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Choosing the right genealogy software can be intimidating for a beginning genealogist, because most genealogy programs seem to perform the same basic functions. They record, organize and share family history data, so the best choice for you depends on your personal preferences. Good genealogy software makes the whole process far easier. To help you select the right software, below is a list of sites that review genealogy software. There is no rank order implied; they are simply listed for your information.
Every year, several magazines review genealogy software. One that is consistent from year to year is toptenreviews.com. They have provided a great review of 10 genealogy programs for 2009 that can help you make a decision about which genealogy software is right for you. Go to: http://genealogy-software-review.toptenreviews.com/ to read the reviews.
Note that the RootsMagic software review reviews version 3 not the new version 4 due out on April 20th, so I would recommend that you go to the RootsMagic web page: http://www.rootsmagic.com/ and compare the new version with the other software reviewed by Top Ten Reviews and other reviewers.
GenSoftReviews is a website that offers user reviews of many genealogy programs. They advertise (as of today) 426 user reviews since the site opened 24 September 2008. My only caution about this and other user reviews is that they often are generated by disgruntled users and can be subjective based on the experience level of the user involved. Go to http://www.gensoftreviews.com/ to read the reviews.
Consumer Search offers reviews of the top five genealogy software packages with user comments, and provides links to other sites that offer reviews and user comments about the software. Go to: http://www.consumersearch.com/genealogy-software to read the reviews.
Family Tree Magazine: This genealogy magazine doesn't rank software, but provides thorough reviews of several popular programs. Both pros and cons are listed for each. Go to http://www.familytreemagazine.com/softwareguide/. Here is a quote from their site:
“One of the most common questions we get, especially from beginner genealogists, is ‘Which software should I buy?’ We designed this section of our Web site to help you answer that question.”
Cnet.com offers reviews and downloads for six pages of genealogy software. Gor tohttp://download.cnet.com/windows/genealogy-software/to read the reviews.
As you are no doubt aware, software versions are always changing. Some of the reviews listed here evaluate older versions of the software, so research the software versions on each package’s site to make sure that you are rating the latest features they offer.
One package that has performed consistently in reviews and in my own polls of experienced users is Legacy. Top Ten Reviews said the following:
“Legacy is the most advanced genealogy program with endless customizable features, earning ‘TopTenREVIEWS’ Gold Award.’ You choose the options to reach the level of detail and accuracy you want. Be assured that Legacy will grow right along with your genealogical skills. Good research is essential to success and Legacy’s exclusive Research Guidance feature increases the odds of discovering new members of your family. Ready to share? With a new charting program, genealogists can easily create an array of wall charts—heirlooms for generations to come.”
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