Jul 28, 2019 I've used other Genealogy / Family History software in the past but they don't compare to the MacFamilyTree 9 application. Even if you're just starting to keep your genealogy and history, this appliation is easy to learn, easy to use, and provides for the capability of recording not only names, events and dates, but history about family members. Learn about the most popular genealogy software for Mac, including price, manufacturer, pros and cons, as well as reviews and links to download. Mar 10, 2021 Finding quality genealogy software for the Mac has been impossible. There have been useable free/shareware programs that have helped but had none of the functionality of the PC based programmes. IFamily has changed all that. It equals and even surpasses the best in all genealogy programs across all platforms and for only $40aus - £16.50 sterling.
If you are a family historian, you are probably in need of a family tree builder. Luckily, there are many programs available on various web pages, in addition to powerful genetic DNA testing kits on Amazon and directly from genealogy websites. DNA testing kits are a great way to begin exploring your family tree, but to actually record and document all the different connections you will need a family tree maker!
But, the search for a great family tree maker can be frustrating. With so many features, prices, and competitors - it may seem like the search for a family tree maker or genealogy software is more intensive than the actual ancestral quest!
In this article, we look at the most popular family tree maker software programs on the market, what they provide, and how to get them! Check it out!
What is in a Good Family Tree Maker?
Regardless of what family tree maker software you choose, all good programs will contain several of the following components:
- The ability to create and add to a family tree
- Areas that allow you to document specific ancestors with dates, historical information, and records
- Store photos and other media pertaining to individual family members
- Protect your information through online backup
- Provide resources for you to expand your search
- Export your family tree as a GEDCOM (Genealogical Data Communications) file
- Has a good FAQ to find answers to the most common questions
However, some of the more advanced programs can provide a large number of extra useful features. Some have enormous databases of historical records you can search through. Others give you the ability to compare your family tree to other users, which allows you to expand your tree even further. And, some family tree maker platforms even allow you to connect your family tree to the Global Family Tree!
Best Free Genealogy Software For Mac
To help you with your search for great genealogy software, we have compiled the 3best family tree maker sites where you can get started for free!!
3 Best Genealogy Software Programs - Be Your Family Historian!
Luckily, all of these programs are available online, work with Windows or Mac, and have all of the most important features of a great family tree maker. If you are just getting started, consider using the free versions. However, we have also included paid versions - which can offer much more powerful features and insights into your family history.
Free Genealogy Software For Mac Reviews
Family Tree by FamilySearch - Free Family Tree Maker!
Family Tree, by FamilySearch, is one of the world’s leading resources for building and maintaining family trees. The platform connects with millions of other users to quickly and accurately fill out your family tree information! In fact, Family Tree currently boasts the largest continuous family tree in the entire world.
However, for those looking for a more private family tree maker software, be aware that FamilySearch is a large community that contributes to everyone’s family tree. Your contributions - in adding family members, resources, and historical data - are instantly uploaded and added to all family trees that those members appear in. This makes Family Tree one of the best sites for expansive family trees, but can leave some people feeling a bit exposed.
FamilySearch is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. What started as a way for church members to trace and analyze their family lines has expanded into one of the most accessible resources to research and expand your family tree. The site has access to billions of historical records - all of which are FREE!
But, there are several other options you may want to consider before starting with Family Tree. For instance, the site does not allow you to upload a GEDCOM file. So, if you have already started a family tree on another software program, there will be no way to import the information into Family Tree. So, get ready for a large amount of manual entry.
WikiTree
WikiTree - a free site operated by Interesting.com and WikiTree Community Members - is another great resource for developing and connecting your family tree. The entire premise behind WikiTree is that through a combined effort, we can eventually connect every human on Earth into a single, global family tree.
Unlike FamilySearch, WikiTree allows you to keep certain parts of your family tree private. For instance, your immediate and living family members are kept private - only you can make edits to these members. As the tree goes back further in time, the privacy controls open up. This allows community members to build on common ancestors in a very constructive way that still protects the privacy of your closest family members.
The “Wiki” aspect of this site comes from the many useful, “Wikipedia-like” pages that discuss various families, historical events, and other important historical resources needed to fully research your family history. Plus, with the highly-involved WikiTree Community Members, you can get updates and new information from professional genealogists contributing to the project from all over the world!
One benefit of using WikiTree over FamilySearch is that the WikiTree community is more developed. On FamilySearch, because anyone can edit any record, users often find that their family members have been incorrectly altered or changed. In WikiTree, you have a “veto” power over the profiles you create. This allows you to reject incorrect changes before they make their way to the public site. This is one powerful advantage over FamilySearch.
