MyHeritage is a genealogy app designed to help you explore your family history and connect with relatives. I've been using it for a few years now to build my family tree. The app itself launched a while back, and you can get it on both Google Play and the App Store. It has millions of downloads, which shows how many people are into discovering their roots. The basic app is free to download and install, which is great for getting started. You do need to create an account to save your tree, but that's pretty standard. They do have optional in-app purchases for more advanced features like detailed historical records or DNA tests, and you might see some ads for their services, but it's not overly intrusive.

Using the app is pretty straightforward. After you download and install it, you start by adding yourself, then your parents, and so on. The cool part is it suggests potential relatives and records as you go, which saves a ton of time. A simple tip from a regular user: upload old family photos! The app can sometimes even animate them or help identify faces, which is a neat feature. I mostly use it on my phone to add details when I'm visiting older relatives, making it easy to capture stories on the spot. It syncs with the website, so you can switch between devices without losing your work.

Compared to other family tree apps like Ancestry, I find MyHeritage has a more international focus, which was key for my European branches. While Ancestry is huge, MyHeritage often feels a bit more user-friendly for beginners just starting their search. The DNA side is integrated right into the app, so you can see your matches alongside your tree. I chose it because the free tier lets you build a decent-sized tree without paying upfront, and the photo tools are genuinely fun to use. It's less overwhelming than some other options while still being powerful.

• 🌳 Building Your Tree: The core function is creating a visual family tree. You add names, dates, and photos. It's smoother than some standalone website builders because the mobile app makes data entry quick during family gatherings.
• 🔍 Smart Matches & Record Hints: The app constantly scans its database for records matching people in your tree. Compared to just using a site like FamilySearch manually, this automatic hint system on MyHeritage surfaces census records or other documents with little effort.
• 🧬 Integrated DNA Results: If you take their DNA test, your ethnicity estimate and genetic matches appear directly in the app. This stands out against apps that only do trees, as it connects your biological evidence with your historical research in one place.
• 🖼️ Photo & Animation Tools: This is a unique standout. You can colorize, restore, and even create brief "Deep Nostalgia" animations from old portraits. No other major genealogy app I've used has these built-in, creative features for bringing ancestors to life.

• ✅ International Records: Their database is strong in European and other global records, which is a big plus over competitors more focused on specific countries like the US or UK.
• ✅ User-Friendly Interface: The app is intuitive. For beginners, it's easier to navigate than Ancestry's app, which can feel cluttered with subscriptions and prompts.
• ✅ Photo Features: The photo tools (colorization, animation) are exceptional and not just a gimmick—they provide a unique, emotional connection to the past that other apps lack.

• ⚠️ Subscription Pressure: To access most historical records, you need a paid subscription. The push to upgrade is more noticeable here than on some free-to-use platforms like WikiTree.
• ⚠️ DNA Match Communication: Messaging DNA matches through the app can feel limited unless they are also active users, a common hurdle it shares with other services like 23andMe.