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Original author(s) | Kenneth Lafferty Hess[1] |
---|---|
Developer(s) | Software MacKiev |
Initial release | 1989; 30 years ago[2] |
Stable release | |
Operating system | Windows, Mac |
Available in | English |
Type | Genealogy software |
License | Proprietary |
Website | www.familytreemaker.com |
Family Tree Maker is genealogy software for Windows and Mac that allows the researcher to keep track of information collected during research and to create reports, charts, and books containing that information.[5] The software was originally developed by Kenneth Hess of Banner Blue Software,[1] which was purchased by Brøderbund in 1995.[6] It passed through the hands of The Learning Company, Mattel, and others before coming under its current ownership.
A redesigned Family Tree Maker 2008 was released on August 14, 2007.[7] The 2009 version of the program corrected some of the errors and omissions of its predecessor, and introduced a few new features.[citation needed] Family Tree Maker 2010 claimed to further enhance the radical re-design and be more powerful and feature-packed with faster navigation and quicker load times.[8]
A version for the Mac was released in 1997, but due to low market demand was discontinued[9] for over a decade. A new version of Family Tree Maker for Mac was released on November 4, 2010.[10]
Family Tree Maker Version 16 was awarded a Codie award in the 'Best Consumer Productivity Solution' category in 2006.[11]
On December 8, 2015, Ancestry.com announced that it would discontinue Family Tree Maker. The announcement was met by fierce protest from Family Tree Maker users.[12] On February 2, 2016, Ancestry.com announced that Software MacKiev, the company that had developed the Mac version of the software for more than six years, would acquire the Family Tree Maker brand, and take over the development and publishing of Mac and Windows editions.[13]
At the same time as this announcement, Software MacKiev promised free updates for owners of the then-current versions. While the MacKiev dot-one versions were put on sale within 2 months, they were not officially released as free updates to the current versions until 30 Dec 2016. At that time, connectivity with Ancestry was also extended until its replacement could be rolled out. Ancestry connectivity, including TreeSync, the ability to synchronize a Family Tree Maker tree with one at Ancestry, was turned off on 29 Mar 2017, with its replacement, called FamilySync, to be turned on 31 Mar. The news about FamilySync contained a bit of a surprise: it would only be available in Family Tree Maker 2017, the next iteration of Family Tree Maker, which was to be released coincident with the deployment of FamilySync. Users of Family Tree Maker 2 & 3 for Mac and 2012 & 2014 for Windows would no longer have any connectivity to Ancestry. If they wanted such connectivity, they would have to pay to upgrade to Family Tree Maker 2017, which was officially released on 16 July 2017, 107 days later than planned.[14]
The core functionality and user interface of Family Tree Maker 2017 have changed little since 2010. Software MacKiev touted four major improvements: 1. FamilySearch integration 2. FamilySync 3. Color Coding 4. Photo Darkroom. FamilySearch integration provides potential matches to the FamilySearch.org Family Tree, but not to their vast record collections. FamilySync is a replacement for Ancestry.com's TreeSync feature; it provides potential matches to family trees, indexes, and records at Ancestry.com. It was necessitated by Ancestry.com retiring their TreeSync Application Program Interface (API). While the old API was used exclusively by Ancestry.com, since they also owned Family Tree Maker, the new API is open to other software developers to use. Color Coding is a new feature that enables users to assign up to four different colors to a person and their ancestors. Photo Darkroom is a new feature that can darken faded black & white photos.[15]
FTM version history[edit]
Software MacKiev has been the developer of Family Tree Maker for Mac for more than six years and is thrilled at the opportunity to publish future versions of Family Tree Maker for Mac and Windows. 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. Family Tree Maker, the Family Tree Maker logo, FamilySync, TreeVault and Photo Darkroom are registered trademarks, and Software MacKiev, the Software MacKiev logo, the TreeVault logo, Emergency Tree, FTM Connect, Historical Weather, Turn Back Time and Next of Kin are trademarks of The Software MacKiev Company. Fill out the form below and we’ll verify that you registered your copy of Family Tree Maker. Then we'll email you a download link. FTM 2017 USERS: If you are looking for a replacement copy, please click here to get one from the FTM 2017 Replacement Center.
3 Mar 2016: Now that FTM has been given a new lease on life, please see my post, “Should You Stick With Family Tree Maker?” 5 Jan 2017: Changed the information about the Also Known As field and web URLs in source citations, based on changes in FTM 2014.1 and 3.1. 16 May 2018: Made extensive updates. The Family Tree Software Alternatives Series.
Press show for more information on past versions.
