The best online obituary platforms combine permanent free hosting, strong privacy controls, and thoughtful features that let families share memories without time limits or paywalls. Legacy.com dominates newspaper partnerships but charges for extended listings. Scan2Remember offers lifetime free hosting with optional QR memorial plaques. Ever Loved and Kudoboard focus on group collaboration, while newer platforms like Memories and Cake emphasize privacy-first design.
- Free platforms often remove content after 30-90 days; verify permanent hosting before posting cherished memories.
- Privacy settings vary dramatically—some platforms make all obituaries public and indexed by search engines permanently.
- QR-linked digital memorials allow physical-to-digital connections that outlast newspaper archives and social media accounts.
- Platform ownership matters: corporate acquisitions have shut down memorial sites with little notice to families.
When someone you love dies, choosing where to share their obituary feels like a small decision in an overwhelming time. But that choice determines who can find their story, how long it stays online, and whether you'll pay annual fees to keep their memory accessible. This guide examines the leading platforms families actually use in 2025.
What makes an online obituary platform "best" for families
The best platform depends on what matters most to you right now. Some families want maximum visibility through newspaper networks. Others prioritize privacy and control over who can view memories.
Most families tell us they wish they'd considered three factors more carefully: whether the platform charges fees after an initial free period, how easily relatives can find the page in five or ten years, and who actually owns the content they upload.
Look for platforms that clearly state their permanence policy upfront. The word "free" should always be followed by a timeframe or the word "forever." When a site avoids mentioning duration, assume they'll charge you later or remove the content.
Essential features to evaluate
Privacy controls. Can you password-protect the page? Can you hide it from search engines? Can you remove it entirely if you change your mind? Some platforms make every obituary permanently public with no option to delete.
Photo and video capacity. Most platforms allow 10-50 photos. Video support varies widely. Some compress videos heavily, reducing quality. Others limit total storage to 1-2 GB.
Visitor interaction. Do you want people to leave condolences publicly, privately, or not at all? Some platforms allow anyone to post, while others require email verification or family approval.
Top platforms compared: features, costs, and privacy
We evaluated twelve platforms families commonly use. Here's what distinguishes the most reliable options from each other.
Legacy.com
Largest newspaper partnership network.
- Syndicates to 1,500+ newspaper sites automatically
- Strong SEO means relatives find pages easily
- Free basic listing for 30 days
- $49-200 to extend beyond 30 days
- Cannot make private or remove from search
- Minimal customization options
Scan2Remember
Digital memorial page with optional QR plaque.
- Completely free forever, no hidden fees
- Privacy controls: public, unlisted, or password-protected
- Optional QR memorial plaque links physical to digital
- Unlimited photos, generous video storage
- AI photo animation feature included
- No newspaper syndication (by design)
Ever Loved
Collaborative fundraising focus.
- Free permanent hosting
- Integrated funeral fundraising (takes 2.9% + 30¢)
- Good for collecting group memories
- Design feels dated compared to newer platforms
- Limited privacy options
Memories.net
Privacy-focused memorial platform.
- Strong privacy controls and encryption
- Invite-only memorial pages
- Free basic tier, $4.99/month premium
- Less discovery (intentionally private)
- Smaller user base means fewer templates
Most newspaper-affiliated sites follow Legacy.com's model: free for 30 days, then annual fees. Dedicated memorial platforms tend toward either completely free (ad-supported or funded by optional products) or modest subscription models.
Hidden costs to watch for
Several platforms advertise "free obituaries" but charge for features families consider essential. Guest book access costs extra on some sites. Others charge to upload more than five photos or to download condolence messages.
Funeral home partnerships complicate pricing. When a funeral home creates your obituary through their vendor, you often can't access the admin controls. One widow told us she paid her funeral home $300 for an obituary, only to discover she couldn't edit a typo without paying the funeral home another fee.
Security and privacy concerns you need to know
Online obituaries reveal sensitive information. Full birth dates enable identity theft. Addresses ("resided at 742 Evergreen Terrace") tell thieves which homes will be unoccupied during funerals. Most platforms don't warn you about these risks.
The obituary itself isn't just a memorial—it's a data point that aggregators, genealogy sites, and marketing databases scrape and resell indefinitely. Digital Privacy Expert, Consumer Reports 2024
What platforms do with your data
Read the terms of service before uploading family photos. Most platforms claim a "perpetual, worldwide license" to use any content you post. Technically, they can use your loved one's photo in advertising without asking permission.
Several platforms sell aggregated obituary data to genealogy companies, data brokers, and marketing firms. They anonymize the data poorly. Researchers have demonstrated they can re-identify individuals from "anonymized" obituary datasets with 87% accuracy.
Keep their story safe and private
Our digital memorial page gives you complete control over privacy, with free lifetime hosting and no data sharing.
Privacy settings that actually work
- Choose "unlisted" if available. The page exists at a web address, but search engines won't index it. Only people with the direct link can find it.
- Omit full birth dates. List only birth year, or write "born in the spring of 1952" instead of the full date.
- Use general location descriptions. "Longtime Houston resident" instead of full street address.
- Review who can post condolences. Require email verification at minimum. Consider approving each message before it appears publicly.
- Disable location metadata on photos. Most smartphones embed GPS coordinates in photo files. Strip this data before uploading.
Newspaper obituary sites vs. dedicated memorial platforms
Newspaper obituary sites serve a different purpose than dedicated memorial platforms. Newspapers prioritize broad public notice—useful when you need to reach distant acquaintances or professional networks. Memorial platforms prioritize depth—space for hundreds of photos, long-form stories, and ongoing family interaction.
