Start My Family Tree Welcome to Geni, home of the world's largest family tree.
Join Geni to explore your genealogy and family history in the World's Largest Family Tree.
Follow

Genealogy Software overview

Project Tags

Genealogy Software for Personal Devices

The purpose of this project is to supply information regarding Genealogy Software available for personal devices and to offer some feedback on specific packages from Geni users. It is a collaborative project which hopefully will offer guidance to those choosing such software.

There are many databases which are specifically designed to record family history based data. This software runs locally on your desktop, laptop, or mobile device, providing two main functions.

1. It allows you to create and edit a database of your family history.

2. It provides tools for analyzing and displaying the data in various ways.

There are many comparisons and review charts available online - a Google search for "genealogy software reviews" has over a million results.

This project specifically is not focused on the 'network' or 'on-line' class of software, such as Geni.com or MyHeritage.com – although the interaction between local software and on-line software is entirely relevant.

How to participate

If you would like to share your experience using specific software with others looking for guidance please add your input in the appropriate category below. A few popular packages have been added as a starter. Please arrange these in alphabetical order. You can also use Discussion topics for dialog about them.

If you have experience with the capabilities regarding multiple language support for data entry and non-Western encoded characters this would be invaluable.

Firstly join the project using the request link under "actions" at the top right of the page. Visit Geni Wikitext, Unicode and images which gives a great deal of assistance.

Selecting the right software

Most software now days has a "Call Home" function, in other words it connects to the vendors web site. Often this is merely to check your license, and, in the case of Family Tree Maker, My Heritage and others, so you can work on your tree in that site. Family Tree maker has a "Work Offline" mode, and I am not sure about the others. In testing software, especially software that can contain valuable and personal information, it is important to check it thoroughly. One simple way to test is to see what functionality you have, when the internet is NOT connected. Also try importing a GED file, and unplug the internet half way through, if the program does not stall, or freeze, it may not be harvesting your file. Another way to check is to monitor the "uploading" of information, is by viewing your internet traffic. You must be able to export your files, this is essential, or you are tied to that program.

Categories

The following web applications and web browser extensions may require your permission to access your Geni account.

HistoryLinkTools offer the following services:
1. SmartCopy is a web browser extension. It is a semi-automatic tool that can import public records and family trees from 13 supported websites to Geni. Families are imported one at a time, and the user can manually verify or edit the information before storing it, and choose between adding the information to existing or new profiles.
A consistency check feature warns when data is unreasonable. The browser extension needs installation and the user must ask for full access to the tool to be able to copy more than one profile at a time. This open source tool has been available since 2015.
See more complete information:

2. History Search is a web application that compiles the following information:

  • List of historical or famous ancestors shows profiles in a person's tree that belongs to Geni Projects or have status as Master Profiles. It may also list problematic profiles, for example pending merges or parent conflicts
  • Tree Completeness is a bar chart that shows the number of profiles per generation, and number of master profiles per generation.

3. Ancestor Graph is a web application that builds an interactive pie chart of a person's ancestors or descendants, showing the gaps in the family tree. It can indicate duplicate ancestors (pedigree collapse), the status of the profiles (Claimed Profile, Private Profile, Public Profile, Master Profile, Problem Profile), Gender, and Location (Country of Birth, State/Region of Birth, Country of Death, State/Region of Death). Detailed information is shown by hovering over the profiles, showing name, dates and location. You can zoom in on any ancestor or open the profile in a new tab. One can save the graph as an image or PDF file. It is based on the visualization tool iSeeTrees.
You can access the tools here: * https://historylinktools.herokuapp.com/ ; they are also accessible from the "header" of the SmartCopy tool's panel.
See more complete information:

Improveyourtree.com===

Improveyourtree.com is a free web application, currently available for beta testing (since fall 2018). It can analyze a Geni tree with arbitrary starting person, or an uploaded gedcom file. It compiles a list of duplicate profiles (matches) as well as suspect data (for example unreasonable dates) and missing information (missing dates, parents, spouses and children). It typically finds several Geni duplicates that are undiscovered by the Geni blue matches feature, but shows much less false matches. It just searches for people with almost identical names and birth and death dates, while the Geni blue matches feature requires several close relatives with similar names, but allows vague resemblance. The Improveyourtree.com tool can export a gedcom file from Geni, also for another start person than your own profile. This tool is simplified web version of the Family Studio Windows open source software mentioned below. Improveyourtree does not require any installation.
See:

2. Genealogy Software for Windows

Ahnenblatt

  • Review
  • Home
  • Features
  • Languages
  • Has a very active forum, with many addins available, and requests are considered and often created. The program itself, was not found by me to be user friendly, and still has bugs. Watching with great interest though at the progress.

Ancestral Quest

- available in two versions. Ancestral Quest Basics is free genealogy software that has the essential features for working with your family tree, including some updated features in accessing FamilySearch Family Tree. The full Ancestral Quest program adds even more abilities and features that make it the complete family history solution.

Brother's Keeper.

  • http://www.bkwin.net/
  • I am mainly working on my desktop software, and Geni after things are fixed on my local program. I have complete control locally, and it's a lot easier to use with sources and reports. So far I haven't seen a single online genealogical software that even comes close to what genealogical desktop softwares can do. Brother's Keeper is Norway's most used software Remi Trygve Pedersen

Family Historian

Family Studio

FamilyStudio can compare your Geni tree with an existing Gedcom file or with the Geni World tree, or compare several Gedcom files. It can find matches and indicate differences between the trees. It typically finds several matches that are undiscovered by the Geni blue matches feature. The completess report also shows a list of missing data and missing profiles in the tree (missing parents, spouses and children). The insanity check compiles a list of unreasonable dates etc. See:

For a web application essentially based on this software, see the improveyourtree.com service described above.

