Free family tree software comparison
and programs costing up to $20.00 (£15.00)
On this page we have attempted to present an impartial assesment of what you can expect to achieve using different means to create your family tree. The old adage "you get what you pay for" is very appropriate when making a purchase of any software but beware of hidden pitfalls when using free services on the internet. The free services are usually quite basic and sometimes you might unwittingly find you are submitting your families personal details to an online database, although we stress that the services recommended on this comparison page do give the option to keep details private.
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| Software title | PAF 5 | Genes Reunited | Family Tree Legends - Starter Edition | WDYTYA? - Family Tree Maker 2006 | ||
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| Price | ||||||
| Amazon UK | not available | not available | not available | £9.99 | ||
| My History | from £14.95 | not available | not available | from £8.95 | ||
| My History US(free delivery) | not available | not available | not available | From $14.95 | ||
| S&N/Genealogy Supplies | not avalable |
not available | not available | not available | ||
| TWR Computing (Free delivery) |
not available |
not available | not available | £8.95 | ||
| Price Direct from author |
free download |
from free | now My Heritage | not available | ||
| Download | Visit GenesReunited | |||||
| Most recent edition | 2001 | 2006 | 2006 | Sep 2006 | ||
| Operating System | W95-XP | Internet | W98-XP | W98-Vista | ||
| Evaluation Rating | ||||||
| Overall Rating (1-5) | * | * | ** | **** | ||
| Ease of Use (Scale 1[Complex]-10[Easy]) | 3 | 8 | 6 | 8 | ||
| Features (Scale 1Few-10Abundant) | 2 | 1 | 4 | 6 | ||
| Users | Suitable for beginners in computing and genealogy | Suitable for beginners in computing and genealogy | Suitable for beginners in computing and genealogy | Suitable for beginners in computing and genealogy | ||
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| data storage | HomeComputer | GenesReunited | Home Computer | Home Computer | ||
| Instructions | ||||||
| Getting Started Guide - Printed |  |
n/a | |
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| Getting Started Guide - On disc | 10 page Word document | n/a | Part of main manual on disc |  |
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| Getting Started Walk Through | |
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| Main Manual - Printed | |
n/a | |
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| Main Manual - On disc &printable | 198 pages | n/a | 244 Pages | |
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| On-screen Help | |
Limited | Excellent | Excellent | ||
| Data Storage/Sources | ||||||
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| Multiple dates for a single event | |
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| Space for sources | Good | Poor - One field | Excellent | Excellent | ||
| Attribute a single source to multiple records | |
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| Add Multiple Sources to a single event | |
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| Automatically assign a source to fields as they are keyed | |
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| Create/Edit a list of Sources/Master Sources | |
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| Create/Edit a list of Repositories | |
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| Create/Edit standard list of place names/occupations etc. | Places names only | |
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| Report of sources and where used | |
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Limited | |
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| Notes | ||||||
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| Allow notes against individuals/marriage | |
Yes but limited | |
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| Allow Separate Notes | |
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| Create a Source for Notes | |
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| Link separate notes to multiple persons | |
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| Research | ||||||
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| Automatic Internet Research for Records | |
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Limited | Good | ||
| Create a 'To-Do' list | |
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| Charts/Diagrams | ||||||
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| Diagrams are part of main program | |
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| Overall layout 1(Poor)-10(Excellent) | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | ||
| Ancestor Tree/Pedigree | |
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| Standard Pedigree | |
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| Descendants | |
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| Hourglass | |
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| All Relatives Diagram/All-in-one | |
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| Everyone Diagram | |
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| Fan Charts | |
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| Expand/Hide Branches | |
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| Click and drag on diagrams to add relatives | |
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| Allow repositioning of people in diagram | |
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| Save & edit customised charts | |
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| Chart Design Templates | |
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| Display Relationships on Diagrams/Charts | |
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| Show same generation cousins as one level on charts | |
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| Choose box borders (colour) | |
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Limited | ||
| Decorative page borders (colour) | |
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| Choice of Colours for text/boxes/lines/background | |
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| View/Edit individuals data by clicking on diagrams | |
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| Statistics | |
On home page | |
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| Time Lines | |
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Family events only | Yes (USA bias) | ||
| Multimedia Facilities | ||||||
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| Add Photos | |
Yes JPG only |
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| Edit Photos in Program | |
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| Link Individuals to parts of a photo | |
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| Add Sound | |
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| Add Video | |
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| Reports/Publishing | ||||||
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| Blank Forms | |
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| Narrative Reports | |
None | Good | Excellent | ||
| Create PDF documents from Reports | |
n/a | |
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| Open reports in Word Processor | |
n/a | |
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| Family History Book Publishing | |
n/a | |
Excellent | ||
| Preview before Publishing | |
n/a | |
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| Create other file types from Diagrams | |
n/a | GIF,PDF,JPG,BMP + more | |||
| Create Ahnentafel report/book | Book Format | n/a | Only on Pedigree | Detailed Report | ||
| Create web (HTML) browser-based versions of reports for CD or internet publishing | |
n/a | |
Limited to creating PDF documents from reports & diagrams | ||
| Import/export features | ||||||
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| Import from a GEDCOM | |
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| Export to a GEDCOM file | |
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| Import and attach to existing file | |
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| View/Compare two open files | |
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| Export part of a tree to a GEDCOM file | |
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| Utilities/Backup | ||||||
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| Back up directly to CD | |
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| Back up service on remote computer | |
n/a | |
Yes $9.95/year |
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| Store Contact details for living individuals in tree | |
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| Allow UK and USA date formats | |
UK only | |
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| Extras | ||||||
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| Extra Programs | |
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| Extra Data | |
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| Free Trial/Subscriptions | |
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30 Days the Genealogist.co.uk |
30 Days Ancestry.co.uk |
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| Sign up to the software newsletter and be kept informed about developments for your favourite family tree software. | PAF 5 | GenesReunited | Legends | Family Tree Maker 2006 | ||
| My History Price | Free
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Free
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£12.50 p&p £1.00 Includes: Support |
£9.85 p&p £1.00 Includes: free guide(£1.50) Support |
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