Ancestry.com vs Family Tree Maker 2008?

Question

I am in the process of beginning to collect info on my family tree. I am thinking about buying Family Tree Maker 2008 Platinum Edition so that I have the six months free on Ancestry.com, but is it worth the money? For those of you out there who have used the program and Ancestry.com, do you need both? Or would a subscription to Ancestry.com be all that I would need?

Any other advice would be much appreciated...

Answer 1

Well I use both. I enter my data into my FTM2008 and because it finds records automatically for you, I check to make sure that that information belongs to my person and click a button and it's added.  I can make a gedcom file and upload it to Ancestry. The only thing it doesn't add is all my notes, which I hate. I travel a lot and like the fact that my tree is online so I can continue working on it.  I do have a tree strictly on Ancestry where a group of us that match the same DNA are working to connect each line to each other. This was a great step forward in correcting so much misinformation out there on other trees. With it on Ancestry I get emails from people with more information on my people or needing more information. This has correct a lot of information also.  In addition, if my harddrive failed, which it has, my 15+ years of information is saved where I can download it again.

Is Ancestry worth the money? Absolutely. Do you need both FTM and Ancestry?  Not really, but it's so convenient to not have to type all that information in, plus if I have already downloaded it, it won't give me a hint again, so I always know if there is new information on my people, because there will be a green leaf by their name.

I just got a notice that because I bought FTM2008, I get the next upgrade free. Even if you have to pay for the next version it's' cheap, not like the $100 it was a long time ago.

Answer 2

As Donna L said, Family Treemaker is a software program that helps you record and organize your family info... and I would say definitely get that!  Once you start doing genealogy, you'll gather a lot of information - and this is a great way to keep it all in order.  It also allows you to generate family tree charts, family group sheets and other reports that you can print off and share with relatives. I'm not sure how anyone can do genealogy without some sort of genealogy software!  

I haven't used the 2008 version (I actually use a much older version, because that's what I've become used to and I like it)... but go ahead and give it a try.  As a first time user, you won't have anything to compare it to, and it will probably work just fine for you.

As for Ancestry.com - I've had a yearly subscription for several years, and I use it almost every day.  You may see some folks say "it's not worth it", but I think that's because they don't understand how to use it, or they expect it to be something it's not.  So let me explain...

There are basically two types of records you'll find on Ancestry.  The most important one is their collection of historical records - actual images of census records, ships lists, newspapers, and other genealogical documents, as well as indexes of marriage records, military records, etc.  This is what makes Ancestry.com such a valuable resource; you can search these records online, rather than traveling to a library, archives or distant courthouse.  These are the primary sources that allow you to prove your family relationships are correct.

The other type of record you'll find is their database of family trees - trees that have been compiled and submitted by other users.  Searching through these trees can be a great help, because you may find that someone else has already done some research on your family.  However, you have to keep in mind that the info in these trees may not always be 100% accurate.  After all, everyone can make mistakes. But it's a great starting place, and then you can search for records to verify the information you find in the online trees.  

It's the family tree databases that people are referring to when they say, "The info on Ancestry isn't always correct."  But the collection of historical documents (barring transcription errors) are the same thing you'll find if you visit the archives, library, etc.

Ancestry.com has a new feature that's pretty interesting.  You can enter your family info onto the website, and it will search the historical records and family trees for your names and give you "hints" - links to records that may pertain to your ancestors.  It's not perfect - if your ancestor is Barnabas Jones, it may pull up a census record for a different Barnabas Jones - but you can study the record and decide if it pertains to your family or not.  I just recently tried it, and it actually gave me some records that I'd overlooked.  

But anyway... I'd say get Family Treemaker for sure.  And give Ancestry a try.  Good luck, and enjoy!

Answer 3

Ancestry.com is a website where you can look up information to fill in the blanks in the Family Tree Maker software (or any other genealogy software.)  They are not one and the same thing.  One is a resource, the other is basically a database.  The two go hand-in-hand very well.

I have been using Family Tree Maker 2005 ever since it came out.  When 2008 appeared, I was probably one of the first to buy it.  I HATED IT!  And I wasn't alone.  Most people who were used to 2005 hated it, and most went back to FTM 2005.

The powers that be realized that they had goofed by releasing 2008 before all the bugs were worked out, and are frantically trying to fix things.  For all I know, they may have fixed a lot by now, but I haven't had the opportunity to look at it again.

HOWEVER, since you don't have any experience with 2005, you might like 2008 just fine.  And the paid subscription to Ancestry.com is a must.  I bought a month-by-month subscription because I figured I'd run out of things to look up, and could cancel the subscription when I did.  WRONG. I still use it almost every day.  It is a gold mine of information.

There are a ton of genealogy sources on the internet, and you will really want some sort of software to collect it all.  Family Tree Maker should treat you well, though there are a lot of fans out there of other genealogy programs.  But that six month free subscription to Ancestry.com would be enough to tip the scales for me!

Answer 4

I use an older version of Family Tree Maker. You need a genealogy program to keep your info. If you place it on websites, you may be able to put it in but they will require you to subscribe to access it. I would use Family tree maker and use the free 6 months to see if you like Ancestry.

Just remember that what you find online may not be correct. Always verify the info with documents, birth, death, marriage, obits, etc. This is the only way that you can be sure you have the right person.

Answer 5

I have used both but use another program currently for my family tree .

When I used ancestory.com not all the information was correct for example: it has my Uncle Shirley listed as both a male and female because someone just saw his name and didnt look any further.  

I would get the Family tree Maker and use the ancestory for the free 6 months and then decide. Just because its on the site doesn't always mean its correct.

Good luck if you need help contact me , I'm working on my family tree and know of some good sites other than ancestory.

Carrie