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Genealogy SoftwareYou are here: Software >> Genealogy SoftwareUpdated September 2007Best genealogy softwareKeep 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 ConsumerSearch Fast Answers 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 6.0 Deluxe Edition (*est. $30 download or $40 CD-ROM with manual) for its printed reports and top-notch to-do lists. One negative is that you'll have to spring for Progeny Software's Legacy Charting Companion add-on program (*est. $20 download or $25 CD-ROM) in order to create fancy color wall charts. That can add a considerable cost to this otherwise affordable genealogy program. (The pared-down Standard Edition is free.) But if wall charts aren't important to you, then Legacy Family Tree might fit your needs just fine. 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. 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 the basic version of Legacy Family Tree genealogy software is free. 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) , the successor to the now-discontinued Family Origins, 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), and it is compatible with GEDCOM and PAF file imports. 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 (Legends Family Tree does this). A free trial version is available. According to most reviews, Ancestral Quest 12 (*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 below), so it's a good choice for users of that program looking to upgrade. But what really sets Ancestral Quest 12 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. But new features allow for book publishing with an index and table of contents, and enhanced features include the ability to make a descendancy chart. Although The Master Genealogist Gold (*est. $60 download or $80 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 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 printed manual. Genealogy software for MacintoshNearly all of the software we saw reviewed is only compatible with Windows operating systems. Mac users have fewer options. Reunion 9 from Leister Productions (*est. $100) is the leading Mac-compatible genealogy software on the market. Macworld gives it its highest rating of "five mice" because it is "beautifully designed, easy to use, and a pleasure to work with," according to reviewer Jeffery Battersby. Many users think of Reunion as the only genealogy software available for the Mac, but Heredis Mac X.2 from the French company BSD Concept (*est. $70) has also been favorably received. In a review of the previous version, Family Tree Magazine compliments Heredis for its attractive web pages and ease of use. In a more recent report, Macworld's Jeffery Battersby says that Heredis Mac X.2 is a "well-designed and versatile genealogy program," though he rates Reunion 9 more highly. MacFamilyTree (*est. $50) from Germany's OnlyMac Software also gets some consideration. However, critics say that while it is a good program, the interface is not as clean as some other Mac software. If you want to try before you buy, a demo version (downloadable at http://www.onlymac.de/indexe.htm) will let you do everything except save your work. Free family tree softwarePersonal Ancestral File 5.2 (free download or *est. $8.25 CD-ROM with Personal Ancestral File Companion, see below) was created and is maintained by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), which runs the world's largest genealogy repository, the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. Reviewers say that Personal Ancestral File is straightforward and uncluttered. About.com's Kimberly Powell notes that it's "perfect for novice computer users and genealogists." Personal Ancestral File 5.2 does all the basics well. It has efficient data entry, well-designed family group sheets and pedigree charts, and good source documentation. The program also imports and exports GEDCOMs with the best of them. The latest version allows the creation of templates for customized data entry and print reports in a variety of languages. To create fancy charts, however, you'll need the add-on Personal Ancestral File Companion (*est. $7 download, or included on the Personal Ancestral File CD-ROM). There is also a free "evaluation" version of the Personal Ancestral File Companion that lets you evaluate its features, but limits the number of reports you can generate and disables some program functions. Compared to other highly rated genealogy programs, Personal Ancestral File falls short in the multimedia category. It doesn't have book publishing or website publishing features, and there are limitations to the number of photo and audio files you can attach. But if you want a basic family tree maker for recording and organizing your data, Personal Ancestral File is an excellent choice. Family Tree Legends 5.0 (free download), from the creators of the popular GenForum (http://genforum.genealogy.com) and GenCircles.com websites, gets good reviews for its friendly interface and easy navigation. Like other software, it is GEDCOM compatible. It can also save your work in HTML for possible uploading to a personal website. About.com's Kimberly Powell writes, "Where it really shines is in its tight Internet integration, making it easy to backup your database, look for and download matches from other family trees, and publish your family tree online with just a few clicks." You can also back up your data on CD or DVD. Family Tree Magazine loves its interface: "Uncluttered screens, attractive graphics and a refreshing pastel color scheme make Family Tree Legends the most attractive genealogy software you'll find." One unique feature is that Family Tree Legends automatically backs up data on secure servers. It can even publish that information on the web without any effort on your part. Family Tree Legends also has a unique SmartMatching feature. The program will compare the names in your family file to those in the GenCircles pedigree database, so you can add new branches to your tree. Dick Eastman of Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter raves about this feature: "In my case, it was 100 percent accurate. Every single person listed is, indeed, an ancestor of mine. I have never seen that degree of accuracy on any other online data matching service that I have ever used." Once the program has displayed a match, you can either merge all the data into an individual's record or merge one fact at a time. One drawback is that Legends doesn't attempt to look for data-entry errors on its own. Important Features: Genealogy softwareExperts say you should look for these features in family tree maker software:
Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
* Also see our Comparison Chart.
A number of genealogy software programs are highly rated, and most reviews say each one has a slightly different specialty. RootsMagic and Legacy Family Tree are easiest to use. The basic version of Legacy Family Tree is a free download. Although The Master Genealogist is excellent -- and the best choice for professionals or experienced enthusiasts -- it has a steep learning curve for beginners. Personal Ancestral File hasn't had an upgrade in some time, but reviews still say it's very user-friendly and affordable (free). Reunion 9 is the best choice for Mac users, even though it's expensive.
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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 a beta version is now being offered for Pocket PC users. You can get specifications from the following products' websites, as well as download a demo or the actual software from most of them: Here are a few sites to check for updates on genealogy software. You won't necessarily find reviews here, but you'll get product news and information: Advertisement
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