This content is created for all users who are searching for the best free Family Genealogy software to trace their family tree. Therefore, if you are one of them, then you should definitely read through this page. Here, we have provided relevant information that will surely help you get starts with the best.
So now if you want to explore some of the best free genealogy software solutions and their features to discover more about your family roots and ethnicity then just let’s start. Here you will learn in detail about the free family genealogy software.
We are aware of how people always fascinate when it comes to their family history and by extension, genealogy. Nevertheless, we also know that nowadays DNA tests have simply become a trendy topic in the past few years. This is because people across the globe are very much interested in learning more about their family roots and ethnicity. Nonetheless, the quickest and easiest way to explore this is by utilizing the best free genealogy software available online.
Furthermore, modern genealogy software is known to offer an array of amazing helpful features. It helps users build their family tree efficiently, provides record information on their ancestors, attains detailed charts and reports and also gives hints on how and where one can find their missing pieces of research. So now all due to the great demand for free family genealogy software, many companies have released a free version of their genealogy software.
What is Genealogy Software?
Genealogy software is made to collect and organize information about births, deaths and marriages into an easy-to-read chart. You have the ‘Standard Genealogy’ report which is based on the ‘Ahnentafel system’ this is a genealogy numbering system which lists a person’s direct ancestors in a fixed manner.
Hence a numbering system established on standard and Roman numerals organizes individuals and events by generations. Moreover, it offers multimedia elements like photographs that help to make the organized and charted listings extra personal. Now apart from helping chart a person’s origin genealogy software offers a lot more such as, you can make a family a family tree, listing your ancestor’s dates, locations and relationships, keeping track of your research sources and connecting them to your tree, etc.
List of the Best Free Genealogy Software:
Ancestral Quest
This software collects data from two genealogical websites such as RootsWeb and Ancestry. Hence by this, the data can be cross-checked from both ends to get accurate results.
This program excels at helping people in organizing their family research as well as publishing comprehensive charts and books once they make headway. It has unique features like;
- Add/Edit Individuals
- Add/Edit Marriage and Relationships
- Document Same-gender Relationships
- Add any event or fact to a record
- Mark relationships as Confidential
- Backup Databases
- Search for Marriages
- Hinting for FamilySearch and FindMyPast
- Advanced Searches on Ancestry.com
- Reports and Charts
- Family Reunion
And so much more you can find here that will help you work efficiently on Ancestry Quest. This program is compatible with Windows and macOS operating systems. You will come across numerous publishing options available. There’s even the possibility of printing multipage and wall charts directly from the software itself. You also have an option where you can use the family tree to generate HTML files for personal website uploads.
Kindly note that the program’s limitation does not support international character sets such as if your ancestor is from another country then displaying information in their language would be difficult.
Furthermore, it is also important to note that the free version does not support the creation of ancestors and descendant-type charts, relationships or timeline reports. Now instead of charting a family tree, this software is designed specifically to manage data.
MyHeritage
This program has a free trial version as well as a free family tree builder. And besides it offers its user’s variety of services which anyone can use easily.
In the free version you can include up to 250 people in the family tree and the limited storage space you have is 500 MB for 43w photos and scanned documents.
The Family Tree Builder is available for Windows and macOS devices currently. Moreover, it allows you to add an unlimited number of people to your projects. Nevertheless, depending on the family site plan you have you might be asked to upgrade when you sync the projects to your family site.
You must also know that with a family tree, you get to trace your family’s story through time as this program is designed to map people’s lineage. Besides family trees often start with the most recent generation and then from here you can just work your way back. Also, note that this Family Tree Builder is absolutely free therefore you do not need to have any second thoughts.
Gramps
Gramps is an absolutely free genealogy platform which is fully featured, comprehensive and professional. This software is a sophisticated and powerful genealogy that helps you create information-packed large charts effortlessly. Moreover, the free version is rich with features which you can utilize;
- You can bookmark favourite individuals for quick access
- Custom filters that can be used for reports and data exports
- There’s the possibility to link media or file type to the Gramps family tree
- The privacy option allows restrictions on any information that is marked with this option or information about living individuals.
- It supports multiple calendars and date ranges.
- You can view, edit and save ‘Image Metadata’ with cameras, cell phones and graphic programs.
This software is uniquely designed to run on Linux, macOS and Windows
Also, it is an open source so that users can edit the software as they like. The best thing is that the data does not trapped in a proprietary file format. Hence it is made available whenever you want to move to another system.
RootsMagic
This genealogy software does not offer a free trial however a free version called RootsMagic Essential provides its users with the fundamentals. This is because free version users do not receive free technical support or any integrated backup.
Besides this program’s interface has a strong point that hooks up users from the get-go section. It comes with a simple family tree display along with various informational features.
Here you get prompts to enter birth and death dates, photos, hometowns and also other important information that forms a web of details to create a clearer picture of a family.
- The program runs under Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP and 2000 and also under macOS X.
- You can backup directly to CD, Dropbox, or Google Drive
- It has free technical support
- The WebHints feature automatically searches online for records that match your people’s Pedigree View.
- Family View
- Descendant View
- RootsMagic To-Go allows you to run the RootsMagic program and data directly off your flash drive.
- It has easy file management
- Your Family members are automatically links as you add them
- It displays relationships to the root person on the status bar
- You have the drag and drop people between databases
- You can add unlimited people, facts/events, notes, sources, and so much more
The list can go on as there are many amazing features included in RootsMagic that makes it complete genealogy software and the best choice to make.
