If you’re looking for the best genealogy software, it might be because you want to find out about your ancestors and your origins.
If, for example, you want to find Italian records to claim Italian citizenship, you definitely want to find the best genealogy software to help you with that.
This is why we’ve prepared a review of genealogy software for you to choose the best one.
Let’s first find out how to choose the best genealogy software!
How to choose the best genealogy software?
Genealogy is the study of family history and involves tracing lineage and genetics.
Genealogists use a variety of methods to gather and report information about family history. The findings are then reported as charts, in the form of a narrative, or both.
The typical method to trace ancestors back is to start with the present and work backward in time through the generations.
The first few generations are easy to compile, as family members from those generations are often still accessible.
As the family tree and timeline grow, information becomes harder to get.
This is when other means of information-gathering must be used, including genealogical software.
Advances in software development have made it possible for even the most amateur family historian to create a robust family tree.
What was once done by hand on paper can now be done electronically.
Genealogy software collects and compiles information about births, deaths, and marriages and organizes the information into easy-to-read charts.
Software help organizes information but does not find the information. A program that works in tandem with a site that allows you to access research will save time in information transfer.
Another consideration is the ease of use. Some software requires knowledge of computer languages. Those without that type of knowledge may opt to choose more intuitive software.
Genealogy software products differ in the way they support data acquisition and interaction. Some software also includes fun and entertainment features.
So, it really depends on how good you are with computer language. It also depends on the type of data presentation you prefer.
Let’s now have a look at different genealogy software.
Genealogy software review
We’ve selected the top 5 genealogy software.
Ancestry.com
Ancestry.com has the biggest set of records available online, meaning you’re very likely to find your ancestors.
It’s also one of the oldest genealogy websites, so it’s pretty accurate as it’s constantly updated.
It’s one of the more expensive sites, but if you really want to find out about your family history, it’s definitely worth it. The prices range between $24.99 and $49.99 per month, depending on the number of records you need to access.
The main purpose of Ancestry is to help you piece together your ancestral history by way of a family tree.
After typing in your most basic personal details – your name, your date of birth, and where you were born – you can start to expand it, adding your siblings, parents, grandparents, etc.
As you add more names to your tree, the website automatically scans its vast archive of uploaded birth certificates, marital registrations, census forms, etc., to try and find more information about those people.
FamilySearch.org
FamilySearch is a nonprofit organization and website offering genealogical records, education, and software.
It is operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There is no commitment to align with these beliefs though, so you can enjoy the records without any pressure to get involved with that side of the service.
It is part-run by volunteers, so it’s impressive that they have managed to upload over 6 billion records since its inception in 1999.
However, you’ll have to do a bit of detective work if you want to find your family’s documents, as there’s no in-built system that searches the records for you and finds potential matches.
But you can do your research through birth, marriage, and death certificates, along with census data and military records.
MyHeritage
If you are simply looking to build out your family tree and are on a tight budget, then MyHeritage DNA could be a good choice for you.
You have to pay an annual fee rather than a monthly one, but it does work out cheaper overall.
MyHeritage allows you to scan records, build a family tree and reach out to other users. It has a map count spread across 2,100 geographic regions.
The site has expanded some of its photo features, which are really fun additions. Its ‘deep nostalgia’ tool allows you to animate old family photos, and there’s also a free photo colorizer for black and white images.
It does a lot of automatic record scanning, suggesting which files and documents could be relative to your search.
It’s user-friendly and easy to navigate.
Archives.com
Archive is a huge database filled with over 11 billion records with photos, maps, and architectural drawings.
This is aimed at someone who has already started building a family tree and has either reached a dead-end or wants to dive deeper than the usual services can help with.
They offer a 14-day free trial. After that, the monthly fee is a flat rate of $9.99, making it very competitive.
Unfortunately, there has been quite some negative feedback about Archives. However, there is certainly a lot of potential for this website.
Cyndi’s List
Cyndi’s List has been a trusted genealogy research site for more than 25 years. Cyndi’s List is free for everyone to use.
It is a categorized and cross-referenced list of links for genealogical research. The site contains roughly 332,000 links in more than 200 categories.
Cyndi’s List is a categorized & cross-referenced index to genealogical resources on the Internet.
Whichever you choose, good luck with your search!
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One Response
I personally love using Ancestry.com for my genealogy research! It has a user-friendly interface and a vast database that helps me discover and connect with distant relatives. Highly recommend giving it a try!