Free Best Family Tree Software For Mac
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Family history research doesn’t have to be expensive, in fact some resources and products are available to you for free. In this post I want to show you some free genealogy software downloads. Please check them out so that you can start to trace your ancestry today! Before checking the free software! Free is good but there are drawbacks though when it comes to such a genealogy software program. Therefore you will need to make up your mind which program is right for you based on these considerations.
Operating system that the program will on, either Windows or Mac. Limitations of the free programs, except for Gramps. Tools and features that are included in the program. These free versions are designed more as a taster at to what you can expect from the full version. By trying out the following programs you can get a feel of the layout and interface, as well as the tools and features that you can expect from the upgraded version.
With that said, let’s check out what you can download for free today! Discussed In This Post:. Express Your Thoughts Below! I would love to hear from you. Ancestral Quest Basics What I like about this program, (and what I find surprising), is that it connects to two genealogical websites – RootsWeb and Ancestry. What this means is that while you are working on your family tree in the background there are searched being conducted on these two sites. These background searches check to see if there are any matches to what you have entered.
Ancestral Quest Basics Rating and Details Rating (3/5) Operating System Windows and Macintosh Download Full Version Review Free Version Review! You can add media to your family tree such as photos which is good. But adding them to reports can become cumbersome as you cannot add them where you would like them to be. The free version cannot unfortunately create ancestor or descendant type charts, relationship or timeline reports. Which is a big disappointment for me.
The program is also limited to the fact that it cannot handle international character sets. So, if your ancestor is from a foreign land then displaying information in their language in your tree will be impossible. As this is a free version of Ancestral Quest 15 then you will get the obvious nag screen when you first start up this program. If you do not mind that then this program can certainly work for you. Pros and Cons ✔ Simple and easy design ✔ Intuitive interface ✔ Automatically searches genealogical sites ❌ Nag screen with startup ❌ Limited charts and reports ❌ No ancestor/descendant type charts or reports ❌ No unicode support Family Tree Builder This free program is brought to you by the extremely popular genealogy company where you can find billions of genealogical records containing your ancestors. They even provide DNA testing kits through where you can find out even more about your ancestry and possibly connect to living relatives as well. Family Tree Builder Rating and Details Rating (4/5) Operating System Windows and Macintosh Download Full Version Review Free Version Review!
Free Family Tree Software
You are not limited to the amount of information that you enter for your ancestors. So, you can add as many facts, notes, sources and multimedia such as photos, sound and video clips as you like. The same goes for the amount of people that you add to your tree. Yep, it’s unlimited! You get a 3 person generation view of your family. So, there is no individual, pedigree or descendant view with this version of the program. There are plenty of reports and charts for you to choose from with this free version.
And you can create and print out maps detailing where your ancestors originated from and migrated to. One of the great advantages with this program, (similar to the others that I have reviewed here), is that you can import your family tree from elsewhere. This is done by loading into the program a GEDCOM file. Connect with records and others! The remarkable advantage though is because this program is connected to the MyHeritage then you can match your tree to other members trees on the website. This gives you the ability to discover even more information about your ancestors.
Now, because this program is brought to you by MyHeritage you can discover genealogical records featuring your ancestors. Although you may find more information for your research you will need to subscribe to the website in order to fully access these records. But still it’s a great avenue of research for you. The downsides! Even though this program is very powerful there are a few drawbacks to it. The first is that you are not able to merge information from an existing tree into your tree that you have built with this program.
Also, you will be presented with a nagging screen when something is unavailable to you. This isn’t really a disadvantage with the program but I thought that I would list it all the same. Pros and Cons ✔ Unlimited information ✔ Many reports and charts ✔ Create and print maps ✔ Import and export GEDCOM files ✔ Match your tree to others ✔ Synchronize your tree to MyHeritage ❌ No merge tools ❌ Nag screens Gramps The reason that I give this a maximum 5 stars is because this genealogy program gives you everything that you need. There is no such premium version of the program, although if you wish to show your support you can make a donation. You are probably wondering about the name of this genealogy software program. Gramps is short for Genealogical Research and Analysis Management Program Systems, and is not short for Grampa, lol. Gramps Rating and Details Rating (5/5) Operating System Windows, Macintosh and Linux Download Free Version Review!
What’s great about this program is that not only can you use it on either your Windows or Macintosh machine, but also Linux as well. Now, I know that most of you use either of the first two, but at least you do have the choice of Linux if that is your preferred operating system. However, installation on a Windows or Macintosh machine may be bit tricky for you if you do not know your way around your computer. For Linux users on the other hand this is not the case. Basic interface, but plenty of features! The interface is very basic. But that’s a good thing as you can easily understand the layout of the program and how to navigate around it and use the tools that are available to you.
There are plenty of reports and charts for you to choose from, where you can make them as brief or as detailed as you want. And if you want to keep certain people private in your tree then you can. Other features include support for various different calendars including Gregorian, Julian, Hebrew, French Republican, Persian and Islamic calendars. Whether your ancestors came from foreign countries is no problem as there is unicode support. This means that the software can handle international character sets. There is also a community of users that help to suggest improvements to the software. Which is great because you get a program that will have more and more capabilities without even having to pay anything, (unless you want to donate of course).
