

Where do you live/where did the people you research live?.What is the primary device you use for doing genealogy?.Do you really need software? If you're not technically inclined, it might be a hinderance.Do some research before you decided on the best program for you, make sure that it suits you needs.There are a few things to consider when selecting genealogy software. You will also find some that let you trial the software before you buy. Most desktop software programs are usually written for either the Windows or Mac platforms but some programs are available in both.Ī search of the internet for family history software will give you a multitude of programs to choose from, some of these you will find are free or partly so. Researchers who locate their information through a range of different sources such as, online, newspapers, certificates, document, other genealogists and family members will typically find this type of software more comprehensive. They usually offer charting, reporting, book creation, maps, pictures, family tree websites and more. Typically desktop programs have a much wider range of features than those that are internet/web-based.

Programs such as Ancestry, Family Search and My Heritage allow you to sync your web-based trees with your computer-based trees. Some of these programs now offer an app as well so that you can access and update your data from your mobile devices. These are programs that you load onto your desktop or laptop computer.

You may also be able to access your data through an app on mobile devices such as mobile phones and ipads.Īs this type of software has fairly limited features you should check to see if part or all of your tree can be kept private, if others can make changes to your tree and what your ownership rights are for your tree. Your information is kept on the provider’s website so you don’t need to worry about backups. They are most likely to be useful to researchers who get the majority of their information from one source. These programs are usually easy to use and to share your family tree with others.