Meaning | |
---|---|
Red | Not supported |
Yellow | Still supported (Update to the last patch for that version) |
Green | Current version |
Version | Release date | Released by | Edition/s | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1.0 | 1989[16] | Banner Blue Software | DOS | Supplied on 3.5 and 5.25 floppy disks. Data file used .FTM as a file extension on DOS. No GEDCOM support. |
1.01 | 1990[citation needed] | Banner Blue Software | DOS | No GEDCOM support. |
2.0 | January 1994 | Banner Blue Software | Windows 3.1 / DOS | Data file used .FTW as a file extension on Windows. Supplied on two 3½ inch floppy disks. Supported GEDCOM import/export.[17] |
2.?? | October 1994[citation needed] | Banner Blue Software | Windows 3.1 / DOS | Second version (patch?) |
3.0 | 24 October 1995 | Brøderbund Software | Windows 3.1 & 95 (16 bit) / DOS | Supplied on three floppy disks. 16 bit application compatible with Windows 95. DOS version shipped with the DEU (Data Exchange Utility)[18][19][20][21] |
3.01 | February 1996 | Brøderbund Software | Windows 3.1 & 95 (16 bit & 32 bit) / DOS | Beginning with this version every copy of Family Tree Maker for Windows came with both a Windows 95 (32-bit) and Windows 3.1x (16-bit) version.[22][23] |
3.02 | October 1995 | Brøderbund Software | Windows 32 bit | [24] |
3.02 Mac | January 1997 | Brøderbund Software | Macintosh (PowerPC processor only) | Marketed as Family Tree Maker Deluxe Edition II for Macintosh.[25][25][26][27][28][29][30][31] |
3.4 | November 1996[32][33] | Brøderbund Software | Windows 3.1 & 95 (16 bit & 32 bit) / DOS | |
4.0 | September 1996 | Brøderbund Software | Windows 3.1 & 95 (16 bit & 32 bit) / DOS | First release on a CD-ROM.[34] |
4.0a | ? | Brøderbund Software | Windows | [35] |
4.0b | ? | Brøderbund Software | Windows | [35][36] |
4.4 | ? | Brøderbund Software | Windows | [37][38] |
4.4 File Fixer Patch | ? | Brøderbund Software | Windows | [35] |
5.0 | (before) August 1998[citation needed] | The Learning Company | Windows | [39] |
5.0a (Patch) | ? | The Learning Company | Windows | [40][41] |
5.0b | ? | The Learning Company | Windows | [35] |
6.0 | after May 1999[citation needed] | The Learning Company (Mattel Incorporated) | Windows | [42][43] |
6.0a (Index Optimization Update) | ? | The Learning Company (Mattel Incorporated) | Windows | [35] |
7.0 | October 1999 | The Learning Company (Mattel Incorporated) | Windows | [44][failed verification] |
7.5 | April 2000 | Genealogy.com | Windows | [45] |
8.0 | October 2000 | Genealogy.com | Windows | [46][failed verification][47] |
9.0 | October 2001 | Genealogy.com | Windows | [48][failed verification][49] |
9.0 (patch after release) | October 30, 2001 | Genealogy.com | Windows | [50] |
10.0 | September 2002 | Genealogy.com | Windows | [51][52] |
11.0 | September 2003 | MyFamily.com | Windows | [53][failed verification][54] |
2005 | August 2004 | MyFamily.com | Windows | [55][56] |
2006 | 12 September 2005 | MyFamily.com | Windows | [57][58] |
2006 Patch | ? | MyFamily.com | Windows | [59] |
16 | September 2006 | MyFamily.com | Windows | [60] |
2008 | 14 August 2007 | Ancestry.com | Windows | Returned to using the .FTM extension for windows datafiles.[61][62] |
2008 Service Pack 1 | ? | Ancestry.com | Windows | [63] |
2008 Service Pack 2 | November 2007 | Ancestry.com | Windows | An initial release was in September but this was withdrawn 24 hours later.[63] |
2008 Service Pack 3 (17.0.0.965) | May 2008 | Ancestry.com | Windows | [63] |
2009 | 28 August 2008 | The Generations Network | Windows | [64] |
2009 Patch 18A (18.0.0.94) | ? | The Generations Network | Windows | [65] |
2009 Patch 18B (18.0.0.95) | ? | The Generations Network | Windows | [65] |
2009 Patch 18C (18.0.0.305) | ? | The Generations Network | Windows | [65] |
2009 Patch 18D (18.0.0.307) | ? | The Generations Network | Windows | [65] |
2010 | 19 August 2009 | Ancestry.com | Windows Vista & XP SP2 | [66][67] |
2010 Service Pack 1 (19.0.0.206) | ? | Ancestry.com | Windows 7 & Vista & XP SP2 | [68] |
2011 | 31 August 2010 | Ancestry.com | Windows 7 & Vista & XP SP2 | [69] |
2011 Service Pack 1 (20.0.0.376) | ? | Ancestry.com | Windows 7 & Vista & XP SP2 | [70] |
2010 Mac | 4 November 2010 | Ancestry.com | Mac OSX 10.5 or later (Intel-based Mac) | Marketed as Family Tree Maker for Mac. Supplied on 2 × CD-ROM[71][72] |
2010 Mac (Update 19.2.0.241) | 1 February 2011 | Ancestry.com | Mac OSX 10.5 or later (Intel-based Mac) | [73][74] |
2012 | 29 September 2011 | Ancestry.com | Windows 7 & Vista & XP SP2 | [75] |
2014 | 10 September 2013 | Ancestry.com | Windows 8 & 7 & Vista & XP SP2 | [76] |
2014 Mac | 13 December 2013 | Ancestry.com | Mac OSX 10.6 or later (Intel-based Mac) | Marketed as Family Tree Maker Mac 3.[77] |
FTM 2014.1 | 1 January 2017 | mackiev.com | Windows 7 and later, including Windows 10 | [78][3] |
FTM Mac 3.1 | 1 January 2017 | mackiev.com | Mac OSX 10.8 or later, including macOS Sierra 10.12 | [78][3] |
FTM 2017 | 16 July 2017 | mackiev.com | Windows 7 and later, including Windows 10 | [79][3] |
FTM 2017 | 16 July 2017 | mackiev.com | Mac OSX 10.9 or later, including macOS Sierra 10.13 | [79][3] |
- FTM Merger history
- 1984 Banner Blue Software founded by Ken Hess, 'As the founder and president of Banner Blue Software from 1984 to 1996, I sold over two million copies of Family Tree Maker.'
