Best Genealogy Research Services Services

Professional genealogy research services providers and services with expert reviews and rankings.

Last updated: August 2025Expert reviewed
#1

Ancestry ProGenealogists

4.8
Best Overall
$2,900 (project-based)
Starting price

The research division of Ancestry.com, offering professional genealogy services with access to the world's largest collection of online records. They provide comprehensive family history research, DNA analysis, and heritage documentation services.

Customer Support
5
Value for Money
4
Reliability
5
Ease of Use
5

Pros

  • Access to Ancestry's massive record database
  • Highly qualified team of professional genealogists
  • Comprehensive reporting with documentation
  • Strong reputation and industry leadership

Cons

  • Higher pricing than many competitors
  • Longer turnaround times during peak seasons
  • Limited customization options for smaller projects

Key Features

Family tree research and constructionDNA results analysis and interpretationLineage society application assistanceHeritage book creationAdoption and unknown parentage researchHistorical context and storytelling
500,000+ customersEst. 2007
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#2

Legacy Tree Genealogists

4.7
$2,700 (project-based)
Starting price

A premier genealogy research firm with global reach, specializing in complex family history projects and DNA analysis. They employ researchers with expertise in various geographical regions and historical periods.

Customer Support
5
Value for Money
4
Reliability
5
Ease of Use
4

Pros

  • Global research capabilities
  • Expert DNA analysis specialists
  • Customizable research packages
  • Excellent client communication

Cons

  • Premium pricing structure
  • Limited budget-friendly options
  • Research queue can be lengthy

Key Features

International genealogy researchGenetic genealogy servicesForensic genealogyLineage society applicationsPhoto and document restorationResearch consultation services
50,000+ customersEst. 2004
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#3

MyHeritage Research Services

4.5
$1,900 (project-based)
Starting price

Professional genealogy research service leveraging MyHeritage's extensive global records and DNA database. They offer comprehensive family history research with strong European expertise.

Customer Support
4
Value for Money
5
Reliability
4
Ease of Use
5

Pros

  • Strong European research capabilities
  • Integrated with MyHeritage DNA database
  • Competitive pricing
  • Multilingual research team

Cons

  • Less focus on North American records
  • Smaller research team than some competitors
  • Limited specialized services

Key Features

Family tree building servicesDNA matching analysisEuropean ancestry researchPhoto colorization and enhancementFamily history book creationRecord extraction and translation
100,000+ customersEst. 2016
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#4

FamilySearch Research Services

4.3
Free (volunteer-based) to $25/hour (professional)
Starting price

Non-profit genealogy service offering both free volunteer assistance and professional research services through the FamilySearch network. Provides access to the world's largest collection of genealogical records.

Customer Support
4
Value for Money
5
Reliability
4
Ease of Use
4

Pros

  • Free volunteer assistance available
  • Access to extensive Family History Library records
  • Non-profit organization
  • Global research network

Cons

  • Variable quality with volunteer services
  • Longer wait times for free services
  • Limited customization options

Key Features

Free research assistanceProfessional research servicesRecord lookup servicesFamily history center accessEducational resourcesCommunity research forums
Millions customersEst. 1894
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#5

Archives Research Services

4.2
$45/hour
Starting price

Professional genealogy research service specializing in archival research and document retrieval. Offers flexible hourly rates and project-based pricing for various research needs.

Customer Support
4
Value for Money
4
Reliability
4
Ease of Use
4

Pros

  • Flexible hourly pricing
  • Quick turnaround times
  • Specialized document retrieval
  • Experienced researchers

Cons

  • Smaller scale operation
  • Limited DNA services
  • Less comprehensive reporting

Key Features

Hourly research servicesDocument retrieval and copyingLocal archive researchCourt record searchesNewspaper researchMilitary record research
25,000+ customersEst. 1998
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Our Review Methodology

How We Score

  • • Customer Support (25%)
  • • Value for Money (25%)
  • • Reliability (25%)
  • • Ease of Use (25%)

Research Process

  • • Expert analysis and testing
  • • Customer review analysis
  • • Feature comparison
  • • Pricing evaluation