What's the best genealogy software, and why is it best?

Question

What's the best genealogy software, and why is it best?

Answer 1

The best genealogy software is the one you will use.

Other than that, it's like asking what shoe size is best. Depends upon the size of your feet.

Older experienced genealogists are quit often rabidly vocal in their opinions. I have tried free samples, but I like report capability, so I'm stuck on FTM16 for now. I probably will move to The Master Genealogist when I migrate to Vista because I'm a report and chart kinda guy. Your needs may be different.

My only other opinions I can offer is that the program should be resident on your computer (not on-line), and must import and export gedcom files (crucial). The user interface must be comfortable for you. Try out all the major "free-trial" programs; they are easily uninstalled if you dislike them.

Some really good comprehensive reviews are here: http://genealogy.about.com/cs/genealogys...

If you stomp around this site you'll run across links and reviews of available programs, as well as discussion boards.

As always, happy hunting!

Answer 2

Impossible to be specific If in the  many programmes are US in origin such as FTW Good for recording data but weak on reports Its All in One tree is unique ( shows all entries even if no proven connection . ) Family Historian is superb for UK research but you have to be a bit of an Einstein to follow the logic at times . Based on Gedcoms . I use Roots Magic for reports and FTW ( Family Tree Maker ) for trees . RM takes your FTW data base directly and they work superbly together ! Reunion of course for Macs .

Answer 3

I vote with Lancaster Linda for basic and free. Basic is not stripped down, although it may not have every feature in the pay programs.  It is put out by the LDS church (no, they don't limit the program to church members), and has been out for YEARS AND YEARS.  I have seen other cheapie programs, that were discontinued, then people were sometimes stuck with no support, and occasionally a program that did not do a gedcom.

Gedcom is the bottom line to sharing.. it means a program "translates" the info into a generic file format, which can be read and transferred to others.  If you start out with PAF.. then after you have it, and think you want something a step up the ladder.. all you have to do is put the stuff into a gedcom and "pull it in" to the new program.

My view is that the program does not need bells/whistles, but keeps your info, allows notes, sorting, reports, photos (yes, the new version does that).  I like to put my energy into the actual RESEARCH.  

One thing I do not personally recommend is the idea that you HAVE to post your file online, or build it online. If a site goes down, you don't have the file.  If it is based ON YOUR SYSTEM AT HOME, you have full control, and can share with who you choose. Like anything else. you want to insure that you do regular backups, and a copy of the gedcom stored away from the house (think floods, etc).  A trick to this.. store the data on your home system.  Open a yahoo mail account, and send yourself an email with the gedcom as a file attachment. Yahoo mail for most is stored on their hardware.

Answer 4

*****It depends on your operating system first of all.  Mac users it would be Reunion.  Not much of a choice for them, but Reunion is superior.

I personally like PAF and it's free to boot.  I've used it ever since it was DOS and have tried several others over the years, but still go back to PAF!  (Family Tree Maker, Brother's Keeper, etc.)

PAF is basic, but offers a lot.  It just depends on exactly what you want your software to do.  Want to print books from it?  Try FTM.  I prefer to do my own format for a book; but that's just me.

Since I'm buying a Mac, it will be Reunion.  I've seen demonstrations of it and I'm excited to try it.  I wish I could continue using PAF, but oh well. . . .

Answer 5

Personally, I like Family Tree Maker because it's so easy to use, it's not that expensive, and it's got tons of functionality.

Answer 6

That depends on your tastes, your budget and your operating system. I like Roots Magic because they didn't denormalize the locations table. I worked as a computer programmer for 30 years, and I know good data base design when I see it. RM's data base is well designed.

Reunion is your only choice if you have a Mac.

PAF is free.

FTM is the market leader in the USA.

The Master Genealogist is supposedly for advanced users. I've never tried it. I tried FTM, PAF and Roots Magic back when RM was FOW. I liked RM the best.

You can Google "Genealogy Software Comparison" to see reviews and side-by-side comparisons.