- May 1997 Brøderbund Software acquired Parsons Technology from Intuit (which included the marketing rights to Family Origins for Windows
- August 1998 Brøderbund Software acquired by The Learning Company (which included Family Tree Creator through an acquisition of Mindscape/IMSI. v5 Published
- Late 1998 The Learning Company acquired Palladium Interactive (which included Ultimate Family Tree).
- May 1999 The Learning Company was acquired by Mattel Incorporated 'Barbie').v6 Published
- November 1999 A&E Television Networks, Hearst Interactive Media, Mattel, and private equity firms form Genealogy.com, LLC April 2000 v7.5 Published.[80]
- February 2001 A&E TV acquired Genealogy.com
- Late 2001 Genealogy.com acquired the GenForum message board site, which it had been hosting for a few years
- June 2002 Genealogy.com acquired Generations PC product line from Sierra Home
- April 2003 Genealogy.com acquired by MyFamily.com
- December 2006 My Family.com Inc changes its name to The Generations Network
- March 2016 Software MacKiev purchases FTM Software from ancestry.com [81]
References[edit]
- ^ abHess, Kenneth Lafferty. 'Home page of Kenneth Lafferty Hess'. Archived from the original on 29 January 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
During the 1990s I popularized computer genealogy by designing, developing, and selling the Family Tree Maker product line
- ^Pfister, Michelle (2009-12-11). 'Family Tree Maker: 20-Year Anniversary!'. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
- ^ abcde'Family Tree Maker'. Mackiev.com. Retrieved 2017-12-14.
- ^Hulet, Kendall (2016-02-02). 'New Family Tree Maker Options'. Ancestry.com. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
- ^'FamilyTreeMaker.com'. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
- ^'Broderbund Software in Banner Blue acquisition'. The New York Times. 6 May 1995. pp. 1–37. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
- ^Ancestry.com Releases Completely Redesigned Family Tree Maker 2008, No. 1 Selling Family Tree SoftwareArchived August 6, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, Aug 14, 2007, Press Releases, Ancestry.com
- ^'Family Tree Maker 2010 Feature List'. ancestry.com. April 24, 2010. Archived from the original on January 2, 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
- ^'Is Family Tree Maker available for the Macintosh?'. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2006.
- ^Planetspriv (4 November 2010). 'Family Tree Maker software (Mac) Message Board'. ancestry.com. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
- ^'2006 Codie Awards Winners'. Software & Information Industry Association. Archived from the original on July 4, 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
- ^'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on 2017-12-24. Retrieved 2018-01-02.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^'New Family Tree Maker Options – Ancestry Blog'. Blogs.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
- ^Riggle, Keith (2017-07-16). 'Family Tree Maker 2017 Review'. GenealogyTools.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-19. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
- ^'Family Tree Maker'. Software MacKiev. Archived from the original on 2018-01-03. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
- ^Family Tree Maker: 20-Year Anniversary!, Posted by Michelle Pfister on 11 December 2009 in Family Tree Maker
- ^Re: FTM and GEDCOM:, From: <skpjan@..>, Date: Fri, Jul 14, 1995, RootsWeb: GENCMP-L
- ^Discover and Preserve Your Family History With New Version 3.0 of Family Tree Maker., Oct 24, 1995, Publication: Business Wire – Free Online Library
- ^Re: Improvements from 3.0 – 3.02, From: Paul Burchfield,Date:Aug 15, 1996, RootsWeb: GENCMP-L
- ^Upgrade for FTM 3.0, 16 bit application compatible with Win95, From:John McGarvey, Date: 1996/02/09, alt.genealogy
- ^GEDCOM from Family Tree Maker, From:Paul Burchfield, Date: 1996/10/07, Exporting from Family Tree Maker for DOS uses the Data Exchange Utility. The DEU ships with Family Tree Maker version 3 and 4 for DOS. It had to be purchased separately for earlier versions., alt.genealogy
- ^'Google Groups'. Groups.google.com. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
- ^Liste des applications testées sous Windows 95 – F et G - Family Tree Maker 2.0 (Windows floppies)Banner Blue Software←REMARQUE(S): Version 2.0 may not run correctly if taskbar setting is Always OnTop. Windows 95 Help contains information for obtaining an update from themanufacturer.Family Tree Maker 3.0 (DOS)Banner Blue SoftwareREMARQUE(S): The installation program may appear to stall after the firstscreen, but it is checking drives for previous copies of FTM.EXE, includingnetwork drives, and will resume after the check is complete.Family Tree Maker Deluxe 2.0 (Windows CD)Banner Blue SoftwareREMARQUE(S): Program won't run when taskbar set to Always On Top. Windows 95Help automatically provides a solution. -->
