Best Family Tree Software 2019 - Genealogy Software Reviews

• Family Tree Maker Versions
• Family Tree Maker App
• Apple Family Tree Template

I spent 40 hours researching and testing genealogy software to find out which program is the best. Throughout that week, I consulted with genealogy experts, built my own family tree back five generations, created family trees based on fictional characters, and learned a lot about Irish Kings and U.S. Presidents by importing GEDCOM files. In the end, Legacy Family Tree and Family Historian stood out among the others due to their superior GEDCOM accuracy.

Family Tree Maker 2017. Family Tree Maker, or FTM, has been around for decades, and is the best known and most widely used genealogy software. It packs a lot of power, and is good all-around at just about everything. Pros and Cons. Family Tree Maker provides all of the features that you would expect from a genealogy program, and it does most of. Nov 30, 2017  I installed Ancestry's Family Tree Maker Mac 3 in Dec 2015. All went well until Mar 2016. I have been unable to Sync since that time. Whenever I try to sync I get the following message 'There is no connection to the Internet or a firewall is preventing Family Tree Maker from accessing the Internet. Check the Internet connection and try again'. Family Tree Maker Support help number is a new service for Family Tree maker user. A user can call on toll free and get help 24×7 related to software. A customer can call for software related questions. They can ask for genealogy help. We have team Family Tree Maker support help number +1.

Legacy Family Tree

Legacy Family Tree earned perfect marks in my GEDCOM test, is easy to use, and has comprehensive research and scrapbooking tools. It’s comparable to the best genealogy software but costs less.

Family Historian

Family Historian performed perfectly in my GEDCOM test and received the highest grades for ease of use and data management. Those scores, combined with its excellent scrapbooking tools and feature set, give it the most intuitive user experience of the programs we tested.

Heredis 2018

Not only does Heredis 2018 feature the most stylish family tree charts and genealogy reports, but it also has the widest variety. Also, the quality of its charts is unmatched.

Best Value

Legacy Family Tree

Legacy Family Tree emerged from my tests and research as one of the best performing family tree apps because of its excellent data management and research tools. The interface is a little dated, but it's very effective and easy to use. Most importantly, Legacy Family Tree was one of only two programs with 100-percent accuracy in my GEDCOM test. This, along with its lower price point, make it the best value genealogy software.

In my GEDCOM import tests, I used four genealogical records to gauge how well each program interpreted this universal genealogical file format. Legacy Family Tree and Family Historian were the only programs that earned perfect scores.
These weren't simple records either. Two of the files contained over 1,000 family names, including media files, notes, memories and more. I purposely made the other two GEDCOM records difficult for genealogy software to interpret by including same-sex marriages, polygamous families and mixed families. Legacy Family Tree’s accuracy makes it ideal for incorporating a family member’s research into your own.
Legacy Family Tree received A grades for navigation and data entry in my ease of use tests. Its interface is pleasantly simple, not overwhelming like many of the programs I reviewed. This makes it easy to manage data, especially when there's so much to get lost in. I also liked the automatic warnings the software gave when I entered possibly incorrect information, such as if a parent was too young at the entered marriage date or too old at death.

Best User Experience

Family Historian

If your main reason for doing genealogy is to record and tell your family's story, then Family Historian is your best software option. Not only did it most accurately interpret data from GEDCOM files (which makes it easy to incorporate data collected by other family members) but its interface was also the easiest to use.

Its scrapbooking tools are also effective and easy to find. In addition, Family Historian’s integration with online databases makes it a powerful genealogy tool.
Only two genealogy programs perfectly interpreted data in GEDCOM files – and Family Historian was one of them. I imported four GEDCOM files – two very large records and two smaller records I created specifically to test each program’s ability to interpret tricky information, such as same-sex marriages, polygamist families and mixed families. Each of these records included media files, memories, notes, burial locations and more. Family Historian interpreted the data and incorporated the records into its format without flaw. If someone else in your family has done a lot of research already, this is the best program for incorporating their records into your own.
Family Historian received the highest grades for ease of use. It’s easy to navigate, with almost no learning curve. Also, the tabbed menus make data entry quick and effortless because you don't have to open new windows for every piece of information you want to enter. If you do genealogy for hours at a time, opening and closing windows can add a significant amount of time to your work. It's also one of the few programs with a time-saving undo/redo feature.

