Archives.com Review

Archives.com, formerly GenealogyArchives.com, is a genealogy tool that helps users trace their family lineage. Powered by one of the largest public record databases, the site also offers a great place to find marriage, death, and other vital records.

The site makes access available to everyone with a free 7-day trial. During this trial, the user has access to over 1 billion records. The site has been featured on TechCrunch, in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and on Forbes.com. The site has also just added 3.5 more U.S. records and pictures. Aside from the user discussions that take place in the member-only forums, Archive.com holds scanned images and hard-to-find vital records dating back to the 1700's.

Note: On January 15th 2010, GenealogyArchives.com changed their name to Archives.com. Some of the consumer reviews of this product were made prior to this change.

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*Descriptions provided by websites and not an endorsement by PeopleSearching.com

59 User Ratings:


Nancy Headen -

3 of 7 people found this review helpful.

archives.com, is a big rip off, once your subscription has started you have to pay a fee to cancel as usual the plot thickens, if you used your checking account #ss it is like cancelling a check to stop payment, this company plays with your money, it is not worth it.

Myleen M -

0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

They were great for the first couple of years at a price of $40 for unlimited searches. Paid the annual fee and can not get any info this year. Now they are worthless.

jim gator -

4 of 10 people found this review helpful.

I am very disappointed in Archives.com . after 5 pages of searching, I was directed to a 7 day free trial and after two more pages I was requested to give this unknown my personal information and a credit card number. It took me several minuets to get the name of Archives.com whom was requesting this information from me. I DO NOT GHIVE MY INFORMATION TO ANYONE UNLESS I CAN IDENTIFY THEM. I am going to call this a SCAM because of the refusal to identify them selfes

Edward Knox -

6 of 15 people found this review helpful.

After one-hour of searching I was unable to find even the simplest piece of information that I knew to exist. I then tried to obtain information that had been located on other services, i.e., data on my marriage. Archives could not find it. I know it took place since I was there!

Jules -

4 of 7 people found this review helpful.

This site is a scam and please stay far away from them. They also charge an arm and a leg for certificates through their so-called site that is attached to Archive.com and its background.usa. I paid for "critical mail" and the search for the marriage certificate,totaled $80 when the actual cost is only $15.00 if you go directly to the City of NY site....huge scam artists working there - I believe its only 2 people in their customer service. Do Not send your form to them in Denver, Co. which they request, so they can scam and rob you of money you don't need to spend.

dennyr -

1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

In all fairness, I was mistaken in a previous review saying I was getting billed after cancellation. It turns out I had activated two 7 day trials and did not know it. Their software gave me no clue about it though. That is why I am now giving them 3 stars.

DWilkerson -

0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Have been a member for over a year. For what you pay data is good. Have called on two occasions to ask questions and reps were very helpful.

L.D. Ashford -

0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

If I could go lower with a rating I would Watch your credit card closely .1/15/2014

gullibile -

0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

After giving credit card info, site said it didn't recognize my user. Called customer support they said same thing. Told them I know they have my e-mail because I get junk e-mail, they "found" me in the system. They say the cancelled my card. Will need to wait and see. This site is a SCAM

Joel Brown -

0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Very high priced. Payed 54.00 for a death certificate, when I could have gone direct for 16.00. Thats a big jump!

Dave -

0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Liars, Charge your card even when you cancel. Almost impossible to get them by phone. Beware.

Kathy -

0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Ancestry's way of gathering new information and making you buy two memberships. I won't do it.

HDGalley -

9 of 16 people found this review helpful.

Archives.com's Phone number is: 1-888-455-2791 Tell them that I am not happy with their Free Scam!!!

plainlyspoken -

0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Asking for a credit card for a free search is FRAUDULENT Advertising. Most of these companies charge for information that should be free--but the government has sold us out to these companies who want money to give us what should be available through the Freedom of Information Act. Not to mention that most of these companies are far from accurate.

terri hunsberger -

1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

no stars false advertising free means FREE NO MONEY what liars then it wont let me send this till I have 15 freakn words! this site really sux

MLH -

1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

this site is a useless waste of money. No one should EVER use this site.

kathie v b -

1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Less than 1 star. Don't advertise for free, if it is not FREE. Go to new.Familysearch.com for free.