- ^Re: FTM 6.0 and NT?, From: Paul Burchfield, Date: 31 March 1999, RootsWeb: GENCMP-L
- ^ abFamily Tree Maker Deluxe Edition II for Macintosh Mac Enthusiasts Can Now Preserve and Organize Their Family History With The No. 1-Selling Family Tree Program. BUSINESS WIRE 4 February 1997
- ^Family Tree Maker Deluxe Edition II for McIntosh/5 CD-ROMs, by Broderbund, Platform: Mac, amazon.com
- ^GENEALOGY SOFTWARE: Use Your Mac to Find Your Roots, reprint of January 1998 MacWorld article
- ^'Google Groups'. Groups.google.com. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
- ^'Google Groups'. Groups.google.com. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
- ^Technical Support for Family Tree Maker for MacintoshArchived March 15, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, genealogy.com
- ^Family Tree Maker for Macintosh; No. 1-Selling Family Tree Program Will Make It Simple for Mac Enthusiasts to Preserve and Organize Their Family History, BUSINESS WIRE, 21 October 1996
- ^'Google Groups'. Groups.google.com. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
- ^'Google Groups'. Groups.google.com. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
- ^'Google Groups'. Groups.google.com. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
- ^ abcdeAre There Any Downloadable Updates to Family Tree Maker?Archived October 8, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com[permanent dead link]
- ^Family Tree Maker Version 4.0b Update, familytreemaker.com archived by archive.org
- ^'Family Tree Maker File Fixer Update'. Archived from the original on October 8, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
- ^Wiseman, David (January 28, 1998). 'Coming Soon! Family Tree Maker(R) Version 4.4 for Windows!'. ancestry.com. Archived from the original on September 2, 2017. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
- ^The No. 1-selling Family Tree Software for Nearly a Decade, Broderbund's Family Tree Maker is Now Better Than EverArchived January 13, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, BUSINESS WIRE, 8 July 1998
- ^Message from discussion Family Tree Maker 5 Upgrade, alt.genealogy, Google Groups
- ^Message from discussion FTM 5 second patch coming, alt.genealogy, Google Groups
- ^Re: transferring version 6.0 1999 to use with windows vista, boards.ancestry.com
- ^Does FTM work with Windows NT?, GENCMP-L Archives, archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com
- ^'AncestrySupport'. Ancestry.com. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
- ^Ask Technical Services — March 2000, #2. Moveable Boxes — Family Tree Maker 7.5 Gives You Control of Your TreeArchived August 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, familytreemaker.genealogy.com
- ^'AncestrySupport'. Ancestry.com. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
- ^Genealogy.com Ships New Version 8.0 of Its Top-Rated Family Tree Maker(R) Software, PRNewswire, 19 September 2000
- ^'AncestrySupport'. Ancestry.com. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
- ^Broderbund Partners With A&E Television Networks and Genealogy.com To Launch Family Tree Maker(R) Version 9 – The #1 Software for Building A Family Legacy, PRNewswire, 3 October 2001
- ^Family Tree Maker Version 9.0 UpdateArchived March 15, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, genealogy.com
- ^Broderbund Ships Family Tree Maker Deluxe Version 10 #1 Selling Genealogy Software ProgramArchived January 13, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, BUSINESS WIRE, Oct 1, 2002, as found at findarticles.com
- ^Broderbund Ships Family Tree Maker Deluxe Version 10 – #1 Selling Genealogy Software Program, BUSINESS WIRE, Oct 1, 2002, as found at thefreelibrary.com
- ^'Message Boards'. Boards.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
- ^Broderbund Teams with MyFamily.com to Launch Family Tree Maker(R) Version 11 – the #1 Selling Genealogy Software Program, PRNewswire, 29 September 2003
- ^Message from discussion Family Tree Maker version question, alt.genealogy, Google Groups
- ^Encore, MyFamily.com Ship Family Tree Maker(R) 2005 – The #1 Selling Genealogy Software Program, PRNewswire, 23 September 2004
- ^How can I delete duplicate media items?, boards.ancestry.com
- ^Family Tree Maker 2006 Hits Retail Markets, PRNewswire, 12 September 2005
- ^Family Tree Maker 2006 Updates and DownloadsArchived July 10, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, past.familytreemaker.com
- ^Family Tree Maker Version 16Archived July 20, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter, 18 August 2006.
