When you trace your ancestors, it can sometimes be difficult to keep all of the information you find neat and organized. Once you get back a few hundred years, it’s easy to get flooded with information from several different sources and with all of the work you are putting in, you want to make sure that everything stays together and accurate. Many people take advantage of genealogy software that you can download onto your computer to make the job far more efficient.

The best genealogy software for you
When considering purchasing software to create your family tree, you want to invest in a product that has all of the features you need, as well as being good value for money. Choose genealogy programs that organize, store and retrieve family history information in formats that suit your research needs. For example, some genealogy programs will let you produce reports and books. If this is something you’d like or need then make sure to narrow your search to only include these items. Since there are so many genealogy software options, it’s important to determine your needs before making a purchase.

Here are some considerations:

  • How do you want to store your information?
  • Do you want to be able to scan photos and documents or do you want to simply record information in a spreadsheet type program?
  • What do you want to do with your genealogy information?
  • Are you going to keep it on the computer or are you hoping to create an elaborate family tree to hang on your wall or give as gifts?
  • Do you plan or have a need to share your research online?
  • Are you looking for an end product – How much do you want to spend on genealogy software?
  • How much time do you want to spend learning how to use your genealogy software – How intuitive is the navigation and use interface?
  • Can the information can be downloaded to use in other programs?

What to look for in Genealogy Software
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a professional or hobby genealogist, using the right genealogy software program will make a huge difference in the satisfaction and information you will get from your research. Here’s what you should be looking for:

Is it easy to use?
Make sure the program you choose is well organised and easy to navigate. The best genealogy software programs are very user-friendly, so even beginner computer users won’t get overwhelmed. The software should be also be straightforward to install and setup on your computer.

What features are available?
At the very least, choose genealogy software that has searching capabilities and internet access, allow you to research and organize your family tree, can produce reports and charts, and offers multiple formats for storing and analyzing data.

Is there good documentation and support?
The genealogy software developer should provide ample help in the form of FAQs, email and phone support, online course and product tutorials so anyone can learn to use the program and conveniently access customer support.

More information on the best genealogy software:

Legacy

Family Tree Maker