Family History Record Management Programs

Record Management Programs

There are many record management programs available to use to keep an organized record of your family history research.  Some programs are free or have free versions, and others you will need to buy. The free versions are good to try, and then if you decide you want to use one, you pay and they give you a key code to unlock the full version.   Here are some that are available:

Roots Magic
Legacy Family Tree
Ancestral Quest
Family Tree Maker
Reunion for MAC
Heredis
Family Historian
Family Tree Builder

Google "Genealogy Programs" to see more.

Ancestry.com allows you to keep trees online that you can make private or public.  I put trees on Ancestry so that I will get their hints and so that I can save documents to that tree before I archive them with a computer program.

FamilySearch.org has a community tree. Anyone can add to the tree.  It's important to have your source-proven research in a place where it will be controlled by you so that you can compare your research when changes are made in FamilyTree on FamilySearch.org.

Online trees are great, but it is wise to have a backup.  It is wise to have several backups in different forms.

Compare features.  If you want your program to synchronize with the community tree on FamilySearch.org, be sure to look for that compatability here:
 https://familysearch.org/products/ under "Family Tree Management.

Try entering a person's information to see which program feels natural and smooth.  How easily can you jump from one person to the next?  How do you navigate between generations?  How do you make a report with the product?  Try a simple family group record or pedigree chart to see.  How are sources entered?  What special features are there in the program to help you track research, take notes, get hints, synchronize with Ancestry or FamilySearch or MyHeritage or another favorite website? Also, check to see what tutorials are available to help you learn to use the program. Make a list of what is important to you and test out the free versions of the programs you are interested in.  They all have great features.