Pros and Cons ✔ Truly cross-platform program ✔ Simple interface ✔ Continual updates ✔ Privacy option ✔ Various calendars supported ✔ Unicode support ❌ Not easy to install on Windows/Macintosh Legacy Family Tree Standard Edition If you have checked out my post then you will have seen that I highly recommend Legacy Family Tree. So, it is good to see that there is a free version of this program. Therefore, if you are not prepared to part with your cash just yet then try the free version before you commit to the full version. Upgrading to the paid version is simple to do and will allow you to copy your family tree over. Legacy Family Tree Standard Edition Rating and Details Rating (3/5) Operating System Windows Download Full Version Review Free Version Review!
Before I continue I just want to mention that you are able to import your GEDCOM file from other software. So, if you have created your family tree from elsewhere then there is no need to worry. Also, you can export/create GEDCOM files with this program as well. The reason why I recommend this software and why it is extremely popular among genealogists is because of the simplistic design, the powerfulness of the program, and that it has all the features that anyone could really need.
Different views and plenty of media! The familiar family, pedigree, descendant, and index views are available for you to enter and edit your family tree from. There are also other kinds of views supported. Multimedia support is not limited as you can add photographs, sound and video clips, maps, and more besides.
As this is a free version of the software you will be greeted with a nagging message when you select a tool or feature that is not available to you. This isn’t really a disadvantage but still I thought that I would tell you about it. It would still have been better if these tools and features were just simply greyed out instead.
Pros and Cons ✔ Simple and easy design ✔ Powerful software ✔ Contains most features ✔ Unlimited data and people ✔ Import GEDCOM files ❌ No unicode support ❌ Only available for Windows ❌ Nagging message Personal Ancestry Writer II If you are a Macintosh user then you may find that this free download is for you. Although it really is’nt a high performing program. It still though may do the job for you. So, you shouldn’t underestimate it! Personal Ancestry Writer II Rating and Details Rating (3/5) Operating System Macintosh Download Free Version Review! Personal Ancestry Writer, or PAWriter for short, has a very simple design, which will make your life easier to use the program. Because there are no distractions with this program you will clearly see what tools are available to you.
And on top of that you can see what you are and are not able to do. Pros and Cons ✔ Simple design ✔ Easy to navigate ✔ Good starting program ❌ Limited tools RootsMagic Essentials For the beginner this is a great free genealogy software program to get you started. Navigating around the interface is pretty easy as the menus, buttons and general appearance is easy to understand. Even though it is easy for you to navigate around the program really well this version does suffer from a nagging screen. These screens appear when you first start up the program and whenever you select tools. Tools that aren’t available in the free version are simply greyed out.
RootsMagic Essentials Rating and Details Rating (3/5) Operating System Windows and Macintosh Download Full Version Review Free Version Review! With the free version you have a choice of either pedigree or family view, where you can easily edit information for your ancestors. The great benefit that I like with this version is that it supports unlimited data. So, you can add as many facts, multimedia, notes, and sources. And you can easily find whichever ancestor that you are looking for within your family tree using the RootsMagic Explorer tool. The built-in templates also make citation really easy for you to do as you just fill in the blanks.
Easily see relationships! Something that I really like with a program such as this is the ability to see how exactly that you are related to your ancestor. And Essentials allows you to do this. It even can show you relationships such as adoptions and foster parents. I mentioned that you are able to add multimedia. This includes photographs, sound clips, and video as well.
And what also is good is that you can add photographs to your printed reports to make them even more appealing. Within the free version of the program you get to choose between dozens of charts, reports and lists. So, you shouldn’t be too restricted. Although it doesn’t allow you to hide individuals from reports. Which means you cannot keep people private. Power tool included too! Power tools are also included which can help you identify any problems with your tree.
Date and soundex calculators are also included as well as sophisticated merge techniques. If your ancestry is quite varied then you probably need the ability to handle international character sets. Well I am pleased to say that Essentials does support Unicode. If you have already created your family tree then there is no need to worry. Essentials will allow you to import directly from Family Tree Maker, Legacy, PAF, The Master Genealogist, and Family Origins.
And if your program isn’t shown that’s OK as you can always import your tree from a GEDCOM file. Pros and Cons ✔ Clear and understandable interface ✔ Easy navigation and editing ability ✔ Supports unlimited people and facts ✔ See relationships ✔ Dozens of charts, reports and lists ✔ Unicode support ✔ Import your tree from other genealogy programs or a GEDCOM file ❌ Nagging screen ❌ No hiding option available in reports Thank You and Please Leave A Comment I hope you enjoyed this post showing you the best free genealogy software downloads. If you have any questions or comments then please leave a comment below. Please share with family and friends if you think this post will help others by using the social media buttons below. Hi Owen, Yesterday I downloaded the free My Heritage Family Tree Builder. I had not worked on the hobby for years.
