Best Genealogy Software

Best software for novices and pros

Keep in mind that although genealogy software companies often include historical information and databases on their products' respective websites, you are not limited to using information only on those sites. Because of a standard information format called GEDCOM (GEnealogical Data COMmunication), you can find and transfer genealogy information to and from other sources, as well as download information from websites to any genealogy software application with GEDCOM compatibility (all of the titles in the ConsumerSearch Best Reviewed section are GEDCOM compatible). Some genealogy websites (such as Genealogy.com and Ancestry.com) require a subscription, but other databases are free.

Reviews praise Legacy Family Tree 7.0 Deluxe (*Est. $35) for its printed reports and top-notch to-do lists as well as its new SourceWriter feature which cites sources easily and formats them to industry standards. The Deluxe program includes Legacy Charting Deluxe software, which can create fancy color wall charts. In addition to impressive family group sheets, pedigree charts and book-format reports, the program produces web pages in a variety of styles and slide shows with sound and automatically maps your ancestors around the world using Microsoft Virtual Earth.

Legacy Family Tree is one of the highest-rated genealogy programs at About.com, where Kimberly Powell writes that it's simple yet robust. Legacy Family Tree is more intuitive to use than most. It is GEDCOM compatible, and you can export pages to your website with its site-building tools. The software can even translate your reports into other languages, helpful for international research. Another helpful feature scans your reports for potential problems, such as an implausible birth date.

One nice aspect is that a basic version, called Legacy Family Tree 7.0 Standard, is available as a free download. This makes it a good choice if you're not sure whether you'll stick with genealogy as a hobby, or if your primary goals are simple. You can always choose to upgrade if you want more features, and you won't lose any data. The free version doesn't include the error finder (to uncover data inconsistencies), and there aren't many book publishing options. You can't create reports in different languages, and many of the customizable features aren't usable in the free version.

RootsMagic 3 (*Est. $30) receives a glowing review from Smart Computing's Kylee Dickey, who says it has been a favorite of hers because of its excellent features. Smart Computing tested the program's ability to import GEDCOM files, and RootsMagic came through with flying colors. It supports PAF (Personal Ancestral File), and you can import data from versions of the now defunct Family Origins.

Testers at Family Tree Magazine admire RootsMagic's simple interface, saying, "You probably won't have to spend much time learning how to use this program." About.com's Kimberly Powell likes that she can view multiple databases at one time, as well as drag and drop data between them.

RootsMagic genealogy software includes features for book publishing and charting (though some reviews say that the charts could be prettier). You can create sharable CDs or let friends and relatives view a read-only form of RootsMagic. A website creator tool helps you assemble six different types of sites, which you can choose to publish. An integrated backup feature allows you to back up your data to a CD, but RootsMagic doesn't store backups online (Family Tree Legends does this). A free trial version is available. A new version, Roots Magic 4, is currently in the preview stage. If you buy Roots Magic 3 now, you are guaranteed to get Version 4 free.

According to most reviews, Ancestral Quest 12.1 (*est. $30) doesn't quite come up to the level of Legacy Family Tree or RootsMagic genealogy software, but it does have some standout features that could tip your decision. Ancestral Quest is compatible with Personal Ancestral File (discussed later in this report), so it's a good choice for users of that program looking to upgrade.

But what really sets Ancestral Quest 12.1 apart is its online editing feature, which allows you to share a single file with another person, enabling others to also edit your file. You can also edit databases of both Ancestral Quest and Personal Ancestral File. This could be a great feature for online collaboration with other family members. Ancestral Quest's charts, book publishing and web publishing features aren't as sophisticated as others, however, and reviews say it is not as easy to use as Legacy or RootsMagic. More features allow for book publishing with an index and table of contents, and enhanced features include the ability to make a descendancy chart.

In 2004, Family Tree Maker genealogy software was acquired by MyFamily (now known as The Generations Network), the same company that maintains Ancestry.com. While past versions of Family Tree Maker genealogy software didn't receive great reviews, Family Tree Maker 2008 got much better reviews. According to About.com's Kimberly Powell, Family Tree Maker 2008 was totally new rather than merely tweaked. However, the package seems to have missed the boat in some areas. In previous versions, Family Tree Maker excelled in its publishing features, but Powell wrote of the 2008 version that the "new version appears to be a bit lacking in this department, with some popular charts/reports not yet available, and options such as book publishing relying on Internet integration."

It seems, however, that The Generations Network has been listening to their customers. To date, the company has issued several updates addressing consumer issues and has recently issued Family Tree Maker 2009 (*Est. $30), which was created almost completely on customer input. The company claims that testing of the program involved nearly 300 beta testers. User reviews at Amazon.com are mostly positive with several users stating that the program is a "major improvement" over the 2008 version.

Some users complain, however, that the program is still too slow and that it crashes often, while others report that the company's technical support department was able to correct their problems quickly. Book publishing is also still an issue with many, but the company claims that desktop book building will be added in a future update. For now, book publishing will continue to rely on integration with the company's Ancestry Press online tool. Whether these changes will be enough to satisfy dissatisfied users remains an open question for now. Family Tree Maker gets a good review from Family Tree Magazine, but ultimately, editors say Legacy or RootsMagic are better for most people.

Although The Master Genealogist v7 Gold (*Est. $60) download or $70 CD-ROM continues to receive reviewers' accolades, it's often not the best choice for casual researchers, mostly because of its steep learning curve. Even reviewers who rave about this program's sophisticated data handling and reporting capabilities admit that it's not particularly easy to use.

There's also a pared-down version -- The Master Genealogist v7 Silver (*Est. $34 download or $40 CD-ROM). That version leaves out some functions found in the Gold Edition, such as the ability to create indexes and a table of contents. Since most home users aren't planning to publish their family trees in academic journals (and hence don't need those features), the Silver edition might be all that is needed -- though the Gold version does also come with a 400+ page electronic user's guide, written in PDF format.

Genealogists on the go might find PDA software handy. Although not as robust as their desktop counterparts, these programs can allow you to enter notes, create and manage multiple databases, update GEDCOM files and store pictures. Pocket Genealogist (*est. $20 basic version or $35 advanced) is one example that's available for Pocket PCs, while GedWise (*est. $20) is available for Palm OS and Pocket PC users.