They have also added the ability to color code your ancestors with up to eight different colors each. Any information you enter gets added to their trees, and vice versa. This is perfect if you have relatives who are working on the same tree as you. The latest version of Family Tree Maker added a unique feature called FamilySync, which lets you automatically synchronize up to three family trees. Pros and consįamily Tree Maker provides all of the features that you would expect from a genealogy program, and it does most of them very well. It packs a lot of power, and is good all-around at just about everything. Family Tree Maker 2017įamily Tree Maker, or FTM, has been around for decades, and is the best known and most widely used family tree program. Here are our top 5 picks for genealogy software, in no particular order because they are all best at something. The best one for you depends on how you plan to use it. Yes, it does, because each program does certain things better than others. So if all genealogy software does all this, does it really matter which program you pick? Browse online directly, without switching to a separate web browser.Map your ancestors through time and space.Download information directly from certain online resources.In addition, some family tree software today will let you: Export your information to other genealogy programs.Give you hints on where and how to search for more clues.Protect your information through regular backups.Store photos, audio and video recordings, and scans of your ancestors and documents.Share your family tree with others in print and electronically.Maintain more than one database for multiple family trees.Document research sources and link them to your family tree.Record information on your ancestors: dates, locations, relationships, etc.There are a bunch of things that you can expect any genealogical software to do:

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Family Tree Maker: good software but too expensive.

Family Historian: best option for beginners and for those not tech-savy.

Legacy: best option if you want a wider range of reporting features.

RootsMagic: most popular software amongst genealogists.Family Tree Builder: best free genealogy software.

Best family history software