I'm going through the same process of deciding which websites and desktop software to pay for too. Just adding my 2 cts. on this question based on my experience so far. In my opinion, the choice depends on things like:
1. Whether you expect to be regularly (weekly/monthly) active about tracing ancestors or whether (like me) it's a 'now and again' activity that you dip into for a couple of weeks and don't do anything for many months on end. If you expect to be regularly active, you'll get more out of an annual subscription than if you just dip into it now and again (when a pay-as-you-go option may be more suitable).
2. How much value you place on an 'integrated' (one-stop) solution. There are some good free websites but if you use these, you have to manually integrate the information you find somewhere else. Either on one main website or using a desktop program (and preferably both).
3. Where (geographically) you expect your research to take you. Some websites (like Ancestry) have truly global search capabilities. Others are more oriented towards the UK and Ireland.
4. Whether you prefer to work through a desktop program or online. Most of the big 4 websites have desktop programs that synchronise trees with a desktop program. There are also desktop programs (like Legacy, RootsMagic) that allow you to search through multiple websites (if you have a subscription there).
5. How much 'consistency checking' you want/need on your family tree data. MyHeritage (for example) automatically flags errors and warnings on data. The best desktop programs do too. Ancestry doesn't (as yet).
I started out about 5 years ago with Ancestry.com. I later added the desktop program 'Family Tree Maker' which synchronises with my Ancestry data. In general, I like the presentation and ease of navigation of both of these. But Ancestry is relatively expensive and the further you go back, the less accurate its search function is (in my opinion). I also use Findmypast to locate data for specific counties, cities and towns. I do this on a pay-as-you-go basis (per month).
Googling 'best genealogy websites 2017' wil give you some reviews of the pro's and con's of different websites. Doing a similar search with 'best genealogy software' will give you reviews of the desktop solutions.
As previous posters have said, the best way to proceed is to do a trial period with the 'big four' (and the related desktop programs). Evaluate how comfortable they feel to work with and whether they include the records that you're interested in.
A final point is that the choice you make now isn't forever. The data (not the website/program) is your most important asset. Whichever website/program you choose, export a 'Gedcom' file to your desktop. And store all 'images' (census records, BMD records) on your desktop too. If you decide after 6 months to switch to a different website/program you'll be able to import your Gedcom file to a different website/program.
Hope this helps more than it confuses!
Mike
