I can recommend three free sites: 1. www.usgenweb.org (has websites genealogical websites for almost all Counties in all States, content varies). 2. pilot.familysearch.org (similar to ancestry.com, new records are being transcribed daily). 3. www.familysearch.org (This site has the 1880 US Cenus and other government / church birth, death, and marriage records. They also have family history data submitted by individuals, not proven data, all this info needs to be proven) For paid site, I subscribe to Ancestry. Often you can access paid websites, free, at your local library or LDS Family History Center.