Best Charting Capabilities

Heredis 2018

Heredis 2018 wasn’t impressive, particularly because of its subpar GEDCOM accuracy. In fact, it completely failed to import one of my four test GEDCOM files. However, the software’s charts are unmatched in number, quality, variety and style. If you primarily want genealogy software to print out family trees, genealogy reports and books, Heredis 2018 is the best option.

The software has more chart options than any other app I reviewed by a long shot. There are 45 charts and 33 report styles to choose from – nearly double the options other programs have. Its selection includes charts with actual trees as the background, charts with fancy designs linking people together and charts made to look like antique scrolls. Heredis’ charts are of high enough quality you can print and frame them.
In many ways, Heredis is my favorite interface to work in because of its modern design and customizable tools. It doesn't feel like it was designed in the 1990s like some of its competitors do. In fact, the module-based interface is fully customizable, so you can mold it to your preferences, making it great for novices and experts alike.
Heredis lacks undo and redo tools and doesn't offer hints to guide you in your research. It also doesn’t have a task list and doesn’t automatically back up your data. Perhaps most important, though, it didn't perform very well in my GEDCOM tests, completely failing to import one of the files and having issues with the others.

Best for Beginners

Family Tree Maker

Family Tree Maker is a great tool for comprehensive genealogy research.

In our tests, it received an A+ for data entry efficiency, scrapbooking tools and ease-of-use. Very few features require you open new windows, eliminating the possibility of getting lost in a sea of data. For testing, we entered the information of 10 people and it took under 5 minutes. Charting is also easy so if you've never used software like this before, the learning curve is small. The scrapbooking features are also right at the top of the interface, where you can add photos, videos and other material to flesh out your family's story.

Best for Mac

Reunion 12

The only reason this product doesn’t rank higher in our rankings is because its limited to Macs, but if you’ve got an Apple laptop, iPad or iPhone this software is one of the best options out there.

Reunion 12's charting displays crisply, making your family tree easy to print out. You can easily attach photos, video and other media to a family member via the main toolbar, which is displayed vertically on the left side of the screen. It only took us 7 minutes to enter data for 10 individuals, which is incredibly efficient compared to other products we tested that took 10 minutes or more. The one flaw we discovered with Reunion 12 had to do with importing your family tree as a GEDCOM file. The programming excluded a same-sex marriage and some media files. Aside from some GEDCOM compatibility problems though, this software is easy to use on your Apple device.

Why Trust Us

Top Ten Reviews has reviewed genealogy software since 2004, testing and comparing the best products on the market each year. As I tested these programs, I put most of my focus on ease of use, evaluating each software’s GEDCOM accuracy, interface navigation, tools and features, and data entry process. However, I also considered the apps’ charting capabilities and data management, paying special attention to their scrapbooking tools because genealogy is about much more than tracking down your ancestor’s records – it's about collecting, recording and managing your family's story.

While this is the first time I've reviewed family tree software, genealogy is a frequent topic of conversation in my family. My ancestors’ stories make up a core part of who I am and how I came to be. I've traveled to Ireland, Wales and England specifically to visit ancestral sites. Genealogy software has an existential value for me, and I approached each program as someone recording his family’s story.

How We Tested

Sharing research is a major part of successful genealogy work. To do this, you create a GEDCOM file, a universal format for recording genealogy records. It allows you to incorporate research from others, such as a great aunt or a cousin, into your own database. However, while GEDCOM files are universal, not all programs accurately interpret their data.

To test the apps’ accuracy, I used GEDCOM files of Irish kings and U.S. presidents. Then I created a GEDCOM file based on my own family tree and a fictional file based on characters from my favorite TV show. The purpose of the first two records was to test the breadth of the program, as each file had thousands of names and hundreds of families. The other two records were made to be as difficult as possible – they included same-sex marriages, polygamist relationships and complicated mixed families. Each of these GEDCOM files included media files, notes, memories, web links and more.

