Are you paying for genealogy subscriptions when you already have a golden ticket in your wallet?

Genealogy is a deeply rewarding pursuit, but the subscription fees for major databases can add up quickly. Before you hand over your credit card for another annual renewal, look in your wallet. Your local public library card is the ultimate frugal hack for family historians.

Many public libraries offer free, at-home access to premium databases like HeritageQuest, which provides incredible census data, city directories, and mortality schedules. Even better, thousands of libraries provide on-site access to Ancestry Library Edition. By simply taking your laptop to your local branch, you can search billions of records for exactly zero dollars.

But don’t stop at the public library. Check the university libraries in your state. Many academic institutions allow community members to sign up for “guest researcher” passes. This often grants you access to their physical archives, rare book collections, and sometimes even their institutional database subscriptions.

Cost Savings Tip: An Ancestry All Access subscription can cost over $300 a year. A library card is free.