Cherished Book vs Find a Grave
Find a Grave is a huge, free database of burial records and grave locations, built largely by volunteers. Cherished Book is a private, collaborative memorial. They do very different jobs, and many families use both.
Last reviewed June 2026. Prices and features change, so check both sites before deciding.
Which one is right for you?
Choose Cherished Book if…
you want a private, lasting memorial that family build together, with help writing the words and a keepsake you can keep.
Choose Find a Grave if…
you want to find or record where someone is buried, search burial records, or do family-history research.
Cherished Book and Find a Grave, side by side
| Feature | Cherished Book | Find a Grave |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free now. Premium is free while we build it; a one-time $30 is planned, never a subscription. | Free. |
| AI writing help | Yes. AI obituary draft + guided writing prompts. | No. No AI writing help. |
| Collaboration | Yes. Unlimited contributors; guests can add tributes with no account. | Partial. Memorials and virtual flowers, often volunteer-managed. |
| Privacy & control | Yes. Public, private or invite-only; approval queue; no ads. | No. Public records database. |
| Faith & tradition | Yes. 68 faith & secular designs, Faith Gate, secondary calendars. | No. No faith-matched designs or calendars. |
| Events & RSVP | Yes. Yes, with tradition-aware rites (Premium). | No. No events or RSVPs. |
| Resting place | Yes. Map link and directions, with no coordinates or trackers. | Yes. A vast database of grave locations and photos. |
| Fundraising | Partial. Links out to a charity or fundraiser; we take no cut. | No. No fundraising. |
| Photos, video, audio | Partial. Photos and files. No video or audio. | Partial. Grave photos and basic details. |
| Keepsake & export | Yes. Designed PDF memorial book + free full ZIP export. | No. No keepsake book or export. |
| Mobile app | Partial. Works in any browser. No native app. | Yes. iOS and Android apps. |
| Ads & upsells | Yes. None. No ads, no visitor upsells. | Yes. No third-party ads; part of Ancestry. |
✓ included · ~ partial or limited · — not offered · ? not confirmed at our last review. Comparisons reflect public information and change over time.
Where Find a Grave may suit you better
We would rather you found the right place than the wrong one. Here is where Find a Grave does something we do not.
- An enormous database of grave records, locations and volunteer-contributed headstone photos. Cherished Book is not a burial-records database.
- It is one of the best places to find where someone is buried and to do family-history research.
Where Cherished Book is different
- A private, collaborative memorial that family build together, not a public grave record.
- Help writing the words with AI and guided prompts.
- Faith-matched designs, secondary calendars, candles, events and a keepsake PDF plus free export.
- You decide who sees it, rather than a publicly searchable record.
A note on price
Find a Grave is free, funded as part of Ancestry.
Cherished Book is also free to start, with Premium planned as a one-time $30. The two do different jobs: a public burial record, or a private memorial to keep. See our pricing page.
Free to start, no card needed. The Find a Grave link opens in a new tab.
Common questions
Is Cherished Book a grave-records database?
No. Find a Grave records where people are buried. Cherished Book is a private, collaborative memorial for gathering memories and photos.
Can I use both?
Yes. Many families use Find a Grave to record the grave and Cherished Book as the private place to gather memories.
Which is more private?
Cherished Book lets you keep a memorial private or invite-only. Find a Grave is a public records database.
Last reviewed June 2026.
More comparisons and features
Preserve their memory, together.
A collaborative memorial lets family and friends share stories, photos, and announcements, all in one place. It’s free to create.
Something not right?
We work hard to keep this content accurate and respectful. If you spot anything that could be improved, let us know.