Here are some top free and fee based genealogy websites. These are all site that I am familiar with, at least at a rudimentary level, and the rankings are based on my opinion, not any national ranking. That being said, the majority of these sites are featured in Genealogy In Time Magazine's Top 100 Genealogy Websites for 2014.
This list is a work in progress and there will be more to come. I will post about new additions to this page as well. Happy searching!
Free
1. Family Search
Includes: Vital records, Family trees,
The Church of Latter Day Saints is a non-profit organization and they share genealogical and historical records free of charge. Family Search is a great place to begin searching for family history records, especially if you do not know what is out there. To get started, choose the "search" function shown at the top of the screen and plug in the information associated with the ancestor for whom you are currently searching. Family Search is also a good place to become familiar with several types of historical sources that can help you with your genealogical research. The site has many "help" and "about" links that explain everything from site navigation to records types.
2. Find A Grave
Includes: Cemetery records
This is a surprisingly helpful website. Find A Grave is volunteer based, and therefore free.The premise is that you can search for anyone's grave as long as it has been added to the site. This can be problematic since many cemeteries, especially small ones, have not been added. But, that is a good reason why you should become a volunteer and add photos or memorials or both! I have found many family history leads on Find A Grave, especially when I was first starting out. The site also has a "famous graves" section, which you can browse or search as well.
3. Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet
Cyndi's List is a website that provides lists of genealogy sites organized into multiple categories based on geography, topic, record type, and more. It is a useful site to visit if you want to get an idea of what digital resources are available to genealogy researchers.
4. Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter
This blog is full of helpful information for genealogists--from beginners to amateurs to professionals, there is something for everyone. Readers can subscribe to the free newsletter or pay for subscription to the "plus" edition. The site also features the Calendar of Genealogy Events, which is perfect for amateurs and professionals who wish to get involved in conferences, meetings, and other opportunities for sharing and networking.
Subscription based
Hint: check with your local library or archives for information about library editions to these subscription based websites. Many medium and large sized repositories and libraries have on-site access to these services so that you can (1) save your money and use their facilities (2) try out the services and see which ones you like best before spending money to subscribe.
1. Ancestry.com
Includes: Vital records, Family trees, DNA testing, Forums
I am sure many of you have heard of Ancestry.com. Once you have searched through local archives and discovered records (perhaps even begun a tree) on Family Search, you may wish for access to records that only a subscription based service can provide. Ancestry is a treasure trove of records, but some of them are time sensitive, so save them and when possible, make paper and/or digital copies of the records outside of your tree. Making a family tree and finding hints is easy enough for beginners and is a great way to organize information for multiple branches and family groups. The cost for a subscription with access to U.S. records is $19.99 per month or $99.00 for six months; World Explorer access is more expensive with a $34.99 per month price tag or $149.00 for six months; a new World Explorer Plus membership will cost $44.99 per month or $199.00 per year--this includes access to all Ancestry.com records plus those available through Fold3 and Newspapers.com. I would recommend starting out with a six month U.S. Discovery membership to try out and upgrading later if you are happy with the service.
2. World Vital Records
Includes: Vital records, Family trees
As the name implies, World Vital Records provides access to millions of vital records and genealogies. From my experience (and I may be wrong) the database seems to be "hit or miss" as far as providing relevant search results. Every site is different and World Vital Records has access to some records that other subscription based services do not. The site offers a seven day free trial of services. A regular subscription costs $16.25 per month or you can pay $89.99 for a yearly subscription, which reduces your monthly rate to $7.50 per month.
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