The amount of information in these GEDCOM files was staggering, making it all the more impressive when two programs emerged with perfect results. The biggest problem programs had was excluding huge swaths of information from a family line based on one problematic entry. Another issue was errors in the media files and missing notes. Often, the data was still available, but the connections had to be re-stitched.

I also evaluated how easy each program is to use by looking closely at its interface design and data entry process. The easiest programs are modeless – you don’t have to open a new window for every tool or feature you want to use. Instead, you enter data in an interface that uses floating tabs and adjustable modules in a single window. This process requires fewer mouse-clicks, so it saves time. Overall, modeless interfaces have shallower learning curves and help novices become experts quicker.

In addition, I evaluated the programs’ charting capabilities and scrapbooking tools. Genealogy is about much more than collecting dates and names – it’s also about telling your family story; displaying family connections on a visual chart; and tracking down pictures, videos, audio, family memories, life events, health records, facts and other notes. The best genealogy programs put their chart options and scrapbooking tools front and center so you don’t have to dig to find them.

How Much Does Genealogy Software Cost?

We tested genealogy software that cost an average of $46, making it more cost-effective than paying a monthly fee to use a genealogy website. If you opt for genealogy software the only ongoing costs are for software updates or upgrades, which costs roughly $20 depending on the service.

Why Buy Genealogy Software?

As I began researching genealogy software for this review, my family had a big party to celebrate six birthdays – siblings, nieces, nephews, grandmother. Everyone was there. At the party, I talked about reviewing genealogy software, knowing it's a topic my family is interested in. The reaction I got from everyone was 'So, you're reviewing services like Ancestry and MyHertitage? Are you going to get your DNA tested?'

Indeed, Top Ten Reviews covers genealogy services and DNA testing kits, but when I explained it was desktop genealogy software, the response was 'Why? Aren't the services better? FamilySearch.org is free!'

And they make a good point – why buy genealogy software? The software doesn't come with a database of names and records. If you have to access a database to do research anyway, why not use a service to build your family tree?

Ownership
I asked Simon Orde, director at Family Historian, the same question: Why is genealogy software still relevant? While he praises online genealogy services as a vital part of the genealogy industry that connects people with vast databases of names and records, he draws a stark line between the value of genealogy software and that of genealogy services. Desktop software, he explains, 'allows customers to store their own data on their own PC, under their own control.'

It may seem like a small detail, but there are big implications. Namely, when you use a cloud-based database, the information isn't yours to control or maintain. When you put your family history together in a desktop genealogy program, you not only own the data, but you own the process. It makes you more invested in your family’s story.

Cross-database Hints
Doing genealogy is like being a detective. This is part of the appeal for many people – building an ancestor's life story through small clues and fractured information. To do this, you can't limit yourself to one database. However, genealogy services lock you into a subscription with complicated user agreements and intellectual property issues, making it difficult to do cross-database research.

If you're like a detective, online services limit the scope of your detecting. Orde illustrates this by pointing out that services only provide hints within their own database – you don't get hints about records on other databases. For example, Ancesty.com doesn’t direct you to MyHeritage.com or other sites, even if the information may further your research. But with software, you get hints and matches for individuals on multiple databases.

User Changes
The cloud-based nature of online genealogy services means other users can change information. While citing information is good practice, an online user doesn't necessarily need to cite the reason for changing data. For example, a few years ago, someone changed my grandfather's death date on a popular ancestry service's database. My father had to go through the process of fixing the altered date, showing he had firsthand experience and citing the death certificate before the date was corrected. As it turned out, the person who altered the date had mistaken my grandfather for someone with a similar name. Not an uncommon issue with databases.

A Living Record
Another reason to buy genealogy software is to build a record of living relatives. Marcia Helzer, a retired school teacher and volunteer indexer for FamilySearch.org for the last eight years, emphasizes how genealogy is a living record. It should focus as much your living relatives as it does your ancestors. But this is difficult to do with online services because it may violate living individuals’ privacy. Online databases, she argues, are great for building backward but not for building forward. In an era where identity theft is a real concern, a privately managed database on your computer is the safer option.

Pairing Genealogy Software With DNA Test Kits

While genealogy software can do a lot to help you reveal your family’s history, it is still fallible since you may be missing information or have some incorrect details. For example, there are many stories about people taking DNA tests for fun only to find out that the person they thought was their father isn’t. Without this accurate paternity information, it is impossible to fill in correct genealogical data.