Plus, WikiTree operates under a strict “Honor Code” that all users must sign and accept before they are allowed to build trees and make changes to other profiles. While this simple measure may not seem like much, it actually creates a much more collaborative and engaged community that may ultimately surpass FamilySearch in popularity.
If you think both of these sites are cool, but not quite extensive enough for your needs, look no further than Ancestry.com.
Ancestry.com
Ancestry is one of the oldest and biggest companies focusing on genealogical records. Starting with an Ancestry Magazine several decades ago, Ancestry has morphed into an internet-based family tree search that allows you to build and maintain a private family tree. Plus, with modern genetic DNA testing kits, AncestryDNA allows you to connect directly to living relatives using your DNA analysis results. This feature is not available on any of the free genealogy programs.
While it is technically free to build a family tree on Ancestry.com, you will get much more information and more powerful features if you opt into the subscription packages. Packages range from $25/month to $50/month. The lowest tier allows you to get access to all U.S. records on Ancestry, while the more comprehensive subscriptions give you access to worldwide historical records, access to Newspapers.com, and Fold3.com - a military records site.
With or without a subscription, Ancestry will give you powerful hints - called “leaves” - which you can connect to your tree and explore further with a subscription plan. These leaves lead to all sorts of historical records that Ancestry has digitized. Once you have found a certain record, you can save it directly to your family tree to ensure that the lives of your ancestors are clearly documented.
Ancestry also provides interactive maps based on your DNA, family tree charts, and a number of other powerful tools for expanding your family tree maker file. Plus, with family tree templates and free updates and syncing capabilities you can get the latest modifications to your tree in real-time. Since Ancestry is one of the biggest and oldest genealogy companies, you can feel assured that giving them your credit card is not going to lead to trouble - unlike some smaller companies that are not located in the United States.
It should be noted that Ancestry is very similar to MyHeritage (MyHeritage.com), and that the two companies are really only different in the regions that they serve. Both have powerful software, which can even be used on an Android phone to do your genealogy research. From an ease of use standpoint, these companies are by far the best option - which is part of the reason they are two of the best genealogy sites!
General:
- Update ca, de, fi, fr, ja, pl, ru, sl, sv, uk, zh_CN translation
- Events View: 'Main Participants' column does not show the full list of participants when expanded.
- mac/gramps.modules: Use current Gtk release instead of Gtk-3.14.
- mac/gramps.modules: Upgrade pymodules for Python 3.8 compatibility.
- Fix XML export when 'Group-as' name contains XML invalid chars
- Fix NarWeb: Province place-type is not displayed
- Fix ManagedWindow so that new windows don't appear offscreen when system 'screen' sizes change in part time multi-monitor setups.
- Fix menus when db fails to open due to upgrade/downgrade etc.
- Fix issue with attach source tool, results panel
- Fix GEDCOM export; don't include ADDR when address is missing
- EditPlace: Allow Coordinates containing a comma instead of a period
- NarrativeWeb
- Should show patronymic in individuals.
- In the individuals and in surnames pages, we should show the
- complete name like defined in the display tab from the narrative web
- configuration.
- Fix Narrated Website Google Maps Output JS Warning SensorNotRequired
- Fix incorrect link type for osm css files
- Fix image size limit doesn't match tooltip
- Update all translations for changes from 'Default' to 'Home' Person
- Change GUI references to 'Home Person' instead of 'Default Person'
- Use event attribute types in the event reference editor.
- In the event reference editor, custom event attribute types should
- be used rather than the default person attribute types.
- Fix Verify tool bug caused by bad change in GObject introspection
- Fix RemoveUnused tool for crash caused by Gtk introspection bug
Fix import test for change cause by previous change which was:
- Fix GEDCOM import for bad source title when sources precede references
- Fix GEDCOM import for bad source title when sources precede references
- Fix some reports for CLI where warning message about Value not found
- Fix Genealogy Tree reports for crash in CLI
- Add uistate to tree views filter initialization
- Fix some Python syntax errors that appear in v3.8.x
- Suppress age = 0 days in events list. If the reference event date is equal
- to the event date, don't show the age except if the date is estimated
- calculated, etc
- Fix Dashboard Gramplets to update during db close when not shown
- Fix Windows GUI mode startup for crash with some languages
- Fix dbapi to support 'Abandon Changes & Quit' feature
- Fix GrampsType for comparison bug with empty string as one value
- Fix Date Display so that it uses LC_TIME if defined
- Fix StyledText so serialize will match for style list order changes
- Try to fix exceptions on ManagedWindow close
- Fix Mac SQLite3 locale bug when locale contains non-ascii characters
- Fix issue when Person has Same date of birth and death; gives an error
- Geography: add a popup for a bad tiles path
- Fix GEDCOM export of estimated/calculated dates with modifers