Family Tree Maker

Legacy Family Tree

The Master Genealogist

NO LONGER AVAILABLE

My Family Tree

  • Home
  • Full featured windows family tree software, including relationship, datagrid, timeline, statistics, mapping and dyslexic settings, they have thought of everything. Well worth a try.

RootsMagic

TNG users

  • The offline wordpress app in the addons does not work well, I have been using InstantWP for 10 years now and find it excellent.
  • InstantWP is a FREE fully automatic install of a server and WordPress to a USB stick. You can see a video on how to install it HERE.
  • It is meant for development of your blog offline ready to upload.
  • The hdocs folder is equivalent to public_html folder on your server.
  • Place your TNG files in hdocs folder and install as usual.
  • If you only have one registered copy of TNG DO NOT USE IF CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET!

3. Genealogy Software for Macs

RootsMagic

  • Roots Magic 7 now uses My Heritage Smart Matches + Family Search and is available in a Mac version as well as windows.
  • We (Ancestry) have made an agreement with RootsMagic, a leading genealogy desktop software program publisher, to connect Ancestry with the RootsMagic software by the end of 2016. With this new relationship, RootsMagic can serve as your desktop family tree software, while having access to Ancestry hints, Ancestry searches, and the ability to save your tree on Ancestry.

Family Tree Maker for Mac 2

This new agreement means you will receive software updates and new versions from Software MacKiev, and have the ability to purchase new versions of Family Tree Maker from Software MacKiev as they are released. You will have continued access to Ancestry Hints, Ancestry searches, and be able to save your tree on Ancestry with Family Tree Maker moving forward.

We have made an agreement with RootsMagic, a leading genealogy desktop software program publisher, to connect Ancestry with the RootsMagic software by the end of 2016. With this new relationship, RootsMagic can serve as your desktop family tree software, while having access to Ancestry hints, Ancestry searches, and the ability to save your tree on Ancestry.

Heredis for Mac

iFamily for Leopard

Mac Family Tree

  • http://genealogy-software-review.toptenreviews.com/mac-genealogy-so...
  • I have been casually using Mac Family Tree (MFT) for several years. I selected that a few years ago after perusing on-line reviews at that time, and they have been regularly improving it. They recently added mobile versions. I've imported large GEDCOM from Geni without difficulty (just recognize that the Geni GEDCOM export does not currently include the actual images/media -- only a link to it). Dan Cornett
  • MobileFamilyTree 7 is the first is the first fully-fledged mobile genealogy app out there. MobileFamilyTree doesn't require you to own a Mac or PC as it offers just every feature you could wish for in a modern genealogy app. Nonetheless MobileFamilyTree works with MacFamilyTree like clockwork and can be synchronized via iCloud if desired. This is a really nice app, but I could not yet find the "EXPORT" function, which is essential if you do not use Mac Family Tree.

Reunion

iPhone and iPad apps.available

  • I have used Reunion for a number of years now and have found it to be problem free and extensive enough for my needs. I previously used RootsMagic for Windows and found Reunion easy to move on to. I did try Mac Family Tree but prefer Reunion - I cannot remember exactly why but perhaps it was to do with reports generated. I will check! I like to have hardcopy records as well as digital and on-line versions of my research. I am happy to answer questions if I can! June Barnes

4. Genealogy Mobile Apps

Family Tree Maker

  • http://www.ancestry.com/cs/us/ancestry-app
  • Families uses a highly efficient database implementation, allowing very large family files to be supported. Users have successfully displayed and edited files containing over 1 million individuals on an iPhone. The Families app works in conjunction with Legacy Family Tree, the leading Windows-based genealogy software from Millennia Corporation. Legacy family files can be easily transferred from a PC to your iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad or Android device, enabling them to be viewed and edited wherever you are. Families requires a companion program running on the PC to transfer family files to and from the iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad or Android device. This program, Families Sync can be downloaded free. USB transfer requires iTunes to be installed. It is a useful tool in its own right.
  • MobileFamilyTree 7 is the first is the first fully-fledged mobile genealogy app out there. MobileFamilyTree doesn't require you to own a Mac or PC as it offers just every feature you could wish for in a modern genealogy app. Additionally MobileFamilyTree works with MacFamilyTree like clockwork and can be synchronized via iCloud if desired. This is a really nice app, but I could not yet find the "EXPORT" function, which is essential if you do not use Mac Family Tree.

5. Other Free Genealogy Software

Ahnenblatt

Ged2X

Gramps

Legacy Standard

MyHeritage Family Tree Builder

RootsMagic Essentials

6 Ged File Tools

  • OFB is a suite of GEDCOM tools, very technical with efficient memory use. It handles most required functions you would wish to perform to check, compact, alter, convert, and combine GED files. I would suggest using a "copy" of any file, rather than the original, and, read the manuals provided before using. To purchase you must request license and make manual payment in PayPal. The "Bundle" cost 45 Euros.
  • GedCom Validator Free

References and Sources
English (US)   eesti   Svenska   Español (España)   Français   עברית   Norsk (bokmål)   dansk   Nederlands   Deutsch   »
To enable the proper functioning and security of the website, we collect information via cookies as specified in our Cookie Policy. Geni does not use any third-party cookies.