- ^Ancestry.com Releases Completely Redesigned Family Tree Maker 2008, No. 1 Selling Family Tree SoftwareArchived August 6, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, PRNewswire, Aug 14, 2007, as found at ancestry.com's Press Releases page
- ^Ancestry.com Releases Completely Redesigned Family Tree Maker 2008, No. 1 Selling Family Tree Software, PRNewswire, Aug 14, 2007, as found at thefreelibrary.com
- ^ abcFamily Tree Maker 2008 Program Updates are Now Available, familytreemaker.com
- ^Family Tree Maker 2009 Release, by Russell Hannig, 28 August 2008, at http://blogs.ancestry.com
- ^ abcdFamily Tree Maker 2009 – Program Updates Help, familytreemaker.com
- ^New Ancestry.com Family Tree Maker 2010 Software Adds News Storytelling and Organizational ToolsArchived October 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, 19 August 2009 Press Release, Ancestry.com
- ^Family Tree Maker: The New Version 2010, by Michelle Pfister, 19 August 2009, at http://blogs.ancestry.com
- ^Family Tree Maker 2010 – Program Updates, familytreemaker.com
- ^Family Tree Maker 2011 is here!, by Tana L. Pedersen on 31 August 2010, at http://blogs.ancestry.com
- ^Family Tree Maker 2011 – Program Updates, familytreemaker.com
- ^Family Tree Maker for Mac is Here!, by Tana L. Pedersen on 4 November 2010 at http://blogs.ancestry.com
- ^Family Tree Maker for Mac is back, 4 November 2010, tamurajones.net
- ^Family Tree Maker 2010 for mac won't load or continually crashes. What can I do?, Ancestry.com
- ^Family Tree Maker 2010 for Mac Version 19.2.1.241, 22 January 2011, MacGenealogy.org
- ^Family Tree Maker 2012 Is Here!, by Tana L. Pedersen on 29 September 2011, at http://blogs.ancestry.com
- ^Available Now: Family Tree Maker version 2014, Ancestry.com
- ^Just Released: Family Tree Maker Mac 3!, Ancestry.com
- ^ ab'Family Tree Maker Updates Officially Released [Updated 1 Jan 2017]'. Genealogytools.com. 31 December 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
- ^ ab'Family Tree Maker 2017 Review'. Genealogytools.com. 16 July 2017. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
- ^'A&E Television Networks, Hearst Interactive Media, Mattel, and Top Private Equity Firms Form Genealogy.com, LLC'. PR Newswire. Cision. November 2, 1999. Archived from the original on January 20, 2000. Retrieved July 1, 2019 – via Yahoo.com.
- ^'Family Tree Maker software isn't going away after all'. tbo.com. 2016-03-06. Retrieved 2017-12-14.
External links[edit]
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Family_Tree_Maker&oldid=916603626'
Best Family Tree Software 2019 - Genealogy Software Reviews
I spent 40 hours researching and testing genealogy software to find out which program is the best. Throughout that week, I consulted with genealogy experts, built my own family tree back five generations, created family trees based on fictional characters, and learned a lot about Irish Kings and U.S. Presidents by importing GEDCOM files. In the end, Legacy Family Tree and Family Historian stood out among the others due to their superior GEDCOM accuracy.
Best ValueLegacy Family Tree
Legacy Family Tree earned perfect marks in my GEDCOM test, is easy to use, and has comprehensive research and scrapbooking tools. It’s comparable to the best genealogy software but costs less.
Best User ExperienceFamily Historian
Family Historian performed perfectly in my GEDCOM test and received the highest grades for ease of use and data management. Those scores, combined with its excellent scrapbooking tools and feature set, give it the most intuitive user experience of the programs we tested.
Best Charting CapabilitiesHeredis 2018
Not only does Heredis 2018 feature the most stylish family tree charts and genealogy reports, but it also has the widest variety. Also, the quality of its charts is unmatched.
Product | Price | Overall Rating | Pricing | Ease of Use | Charting Capabilities | Data Management | Price | GEDCOM Import Accuracy | Navigation | Data Entry Efficiency | Undo and Redo Tool | Hints | Chart Quality | Customizable Charting Tools | Descendent Tree | Fan Charts | Bow-Tie & Hourglass Charts | Scrapbooking | Warnings | Automatic Backup | Location Mapping | Task List |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Family Historian 6 | View Deal | 4.5/5 | 6.3 | 10 | 9.3 | 9.8 | $46.50 | A+ | A+ | A+ | ✓ | ✓ | B+ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | A | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Legacy Family Tree 9 | View Deal | 4/5 | 7 | 7.3 | 9 | 10 | $39.95 | A+ | A | A | - | - | B | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | A+ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Heredis 2017 | View Deal | 4/5 | 8.3 | 6.3 | 10 | 7.5 | $29.99 | C+ | A | A | - | - | A+ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | A- | ✓ | - | ✓ | - |
RootsMagic 7 | View Deal | 3.5/5 | 8.3 | 7.3 | 4.5 | 7.8 | $29.95 | B | B+ | A- | - | ✓ | C+ | - | ✓ | - | - | B | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ |
Branches | View Deal | 3.5/5 | 10 | 5.5 | 6.3 | 4 | $14.99 | C | C | C | - | ✓ | C | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | C- | - | ✓ | - | - |
Family Tree Maker | View Deal | 3.5/5 | 2.3 | 8.5 | 9.8 | 6.5 | $79.95 | A- | A+ | A+ | ✓ | - | A | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | A+ | - | - | ✓ | ✓ |
Ancestral Quest 14 | View Deal | 3/5 | 8.3 | 8 | 1.5 | 6 | $29.95 | B | B+ | C+ | ✓ | ✓ | D | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | B+ | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ |
Reunion 12 | View Deal | 3/5 | 0 | 9 | 8.5 | 7.8 | $99.00 | B- | A | A | ✓ | ✓ | A- | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | A | ✓ | - | ✓ | - |
Brother's Keeper 7.1 | View Deal | 3/5 | 6.5 | 4.8 | 6 | 5.8 | $45.00 | B- | C- | C- | Undo Only | C- | - | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | C | - | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Family Tree Heritage Platinum 9 | View Deal | 3/5 | 7 | 6.5 | 2 | 5.8 | $39.99 | C+ | B | B | - | ✓ | C- | - | ✓ | - | - | B | - | ✓ | - | ✓ |
Best Value
Legacy Family Tree
Very easy to use
No undo/redo tool
Chart quality is average
Legacy Family Tree emerged from my tests and research as one of the best performing family tree apps because of its excellent data management and research tools. The interface is a little dated, but it's very effective and easy to use. Most importantly, Legacy Family Tree was one of only two programs with 100-percent accuracy in my GEDCOM test. This, along with its lower price point, make it the best value genealogy software.
