Online family trees serve their purpose. They’re convenient, accessible, and they help with online research. But if you want to transform a basic family tree into a rich, well-documented family history, you need family history software.
Family history software runs on your computer. It provides the same basic structure as online trees for storing data and recording relationships between people, places, events, and sources. But it offers much more.
These specialised programs include powerful tools for documenting, organising, analysing, and planning your research. They make you more efficient. More importantly, they help improve the quality of your family history by supporting the three pillars of good genealogy: accuracy, comprehensiveness, and proper documentation.
Key takeaway: While online family trees are great, desktop genealogy software provides the comprehensive documentation, advanced research tools, and data control necessary for serious family history research. The combination of both platforms delivers optimal results.
Let me show you why family history software is such a powerful research companion.
This post was originally published in August 2017 and last updated on 18 June 2025 to provide more examples and greater detail.
Complete control of your genealogy data and privacy
Your research belongs to you. Family history software keeps it that way.
When you store your master copy on your computer, you control everything. You decide what your tree looks like, how it’s stored, who gets access, and who can make changes. You don’t have to worry about company policy changes, website closures, or service sell-offs.
I speak from experience here. GEDmatch was once an excellent DNA analysis tool, which I used a lot. Then law enforcement started using the database without customers being notified. Many users deleted their accounts in response, out of privacy concerns. Now I have far fewer DNA matches to work with and rarely use it.
You can read about law enforcement use of DNA databases on Robert Estes’ blog. [1]
In another example, I recently deleted my DNA results from 23andMe. I didn’t want my data included in their potential sell-off.
These situations highlight a key point: when you don’t control your data, you’re vulnerable to decisions made by others.
Protecting your privacy
Privacy matters too. Online trees implement some privacy measures, but storing sensitive information offline is much safer. This includes details about living people and DNA information. Data breaches are less likely when the data stays on your computer.
You also maintain control over how your work is used.
While you don’t own historical information, you do own the stories you write and the analysis you create. I’ve had blog posts about my family copied and used elsewhere without permission, and without attribution. Some colleagues have had their work altered or presented as the work of others.
Family photographs present another concern. You may not own the copyright, but they’re deeply personal. It’s distressing to see them used without attribution or with incorrect information attached.
With family history software, you keep your photos and research secure. You share them only with people you choose.
Greater storage and organisation for proper documentation
Genealogy software provides vastly superior storage and organisational capabilities compared to online trees.
Storage capacity is the first advantage. Online trees typically allow stories, images, and research notes, but with limited space. FamilySearch, for example, doesn’t allow research notes or source notes. Family history software is limited only by your computer’s storage capacity.
Source documentation gets much better treatment in software. Online trees include citation tools, but the citation process prioritises sources from their own databases. Adding citations to other sources can be confusing. Software provides citation templates and guidance that streamline the process, and help you capture all necessary information.
But citations alone aren’t sufficient for good genealogy. You need to document your evidence and reasoning. Family history software offers better opportunities to record research notes, source analysis, and the logic behind your conclusions. This documentation is essential for well-documented family history.
Organisation tools in software far exceed what online trees offer. Research notes can be linked to specific people, events, or sources. Indexes and master lists help you work with large volumes of data. This organisation becomes crucial as your research grows and becomes more complex.
Powerful genealogy research tools and analysis features
Family history software supports your research with powerful analytical tools.
Planning tools help you identify research leads and organise your next steps. Timelines help reveal patterns and inconsistencies. Maps show migration patterns and geographical relationships. Task lists keep you focused on specific research questions.
Analysis capabilities are extensive and customisable. You can generate lists of people using any criteria based on information you’ve entered. I often create spreadsheets of people from particular counties or towns. This lets me research more efficiently by focusing on groups rather than individuals.
Want a list of all your convict ancestors? Everyone with a particular surname? All people born in a specific decade? Software makes these searches simple.
Relationship tools become invaluable as your tree grows. Software can calculate relationships between any two people and generate charts to illustrate the connections. Indexes help you track people and their relationships efficiently.
Superior tools for data accuracy and maintenance
Accuracy forms the foundation of good genealogy. You don’t want to spend years researching the wrong family!
Desktop genealogy programs include built-in quality control features.
Error detection flags obvious problems. Software will alert you if someone is buried before they die, or if birth and death dates don’t make logical sense.
Duplicate detection helps you avoid adding the same person multiple times, or fix duplicates through merges. This is especially useful when importing data from multiple sources.
