When you “save” a record to your tree, you are not really saving a copy of that record- you are simply linking that record to a “fact” on your tree. Although the user is allowed control of the trees they create- the ability to restrict access, edit and delete trees, for example- the data contained within ultimately belongs to that company. Remember, not everyone provides Wi-Fi access, and even if they do, the connection can be spotty.īelieve it or not, you do not own your online tree or the data contained within it- the company hosting the website does.

That can sometimes be tricky in certain types of repositories- for example, an old historic museum or library. However, there are some major downsides to maintaining your family information on the internet. First, while the World Wide Web is a modern miracle that gives you the world at your fingertips- you need an internet connection in order to access it. They can be accessed anywhere, from any device- when visiting Grandma or great-uncle Earl, you can quickly pull up the family tree on your phone, tablet, or laptop to share your latest discoveries.Īdditionally, online trees can be invaluable when investigating DNA matches- attaching a family tree to DNA results helps you make connections with cousin matches, confirm shared ancestors, and discover new records. Genealogy websites make it easy to edit your tree, search for records, and attach them to people, all in one place. Online family trees do have several benefits. Honorable Mentions Online family tree software We much prefer RootsMagic for desktop software and is half the price.

MacKiev Family Tree Maker – popular in the genealogy community but the most expensive of the desktop software by far.

Online Trees – good for making simple trees, attaching records, and linking DNA results.

A great option for desktop software and has the best set of reports/charts available. Simple, easy to use, yet powerful and robust.

RootsMagic 8 – best overall desktop-based family tree software and most used by professional genealogists.

MyHeritage Family Tree Builder – a great option for free desktop software without any “free trial” limitations.

The days of hand-drawn trees covered with sticky notes are over! With so many genealogy programs to choose from, how does the family historian find the right one for their needs?Īnd with websites such as Ancestry and FamilySearch already providing simple-to-use trees for their members, why would you need additional tree software? Let’s take a closer look at what genealogy software can do for your research!īut first, here’s a quick summary of my top picks: These days, it’s so easy to create your family tree using the latest technology.

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