Genes Reunited Review
Our genealogists’ opinion on Genes Reunited
Genes Reunited is the ideal platform for those looking to trace their British ancestry. With over 750 million historical records, you can easily explore your English, Welsh, Irish, or Scottish ancestors. The platform allows you to create your family tree and automatically find distant relatives.
Are you looking to trace your British roots? Specializing in English, Scottish, Irish, and Welsh archives, this platform is your ally in your genealogical journey. Intuitive family tree, historical documents, connecting with relatives… The promise is tempting. But does it really hold up? We tested the platform from top to bottom, and here is our expert opinion.
Key points to remember about Genes Reunited
| Features |  |
|---|---|
| 📆Year of creation | 2003 |
| 🏢Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| 🎁 Services offered | Family tree, archives, community |
| 📄 Available documents | Over 750 million records |
| 🗣️Customer service | Email contact form |
Advantages and disadvantages of Genes Reunited
- Platform specializing in English and Welsh archives
- Extensive database (censuses, birth, marriage, and death certificates)
- Creation of family trees
- Connection with other members who have common ancestors
- Intuitive search to cross-reference information
- Active community forums
- Compatible with GEDCOM files
- Database limited to the United Kingdom
- No DNA testing
- Fewer genealogy tools than other platforms on the market
- Outdated interface and only available in English
- Slow customer service (email response only)
A wide range of services and features on Genes Reunited
Building family trees
The platform welcomes you with a family tree builder designed without technical complexity. You start with your own name, then add parents, children, and relatives, one generation at a time. Even without experience, the process remains smooth, and your roots take shape before your eyes.
To save time, the site also allows you to import GEDCOM files to facilitate the integration of data from other genealogy services. We imported a tree from MyHeritage, and Genes Reunited automatically filled in the missing British branches.
Archives and databases
Genes Reunited opens the doors to British archives with over 550 million historical documents covering several centuries of history.
You will find documents such as:
- English and Welsh censuses from 1841 to 1911.
- Birth, marriage, and death records from 1837 to 2006.
- Parish records dating back to 1538
- Military records (from the Boer War to World War II)
- Voter registration lists
- Photos and media
- Passenger lists for overseas travel
- Colonial service records
Simply enter the surname, first name, and type of event into the search tool to access information about your ancestor. Through our research, we discovered that one of our ancestors was born in London and fought in World War II.
Search and matching tools (Hot Matches)
Genes Reunited’s Hot Matches system makes it easy to find distant cousins. It automatically compares certain names in your tree with those of other members of the platform. As soon as a match appears, you receive a notification inviting you to get in touch.
The “Super Hot Match” feature goes further, cross-referencing names, dates of birth, and direct lineage. However, the analysis remains partial, as only about 50 names are randomly checked in your family tree.
We received a notification with the name of an unknown ancestor. Connecting with a member sharing the same branch took just a few clicks.
Surname Summary
Genes Reunited’s Surname Summary feature helps you better understand your origins. Enter your surname and access a summary of its history, its frequency in the archives, the most common occupations associated with it, and more. You will learn how your surname has spread over time and across different regions.
Community spaces and forums
Genes Reunited has a very strong community of millions of genealogy enthusiasts. Dedicated forums allow members to freely exchange information, whether it’s about searching for ancestors, military careers, or family reunions.
Anyone can ask questions, share their discoveries, or simply benefit from the experience of others. These forums are not only for finding information, but also for creating connections and encouraging collaboration.
Keepsafe backup feature
Keepsafe allows you to back up, archive, and store all your documents, whether they are viewed on the site or shared by other members. Photos, records, articles, or census extracts—every item can be stored there for future reference. This makes it easy to view your past research without having to start all over again.
Additional resources (ebooks, Genes Extras)
The platform offers free digital guides to help you deepen your genealogical knowledge. These ebooks cover specific topics such as military genealogy or Irish and Scottish migration. You also have access to programme Genes Extras qui offre des réductions sur des offres hôtelières et des concours exclusifs.
- Access to over 750 million British historical records
- Easy-to-create interactive family tree, suitable for beginners and advanced users alike
- Matching search tools
- GEDCOM file import and export
- Surname history
- Active discussion forums
- Tool for backing up and organizing personal documents and archives
- Quick login via Facebook account
Genes Reunited: a platform specializing in English genealogy
Genes Reunited is ideal for those with roots in England, Wales, Ireland, or Scotland. Its database, enriched by its affiliation with FindMyPast, targets archives that cannot be found elsewhere, even on platforms such as FamilyTree DNA or Living DNA.
During our research, we found new documents that couldn’t be found anywhere else. In addition, Genes Reunited is able to accurately reconstruct missing branches of a family tree without even using a DNA test.