Consistency checking highlights potential problems. For example, the software alerts you if there’s an unusual gap between children’s births where the usual pattern is less than two years. You can then investigate whether there was another child or find an alternative explanation.
Data validation uses standard lists of potential problems. My great-great grandmother’s 1931 death certificate lists her age as 101. But her last child was born in 1880, when she would have been 50 according to that death certificate. While not impossible, this discrepancy suggests her birth date needs verification. Software makes these inconsistencies obvious.
These quality control features support both accuracy and comprehensiveness by helping you identify gaps and potential errors in your research.
This example is from Legacy Family Tree.
Comprehensive and customisable reporting
Online trees offer limited reporting options. Ancestry, for example, provides descendant charts, ancestor charts, and family group sheets, but customisation is limited to the design.
Family history software offers extensive reporting capabilities:
- Standard reports cover all the basics: pedigree charts, descendant reports, family group sheets, and more.
- Custom reports let you create documents for specific purposes. You can generate reports to help research particular questions or create subsets of data to share with others. You choose which people to include, what data to show, the order, and the format.
- Export options include PDF and CSV formats. This flexibility supports analysis, documentation, and sharing.
- Publishing capabilities in some software allow you to create family history websites directly from your data.
Online trees vs. family history software: Key differences
| Feature | Online Trees | Family History Software |
| Data Control | Limited (company controls platform) | Complete (you control the data) |
| Source Documentation | Citations only | Citation templates, guides, source notes & analysis |
| Offline Access | Requires internet | Works anywhere |
| Research Tools | Basic search and hints | Advanced analysis & reporting |
| Privacy | Usually public by default | Complete privacy control |
| Storage Capacity | Often limited | Limited only by computer space |
| Customisation | Fixed formats | Highly customisable |
| Cost | Subscription often required | One-time purchase or free options |
Getting started with genealogy software
Ready to try genealogy software? Here’s how to begin:
- Start with a free program like Legacy Family Tree. This lets you explore features without financial commitment.
- Import your existing data using a GEDCOM file from your online tree.
- Learn the basics first. Don’t try to use every feature immediately. Master core functions before exploring advanced tools.
- Join user communities for ongoing support and tips from experienced users.
- Take advantage of free training offered by software companies. Most provide webinars, tutorials, and documentation.
| FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT FAMILY HISTORY SOFTWARE Q: What’s the difference between online family trees and genealogy software? A: Online family trees are web-based and convenient for sharing, while desktop genealogy software offers complete data control, advanced research tools, and superior documentation capabilities. Q: Can I use both online trees and family history software together? A: Yes, many genealogists maintain their master copy in desktop software and copy selected data to online platforms for online research, collaboration and DNA matching. My article, ‘Where’s the best place to put your family tree?’ explores online options further. Q: Is genealogy software difficult to learn? A: Most family tree software programs offer intuitive interfaces and extensive tutorials. Start with basic features and gradually explore advanced genealogy research tools. Q: What’s the best genealogy software for beginners? A: Legacy Family Tree offers a free version, but if you use a Mac you will probably prefer FamilyTreeMaker or RootsMagic. Wikipedia provides a comparison of a wide range of genealogy software. |
Transform your family tree into family history
Online family trees serve as useful starting points. Family history software transforms your basic tree into something much more valuable: an accurate, comprehensive, well-documented family history that preserves your family’s story for future generations.
The three pillars of good genealogy: accuracy, comprehensiveness, and proper documentation, are all better supported by family history software than by online trees alone.
Ready to improve the quality of your genealogy? Download a free family history software program and attend an online user group. If you are interested in Legacy Family Tree, I run sessions four times a year for the Society of Australian Genealogists. Check out the event listings to find when the next one is being held.Â
Citations
[1] Roberta Estes, ‘The Golden State Killer and DNA’, DNAeXplained-Genetic Genealogy, 30 April 2018, https://dna-explained.com/2018/04/30/the-golden-state-killer-and-dna/
[2] Dannielle Maguire, ‘23andMe has filed for bankruptcy: So what does it mean for customers’ data?, ABC News, 25 March 2025, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-25/23andme-bankruptcy-customer-data-saliva-samples-/105092050
About the author: Danielle Lautrec is a genealogy educator, researcher, and author of The Good Genealogist. With qualifications in history, family history, and historical archaeology, she teaches for the Society of Australian Genealogists.
