How to make a family tree online (a simple, free guide)
Making a family tree means charting your relatives and how they connect, then adding photos, dates and stories. This guide shows how to make a family tree online for free in five steps — no software and no genealogy experience required.
Start Your Free TreeFree to start · No credit card · Share in minutes
To make a family tree: (1) start with yourself, (2) add your parents, then grandparents, (3) branch out to siblings, partners and children, (4) add photos and dates to each person, and (5) share or print it. FamBranch does all five for free in your browser.
5 steps to build your family tree
- 1
Start with yourself
Add your own name as the anchor of the tree. Everything else branches out from here, so you never feel lost.
- 2
Add parents and grandparents
Work upward one generation at a time — parents, then grandparents. FamBranch positions each new person automatically.
- 3
Branch out to siblings, partners and children
Fill in the wider family: brothers and sisters, spouses and partners, and the next generation down.
- 4
Add photos, dates and stories
Give each person a portrait, birth year and a short memory so your tree becomes a living record, not just names.
- 5
Share or print your tree
Publish a public share link, invite relatives to co-edit, or export a poster-quality print to frame or gift.
How many generations should a family tree have?
Most family trees show three to five generations — you, your parents, grandparents, and often great-grandparents. Three generations is ideal for a school project; four or five makes a meaningful keepsake for a reunion or gift. FamBranch scales to as many generations as you can document.
What to include in a family tree
At minimum, include each person's full name and relationship. To make it come alive, add birth (and, where relevant, marriage and death) dates, a photo, and a sentence about who they were. FamBranch gives every member a place for all of this.
- ✦Full names and relationships
- ✦Birth, marriage and other key dates
- ✦A photo or portrait
- ✦A short story, place, or tradition
Making a family tree for a school project
For a class assignment, keep it to three generations, add photos, and pick a clean template like Minimal or Storybook. You can print it or share a link with your teacher. See our dedicated family tree for school projects guide for a kid-friendly walkthrough.
Follow the steps — start your free tree
Join families preserving their story on FamBranch — free to start.
Start Your Free TreeFrequently asked questions
How do I make a family tree for free?
Sign up for FamBranch, add yourself, then build outward adding relatives, photos and dates. Creating and sharing your tree is free — no credit card required.
How many generations are in a family tree?
Typically three to five: yourself, parents, grandparents, and sometimes great-grandparents. School projects usually use three; keepsakes often show four or five.
Can I make a family tree with pictures?
Yes. FamBranch is photo-first — add a portrait to every member, and the tree displays them beautifully in tree, timeline and gallery views.