Many families use both. They publish a brief factual obituary through the local newspaper for maximum visibility during services, then create a richer memorial page for long-term remembrance.
| Feature | Newspaper Sites | Dedicated Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| Character limit | 200-800 words typical | Unlimited |
| Photo capacity | 1-10 photos | 50-unlimited |
| Cost for permanent hosting | $150-400/year | Free-$60/year |
| Search visibility | Very high (newspaper domain authority) | Moderate to high |
| Privacy options | None (always public) | Extensive |
| Can delete later | Rarely | Usually |
Newspaper sites excel at reaching people who weren't close enough to be notified directly but cared enough to check the obituaries. That college roommate who lost touch twenty years ago will likely find a newspaper obituary but might never discover a private memorial page.
Why permanent hosting matters more than you think
In 2023, a major memorial platform announced it was shutting down after being acquired. Families had thirty days to download their content before thousands of memorial pages disappeared forever. The company had claimed "permanent free hosting" in its marketing for eight years.
Permanent means different things to different companies. Some mean "permanent as long as our business model works." Others mean "permanent as long as you pay the annual fee." Very few mean "actually permanent regardless of circumstances."
Questions to ask before trusting a platform
Who owns the company? Private equity-backed platforms face pressure to monetize or sell. Bootstrapped companies and those with endowment models tend toward stability.
What happens if they're acquired? Read the terms of service section about "changes to the service." Most reserve the right to delete everything with minimal notice.
Can you export your content? Platforms that let you download everything—text, photos, condolences—in a standard format give you insurance against shutdown.
Connecting physical memorials to online obituaries
QR codes on memorial plaques, headstones, or benches create a bridge between the physical place where people remember and the digital space where stories live. Someone visiting a grave can scan the code and immediately see photos, read stories, and leave their own memory.
This connection solves a problem many families don't anticipate: ten years from now, will relatives remember the web address? Will the bookmark still work? Will the platform still exist?
A digital memorial page linked to a permanent QR code on a physical memorial plaque ensures the connection survives technology changes, platform migrations, and the passage of decades.
How QR memorial systems work
The QR code doesn't link directly to a specific website. It links to a redirect service that can be updated. If you ever move the memorial page to a different platform, you update the redirect—the QR code on the physical plaque doesn't need to change.
Quality memorial plaques use UV-resistant QR code etching or laser engraving. Printed QR codes fade in outdoor conditions within 1-3 years. Engraved codes on stainless steel or anodized aluminum last twenty-plus years.
Families tell us the QR connection encourages visitors to engage more deeply. People standing at a graveside might not remember to look up an online obituary later. Scanning a QR code in the moment captures that impulse to connect and remember.
Frequently asked questions
Can I create an obituary without using a funeral home?
Yes, absolutely. Funeral homes offer obituary services as a convenience, not a requirement. You can write and publish an obituary yourself on any platform that accepts direct submissions. Most newspaper sites accept obituaries from families, though they may charge more than they charge funeral homes. Dedicated memorial platforms like Scan2Remember's digital memorial page welcome family-created content with no funeral home relationship required.
How do I keep an obituary private from employers and insurance companies?
Choose a platform with true privacy controls—unlisted pages that don't appear in search engines. Avoid using the person's full legal name if you're concerned about data brokers. Use a nickname or first and middle name only. Don't mention their employer or specific medical conditions. Remember that newspaper obituaries are almost always public record and get archived by multiple services, making them nearly impossible to keep private.
What's the difference between an obituary and a memorial page?
An obituary is a death announcement—typically a brief factual summary published shortly after someone dies. It includes birth and death dates, survivors, and service information. A memorial page is a living tribute that can grow over time with photos, stories, condolences, and updates. Think of obituaries as the announcement, memorial pages as the ongoing remembrance.
Can I edit an online obituary after publishing it?
It depends entirely on the platform. Newspaper-syndicated obituaries typically allow edits for 24-48 hours after publication, then lock them permanently. Dedicated memorial platforms usually allow indefinite editing, though some archive previous versions. Always review carefully before publishing to newspaper sites, and choose a flexible platform if you anticipate wanting to add content over time.
Will my online obituary still exist in 20 years?
Only if you choose a platform committed to permanent free hosting or you're willing to pay annual fees indefinitely. Platforms backed by one-time product purchases (like Scan2Remember's memorial plaques) or endowment models are more likely to maintain free pages long-term than those dependent on advertising or subscriptions. Always export and back up the content yourself as insurance.
Can I prevent others from posting inappropriate comments on the memorial page?
Most platforms offer comment moderation—either approving each comment before it appears, or removing comments after they're posted. The best approach is requiring email verification for anyone who wants to post, then enabling comment approval. This creates a small friction barrier that stops most inappropriate posts while still allowing genuine condolences. Some families disable comments entirely and ask people to share memories privately via email.
How do genealogy sites get obituary information?
Genealogy platforms scrape publicly posted obituaries from newspapers and memorial sites, then add the data to their searchable databases. Some platforms have formal partnerships that share data automatically. Others simply crawl and index any publicly accessible page. If you want to keep information out of genealogy databases, use a private memorial page with search engine blocking enabled.
Next steps
The platform you choose becomes part of how people remember someone you love. Take a few minutes to explore the options that match your priorities—whether that's maximum visibility through newspaper networks, complete privacy control, or permanent free hosting that outlasts platform changes and business acquisitions.
Most families find that creating a digital memorial page gives them the flexibility to share as much or as little as feels right, with full control over who can see it and how long it remains online. You can add to it over time as you discover old photos or remember new stories worth preserving.
For more guidance on creating meaningful memorials, explore our collection of memorial guides covering everything from writing obituaries to choosing photos that capture someone's full story.