Once you've made some progress in building your family tree, you may want to print out charts to display at home or create a book to share with your extended family. Many offer direct access to public census records, but as of now, you can only search records up to 1940, so you may need to build several generations before you find anything relevant. Others require you to copy and paste data, and some don't link to sources at all. Obviously, research is a huge part of the process, and some software offers integrated sources that can match members of your family trees and automatically add information you confirm to your tree.
And nearly all of them offer either a free trial or a free version so you can try before you buy.
Most have rather stark, outdated designs, but many excel at capturing and organizing your data. For serious genealogists, downloadable software is a better option. On the other hand, if you're already neck-deep in data and are looking for a clearinghouse to organize it all and properly cite your sources, you'll quickly outgrow many Web-based services. Those just getting started on their family-tree research will likely fare better with Web-based software, which generally offers a more-attractive, less-overwhelming interface. When it comes to software, ease of use is crucial.
Web-based programs are obviously compatible with all platforms, but most downloadable software requires Windows. If you're a Mac user, your options are limited. Other factors include compatibility, publishing options, and available research sources. Beginners looking for interesting information about their ancestors have different needs than serious researchers who want to document every moment in their journey. There are so many options, in fact, that it's not so easy to find the right product for your needs. While DNA testing kits are all the rage right now, plain old genealogy is still an extremely popular hobby, and there's a large selection of family tree building and research software from which you can choose. Read our editorial mission (Opens in a new window) & see how we test (Opens in a new window). Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions.
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