Frequently Asked Questions

Honest answers to what people ask before signing up — including where we fall short.

Data & Ownership

Can I self-host Gather the Family?
No — GTF is a managed cloud service (built on AWS serverless infrastructure), not something you can run on your own server. What you do get is full data portability: export your entire tree to standard GEDCOM format anytime, so you're never locked in even though the app itself isn't self-hostable.
What happens to my data if I cancel?
It stays exportable. You can download your complete tree in GEDCOM format — including photos, notes, and sources — even after canceling. We don't hold your research hostage. If you'd rather your data be deleted instead, "Delete My Account" in your profile settings does that yourself, anytime, no need to contact us — deletion is permanent, so export first if you want to keep a copy.
What if Gather the Family shuts down someday?
We're a small, sustainably-run team, not a venture-funded company burning cash to chase growth — but we know "what if you disappear" is a fair question for any startup. Our commitment: 90 days notice and export tools before any shutdown, so your research doesn't vanish overnight. See How We're Different for the full answer.
Do you sell or share my family data?
No. Your tree is private by default, and we never sell your data. See Data Security for the full commitment.

AI & Accuracy

How good is the AI at reading old handwriting?
Genuinely good now, including 1800s and early-1900s cursive on letters, draft cards, and census forms — that wasn't always true (earlier models hallucinated on dense census grids), but current models handle it well. The honest caveat: accuracy still depends on scan quality and legibility, the same as it would for a human transcriber. A blurry microfilm scan is harder regardless of who or what is reading it.
Does the AI just make things up?
It can be wrong, like any AI, which is why every AI suggestion goes through a review step before it touches your tree — nothing is auto-applied. See our Responsible AI page for how we design around that.
Is my family data used to train AI models?
No. All AI processing runs through AWS Bedrock inside our own infrastructure — your data is never sent to a third-party LLM provider like ChatGPT.

Is GTF Right For Me?

Do you have a record database like Ancestry?
No, and it's not our focus. We integrate hints from WikiTree rather than hosting billions of records ourselves — FamilySearch hint integration is built but not yet live, pending FamilySearch's approval for API access. In the meantime, our Chrome extension already captures data from FamilySearch (and most other sites) as you browse. If you need deep record search, you'll likely use Ancestry or FamilySearch alongside GTF, not instead of it. Full breakdown on the comparison page.
Do you have DNA match tools?
Not currently.
Is this good for professional genealogists?
Yes — multi-tree support is built in, which most consumer-focused tools don't offer.

Pricing & Billing

Is there a free plan?
Yes, free forever: 50 people, 10 AI queries/month, no credit card required. See Pricing for all tiers.
Will I be charged without warning?
No — we email you 7 days before any renewal charge.
How do I cancel?
Two clicks from your account settings. No phone calls, no retention pitch.

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