On the flip side, a DNA test kit is also worth it if you don’t know anything about one or more of your parents and want to learn about where you come from. Similarly, a consumer DNA test is also beneficial if you are multiracial – it can reveal a detailed breakdown of your heritage, including information about which continents and countries your DNA originates from. Also, depending on which test you purchase, you may find out what percentage of your biological makeup comes from each region. This can help you focus your genealogy research.

Consumer DNA tests are fun and educational. Though the process has inherent risks, the information the tests provide can help you fill out your genealogy correctly. They can also bring your family closer together and even inspire future travel plans.

More Guides for Family Historians:

Related Product Reviews

Tracing your family tree can be a fascinating and sometimes life changing experience. Here we look at the best family tree software for Mac in 2019 to trace your roots.

Although the majority of family tree programs out there are still Windows based, there are now some very good free and paid genealogy apps for Mac.

Family Tree Maker Versions

Nowadays thanks to DNA home testing kits such as GPS Origins (currently $50 off) and AncestryDNA you can even delve deeper than ever before into your family origins.

All of the programs featured here work on the latest versions of macOS including El Capitan, Sierra, High Sierra and Mojave.

Note that Family Tree apps differ from Genogram software which are used more by social workers and psychologists to trace family issue rather than hereditary lines.

Here then is our list of the best genealogy software for Mac in 2019 in order of ranking.

1. RootsMagic

RootsMagic has been in the family tree business for years and although started life on Windows, can now be used on Mac too.

Although RootsMagic doesn’t have the slickest interface of the apps featured here, it’s extremely powerful and still popular with professional genealogists.

RootsMagic is one of the most reliable apps we’ve seen when it comes to importing family trees in GEDCOM format if you’re switching from another family tree application.

We also like the fact that RootsMagic has lots of way to share your family trees with others. RootsMagic is one of the few apps that also still allows you to create sharable CDs or DVDs with family members although for this you will need a CD/DVD burner for your Mac too. You can also create books and wall charts which make excellent gifts at Christmas and Birthday time for family.

Another great touch is that you can load your RootsMagic family trees onto a pendrive or external storage device on your Mac and then continue working on it at a library, family member’s home, courthouse etc.

Finally, RootsMagic is integrated with heritage sites such as Ancestry, FamilySearch, FindMyPast and MyHeritage to make filling-out your family charts quicker and easier.

At $29.95 RootsMagic is also easily one of the best value family tree programs on macOS considering everything that it can do.

Pricing: $29.95 – Free Trial

2. Family Tree Maker

Family Tree Maker (FTM) is certainly the most well-known family tree software on Mac and the latest version of FTM 2017 for Mac is still one of the best. Family Tree Maker is made by MacKiev, the makers of the popular Mavis Beacon Typing courses and features just about everything you need in family tree software on Mac. FTM makes it very easy to build family trees with family history timelines, interactive maps, device syncing and more. One of the things we like most about Family Tree Maker is FamilySync which now replaces the old TreeSync. This allows you and other members of your family to keep adding bits and pieces to the family tree in sync so that there are no duplicates. This ability to involve all members of the family in building q family tree, makes it easier to build your family trees quicker and with richer data.

The other thing that makes Family Tree Maker powerful is integration with both Ancestry.com and FamilySearch which allow you to automatically download information about family members so you don’t need to enter them manually. Ancestry.com actually used to own Family Tree Maker for Mac before they sold it to MacKiev so integration with Ancestry.com is unsurprisingly very close and well done. Other nice tools in FTM for Mac 2017 include a Photo Darkroom to retouch and improve old photos, color coordination and auto-suggestions regarding potential additions to your family tree.

It’s amazing how quickly your family tree grows especially if online ancestry databases reveal relatives you never even knew existed. However, the problem with this is that your family tree software can start to slowdown as your family tree grows and it has to process, retrieve and display more and more information. Family Tree Maker seems to remain fast and responsive even when processing large amounts of data and we found it just as fast and efficient when it comes to processing several generations worth of data as it does with just a few.