Pricing at Genes Reunited
The free offer at Genes Reunited
Free registration gives you access to basic genealogy search features. This limited version allows you to:
- Create a family tree and add as many members as you wish
- Search the archives
- Upload photos and documents to Keepsafe
- Receive Hot Matches notifications
- Reply to messages sent by other members
- Participate in community forums
- View certain public documents
- Import existing GEDCOM files
Subscriptions and paid optionses
| Subscription type | One-month plan | 6-month plan | 12-month plan | Features included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $4.95 (€4.95)/month | £2.50 (€2.88) per month | $1.67 (€1.93)/month | Free features + 50 free credits, access to unindexed records |
| Platinum | £19.95 (€23.02) per month | ❌ | £6.67 (€7.70) per month | Standard features + unlimited access to censuses, birth, marriage, and death records |
| Credits | £5 (5 euros) for 50 credits £17.95 (20 euros) for 200 credits | ❌ | ❌ | One-time access to all documents for 30 or 90 days |
The Platinum subscription is the only one that offers unlimited access to all documents on Genes Reunited. This makes it the most suitable option for in-depth research into your British ancestors.
In terms of scope of access, it is similar to the Complete subscription offered by MyHeritage, priced at $229/year, but with a focus on UK records.
The registration process on Genes Reunited
- Go to the official Genes Reunited website and click on “Sign Up” or log in with your Facebook account
- Enter your name, a valid email address, and choose a password
- Start building your family tree or explore the databases
No payment is required upon registration. You can try out the platform before deciding whether to subscribe.
Security and data protection on Genes Reunited
The platform strictly complies with the European GDPR and UK data protection regulations. Sensitive information is encrypted and stored on secure servers. Communications are conducted through an internal contact center, and your email address is never shared with other members.
User experience on Genes Reunited
The Genes Reunited interface prioritizes ease of use over technological bells and whistles. It is intuitive to use, even for those who are completely new to genealogy. However, its design is less modern than that of its competitors.
In addition, Genes Reunited does not have a mobile app, which would have made the user experience easier, especially for searching on the go.
Genes Reunited customer support: is it up to scratch?
Customer support is a weak point. They can only be contacted by email (support@genesreunited.co.uk) from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and response times can take several days. However, the FAQ and community forums are available for quick help.
Our verdict on Genes Reunited
A reliable genealogy platform for tracing your English ancestry
After using the Genes Reunited platform several times, we can say that it offers a solid foundation for seriously tracing English origins. The extent of the archives, which focus on the United Kingdom, provides access to documents that are not available on other more generalist services.
The search tools associated with the matching functions open up unexpected avenues. In addition, the active forums add a human dimension to the process, with enriching exchanges. For us, this is a good option for people looking to find out if they have English ancestors.
Perfect for creating your first family tree
Free to register and quick to learn, Genes Reunited ticks all the boxes for creating your first family tree. However, the family tree offered, on its own, lacks depth compared to competitors such as MyHeritage or Ancestry.
The ability to import an existing tree from another platform is an asset, but this feature only partially compensates for the still limited initial database.
For us, this reduces the intrinsic power of the tool. The lack of advanced genealogy tools is noticeable, especially when it comes to enriching more complex branches. In addition, the absence of DNA testing limits the ability to refine connections and searches.
Affordable and flexible pricing
In our opinion, Genes Reunited’s prices are competitive in the online genealogy market. We appreciate the option to purchase credits to access paid features without having to sign up for a full subscription. This is a real plus that allows you to tailor your spending to the intensity of your research.
Genes Reunited vs MyHeritage
With billions of documents and DNA tests, MyHeritage dominates in terms of international reach and genetic accuracy, which Genes Reunited does not offer. Its FamilyTree Builder tool, as well as its matching technologies (Smart Matches), offer significantly better performance than Genes Reunited’s Hot Matches system.
For a targeted search of your British roots, Genes Reunited remains a reliable option. However, if you want to expand your search globally, MyHeritage is a much better choice.
Genes Reunited vs Ancestry DNA
Ancestry DNA, like MyHeritage, draws on a rich international database and also offers DNA testing to refine matches. It is more expensive, but offers a range of modern and powerful genealogy features.
Conversely, Genes Reunited is better suited to those on a budget and enthusiasts focused exclusively on British research. If you want to explore your English ancestry without spending too much, it’s a reliable choice, even if it doesn’t match Ancestry’s versatility.
Genes Reunited vs Heredis
Genes Reunited operates entirely online, while Heredis installs directly on your computer as comprehensive desktop software. The latter incorporates more than 200 genealogy tools, regularly updated to meet the needs of the most demanding researchers. It offers advanced features such as interactive mapping of origins, detailed tree creation, access to online archives, and synchronization with other platforms.
These are all tools that are missing from Genes Reunited. If you are looking for an affordable, UK-focused approach, Genes Reunited is the solution. For more advanced and extensive research, Heredis clearly has the advantage.
Our answers to your questions about Genes Reunited
Genes Reunited offers free access to basic features, including the creation of simple family trees and certain searches. Full access to archives and advanced tools requires a monthly subscription.
Cancellation can be done from your account settings in the “Subscription” section. You can also contact customer service by email. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period. The platform offers a refund provided you have not used the main services.
Genes Reunited is perfect for beginners in genealogy who are focusing on their British origins and who appreciate the mutual support of an active community.