Unhappy One -

1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

BEWARE BEWARE A bunch of SCAM ARTIST - no self-respecting company would market their product in the manner they do. Cancellation email was received - but charge was still on card, called they said it was another part of their product which wasn't cancelled and it has to be checked at check out to cancel it - I can't see that without RE-SIGNing - have never seen this kind before.

Turkey Turd -

1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

When you do a search it always says no exact match found but these may be of interest.Who wants to wade through irrelevant material? This site smells of scam.Stay far far away!

Vanessa Williams -

14 of 25 people found this review helpful.

I have had really good luck in their newspaper archives but unfortunately they limit you to 10 searches per day with a 40% off offer to then join NewspaperArchives.com for another $71 per year... nowhere on their site or Terms of Use did I find notification of this limited access... in fact, original offer states "UNLIMITED" access for $39.95... beware!

Sandy Mc -

1 of 5 people found this review helpful.

I was trying to find out where my father obtained a divorce from my mother, of if there was even a divorce gotten. I do not know where it took place, if I did, I would not need to search for it. Also, I would have to pay more in addition to the $39.95 to receive more info. Sandy Mc

Jan Jones -

13 of 26 people found this review helpful.

Archives.com's Phone number is: 1-888-896-4442 You won't be able to find this number on the archives.com site anywhere. Good luck they are a bunch of scam artists.

Does It Matter -

5 of 12 people found this review helpful.

This site is a rip off. Go ANYWHERE else to obtain birth or death certificates. They over charge at every opportunity and you get the run around.

Gerald Howell -

12 of 40 people found this review helpful.

Looking for Gerald for medical records for a relative

Cindy Dixon -

2 of 6 people found this review helpful.

I have often wondered about a half brother I have. He would have been born between 1951-1954 most likely in or around Gary Indiana. My wonderful mother Louise has gone to her grave, without giving many details. Please contact me if you know anything about this person.

OleSarge -

9 of 12 people found this review helpful.

A one star rating was given because there is no minus ratings available . This site is just a coin slot for the other genealogy sites. It is worse than useless and a waste of money and time, Don't waste yours here but go to FamilySearch.com, the LDS site, and it is free.

frederico -

5 of 14 people found this review helpful.

Verified my divorce

Nunya -

1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

NOT FREE Hope the FCC Closes these sites down when they take over the Internet. Free means Free ASSHOLES!

waste of time -

23 of 62 people found this review helpful.

This site is a waste of time! Where are all of the databases and records that were supposed to be available?

epl -

2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

not free....just wanted a little info, but of course like everything else in this country it comes at a price....

Edna Mannon -

6 of 20 people found this review helpful.

I need the death certificate for Dan M. Langford Melitary id 37526506

Terry -

1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Forwarning-- Be aware that after you sign up, and they tell you the number of matches they want you to pay MORE to get the results

scottie -

31 of 39 people found this review helpful.

when it says FREE it should be FREE at no charge or other stupid crap i find a way to shut down these misleading websites!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Butch Foundos alias David Bateman -

24 of 27 people found this review helpful.

I wish there were a way to shut these misleading sites down. They tug at your heart in the way of hope and then hurt you.

sucky site -

4 of 8 people found this review helpful.

I guess nothing is free anymore, including this "free" site that charges you! Very misleading, and should be shut down! It sucks when a link says "free" then asks you for a credit card

Charles Dervon Powell -

7 of 10 people found this review helpful.

i don't find what i am supposed to fill out in order to search

Casey Jones -

10 of 13 people found this review helpful.