Family Tree Maker is a huge application however and the user manual alone is over 300 page so to really get the most out of it, you need to invest some time in learning it. It is still arguably the most powerful genealogy software out there for Mac though. Family Tree Maker 2017 for Mac is available in three formats – a download, download with DVD and USB stick with download.

Pricing: $79.95 – Free Trial

3. MacFamilyTree

MacFamilyTree is one of the few genealogy software built only for Macs and offers many of the features if FTM for Mac but in a more tailored OS X/macOS interface. We prefer the interface to MacFamilyTree over FTM for Mac because it simply looks better on Mac and it’s been around on Mac for almost 20 years now so they’ve refined it pretty well. MacFamilyTree is dedicated to all things Apple so you can use it on your iPhone and iPad too with the MobileFamilyTree app. Most recently, the app has introduced CloudTree Sync & Share which allows you to collaborate on building your family tree with other family members, similar to FTM’s FamilySync in order to create richer family trees, faster.

One of the things that makes MacFamilyTree different to FTM for Mac is the impressive chart visualizations available. You can visualize your family tree in a huge variety of ways including Hourglass, Fan Chart, Kinship Chart and Genogram. In fact there are far more charts than you’ll probably ever need but it’s quite fun trying all the different ways of looking at your family history. One of the most interesting is the Map view which shows you some interesting statistics on where your relatives are located around the globe.

It also generates some customized reports about your relatives and origins including Marriage Lists, Person Analysis and Kinship Reports. If you want to make a gift out of your family tree, we also like the way that MacFamilyTree has a tasteful selection of templates and books that you can publish your family tree in. You can print these yourself or export them in PDF to give to a professional print shop to make some really unique gifts with.

MacFamilyTree also makes it easy to publish your family tree as a website that you can share with family members or make available publicly.

MacFamilyTree is integrated with the online FamilySearch database so you have access to a huge repository of genealogical data. This contains details of over six billion people and can undercover some fascinating nuggets of information about relatives such as court data, monastery log books and shipping registers. You can use FamilySearch purely for research purposes or download data directly into MacFamilyTree making it very easy to build your family history. You can also upload your own family data to the FamilySearch database for others to use although for data privacy reasons, you can only upload data of deceased persons. MacFamilyTree is a really well supported product with good developer support and regular updates. Most recently it has been updated to feature a much improved layout, an improved streamlined interface and better performance on your Mac. You can try MacFamilyTree for free although the in the demo, you can’t save, print or export.

Pricing: $59.99 Mac App Store – Free Trial

4. Heredis

Family Tree Maker App

Heredis is a huge online database of over 350 million persons and records that also has a desktop client for Mac. Heredis is used by professional and amateur genealogists alike and has some of the most powerful and intelligent search capabilities of any online family tree software on OS X. Heredis Smart Search passes your data through combined search criteria to give some extremely accurate matches. Note that the Heredis database is mainly focused on European Anglo-Saxon family histories so those from other backgrounds, including the USA may find it less useful.

When you’ve entered your details, the dashboard in Heredis gives you a very quick overview of how many ancestors you have and even suggests other ancestors that may be related to you over several generations. The information presented can be overwhelming which is why Heredis allows you to narrow searches by parameters such as country, event, number of children etc. One of the most interesting features of Heredis is the migratory flows map that shows why your ancestors may have moved and where they moved to. Other nice touches in Heredis are slideshows of your ancestors with different themes to choose from, a little like you find in Apple Photos.

There’s also a very slick Heredis mobile app for iPhone and iPad which even allows you to dictate to Siri details about your family that you’d like you to add to ancestor profiles and other data.

Heredis for Mac is extremely good value at $49.99 and there’s even a free version of Heredis for Mac which is limited to 50 entries but a good way to see if you like the software first.

Pricing: $49.99 – Free Trial

5. GEDitCOM II

If you don’t want all the fancy bells and whistles of either FTM for Mac 2017 or MacFamilyTree, then the rather more basic GEDitCOM II may be for you. GEDitCOM II is quite a dated genealogy software nowadays but still interesting for those that want something a bit more manual and less “connected to the web” than most genealogy software on Mac.

