WEBSITES & SOFTWARE

     The “Big Four” websites are Ancestry.com, FamilySearch, Findmypast and MyHeritage. Sure, many websites are crucial to online research efforts. But the Big Four are a head above the rest in supplying the billions of historical records, extensive family trees and genetic connections that power this new era of discovery. So which one of the Big Four genealogy websites is the best? Each brings unique talents and style. What matters most is that a site has records for the place and time period you’re researching. And that it has the specific kinds of records that may answer your question. Here’s a general description of the records you can expect to find on the Big Four.

   All four sites have global reach, but each has identifiable geographic strengths. FamilySearch (which is free) is truly the most global in scope: they curate records for every location for which they can access records. Their camera crews around the world prioritize the most genealogically useful records and those that are at-risk for loss. The site also hosts a vast trove of digitized records that were microfilmed from the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, with which the site is affiliated. These curation efforts make FamilySearch’s online historical record collections unparalleled in size and geographic diversity.

   The for-profit sites—Ancestry.com, Findmypast and MyHeritage—serve audiences (target markets) whose ancestors generally migrated from certain parts of the world: United States, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Sweden and the United Kingdom. For US residents, Ancestry.com is very nearly essential.

Findmypast’s core content is for England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, with some coverage of places settled by British Isles emigrants. If you’re researching in these regions, Findmypast is a must-use resource.

MyHeritage has put the most effort into curating UK and European records (especially Germany, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Greece, Spain and the Scandinavian countries) and global Jewish content. When you’re exploring roots outside the United States (and especially in non-English speaking regions), MyHeritage is a go-to resource.

In general, the Big Four have the most important available genealogical records for their target markets. For example, all four have fairly complete US census collections (population schedules). All four also have censuses and civil registration indexes for England and Wales, except for the 1921 census, which is currently exclusive to Findmypast. Beyond these, each has some specialization. The following generalizations can help you know where to look first for certain record types:

   Ancestry.com has the biggest collection of US special censuses (1850–1880), including the agricultural, mortality, slave and industrial schedules. Ancestry.com and MyHeritage both have enormous collections of yearbooks and city directories. Ancestry.com and FamilySearch host the biggest collections of US vital records, except that Findmypast has an enormous collection of US marriage records. Ancestry.com has millions of US military records (some of which point to images at sister site Fold3).

    Findmypast reigns over British military records, though Ancestry.com has some, too. Ancestry.com has massive indexes to marriage and obituary content available in full on its sister website, Newspapers.com. Findmypast gives access to about 50 million digitized newspapers from the British Newspaper Archive (which covers England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales). MyHeritage has a search interface for US newspapers digitized elsewhere on the internet.

   When evaluating which website to use, think of your current research questions. Explore the catalogs at each site to see which has records that might answer your questions, and see what free collections are available at each. (You can do this without paying a subscription fee.) For example, say you’re pursuing the rumor that Great-aunt Eleanor Rigby from Liverpool was a suffragette. You may find answers in Findmypast’s “Suffragette Newspaper Collection.” And electoral registers online at Ancestry.com and Findmypast may reveal her first appearance as an eligible voter.

   The search experience and technologies also vary across the Big Four. Each site uses its own parameters to identify matching search results for you, which means that any given search can offer up slightly different lists of possible matches, even for the same record collections. . Look to FamilySearch and Ancestry.com for the most records about African Americans, including Freedmen’s Bureau records; Southern states’ vital records, voter registrations, cemetery and incarceration records; and other collections pertaining directly to enslaved people. Both MyHeritage and Ancestry.com have increased their coverage of Jewish records. Findmypast and FamilySearch both have collections that support research on people of African descent living under British colonial rule.

The time periods for record collections at each website vary widely—mostly because of the availability of the records themselves. Privacy laws prevent some records from recent decades, such as censuses and vital records, from being published online. Some places created more records during particular times or experienced more record loss. That said, the types of records each company has most aggressively collected affects what time periods they best cover. For example, Ancestry.com has greater numbers of more recent UK records—their biggest strength for that area is directories—while Findmypast has dug more deeply into older UK documents, including parish records. When exploring the collection catalogs of each site, pay close attention to the span of dates covered. Recognize that any given collection may have gaps during its coverage, especially toward the beginning.

Online Family Trees

The Big Four all have sophisticated tree-building platforms on their websites. The biggest difference between them? Your option to work alone—or with a little help from a friend. 

   At Ancestry.com, Findmypast and MyHeritage, you build your own individual trees. Other users can’t change your trees unless you allow them to. At all three sites, you can choose for your trees to be publicly searchable and viewable by others, or private (seen only by you and those you specifically invite). You can search other people’s trees, too. This may lead to connections with fellow researchers and new information about your shared roots. 