This site isn't free. The search is, but access to the information will cost you! Phooey. It isn't free at all!

joe -

35 of 45 people found this review helpful.

not free, not free, not free...

George -

8 of 11 people found this review helpful.

I guess 1 star is the bottom. How is this "free"? They start talking $ before anythins concrete is presented. What a racket

genefan -

29 of 55 people found this review helpful.

Yeah, it's not free forever... but it's free for the trial - which is cool b/c you can find the records you want. I found 4/5 records I wanted & kept the membership

runna -

50 of 86 people found this review helpful.

good alternative to more expensive products... the site is NOT free, it's actually $40/year, but that's pretty cheap. anyone who has done genealogy for long enough knows that no database has all the records, and this site doesn't either... but if you're a beginner or are on a fixed budget, this is a good product. if you've been doing family history 5+ years, probably better to go with ancestry

1bzgrama -

21 of 27 people found this review helpful.

No help at all -good thing they have a free trial

lee popejoy -

5 of 6 people found this review helpful.

it bad when you have to pay to find a father you never got to no

Kathy Sutherland -

16 of 22 people found this review helpful.

Free means free it doesn't mean that it cost money to look at a result. this site sucks.

Nan -

4 of 5 people found this review helpful.

I would give it zero if it allowed. I went there and got nothing on three different searches, so I signed up and all it basically to me to sign up with vitachek. all this site does is advertise for other fee per service places

ALVIN MEYER -

4 of 5 people found this review helpful.

I found a couple things, but most searches gave no results. Don't even bother with this site.

Susan -

4 of 5 people found this review helpful.

It's Not Free like it says .It will look it up for free but charge you to see the results!!!

CP -

2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

This site does not have anything. Not helpful. Just another scam. Does not provide the information that it says it has.

denise batts -

52 of 106 people found this review helpful.

looking for my father's people his name was john slade born in sumpter, sc died i beleive in 1960 or 1961 if anyone out ther relative to him pleas contact me thru e-mail

Mary -

8 of 13 people found this review helpful.

This site actually links to Footnote.com but I already have a subscription! All of the look up I did, I had already found on other sites. And the SS Death Index is free on a lot of sites so who needs the additional expense of Archives.com?

PR Robinson -

2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Quite misleading. I can't even get basic information that I already know! How do I cancel my subscription immediately?

Felipe Garcia -

43 of 66 people found this review helpful.

Hard to even give it a 1 star rating. The only thing I found was that my Dad was in the Army, Duh! I already knew that. Couldn't find census data, birth, death. Found all of this on really free sites. If omething is found you have to pay more to see it!! Thanks, but no thanks

Cognito -

6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

I would give this site a zero, but that isn't an option. After pressing enter for the free trial, I felt that I made an error. I knew I made an error after looking at the reports which are near worthless. I noticed after placing my free trial that Archives charged my credit card $1 which annoys me. I will cancel tomorrow since "only $40 per year" is still a waste of money. I wonder, will I get my dollar back?

Lauton -

33 of 63 people found this review helpful.

Shouldn't even get 1 star, I found 1/3 records and the record I found was of my grandpa who was in the military, so yeah.... they almost charged me 30$ to order my birth certificate.. which they didn't even have. If you want to get what you pay for definitely try somewhere else.

Esther McCallum -

6 of 8 people found this review helpful.

do you not know what free means....nothing ...zippo...thes sites are all bogas...NOTHING is FREE

Pissed off -

5 of 7 people found this review helpful.

This is another crap supposed free site that you have to pay for. Liars.

gen-o -

15 of 25 people found this review helpful.

Only $40 a year after the trial... way less than other sites, but less data than some others. Good for beginners.

john -

11 of 14 people found this review helpful.

worst web site ever. just another scam as everything in the usa has become. do not provide a good product, just steal everyones money.

Rose Cherrington -

60 of 142 people found this review helpful.

I searched 3 ancestors for marriage & death records Found nothing. no stars.