The main problem with GEDitCOM II is that it’s far more tedious and laborious to upload census data and entering data in general is a far more hands on task than with FTM or MacFamilyTree. The application also requires some knowledge of AppleScript, Python or Ruby to get the most out of it which will be beyond the capabilities or time for most Mac users. You can try a free demo of GEDitCOM II for 14 days during which time you can save files but after 14 days, you will no longer be able to save anything. Our advice is that unless you have a lot of time on your hands, there is far better and more modern family tree software on Mac nowadays than GEDitCOM II.

Pricing: $64.99 – Free Demo

6. iFamily For Mac

iFamily for Mac is another quite dated genealogy software on Mac but is easier to use than GEDitCOM II and also one of the cheapest. iFamily is focused around you the individual and who is related to you rather than the entire family tree as with most genealogy software. For instance, it only goes 6 generation deep so that your connection to your direct descendants isn’t lost in layers and layers of ancient family data. iFamily for Mac supports GEDCOM import and export, publishing to the web and supports over 200 media file types which you can upload and drag and drop into your tree. There’s no online integration with ancestry databases however and as a result, filling it in is quite painstaking although since it only goes 6 generations deep, it’s manageable.

Like GEDitCOM II, iFamily has been left behind by FTM for Mac 2017 and MacFamilyTree but for an inexpensive genealogy software focused on the individual rather than the wider family, it’s still very good. If you just want to create a personal ancestral file on Mac, it’s definitely worth a closer look.

Apple Family Tree Template

Note that iFamily for Mac only works up to OS X 10.13 High Sierra – it does not officially support macOS 10.14 Mojave yet. There’s also a legacy version which works from OS X Tiger to Yosemite.

Pricing: $29.95 – Free Demo

7. Gramps

Gramps is a well-respected open source free family tree software for Mac and PC. Although it’s ideal for amateur genealogy sleuths, it’s also suitable for professional genealogists and is maintained by a community of genealogists. Gramps certainly doesn’t have the same slick interface as paid apps such as iFamily and can feel a bit slow but it’s still a very accomplished and detailed genealogy app.

Gramps uses “Gramplets” on the main dashboard which are like widgets that provide analysis of your data. These gramplets include widgets for People, Relationships, Families, Ancestry, Events, Places, Geography, Citations, Repositories, Media and Notes.

Gramps is well documented with an easy to follow Wiki on how it works. There’s no online integration with ancestry databases and Gramps is about as basic as it gets when it comes to genealogy and family research on Mac but for a free application, it’s ideal for those that just want to maintain some record of their family history at no cost.

Pricing: Free

8. Reunion for Mac

Reunion has been around a long time now and works on both Mac, iPhone and iPad. Family relationships are displayed in a very clear and easy to follow fashion and you can create a range of genealogy reports, charts, forms and books. You can even create birthday calendars, slideshows, family mailing lists and questionnaires for fun quizzes at family reunions or special events. Reunion also has a mobile app ReunionTouch which syncs automatically with any changes you make on your Mac via DropBox.

Reunion allows you to digitize photos of your relatives and link them to people, family and other records. You can also make slideshows from these which is a nice touch.

Many people switch from Family Tree Maker to Reunion and there are full instructions how to export GEDCOM files from FTM for Mac and import them into Reunion here.

You can try Reunion for free although in the demo, you can only enter up to 50 family records, there’s no import or export options and printed documents will carry a watermark.

Pricing: $99 – Free Demo

Genealogy Software On Mac: Essential Tips

Before choosing which app is best for you, there are some important things to be aware of to choose the best genealogy software for your needs.

• Genealogy research is increasingly moving online making it much easier for relatives to find each other and research their past. There are now powerful online ancestry databases such as FamilySearch, Heredis and Ancestory.com which can help build your family tree far quicker than having to research things yourself. Ancestory.com is extremely powerful and has access to over 20 billion historical records, although it has more data for European users than those in the USA. FamilySearch is the largest genealogy database in the world and is owned by the Church of the Latter Day Saints but is completely free to use. The LDS Church are more commonly known as Mormons and the reason they maintain such detailed records is because genealogical research is extremely important to Mormons in maintaining their faith and blood lines. These databases are invaluable in saving time searching through family records or printed archives of your family history.