Legacy Family Tree
It is exciting to know that Legacy Family Tree has been available in the market for more than 20 years now. As we already know how technology grows and evolves so quickly there is simply something that should be said about its longevity. Moreover, despite its slightly dated appearance it also has a dedicated team constantly working on improving as well as adding more new features.
This software gives an option where the users can work offline. Therefore if you are off-the-grid then you might not be able to research however you can easily do data entry with any problem.
Here the charts and trees provided are absolutely simple and easy to understand. Furthermore, their function similarly to the ones that are seen or used on websites such as MyHeritage or Family Tree Maker by Ancestry.
- You have the Family/Pedigree View.
- Descendant View
- Chronology View
- Index View
- Research Guidance
- Name List/marriage List
- Pictures and Sounds
- Address Lists
- Backup/Restore
- Importing and Exporting
- Pedigree Chart
- LDS Support
You can run the software on the Windows Operating System. Moreover, it is also important to mention that there is a bit of a learning curve. But all thanks to Legacy it offers plenty of tutorial videos and also a built-in help system for support.
How can ‘Legacy Family Tree’ help to trace your family legacy?
To begin with, you would first need to understand the importance of family Legacy. This is because it is more than just a collection of historical facts. It is the absolute essence of one’s family’s history and traditions, which is passes down through generations to come. Moreover, by exploring your family’s heritage, you get to establish a connection with the tales and life events which have also contributed to the shaping of the person that you are today.
Learn the methods to trace your family legacy.
You need to know that tracing your family legacy involves various methods and tools which help to uncover your ancestral roots. Below you will find some effective ways to explore your family history:
Oral Histories
You can start by initiating conversations with the older family members. The memories and anecdotes they share can surely offer valuable perspectives on your family’s history. This often includes anecdotes about your ancestors, traditions and events that may not be documente anywhere else.
Genealogical Research
With this you can utilize the online genealogy platforms and databases to track your family tree easily. Moreover, the websites that are dedicates to family history can also provide access to records like birth certificates, marriage licenses and census data and this is important for piecing your family’s history together.
Historical Records
You get to explore historical documents and archives. In our country records from different historical periods are maintain in state archives, temples, and local administration offices. In addition, these records can provide you with indications about the lives of your ancestors and their impact on society.
Cultural and Regional Studies
You must already know that understanding the cultural and regional background of your ancestors can provide you with context for their experiences. For instance, if your family is from a specific region, researching the local history and customs offers you insights into their lifestyle as well as traditions.
DNA
We know that modern technology has now made it possible to use DNA testing easily to trace our ancestry. Although this method may not provide a complete picture it can offer you hints about your ancestral origin and also connect you with your distant relatives.
Now as get along and uncover details about your family legacy you will find the connections that enrich your understanding of your heritage. You could also discover that your ancestors were involved in significant historical events, contributed to cultural developments, etc. Hence the discoveries can help foster a deeper appreciation for your background and also help you connect with your cultural roots.
Important points to consider when choosing free family genealogy software
Although genealogy software might not provide all the tools genealogists require, they are moving in that direction. Now some specialist tools called ‘Genealogical Utility Software’ which can provide a solution for a particular requirement such as analyzing data distribution over geographical areas or even handling certain types of charts.
So the two most fundamental requirements needed for choosing the best genealogy software are as mentioned below;
- The program should let you record all data discovered during your research, this includes conflicting data for the same event.
- You should be able to document each piece of information where the record was acquire such as to add a reference.
- It should have good data import and export to other software packages
- Data integrity This means that the program should not create data automatically
Moreover, if you are just new at researching your family’s history then you might not want to use genealogy software right away. In this case, there are several physical tools that are available; they can help to record and organize your findings easily.
Cloud-Based Tools
The internet has hosted software that allows similar functionality to software packages that are run on personal computers. So now there are two variants of internet-based software such as ‘Software hosted by third parties’ and ‘Software under your own control’ here we will discuss the latter.
- Note that both the software uses the internet browser to provide a user interface along with software running on remote computers. Therefore they are not reliant on running on a specific platform like Windows or Mac or require a minimum hardware specification.
- So here the first group includes Ancestry, FindMyPast, GeneaNet, Geni, MyHeritage, FamilySearch, etc. All these programs provide options to enter and store data online. However, some services are free to use for basic tree-building features and some of them offer a paid premium service.
Specialists Tools
This tool includes a right old mix-up of programs and cloud-based tools which are very useful at times to achieve specific tasks. However, over time these often become marginalized as the main genealogy programs incorporate their own features. In the following we have mentioned some amazing specialist tools;
- Clooz – this tool has a document-based approach for gathering data that helps analyze information found and links people to one another. Moreover, this can also help in generating reports in hundreds of formats.
- Family Tree Analyzer – here just as the name suggests, this helps in analyzing a family tree to look for errors and missing data.
- Research Ties – this tool is cloud-base it lets you record a research objective and also the sources to search so it can meet their objective. Moreover, this streamlines the data entry of search results and is helpful when you compile large amounts of data and sources.
Conclusion
We truly hope that you enjoy reading this content and you now know everything related to free family genealogy software. Furthermore, if you need any further guidance. kindly feel free to contact us at any time in the Legacy Family Tree Support Number +1-800-697-1474. The most eligible techs available 24/7 live chat will assist you within the least time possible.