In my GEDCOM import tests, I used four genealogical records to gauge how well each program interpreted this universal genealogical file format. Legacy Family Tree and Family Historian were the only programs that earned perfect scores.
These weren't simple records either. Two of the files contained over 1,000 family names, including media files, notes, memories and more. I purposely made the other two GEDCOM records difficult for genealogy software to interpret by including same-sex marriages, polygamous families and mixed families. Legacy Family Tree’s accuracy makes it ideal for incorporating a family member’s research into your own.
Legacy Family Tree received A grades for navigation and data entry in my ease of use tests. Its interface is pleasantly simple, not overwhelming like many of the programs I reviewed. This makes it easy to manage data, especially when there's so much to get lost in. I also liked the automatic warnings the software gave when I entered possibly incorrect information, such as if a parent was too young at the entered marriage date or too old at death.
These weren't simple records either. Two of the files contained over 1,000 family names, including media files, notes, memories and more. I purposely made the other two GEDCOM records difficult for genealogy software to interpret by including same-sex marriages, polygamous families and mixed families. Legacy Family Tree’s accuracy makes it ideal for incorporating a family member’s research into your own.
Legacy Family Tree received A grades for navigation and data entry in my ease of use tests. Its interface is pleasantly simple, not overwhelming like many of the programs I reviewed. This makes it easy to manage data, especially when there's so much to get lost in. I also liked the automatic warnings the software gave when I entered possibly incorrect information, such as if a parent was too young at the entered marriage date or too old at death.
Best User Experience
Family Historian
Easiest interface to navigate
Basic chart designs
Mapping tool is difficult to find
If your main reason for doing genealogy is to record and tell your family's story, then Family Historian is your best software option. Not only did it most accurately interpret data from GEDCOM files (which makes it easy to incorporate data collected by other family members) but its interface was also the easiest to use.
Its scrapbooking tools are also effective and easy to find. In addition, Family Historian’s integration with online databases makes it a powerful genealogy tool.
Only two genealogy programs perfectly interpreted data in GEDCOM files – and Family Historian was one of them. I imported four GEDCOM files – two very large records and two smaller records I created specifically to test each program’s ability to interpret tricky information, such as same-sex marriages, polygamist families and mixed families. Each of these records included media files, memories, notes, burial locations and more. Family Historian interpreted the data and incorporated the records into its format without flaw. If someone else in your family has done a lot of research already, this is the best program for incorporating their records into your own.
Family Historian received the highest grades for ease of use. It’s easy to navigate, with almost no learning curve. Also, the tabbed menus make data entry quick and effortless because you don't have to open new windows for every piece of information you want to enter. If you do genealogy for hours at a time, opening and closing windows can add a significant amount of time to your work. It's also one of the few programs with a time-saving undo/redo feature.
Only two genealogy programs perfectly interpreted data in GEDCOM files – and Family Historian was one of them. I imported four GEDCOM files – two very large records and two smaller records I created specifically to test each program’s ability to interpret tricky information, such as same-sex marriages, polygamist families and mixed families. Each of these records included media files, memories, notes, burial locations and more. Family Historian interpreted the data and incorporated the records into its format without flaw. If someone else in your family has done a lot of research already, this is the best program for incorporating their records into your own.
Family Historian received the highest grades for ease of use. It’s easy to navigate, with almost no learning curve. Also, the tabbed menus make data entry quick and effortless because you don't have to open new windows for every piece of information you want to enter. If you do genealogy for hours at a time, opening and closing windows can add a significant amount of time to your work. It's also one of the few programs with a time-saving undo/redo feature.
Best Charting Capabilities
Heredis 2018
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Fully customizable interface
Doesn’t automatically back up data
Didn't perform well in GEDCOM test
Heredis 2018 wasn’t impressive, particularly because of its subpar GEDCOM accuracy. In fact, it completely failed to import one of my four test GEDCOM files. However, the software’s charts are unmatched in number, quality, variety and style. If you primarily want genealogy software to print out family trees, genealogy reports and books, Heredis 2018 is the best option.
The software has more chart options than any other app I reviewed by a long shot. There are 45 charts and 33 report styles to choose from – nearly double the options other programs have. Its selection includes charts with actual trees as the background, charts with fancy designs linking people together and charts made to look like antique scrolls. Heredis’ charts are of high enough quality you can print and frame them.
