The people who loved someone are often spread across towns, time zones and different parts of their life. An online memorial page gives everyone one place to share photos, stories and messages, whether or not they made it to the service. This guide walks through setting one up step by step and compares free and paid options.
Decide what the page is for
Think first about what you'd like the page to do. Some families want a simple place for service details and condolence messages. Others hope to build a lasting collection of stories and photos for grandchildren, or to gather donations for a cause the person cared about.
There's no deadline. The UK bereavement charity Cruse points out that there's no set timeline for grief and that a tribute page can be started at any time, including on a birthday, an anniversary or the first holiday season without someone (Cruse).
Compare your options, including free ones
You don't need to pay to create a meaningful page. Common choices include:
- A charity tribute page. Several charities host free tribute pages where visitors can leave messages, light virtual candles and donate in the person's name. Anthony Nolan, for example, says its pages stay open for as long as you'd like and can be edited at any time (Anthony Nolan).
- The funeral home's obituary page. Many funeral homes post obituaries online with a guestbook. Ask how long it stays up.
- Social media. A memorialized Facebook profile or a private group can work well when most friends are already there. Our guide to memorializing a Facebook account explains how that works.
- A dedicated memorial website. These sites are built only for remembrance, usually with themes, galleries and privacy settings.
One dedicated option: ForeverMissed
ForeverMissed is a memorial website service that lets you create a private or public page for photos, stories and tributes. Memorials By GG doesn't provide this service. We're sharing it as one option to compare. Its free Basic plan includes over 100 themes, a biography, stories and tributes, unlimited collaborators, privacy controls and up to 5 photos, and the platform says it never shows ads. Paid plans add unlimited photos, music and video galleries, background music and more detailed privacy and guest settings. When we checked its plans page on November 10, 2026, prices were $9.95 a month, $89.95 a year (renews automatically until canceled) or $159.95 once for a Lifetime plan that stays online without renewals. This is an affiliate link; Memorials By GG may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
The same page lists a 14-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee on Premium or Lifetime plans. Prices and features can change, so check the current terms. If you only need a few photos and messages, a free option may be all you need. You can start a ForeverMissed memorial on the free plan and decide about upgrading later.
Gather memories from family and friends
A memorial page feels fuller when many people contribute. A few gentle ways to invite them:
- Send a short, specific request. "Do you have a photo from the lake trips?" is easier to answer than "Please share memories."
- Share the link where people already gather: a family group chat, an email to old coworkers, or printed on the order of service.
- Offer to post for people. Some relatives would rather email you a story or mail an old print than set up an account.
Write the life story in your own words
Start small: where they grew up, the people and places they loved, what they did for work or fun, and a few details that were unmistakably them. You can add more as others share memories. If you'd like help finding words, our guides to writing a heartfelt note and choosing memorial words may help.
Protect privacy while you share
Some personal details can be misused. The IRS recommends not putting too much information in an obituary that identity thieves could use (IRS). The FBI notes that scammers look for dates of birth, mothers' maiden names and addresses in obituaries and posts online, including on social media (FBI). AARP also suggests leaving out the home address and the place of birth (AARP).
In practice, you might share the person's age rather than a full birth date and skip the home address. Consider a private or invite-only page if the site allows it, and agree on who can remove spam or unkind posts.
Keep the page going over time
A memorial page doesn't have to be finished in a week. Families often return on birthdays and anniversaries to add a photo or message. Before choosing a site, check how long the page will stay online and whether you can download your photos and stories. If you'd like ideas for those dates, see our guide to marking the first anniversary of a loss.
Whatever you choose, free or paid, simple or detailed, the best memorial page is one your family feels comfortable visiting and adding to.