Best Reviewed
Genealogy Software
- Best free genealogy software RootsMagic Essentials *Est. $0
- Best full-featured genealogy software RootsMagic 4 *Est. $30
- Best genealogy software for Mac Reunion 9 *Est. $100
- Best genealogy software for professionals The Master Genealogist v7 Gold *Est. $60
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- Best for pros
- Sophisticated publishing formats
- Can record and note conflicting data
- Can run on Macs (but designed for PCs)
- Very steep learning curve
- Expensive
Reviews say The Master Genealogist is the best software for professionals or for amateurs who want to record encyclopedic details. But every review we saw indicates most will find the learning curve daunting. In fact, you can now buy instructional books and videos in order to learn The Master Genealogist. As with most top programs, you can seamlessly import Genealogical Data Communications (GEDCOM) files, and there are some sophisticated publishing formats that you would use for academic journals. One plus is that you can record conflicting data rather than have to pick one. TMG can be run on Macs but is not specifically designed for them like Reunion 9 (*est. $100). If you want something simple for a PC, reviews suggest RootsMagic 3 (*est. $30) or Legacy Family Tree 6.0 (*est. $30).
TopTenReviews.com publishes a detailed and granular features comparison for genealogy software, along with a short editorial review. The individual reviews we found at About.com, Family Tree Magazine, Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter and Canada's National Genealogical Society are helpful, written by genealogical pros. We found helpful user reviews at Amazon.com.
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Our Sources
In this comparison chart, The Master Genealogist Gold ranks fifth because it's so complex, the review saying it's a great product "if you're tackling genealogy with the discipline of a statistician."
Review: Genealogy Software Review, Editors of TopTenReviews.com
2. About.com
Kimberly Powell is a professional genealogist who ranks software based on her personal opinion. The Master Genealogist is the pro's choice and offers great detail but is hard to learn. (Note that ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com but is editorially independent.)
Review: Genealogy Software Roundup 2007, Kimberley and Albrecht Powell, Oct. 2007
This genealogy magazine doesn't give software an ultimate ranking, but editors do discuss advantages and disadvantages to each software title. The Master Genealogist Gold's drawback is its "steep learning curve."
Review: Software Guide, Editors of Family Tree Magazine, 2008
You can find Family Tree's 2002 full review of The Master Genealogist posted on its message board. Among the plusses noted are "unlimited customization." The reviewer says that while the learning curve is "steep," it is less difficult to learn than earlier versions were.
Review: The Master Genealogist Gold 6.12 For Windows Software Review, Rick Crume, Oct. 12, 2007
5. Smart ComputingDetails/Subscribe
Legacy Family Tree 5 (now updated as version 6) and The Master Genealogist 6 are discussed but not really rated in this review. Reviewer Kylee Dickey says, "If you're new to genealogy software, you'll be more comfortable with Legacy."
Review: Family Feud: Legacy Family Tree 5 Standard vs. The Master Genealogist 6 Silver, Kylee Dickey, Aug. 2005
6. Amazon.com
About ten user reviews give The Master Genealogist Gold a decent average score. There complaints concern a difficult interface, and one of those reviews is written by someone claiming to be a computer teacher.
Review: The Master Genealogist Gold Edition Reviews, Contributors to Amazon.com
7. Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter
This is just an announcement of an upcoming update to The Master Genealogist, but there are reader comments below about older versions. Some say The Master Genealogist is "too techie" and tough to use.
Review: The Master Genealogist version 7.01, Dick Eastman, April 18, 2008
8. National Genealogical Society (Canada)
This is a review of an earlier version of The Master Genealogist, and while it's outdated, its 19 PDF pages give some insight into the program's features.
Review: TMG 5 Review, Bill Mumford
Genealogy Software Runners Up:
3 picks including: About.com, Family Tree Magazine…
2 picks by top review sites.
1 pick including: About.com, Family Tree Magazine…