In many ways, Heredis is my favorite interface to work in because of its modern design and customizable tools. It doesn't feel like it was designed in the 1990s like some of its competitors do. In fact, the module-based interface is fully customizable, so you can mold it to your preferences, making it great for novices and experts alike.
Heredis lacks undo and redo tools and doesn't offer hints to guide you in your research. It also doesn’t have a task list and doesn’t automatically back up your data. Perhaps most important, though, it didn't perform very well in my GEDCOM tests, completely failing to import one of the files and having issues with the others.
In many ways, Heredis is my favorite interface to work in because of its modern design and customizable tools. It doesn't feel like it was designed in the 1990s like some of its competitors do. In fact, the module-based interface is fully customizable, so you can mold it to your preferences, making it great for novices and experts alike.
Heredis lacks undo and redo tools and doesn't offer hints to guide you in your research. It also doesn’t have a task list and doesn’t automatically back up your data. Perhaps most important, though, it didn't perform very well in my GEDCOM tests, completely failing to import one of the files and having issues with the others.
Best for Beginners
Family Tree Maker
There are no warnings for potentially wrong information
Family Tree Maker is a great tool for comprehensive genealogy research.
In our tests, it received an A+ for data entry efficiency, scrapbooking tools and ease-of-use. Very few features require you open new windows, eliminating the possibility of getting lost in a sea of data. For testing, we entered the information of 10 people and it took under 5 minutes. Charting is also easy so if you've never used software like this before, the learning curve is small. The scrapbooking features are also right at the top of the interface, where you can add photos, videos and other material to flesh out your family's story.
Best for Mac
Reunion 12
It got an A for ease of use and data entry efficiency
The only reason this product doesn’t rank higher in our rankings is because its limited to Macs, but if you’ve got an Apple laptop, iPad or iPhone this software is one of the best options out there.
Reunion 12's charting displays crisply, making your family tree easy to print out. You can easily attach photos, video and other media to a family member via the main toolbar, which is displayed vertically on the left side of the screen. It only took us 7 minutes to enter data for 10 individuals, which is incredibly efficient compared to other products we tested that took 10 minutes or more. The one flaw we discovered with Reunion 12 had to do with importing your family tree as a GEDCOM file. The programming excluded a same-sex marriage and some media files. Aside from some GEDCOM compatibility problems though, this software is easy to use on your Apple device.
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Why Trust Us
Top Ten Reviews has reviewed genealogy software since 2004, testing and comparing the best products on the market each year. As I tested these programs, I put most of my focus on ease of use, evaluating each software’s GEDCOM accuracy, interface navigation, tools and features, and data entry process. However, I also considered the apps’ charting capabilities and data management, paying special attention to their scrapbooking tools because genealogy is about much more than tracking down your ancestor’s records – it's about collecting, recording and managing your family's story.
While this is the first time I've reviewed family tree software, genealogy is a frequent topic of conversation in my family. My ancestors’ stories make up a core part of who I am and how I came to be. I've traveled to Ireland, Wales and England specifically to visit ancestral sites. Genealogy software has an existential value for me, and I approached each program as someone recording his family’s story.
How We Tested
Sharing research is a major part of successful genealogy work. To do this, you create a GEDCOM file, a universal format for recording genealogy records. It allows you to incorporate research from others, such as a great aunt or a cousin, into your own database. However, while GEDCOM files are universal, not all programs accurately interpret their data.
To test the apps’ accuracy, I used GEDCOM files of Irish kings and U.S. presidents. Then I created a GEDCOM file based on my own family tree and a fictional file based on characters from my favorite TV show. The purpose of the first two records was to test the breadth of the program, as each file had thousands of names and hundreds of families. The other two records were made to be as difficult as possible – they included same-sex marriages, polygamist relationships and complicated mixed families. Each of these GEDCOM files included media files, notes, memories, web links and more.
The amount of information in these GEDCOM files was staggering, making it all the more impressive when two programs emerged with perfect results. The biggest problem programs had was excluding huge swaths of information from a family line based on one problematic entry. Another issue was errors in the media files and missing notes. Often, the data was still available, but the connections had to be re-stitched.
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I also evaluated how easy each program is to use by looking closely at its interface design and data entry process. The easiest programs are modeless – you don’t have to open a new window for every tool or feature you want to use. Instead, you enter data in an interface that uses floating tabs and adjustable modules in a single window. This process requires fewer mouse-clicks, so it saves time. Overall, modeless interfaces have shallower learning curves and help novices become experts quicker.
In addition, I evaluated the programs’ charting capabilities and scrapbooking tools. Genealogy is about much more than collecting dates and names – it’s also about telling your family story; displaying family connections on a visual chart; and tracking down pictures, videos, audio, family memories, life events, health records, facts and other notes. The best genealogy programs put their chart options and scrapbooking tools front and center so you don’t have to dig to find them.
How Much Does Genealogy Software Cost?
We tested genealogy software that cost an average of $46, making it more cost-effective than paying a monthly fee to use a genealogy website. If you opt for genealogy software the only ongoing costs are for software updates or upgrades, which costs roughly $20 depending on the service.