• Some Mac genealogy apps automatically link to these online services in order to complete your family tree quickly and accurately. They also provide rich information such as major events in your ancestors lives, the percentage of your blood origins from different countries, migration reports etc. Be warned however that occasionally you may find that some family records suddenly disappear from these online databases, especially from Ancestry.com. A common reason for this is that the developer does not own the rights to the information so a good tip is to download documents such as probate records and wills because when they’re gone from the online database, it’s very difficult to get them back. If you have a lot of family tree data stored on your Mac, always back it up to an external or online source in case your Mac crashes or dies. Check out our guide to the best external hard drive for Mac for the best backup solutions for Macs.

• Some online genealogy services such as GPS Origins (currently 50% off) and Ancestry.com go one step further and also offer DNA testing kits. DNA testing opens-up whole new avenues to explore and has even been used to catch serial killers such as happened to the Golden State Killer. For example, GPS Origins costs $99 and allows you to send a sample of your saliva DNA for analysis with results usually delivered to you online in a few months. This is a far more powerful way to trace your roots and reveal blood lineages to other countries you weren’t even aware of, including Native American ancestry. The company is currently offering 50% off its DNA testing package with coupon code GPSCJ100 which usually costs $199. A similar service is offered by Ancestry.com’s AncestryDNA. AncestryDNA uses what’s known as micro array-based autosomal DNA testing which can trace your DNA genome in over 700,000 locations. This type of analysis also works for both men and women whereas some DNA analysis services only work for analyzing the male Y-chromosome and can’t be used to analyze a woman’s past. These types of test obviously raise some ethical and security concerns although Ancestry.com do not store your DNA with your name or any other identifying data and allow you to request destruction of your DNA sample at any time. You can also choose to download raw DNA data for your own records before Ancestry.com destroy it. If you really want to dig deep into your family history however, DNA testing could be one of the most interesting undertakings you’ve ever done.
• Software developers come and go and the genealogy software you use today may not be around in 5 or 10 years time. It’s therefore important that you can export your comprehensive family tree data in a format that can be read by other software if your family tree software developer disappears or ceases business. The most common export format that genealogy software uses is a specific format called GEDCOM (Genealogical Data Communication) . However, even if a program supports GEDCOM, some data such as images, citations and custom fields don’t always import so well so if possible, try to pick one genealogy software and stick to it.

• Not all family tree programs for Mac are up to date in terms of modern relationships. Some are still based on the model of the nuclear family and don’t support same-sex marriages, adoptions, step relations etc. However you will find that all the software featured here supports a wide range family structures so that your family tree is reflective of changing times.

• The best apps allow you to add rich information about your family tree through the use of media, citations and other attachments. This includes adding photos, videos and scanned documents such as birth certificates, death certificates and other documents relating to important events in your relatives’ lives. The more the software supports, the richer your family tree will be.

• Genealogy software can be complex and the best programs include comprehensive Help and Support sections although most of these are in the form of user guides, PDF files and forums. Note that there are few Mac family tree developers that offer live or 24/7 customer support but most are well documented.

• One of the most rewarding things about family tree software is making a gift for relatives which you can either print out or send in digital form. Many genealogy apps support printing or gift features which make a unique present. If you want to print your family tree, heirloom pedigree charts or descendant charts, check out our guide to the best printers for Mac to get optimum results. Some genealogy software can also generate complex reports although these are more useful for academic research purposes.

Conclusion

As we’ve seen, there’s quite a lot of family tree software for Mac users to choose from.

If you want something that’s powerful, got lots of useful features and tons of way to share your family trees, RootsMagic for Mac is excellent.

If you want to build a really rich family tree and dig deep into your past, you really need Family Tree Maker or MacFamilyTree as they are the only ones that are integrated with online genealogy databases.

MacFamilyTree looks better on Mac but if you want to dig really deep into your past, Family Tree Maker’s integration with AncestryDNA is hard to beat. Both are focused more on North American family histories though and European users may find that Heredis database is more relevant to their family history.

This is by no means a comprehensive list but in our opinion they are the best family tree apps for Mac users.

We hope we help you find answers to your family history with some of the genealogy software featured here but if you have any questions, problems or suggestions, let us know in the comments below.