Genealogy Chat

What is the best site ,' to join to look up records ' and is it better to take out an annual subscription ? I don't want a pay per view ,as I think it would work out cheaper , to have a yearly one . Any thoughts please !

Ancestry without a doubt. Costs about £70 per year but is invaluable. Sam x

I think it would depend what you're wanting to look up. I think the thing to do is make a list of things you're likely to want to check. Then compare the different sites and what they have available. Be careful of the way they word the blurb on the site. When ancestry says it has complete BMD indexes, they're not all transcribed so while you can view the original images they're not yet in the searchable index. Although I personally have found them to be the best. Check to see if FreeBMD has what you're looking for first. I personally don't think I could have got where I am without Ancestry, but there is a real knack to using the search facility. There have been mistranscriptions that have caused hiccups, but like with anything, you eventually learn how to make it work for you. (and there are always people to give you advice). I originally started off on a month by month basis on there, but realised that for the few months I'd paid that I may as well get an annual subs. Because I'm fairly sure my guys are UK based I only went for that option and it's working well. They seem to be adding new things on there all the time. I think you can get a 14 day free trial on there... you have to enter your details and stuff but so long as you cancel a couple of days before the end of the trial they shouldn't charge you anything. That said, as I indicated before, I've found it invaluable in my search. Good luck with your choice. Liz

Thanks for that