Is Banyan a good alternative to MyHeritage?

Yes, for families who want a private tree they build together. Banyan is free to start, one plan from US$79 a year covers the whole tree, and invited relatives never pay. Your tree stays private to your family and never appears in search.

Can people outside my family find my Banyan tree?

No. A Banyan tree is private to the relatives you invite. It never appears in search engines, public directories or genealogy databases.

Can my relatives edit a Banyan tree?

Yes. Relatives with the Family role can add relatives and suggest edits. Elders approve suggested changes and manage roles, and Viewers can look without changing anything.

Can I download my family tree from Banyan?

Yes. Banyan Family and Banyan Legacy export your tree as a GEDCOM file, the standard format other family tree apps open. Your family's information stays yours.

A simpler MyHeritage alternative

Banyan vs MyHeritage

MyHeritage combines historical records, DNA kits and family trees across a range of paid plans. Banyan keeps it simple: one private tree your relatives build together, and one plan that covers everyone.

Checked October 20, 2026

The short answer

Choose Banyan if you want one simple, private place for your living family. Banyan is free to start, one plan from US$79 a year covers the whole tree, and every relative joins free. MyHeritage splits records, DNA tools, larger trees and photo features across several yearly plans.

Banyan and MyHeritage, side by side

Banyan compared with MyHeritage
	BanyanYour living family	MyHeritageRecords and DNA
Who sees your tree	Good for families: Invited relatives only	Trade-off for privacy or control: Can appear in search
Who can change it	Good for families: Your family; elders approve	Neutral: Site owner decides
Price	Good for families: Free, or US$79/yr for everyone	Neutral: Several yearly plans
What relatives pay	Good for families: Nothing	Neutral: Owner sets access
Ads and your data	Good for families: No ads, never sold	Trade-off for privacy or control: Works with ad partners

Good for families Neutral Trade-off for privacy or control

Full details for each row

Made for

Banyan: Your living family, building one private tree together
MyHeritage: Historical records, DNA kits and family trees

Who sees your tree

Banyan: Only the relatives you invite. Never public or searchable.
MyHeritage: Family site members. Trees can be included in MyHeritage search; living people's details are hidden except last names.

Who can change it

Banyan: Only your family. Elders manage roles and review suggested edits.
MyHeritage: The site owner chooses: all members, managers only, or the owner alone.

Price

Banyan: Free to start. US$79 a year covers up to 250 relatives; US$149 a year for unlimited.
MyHeritage: Yearly subscriptions. Records, DNA tools, larger trees and photo features sit in separate paid plans.

What relatives pay

Banyan: Nothing. One person pays for the tree, and every invited relative joins free.
MyHeritage: Family site members can view the trees. The site owner decides whether members can edit.

Ads and your data

Banyan: No ads. Your family's information is never sold.
MyHeritage: Says it has never sold personal data. Works with third parties on marketing and advertising.

Photos and family life

Banyan: Photos and notes on every profile, plus a shared calendar of birthdays and gatherings
MyHeritage: Photo enhancement and animated photos, with more in paid plans

Why families choose Banyan

One plan, not a menu

MyHeritage sells records, DNA tools, tree size and photo features in separate yearly plans. Banyan has one plan per tree, from US$79 a year, and every relative joins free.

Never in a search engine

MyHeritage can include your tree in its search engines and recommends it. A Banyan tree is never searchable. Only the relatives you invite can find it.

No ads, no data sales

Banyan runs no ads and never sells your family's information. Your tree exists for your family, and for nothing else.

Banyan vs MyHeritage: questions

Is Banyan a good alternative to MyHeritage?: Yes, for families who want a private tree they build together. Banyan is free to start, one plan from US$79 a year covers the whole tree, and invited relatives never pay. Your tree stays private to your family and never appears in search.
Can people outside my family find my Banyan tree?: No. A Banyan tree is private to the relatives you invite. It never appears in search engines, public directories or genealogy databases.
Can my relatives edit a Banyan tree?: Yes. Relatives with the Family role can add relatives and suggest edits. Elders approve suggested changes and manage roles, and Viewers can look without changing anything.
Can I download my family tree from Banyan?: Yes. Banyan Family and Banyan Legacy export your tree as a GEDCOM file, the standard format other family tree apps open. Your family's information stays yours.

Start the tree your family will keep adding to.

Banyan Starter is free. Invite your relatives with a link or QR code, and build your family tree together.

Start your family tree free

More comparisons

Banyan vs AncestryPrivate from day one, and one yearly plan instead of a monthly membership.Compare Banyan vs FamilySearchA tree your family controls, not one shared world tree anyone can edit.Compare Banyan vs GeniYour own private tree, never merged into a world tree.Compare All comparisonsBanyan next to every service in one table.See the table

Sources

We checked each company's public website on October 20, 2026. Prices are US list prices before tax and can change. Introductory offers are not shown. Banyan details come from our plans, FAQ and privacy policy. Brand names belong to their owners.