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Software Guide

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Pick the right program for you with our roundup of popular products—including reviews and trial versions.

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One of the most common questions we get, especially from beginner genealogists, is "Which software should I buy?" We designed this section of our Web site to help you answer that question.

Since just about every program performs the same basic functions of recording, organizing and sharing family history data, the best choice for you depends on your personal preferences. So in this roundup of the most popular family tree software for Windows and Mac, we've highlighted not only the vital stats of each program, but also its pros and cons. We've also linked to our most recent reviews from past issues, which you'll find on our Forum—where other genealogists may have chimed in with their own impressions and critiques.

WINDOWS SOFTWARE

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Ancestral Quest 12
Price: $29.95
Manufacturer: Incline Software
Biggest draws: Compatible with Personal Ancestral File (PAF) and expands on PAF's capabilities; fields to record DNA test results; many reporting options, including pedigree charts with sources and notes; PDF output; research logs
Drawbacks: Poor family view, add-on needed for a wide selection of graphical charts
Read our review
Free demo version

Brother's Keeper 6.2
Price: $45 with manual, $20 upgrade
Manufacturer: John Steed
Biggest draws: charts and reports, to-do lists
Drawbacks: navigation, no HTML descendant report
Free demo version

Family Tree Legends 5.0
Price: free
Manufacturer: MyHeritage
Biggest draws: Simple, streamlined screens; many charting options; custom reports; share your data and pictures on a CD or DVD; back up files to CD or DVD; includes genealogy programs for Palm handheld devices and the Pocket PC; opens Family Tree Maker files
Drawbacks: Printed scrapbooks include photo titles, but not photo descriptions
Note: A higher version, 6.0 Deluxe, is available from Individual Software.
Read our review

Family Tree Maker 2008
Price: $39.95
Manufacturer: The Generations Network
Biggest draws: Online searching and a fresh, new look
Drawbacks: Missing charts and reports
Read our review

Family Trees Quick & Easy 6
Price: $19.95
Manufacturer: Individual Software
Biggest draws: Easy to use, good family group sheets and pedigree charts, PAF compatibility, toll-free help number
Drawbacks: It's essentially an old version of Ancestral Quest

Genbox Family History 3
Price: $29.95
Manufacturer: Thoughtful Creations
Biggest draws: Wide selection of printed reports, including excellent narrative reports for creating a book with a place-name index; many options for publishing your family history online; ease of use
Drawbacks: Overwhelming array of graphical chart options could benefit from some streamlining
Read our review
Free 30-day trial

Heritage Family Tree Deluxe 4.0
Price: $29.95
Manufacturer: Individual Software
Biggest draws: Easy navigation, outstanding printed reports, toll-free help number, comes bundled with Progeny Software's Charting Companion
Drawbacks: Essentially an old version of Ancestral Quest

Legacy Family Tree Deluxe 7.0
Price: $29.95 download, $39.95 on CD with printed manual, $21.95 upgrade from version 6
Manufacturer: Millennia Corp.
Biggest draws: Ease of use, research guidance, charts and reports
Drawbacks: Pedigree view doesn’t show exact dates and places
Read our review
Free Standard Version

The Master Genealogist Gold 7
Price: $59 download, $69.95 on CD
Manufacturer: Wholly Genes Software
Biggest draws: Unlimited flexibility and customization; unique power-user features
Drawbacks: Steep learning curve
Read our review
Free 30-day trial

Personal Ancestral File 5.2
Price: free download, $8.25 on CD with PAF Companion
Manufacturer: FamilySearch
Biggest draws: Ease of use, excellent help files, price, foreign language versions, well-designed print and Web reports, good graphical charts with PAF Companion
Drawbacks: Reports don't include alternate personal names; FamilySearch is no longer upgrading PAF
Read our review

RootsMagic 3
Price: $29.95 download, $39.95 on CD with printed manual
Manufacturer: RootsMagic, Inc.
Biggest draws: Shareable CDs, excellent printed reports, ease of use
Drawbacks: Less sophisticated online searching than other programs
Read our review
Free trial

MACINTOSH SOFTWARE

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GEDitCOM 3.8
Price: $49.95
Manufacturer: John A. Nairn
Biggest draws: Ability to customize interface to your liking, native GEDCOM format
Drawbacks: A bit pricey for shareware

iFamily for Tiger
Price: $29.95
Manufacturer: Keith Wilson
Biggest draws: Source documentation, numerous viewing options, gadgets
Drawbacks: Limited help section; lacks features to privatize data, create Web pages and record conflicting information
Read our review

Heredis Mac X.2
Price: $69 download
Manufacturer: BSD Concept
Biggest draws: Nifty graphics, 3-D family tree
Drawbacks: Slow GEDCOM importing
Read our review
Free trial version

MacFamilyTree 5.1
Manufacturer: Synium Software
Price: $49
Biggest draws: Easy setup, attractive interface, fast GEDCOM imports
Drawbacks: No family group sheet
Read our review
Free trial version

Reunion 9
Price: $99.95
Manufacturer: Leister Productions
Biggest draws: Ease of use; many charts and reports; creates excellent Web sites; support for nontraditional family relationships
Drawbacks: Price
Read our review
Free demo