Why Buy Genealogy Software?
As I began researching genealogy software for this review, my family had a big party to celebrate six birthdays – siblings, nieces, nephews, grandmother. Everyone was there. At the party, I talked about reviewing genealogy software, knowing it's a topic my family is interested in. The reaction I got from everyone was 'So, you're reviewing services like Ancestry and MyHertitage? Are you going to get your DNA tested?'
Indeed, Top Ten Reviews covers genealogy services and DNA testing kits, but when I explained it was desktop genealogy software, the response was 'Why? Aren't the services better? FamilySearch.org is free!'
And they make a good point – why buy genealogy software? The software doesn't come with a database of names and records. If you have to access a database to do research anyway, why not use a service to build your family tree?
Ownership
I asked Simon Orde, director at Family Historian, the same question: Why is genealogy software still relevant? While he praises online genealogy services as a vital part of the genealogy industry that connects people with vast databases of names and records, he draws a stark line between the value of genealogy software and that of genealogy services. Desktop software, he explains, 'allows customers to store their own data on their own PC, under their own control.'
I asked Simon Orde, director at Family Historian, the same question: Why is genealogy software still relevant? While he praises online genealogy services as a vital part of the genealogy industry that connects people with vast databases of names and records, he draws a stark line between the value of genealogy software and that of genealogy services. Desktop software, he explains, 'allows customers to store their own data on their own PC, under their own control.'
It may seem like a small detail, but there are big implications. Namely, when you use a cloud-based database, the information isn't yours to control or maintain. When you put your family history together in a desktop genealogy program, you not only own the data, but you own the process. It makes you more invested in your family’s story.
Cross-database Hints
Doing genealogy is like being a detective. This is part of the appeal for many people – building an ancestor's life story through small clues and fractured information. To do this, you can't limit yourself to one database. However, genealogy services lock you into a subscription with complicated user agreements and intellectual property issues, making it difficult to do cross-database research.
Doing genealogy is like being a detective. This is part of the appeal for many people – building an ancestor's life story through small clues and fractured information. To do this, you can't limit yourself to one database. However, genealogy services lock you into a subscription with complicated user agreements and intellectual property issues, making it difficult to do cross-database research.
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If you're like a detective, online services limit the scope of your detecting. Orde illustrates this by pointing out that services only provide hints within their own database – you don't get hints about records on other databases. For example, Ancesty.com doesn’t direct you to MyHeritage.com or other sites, even if the information may further your research. But with software, you get hints and matches for individuals on multiple databases.
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User Changes
The cloud-based nature of online genealogy services means other users can change information. While citing information is good practice, an online user doesn't necessarily need to cite the reason for changing data. For example, a few years ago, someone changed my grandfather's death date on a popular ancestry service's database. My father had to go through the process of fixing the altered date, showing he had firsthand experience and citing the death certificate before the date was corrected. As it turned out, the person who altered the date had mistaken my grandfather for someone with a similar name. Not an uncommon issue with databases.
The cloud-based nature of online genealogy services means other users can change information. While citing information is good practice, an online user doesn't necessarily need to cite the reason for changing data. For example, a few years ago, someone changed my grandfather's death date on a popular ancestry service's database. My father had to go through the process of fixing the altered date, showing he had firsthand experience and citing the death certificate before the date was corrected. As it turned out, the person who altered the date had mistaken my grandfather for someone with a similar name. Not an uncommon issue with databases.
A Living Record
Another reason to buy genealogy software is to build a record of living relatives. Marcia Helzer, a retired school teacher and volunteer indexer for FamilySearch.org for the last eight years, emphasizes how genealogy is a living record. It should focus as much your living relatives as it does your ancestors. But this is difficult to do with online services because it may violate living individuals’ privacy. Online databases, she argues, are great for building backward but not for building forward. In an era where identity theft is a real concern, a privately managed database on your computer is the safer option.
Another reason to buy genealogy software is to build a record of living relatives. Marcia Helzer, a retired school teacher and volunteer indexer for FamilySearch.org for the last eight years, emphasizes how genealogy is a living record. It should focus as much your living relatives as it does your ancestors. But this is difficult to do with online services because it may violate living individuals’ privacy. Online databases, she argues, are great for building backward but not for building forward. In an era where identity theft is a real concern, a privately managed database on your computer is the safer option.
Pairing Genealogy Software With DNA Test Kits
While genealogy software can do a lot to help you reveal your family’s history, it is still fallible since you may be missing information or have some incorrect details. For example, there are many stories about people taking DNA tests for fun only to find out that the person they thought was their father isn’t. Without this accurate paternity information, it is impossible to fill in correct genealogical data.
On the flip side, a DNA test kit is also worth it if you don’t know anything about one or more of your parents and want to learn about where you come from. Similarly, a consumer DNA test is also beneficial if you are multiracial – it can reveal a detailed breakdown of your heritage, including information about which continents and countries your DNA originates from. Also, depending on which test you purchase, you may find out what percentage of your biological makeup comes from each region. This can help you focus your genealogy research.
Consumer DNA tests are fun and educational. Though the process has inherent risks, the information the tests provide can help you fill out your genealogy correctly. They can also bring your family closer together and even inspire future travel plans.
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