When I went to import my GED file it got to about 20% and then I received a message saying that was the limit for free LOL. Also, for the people that it did an import if you click on “see the record” it wants either CDN$19.22/month or $8.25 for a lower version. So I guess the free version isn’t all that free after all, just a teaser that I will now delete. Like they say, you get what you pay for and this one is another scam.
Great article though Tom. Hey Owain, thanks for your selection of free genealogy software. I tried tracing my family tree back around the year 2000 but came across too many software issues. They were continually updating, adding new add ons and like you mention, it becomes very expensive, the reasons I gave up to be honest. I like the sound of Gramps, especially when you give the software 5 stars, I’m fairly savvy on the computer so I’m sure I’ll overcome the first hurdle of installing. I think most of us require an easy user interface to aid our genealogy process meanwhile because you mention Gramps has unicode support for foreign countries, I think that will be beneficial as I roll back through our ancestral tree.
Thanks again for your help, Simon. Thank you for the in-depth detailed reviews of the genealogy software! You made it really easy to see which ones would be great to try out.
I have tried a few different ones here and there through out the years but kind of got away from it due to the constant upselling, nagging and limited functions of most of them. I am very tempted to try out the Gramps, yes I admit, I thought it stood for Grandpa, lol. The main reason is because its totally free. One question I had though is there any way to generate a GEDCOM file with it?
I appreciate the time you spent creating this and for the great information!
Technically, the Family Tree Builder software for either Windows or Macintosh will hold information on unlimited individuals. You can enter information about hundreds of thousands of people, if you wish. HOWEVER, if you wish to use the option to sync data with MyHeritage.com, you need an account on the online service. Those accounts are free of charge for up to 250 individuals, $6.25 per month for up to 2,500 individuals, and $9.95 per month for unlimited number of individuals. If you never sync with MyHeritage.com, you can keep information about an unlimited number of individuals in your Family Tree Builder software.
I suspect many people do that as it is an excellent FREE genealogy program. Syncing is an option. If you want to sync with the online service and you have more than 2,500 people in the database (as I do), you will need to have the PremiumPlus subscription that costs $9.95 a month or roughly $7.50 a month if you prepay a year in advance. As a long time Mac user (since the 1984 128K Mac) and a former Mac software developer, it always distresses me to see developers who “port” their application to the Mac, and yet leave the interface 100% Windows in style. It shows they are trying to enter a market that is getting more and more popular as the Mac base expands, but is not important enough for them to go through the effort it takes to rewrite their interface to be consistent with the standards set down years ago for this platform.
I suppose they could argue that they aren’t charging for the app, so just recompile it under the Mac OS X system architecture and that’s “good enough, as long as we get them to sign up for our data bases.” Well, I doubt that they will convince too many true Mac users out there to go this route with that kind of attitude. Good luck with that Like. This isn’t a port – it’s just the Windows executable running under a bundled version of WINE (www.winehq.org). It’s a clunky, lousy way to run an application on non-Windows platform but at least they aren’t charging for it. I tried it out, it crashed at some point and would not fire up properly afterwards. That being said, this looks like a decent piece of genealogy software for Windows users and it does seem to produce a wide array of reports and charts. The app didn’t seem to choke on my 110K individual file either.
I think you missed all the options that are available to you in Family Tree Builder, both the Windows and Macintosh versions. For in stance: — For example, recording dates as: Month, Date, Year instead of Date, Month, Year. You can change that to Date, Month, Year or to Month, Date, Year. You also can select from Gregorian Calendar (used by most people in the English-speaking world and throughout Europe), Hebrew Calendar, or the French Revolution Calendar.
— Also why is it using married surnames for women instead of the maiden name as we have been told to do when recording women’s names? You can change that to whatever you wish. In the program, click on TOOLS, then on NAMES, and the change “Last name for married women.” That will open a list of four different options. Select the one you want. There are other options for names as well, such as to use the Spanish traditional manner of showing last names of children (which is different from the English speaking world).
Family Tree Builder provides many, many options to configure the program to operate in the manner you prefer. Dick, I’m curious whether you seeded your database via gedcom from anywhere? My efforts at doing so were sub optimal. Many tags/facts/events simply dropped off the planet, and source citations were no longer attached to the tag/fact/event they started out with. Re the former, FTB support, prompt and courteous as ever, informed me was because the gedcom used was “non standard”.
As I achieved the same sub optimal results with geds from TMG, FTM and RootsMagic I contended that FTB should be able to cope with such geds, they are hardly obscure programs. The source citation linking I’ve not yet raised with support (or possibly I did so several years ago as I have a memory of noticing this issue well in the past) But that gripe aside, yes, as a completely free bit of software that does run on the Mac, without needing a virtual machine, it is impressive, but not enough for me to make it my primary program. — I’m curious whether you seeded your database via gedcom from anywhere? My GEDCOM files are a collection of many bits and pieces of information I collected and manually recorded in a variety of genealogy programs over the past 30 years or so.
As it was transferred from one program to another, then new information was added, and then the information was transferred to still another program and to another, all sorts of abnormalities probably have crept in. I fix the errors as I discover them. Someday, I am going to take six months off from writing newsletter articles and focus solely on maintaining my own records. Someday Like.