# British Names vs GenealogyDirect

The clearest difference is rating: GenealogyDirect at 5.0 against British Names's 3.5. GenealogyDirect also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (weekly vs every 12 months). British Names's advantage is iOS requirement (11.4 vs 26.0). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

GenealogyDirect holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 4 respectively.

British Names ships an update every 12 months, GenealogyDirect weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | British Names | GenealogyDirect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/british-names/id1420337057/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/genealogydirect/id1600801366/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **4** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 20 MB | 60 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.4** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Andrew Yahin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1124244645) | [TheFrenchApps, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1436445877) |

## What reviewers say

### British Names

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/british-names/id1420337057)

Discover the meanings and origins of over 17,000 British names, including English, Scottish, and Welsh surnames. This offline app allows you to search for specific names and learn their history, making your heritage easily accessible.

**Highlights:** 17,000+ British names, Name meanings and origins, English, Scottish, Welsh surnames, Offline access, Search functionality, Name history

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### GenealogyDirect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/genealogydirect/id1600801366)

Connect with local researchers to find archive documents for your family history. Offer your services to help others with their genealogy searches, making research more accessible.

**Highlights:** Connect with local researchers, Request archive document retrieval, Offer assistance to others, Collaborative genealogy network, Accessible family history research

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is British Names free?

British Names is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is GenealogyDirect free?

GenealogyDirect is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, British Names or GenealogyDirect?

GenealogyDirect is rated higher. British Names averages 3.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while GenealogyDirect averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do British Names or GenealogyDirect have ads?

British Names shows ads; GenealogyDirect does not.

### Which is updated more often, British Names or GenealogyDirect?

British Names ships an update every 12 months, and GenealogyDirect weekly. Most recently, British Names was updated on October 3, 2026 and GenealogyDirect on October 25, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*