   At FamilySearch, tree-building has a very different structure. The site has just one shared, global Family Tree, with (ideally) a single profile for each deceased person, for a total of about 1.5 billion names. You add private profiles for yourself and living parents, grandparents, etc. Working backward through the generations, you add new profiles for deceased relatives who aren’t in the Family Tree and connect to the profiles of ancestors who are in the Family Tree. Once you’ve connected to existing profiles, that person’s tree data automatically appears. FamilySearch’s tree model prioritizes collaboration over privacy. All the information you (and others) enter about deceased persons is public, viewable and (most critically) editable by anyone. The idea is that multiple descendants entering information about the same person can compare notes and build upon each other’s discoveries. 

The Best Family Tree Websites Compared: Where to Build Your Tree 

Now that you’ve glimpsed the breadth of what’s available at the Big Four, you may be wondering how you’re going to afford to use them all. FamilySearch is completely free, though you’ll need to sign up for a free guest user login. At the other three sites, you can start your experience with a free guest login, with which you can build a family tree and gain limited access to historical records. But most of the historical records are behind a paywall.

   If your budget requires you to limit your subscriptions, consider getting free logins to start exploring each one that sounds interesting to you. You’ll gradually get to know each site and what it may have to offer you. You’ll likely start receiving discounted offers to try a subscription. 

   You can also ask your favorite local library whether they offer library edition access to Ancestry, Findmypast or MyHeritage, or you can visit a FamilySearch Center near you to use their institutional subscriptions. When using institutional editions, you can’t build your tree and attach records to it (you can download them and attach them later). Access to some record collections may also be limited.

   Another way to access all these sites, eventually, is to rotate your subscriptions. Sign up for Ancestry.com for a year, then try MyHeritage, and then (if you have British Isles or Empire roots) sign up for Findmypast. Or try MyHeritage or Findmypast first—whichever seems most promising for you. By the time you cycle back to your first choice three years later, new collections will likely be available, and your tree may have grown sufficiently that you’re looking for new people, anyway.

https://familytreemagazine.com/websites/genealogy-website-comparison/

Choosing the right genealogy software can significantly enhance your research capabilities, organization, and presentation of your family history. Here are the top 5 genealogy software programs that provide robust features for genealogists of all levels.

1. Family Tree Maker is one of the most popular genealogy software programs, known for its comprehensive features and ease of use.

    User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive design makes it easy for beginners and advanced users alike.

    Integration with Ancestry: Seamless synchronization with Ancestry.com, allowing for easy access to Ancestry’s vast database.

    Charting and Reporting: Create a wide variety of charts and reports to visualize your family tree.

    Media Management: Attach photos, documents, and other media to individuals in your tree.

    Hints and Tips: Automatic hints from Ancestry and FamilySearch to help you discover more about your ancestors. 

2. RootsMagic is a versatile genealogy software program known for its powerful tools and flexibility.

   Comprehensive Tools: Offers a full suite of research, data management, and reporting tools.

   Integration with Ancestry and FamilySearch: Syncs with Ancestry and FamilySearch for easy data exchange and collaboration.

    Easy Data Import/Export: Import and export GEDCOM files with ease, allowing for data sharing between different programs.

    Source Management: Robust source management tools to ensure your data is well-documented and reliable.

    Hints and Tips: Automatic hints from Ancestry, FamilySearch, MyHeritage, and FindMyPast to help you discover more about your ancestors.

3. Legacy Family Tree is a feature-rich program that offers extensive options for organizing and sharing your genealogical research.

    Detailed Reports: Generate detailed reports and charts to visualize your family history.

    Integration with FamilySearch: Syncs with FamilySearch for easy data exchange and collaboration.

    Event Management: Track detailed events and facts for each individual in your tree.

    Source Documentation: Strong emphasis on source documentation to ensure the accuracy of your data.

    Research Guidance: Built-in research guidance tools to help you plan and execute your research effectively.

    Online Publishing: Options for publishing your family tree online to share with others.

    Hints and Tips: Automatic hints from FamilySearch, MyHeritage, and FindMyPast to help you discover more about your ancestors.

4. MyHeritage Family Tree Builder is a free genealogy software program that offers robust features and integrates seamlessly with MyHeritage.com.

    Free and Comprehensive: Offers a wide range of features at no cost, with options to upgrade for additional benefits.

    Advanced Matching Technology: Smart Matching automatically finds matches for your ancestors and Record Matching automatically discovers historical records of your ancestors in MyHeritage’s extensive database.

    Photo Management: Advanced photo management tools.

    Charts and Reports: Create beautiful charts and reports to showcase your family history.

    Sync with MyHeritage: Syncs with your online MyHeritage tree for easy access and updates.

5. Reunion for Mac is a powerful genealogy software program specifically designed for Mac users.

    Mac Integration: Seamlessly integrates with macOS, providing a smooth and native user experience.

    Media Management: Attach photos, videos, and audio recordings to individuals in your tree.

    Charting Options: Extensive charting options to visualize your family tree in various formats.

    Research Logs: Keep detailed research logs to track your progress and findings.

    Mobile App: Access your family tree on your iPhone or iPad with the Reunion Touch app.

https://www.knowwhowearsthegenesinyourfamily.com/blog/top-5-genealogy-software-programs