Ancestry vs Find My Past

[Candolim_Imp]

Hi folk,

I have found a few threads discussing the pros & cons of the search engines on each of the sites and comparing the sets of records both sites share, but I've not yet found anything that really compares the resources themselves.

I'm a diehard Ancestry user and I'm happy with the search facility. I've no intention of leaving Ancestry, but I'm looking at possibly taking advantage of FindMyPast's current discount IF I can be convinced that it will offer enough records that I can't find on Ancestry - different/better scans or transcriptions aren't enough. I need to know I'll get £99 worth of extra records from it.

It's a little hard to glean from the general lists of content, as each has such a range of resources, it's hard to know whether I'd just be doubling up on records already available in Ancestry.

Any thoughts?

[PaulineJ]

Use ancestry from public libraries and pay for FindMyPast.

[Candolim_Imp]

I couldn't possibly - I work office hours and live on Ancestry when I'm home.

[baggygenes]

I have both - I thought I'd let Ancestry go when it came up for renewal couple of months ago as I seemed to spend more time on FindMyPast but after a few weeks I was back with them.
I think its really hard to answer ... it really depends on what areas of the country are most interest and occupations - I've found stuff on FindMyPast couldn't find on Ancestry and vice versa not just specialist records but things that didn't show up in census searches on one but did on other.  I also think it depends how long you've been researching if you are relatively new or not been all that successful I would definitely say have both.

If you can afford it I would take the opportunity of the discount.

[Candolim_Imp]

I think I am leaning towards making use of the discount. However, it seems a little short on Lancashire records, which is where most of my lot are from - especially what is now Merseyside. The free search suggests there are little or no church records from the Liverpool area, as opposed to quite an extensive Liverpool resource on Ancestry.

I am pretty experienced, I've been at it for 10 years and have 12,500 folk in my tree (and some professional research & radio genealogy advice work), but the extent of my research is partly what's tempting me - tracking down some of those annoyingly elusive people. I also have a few merchant seamen amongst them, and these records are in FindMyPast (key people I have through the National Archives, but others are missing). I'm also hoping the probate/will information may throw some extra information up.

[nanny jan]

Both seem to add new databases regularly; have a look at their blogs. Links are on their home pages.


Nanny Jan

[c-side]

I've been thinking of subscribing to FindMyPast and running to two alongside for comparison.  The discount sounds like an incentive but I can't find any mention of it on the FindMyPast website.

Can anybody guide me to it?

Christine

[baggygenes]

I haven't tried any of these to see if they are still valid but may be worth trying.

I also see there's a 14 day free trial in this lot!

http://www.vouchercodes.co.uk/findmypast.com

[weste]

I use ancestry for up to the 1901 but as findmypast put details on a lot quicker for the 1911, i subscribed for that on their site. I will probably still stick with ancestry.