 50 most popular genealogy websites for 2026. Recognizing that the sheer volume of online resources can be overwhelming, Meyerink utilizes a data-driven “Google approach” to rank sites based on their popularity and implied value. By synthesizing data from six different commercial ranking services, he provides a curated roadmap through the digital landscape, distinguishing between primary genealogy platforms and “secondary” sites—like newspaper or cemetery archives—that serve a broader audience. This presentation is an essential guide for researchers looking to prioritize their time and budget by identifying which tools are currently leading the field in records, trees, and community collaboration.
Objective Popularity Metrics: The rankings are not based on personal opinion but on integrated data from services like the Majestic Million, Tranco, and organic traffic checkers to reflect actual user engagement across the globe.
Diverse Resource Types: The top 50 list highlights a significant shift in the industry, showing that over half of the leading sites are primary record repositories, while others serve as vital specialized directories or collaborative “World Trees.”
The Rise of Niche and Global Sites: The webinar reveals the growing importance of non-English sites from France, Germany, and the Netherlands, alongside the explosive growth of DNA-focused platforms and volunteer-led transcription projects.
To fully grasp the evolving digital landscape and discover hidden gems like specialized death indexes or international archives, viewing the complete webinar is highly recommended. The presentation offers deeper context on why certain long-standing sites have shifted in rank and introduces “bubbling under” resources that are poised to become major players in the coming years. Genealogists are also encouraged to explore the extensive four-page syllabus, which includes a comprehensive list of over 300 reviewed websites. Reviewing these additional resources will empower any researcher to probe deeper into their ancestry and utilize the most effective tools available today.
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Many thanks
It was definitely a 5 star presentation.
One of the most helpful webinars I have seen! So many websites I had no idea existed. Amazingly helpful; thank you very much!
Very informative
You have literally opened my eyes to so many wonderful websites! It was very helpful for you to explain briefly what each of them is known for and show examples from that website. Can hardly wait to find new information about my family.
very interesting.
Great presentation and a different approach to determining popular websites. There are several on the list that I need to investigate. (Also neat to see Kory – he was the speaker at one of the first in person seminars I went to after getting interested in genealogy 20 years ago.)
Thank you very much. This information will be very useful for me in my research. You introduced me to resources I did not know existed.