Many people have a large family tree, but it’s difficult to track all of their relatives. When creating an extensive family tree, it’s important to make sure that you use top-notch software, such as AncestryDNA. These developments in genomics and genealogy mean you could potentially uncover your unknown ancestors, making it much easier to keep track of your extended family. I believe the best software for family tree is AncestryDNA, but if you already have a large family tree and don’t want to spend the money on another expensive genealogical software package then you can try something like MitOgraphy.
Genealogy software basics
There are a bunch of things that you can expect any genealogical software to do:
- Build a family tree
- Record information on your ancestors: dates, locations, relationships, etc.
- Document research sources and link them to your family tree
- Maintain more than one database for multiple family trees
- Print out ancestral charts and reports
- Share your family tree with others in print and electronically
- Store photos, audio and video recordings, and scans of your ancestors and documents
- Protect your information through regular backups
- Give you hints on where and how to search for more clues
- Export your information to other genealogy programs
In addition, some genealogy software today will let you:
- Download information directly from certain online resources
- Map your ancestors through time and space
- Browse online directly, without switching to a separate web browser
So if all genealogy software does all this, does it really matter which program you pick?
Yes, it does, because each program does certain things better than others. The best one for you depends on how you plan to use it.
Here are our top 5 picks for genealogy software, in no particular order because they are all best at something.
Best Software for Family Tree
Family Tree Maker 2017
Also see Family Tree Maker 2019 Review.
Family Tree Maker, or FTM, has been around for decades, and is the best known and most widely used genealogy software.
It packs a lot of power, and is good all-around at just about everything.
Pros and cons
Family Tree Maker provides all of the features that you would expect from a genealogy program, and it does most of them very well.
The latest version of Family Tree Maker added a unique feature called FamilySync, which lets you automatically synchronize up to three family trees.
This is perfect if you have relatives who are working on the same tree as you. Any information you enter gets added to their trees, and vice versa.
They have also added the ability to color code your ancestors with up to eight different colors each.
This can be used to help you keep track of your research status, easily see which children were by a first wife or second wife, or any other use you can think of.
Family Tree Maker 2017 also includes a lightweight built-in image editor so you can make simple changes to enhance any photos connected to your family tree.
The program connects easily to both the Ancestry and FamilySearch websites, allowing you to download records directly into your tree.
It also provides extensive hints on places to search for more records when you are connected to the internet.
FTM 2017 is one of very few programs that now allows you to include same-sex marriages in your family tree.
On the negative side, while Family Tree Maker 2017 does offer an improved set of charts and reports, the charts are still not as extensive as Legacy 9.
Also, the company that produced Family Tree Maker changed in 2016.
The new company, Mackiev, has made a number of changes and improvements with their 2017 version, but don’t count on them to provide much support for older versions.
Family Tree Maker also tends to be the most expensive genealogy software out there, but for many people, it’s worth it.
Compatibility
FTM is available for both Windows (7.0 or later) and Mac (10.9 or later).
Online support
Because it has been around for so long and is used by so many people, Family Tree Maker has a wealth of online support in the form of tips, step by step instructions and tutorials, and even how-to videos.
Their website includes a free digital companion guide to get you started on using all of the program’s features.
While all this support is great in most cases, be aware that Family Tree Maker has changed a lot over the years, so some of that support might be out of date.
Still, there are so many users out there that you can always find a forum to ask questions and get expert answers quickly.
Integration
For years, Family Tree Maker has allowed you to connect with Ancestry to upload your family tree and to directly download records from Ancestry into your tree.
With the latest release, FTM now includes that capability for FamilySearch.com as well.
That means you can easily connect and share with the two largest genealogy sites out there with billions of online records available.
Where to buy
Family Tree Maker is available from http://www.mackiev.com/ftm/. There is no free trial available.
Legacy 9
Legacy 9, also known as Legacy Family Tree 9, is a fully featured genealogy program that is considered by many to be the best on the market today.
It has plenty going for it, and only a couple of weak areas.
Pros and cons
Legacy 9 provides everything you would expect, plus a lot of neat extras that are new in the latest edition.
One powerful tool is the compare two people tool, which lets you examine two people side by side.
This is especially useful if you have two records with the same name, but you’re not sure if they’re the same person.
The side by side display lets you check them out easily rather than having to keep flipping back and forth.
Legacy 9 has the most extensive (and in most cases best looking) set of charts out of any genealogy program.
This gives you all sorts of options for printing out your results.
The latest release even includes a new X-DNA chart to track your genetic inheritance.
In addition to printed reports, Legacy 9 has built-in support to turn your family tree into a webpage automatically.
It also has a built-in web browser so you can check out online sites without having to switch back and forth between windows.
The program includes color coding for easy organization of your ancestors, such as tracking children from multiple marriages, and up to nine tags that can be used however you want.
Legacy 9 even includes a secure online backup for your family trees, so you never have to worry about losing your database.
On the down side, Legacy 9 does not support same-sex marriages yet, though that is supposed to be coming.
The Legacy website is less flashy than most and a little harder to navigate at times, but still includes a help center, forums, and more.
Compatibility
Legacy 9 is only designed for Windows, though their website includes instructions for how to make it work on a Mac using an emulator.
Online support
The Legacy website provides a variety of training videos and programs, and an extensive help center that includes user forums, troubleshooting advice, and even a suggestion box for you to tell them what features you’d like to see added.
Integration
Legacy 9 is specifically designed to work with a variety of useful (and free) websites, including FamilySearch, FindMyPast, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Find A Grave.
It can search these sites for your ancestors automatically and give you hints on where to find more information.
Where to buy
Legacy 9 is available from their website here, and is available in two versions.
The Standard version is completely free, allowing you to sample most of the features of Legacy with no time limit.
If you want to access all of Legacy’s features, you can purchase the Deluxe version.
Ancestry.com: Best online family tree maker
Ancestry.com
Our top pick for genealogy research also has a great in-built family tree creator
TODAY’S BEST DEALSAncestry membership$19.99/mthVISIT SITEat Ancestry
REASONS TO BUY
+Combines with genealogy records+Very simple to use+Loads of hints and tips
REASONS TO AVOID
-Trees are quite basic-looking
While there are many specialized software packages for creating family trees, we found that one of the easiest to use is part of your Ancestry.com subscription. This has the added advantage of allowing you to build as you research, all within the same program, and you can actually work from the tree first. Starting a basic family tree, going from yourself to your parents to your grandparents will often generate ‘matches’ within Ancestry, that appear as leaves on your family tree. Simply clicking these leaves will take you to records within Ancestry.com that could inform and fill-out your tree. So, you research while you build the actual tree. There is also the option to input all data manually, or via GEDCOM files too.
Ancestry has all kinds of features for researching, and the tree builder is very, very simple to use. However, it’s mainly functional, rather than being something you can print out and hang on a wall, which is why we haven’t listed it in the top spot of our guide. Sure, you can share it easily, and populate it with images and info in the same way that other family tree packages allow you to do, but it isn’t pretty.
Still, we love how easy it is, and if you’re not looking for a physical copy of your tree, we heartily recommend Ancestry, as it’s easily the most powerful software when it comes to building and researching the tree itself.
- Read our full Ancestry.com review
Conclusion
Family tree software is the most used family tree software in America. It can be used for genealogy, directories, publications or inventories. I wrote this article in 2010 to guide you through the family tree software world. This article has been in my site’s front page for 10 years now, and it’s still relevant today. The entire article is in .doc format if you wish to edit it any time in the future.