Tool profile
webtrees: cost, fit and limits
webtrees is free open-source genealogy software maintained by the webtrees project that you install on your own web server to publish a family tree online, import GEDCOM files and let relatives collaborate under privacy rules.
What to know first
webtrees costs nothing to download, but it is not a desktop program: you need a web server with PHP and MySQL. Release 2.2.6 requires PHP 8.3 to 8.6, with older versions for older PHP. The interface comes in more than 60 languages. Third-party hosting exists, but its prices are not listed on the pages opened, and no AI feature is named.
webtrees at a glance
| Maker | webtrees project, Not stated on the vendor pages |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Entry price | Free |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Genealogy Software in 2026, rank 8 of 10 |
| Website | webtrees.net |
Who webtrees is best for
Families sharing one tree online
User accounts let relatives view or edit the tree, and privacy settings can hide living people from visitors. Access for each relative is controlled by the person running the server.
Technical users with a server
If you already run PHP and MySQL hosting, webtrees adds a genealogy site without license fees. Hosting costs remain, but the software itself has no license price.
Multilingual families
The interface covers more than 60 languages, which helps when relatives read different ones. Pages show names, places and events in the reader's language.
webtrees plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Open-source download | Free | webtrees 2.2.6 for PHP 8.3 to 8.6, with older versions for older PHP The latest release listed on the download page; runs on your own server. |
| Older releases | Free | Earlier webtrees versions for servers that still run older PHP Older versions exist for older PHP, so legacy hosting stays possible but unsupported by the newest release. |
| Third-party hosting | Not published | Specialist webtrees hosting exists from outside providers; prices are not listed on the pages opened |
Checked November 2026.
What webtrees does
- Online publication
- A family tree can be published on the web and relatives can collaborate on it. Publishing happens on a web server you control, so relatives can view the tree in a browser without installing a program on their own computers.
- GEDCOM import
- Standard GEDCOM files can be imported, so a tree from a desktop program can be moved online. This lets you move a tree from a desktop program onto the web, though media links and notes may need checking after the import.
- User accounts and privacy
- Multiple accounts with configurable privacy settings control who sees what. The owner decides what living people and private notes visitors can see, which is the key control for sharing recent generations.
- Modules and themes
- The look and functions can be changed with customizable modules and themes. Modules extend functions and themes change the look, so a site can be tailored without editing the core software.
- Language coverage
- The vendor lists more than 60 languages. More than 60 languages are listed on the vendor page, which helps when relatives in different countries use the same site.
How webtrees handles your data
webtrees is self-hosted, so the vendor pages describe no hosted service of their own. Customer data training does not apply, retention is whatever the server owner sets, and the hosting region is the server you or your host choose. The download page is the source read for this entry. Privacy within the tree is handled through the configurable settings for user accounts, and no security certification is stated. Responsibility for backups, updates and legal compliance sits with the person running the server.
Where webtrees falls short in practice
- Needs server skills. You must run your own web server with PHP and MySQL, which rules out a plain desktop install. A family member without web hosting knowledge will struggle with installation, updates, backups and database maintenance.
- PHP versions must match. Release 2.2.6 needs PHP 8.3 to 8.6, so a server on an older PHP must use an older release. Updating PHP on shared hosting can therefore force a webtrees upgrade at the same time, which needs planning.
- No AI named. The vendor pages name no AI features. Assisted reading, translation or editing would have to come from another tool, since the vendor pages describe none.
Works with
Alternatives to webtrees
webtrees: common questions
Is webtrees free?
The download page describes it as free, open-source software that runs on your own web server. You may still pay a hosting provider, and third-party webtrees hosting exists, but its prices are not shown on the pages we opened. Hosting costs depend on your provider.
What do I need to run webtrees?
A web server with PHP and MySQL. Release 2.2.6 needs PHP 8.3 to 8.6, and older webtrees versions exist for servers with older PHP. Check your host's PHP version before downloading, because a mismatch stops the install. Ask your host for the exact versions.
Can relatives edit my tree in webtrees?
Yes. The vendor describes multiple user accounts with configurable privacy settings and collaboration with relatives. How much each person can edit is controlled by those settings, which the server owner configures. Permissions are set for each user by the person who administers the site, so decide who can change what before inviting anyone.
Does webtrees import GEDCOM files?
Yes, the vendor lists standard GEDCOM import. This makes it a place to publish a tree built in a desktop program. Import a copy first and check media links, because GEDCOM often drops them. Keep the original file, and test with a small sample before moving the whole tree.
Does webtrees have AI features?
The vendor pages name none. It is a publishing and collaboration tool with modules and themes. For AI record reading or assistant editing, Heredis and Family Historian are the two programs in this ranking that name such features. Confirm this with your host before you start.