Geni
A collaborative genealogy network built around a shared global tree.
Geni is a web-based family tree builder that connects individual family research into a large shared genealogy graph. Users can create profiles, invite relatives, upload family media, cite sources, join research projects, and search hundreds of millions of profiles for possible connections.
Why it stands out
- Centers research on one shared tree rather than separate isolated user trees.
- Large connected profile base, with the page citing more than 210 million connected profiles and search across 280 million profiles.
- Volunteer curators help manage collaboration issues and historical-profile standards.
- Combines family-tree building with projects, discussions, citations, and automated consistency checking.
- Strong international orientation, including volunteer-led translation across many languages.
Good to know
- JavaScript is required for parts of the site to work.
- Advanced discovery tools such as site-wide profile search, unlimited Tree Matches, and unlimited media uploads are positioned as Pro features.
- Free Basic accounts include media uploads only up to the stated 1GB limit.
- Collaborative genealogy can surface conflicting edits or uncertain user-contributed data, so cited sources still need review.
Under the radar: If you already maintain a tree elsewhere, start with the GEDCOM import option during signup instead of manually recreating every profile.
Photos
Family historians and genealogists who want to merge private research into a collaborative worldwide tree can use Geni to find shared ancestors and avoid duplicating work. Build a family tree with relatives contributing names, dates, photos, and corrections. Search existing profiles to discover whether another researcher is working on the same family line. Use citations, consistency checks, and discussion groups to improve uncertain family-history data. Participate in surname, regional, or historical research projects with other genealogy volunteers.
Collaborative family tree profiles; GEDCOM import; unlimited profile creation on Basic and Pro accounts; photo and media uploads; source citations; tree and record matching through MyHeritage; relationship paths; genealogy projects; discussion groups; consistency checks; volunteer curators; interface translation work across more than 150 languages.
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Similar sites elsewhere
- Ancestry — ancestry.com
- MyHeritage — myheritage.com
- FamilySearch — familysearch.org
- WikiTree — wikitree.com