Moving from Ancestry to LifeWell
A subscription genealogy service with record archives, hints and DNA matching. Choose Ancestry if you want record hints, DNA matches and archives from over 80 countries, and a subscription is fine. Choose LifeWell if you want a free record of the people you actually know, with memories and appointments attached, rather than a research subscription.
Last checked 2026-11-07. The full comparison is on LifeWell and Ancestry.
How to move across
- Open LifeWell and sign in. Start with yourself.
- Add the people you already have in Ancestry, one record at a time (people). LifeWell does not import from other services, so start with those closest to you.
- Link them to each other, and the family tree draws itself.
- Add the memories that matter, with a photo, a date and a place (memories).
- Keep Ancestry for anything LifeWell does not do, such as historical records or DNA.
How they differ
| Feature | LifeWell | Ancestry |
|---|---|---|
| A record for each person in your life | Yes | Not stated on the pages we checked |
| Draws your family tree | Yes | Yes (their page) |
| Memories with a photo, a date and a place | Yes | Not stated on the pages we checked |
| Speak it, and it is written down | Yes | Partly (their page) |
| Share a page with someone who has no account | Yes | Partly (their page) |
| Appointments with a reminder | Yes | Not stated on the pages we checked |
| Medications, conditions and results kept | Yes | Not stated on the pages we checked |
| Notes | Yes | Partly (their page) |
| Download your own data | Yes | Not stated on the pages we checked |
| Android app | Yes | Partly (their page) |
| A free plan that stays free | Yes | Partly (their page) |
| One plan for a household | Yes | Yes (their page) |
LifeWell does not keep the audio of a conversation yet: it writes down what you say. It cannot print your tree for a wall, it has no to-do list for today, and it has no iPhone app. It is not medical advice.
What they charge
| Plan | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Discovery | $24.99 a month (monthly; $21.99/mo paid upfront for 6 months) | their page |
| World Explorer | $39.99 a month (monthly; $32.99/mo paid upfront for 6 months, shown with an introductory $24.83/mo) | their page |
| All Access | $59.99 a month (monthly list price, shown with an introductory $54.99; $49.99/mo paid upfront for 6 months, introductory $39.83/mo) | their page |
LifeWell's plans are on the plans page.
Check it yourself: Ancestry website.