1. Ancestry Tree Programs
2. Free Family History Software For Mac
3. Free Family History Software For Mac Computer

Ancestry Tree Programs

I have a MacBook Air and an iPhone 7. I'm looking for recommendations on the best genealogy software, primarily for my Mac, but having a mobile app is definitely a bonus. I'd like one that allows edits to multiple records at once and doesn't feel like I'm on a 1990's program.

1. Illustrate your family story with photos, historical records, and audio and video files. The easy-to-use tools in Family Tree Maker help you manage media faster than ever before, as well as add photos directly from iPhoto ®, scan images directly into your tree, and even create slideshows. Store photos and more right inside Family Tree Maker.
2. Finding quality genealogy software for the Mac has been impossible. There have been useable free/shareware programs that have helped but had none of the functionality of the PC based programmes. IFamily has changed all that. It equals and even surpasses the best in all genealogy programs across all platforms and for only $40aus - £16.50 sterling.

There are basically two types of family history software available:

• Internet/web-based family tree builders
• Desktop software programs

Both these types provide options to view your data via your mobile devices.

Internet/web-based family tree builders

Using this type of software requires that your data resides with a third party website such as:

• familysearch.org (A collaborative tree which aims to create a single family tree)
• myheritage.com (A collaborative tree which aims to create a single family tree)

These programs are usually easy to use and to share your family tree with others. They are most likely to be useful to researchers who get the majority of their information from one source. Your information is kept on the provider’s website so you don’t need to worry about backups. You may also be able to access your data through an app on mobile devices such as mobile phones and ipads.
As this type of software has fairly limited features you should check to see if part or all of your tree can be kept private, if others can make changes to your tree and what your ownership rights are for your tree.

Free Family History Software For Mac

Desktop software programs

These are programs that you load onto your desktop or laptop computer. Some of these programs now offer an app as well so that you can access and update your data from your mobile devices. Programs such as Ancestry, Family Search and My Heritage allow you to sync your web-based trees with your computer-based trees.
Typically desktop programs have a much wider range of features than those that are internet/web-based. They usually offer charting, reporting, book creation, maps, pictures, family tree websites and more.
Researchers who locate their information through a range of different sources such as, online, newspapers, certificates, document, other genealogists and family members will typically find this type of software more comprehensive.
Most desktop software programs are usually written for either the Windows or Mac platforms but some programs are available in both.
The most popular of the programs are:
For the Windows platform:

For the Mac platform:

A search of the internet for family history software will give you a multitude of programs to choose from, some of these you will find are free or partly so. You will also find some that let you trial the software before you buy. Do some research before you decided on the best program for you, make sure that it suits you needs.

Free Mac Genealogy Software[edit | edit source]

Commercial Mac Genealogy Programs[edit | edit source]

• iFamily for Mac for Snow Leopard and newer. For older OS versions, use iFamily for Leopard (still works for Tiger)

Mac Genealogy Programs Certified for FamilySearch[edit | edit source]

FamilySearch Certified Products and Services

• Ancestral Quest for Mac Tree Share, Sources, Discussions, Change History and FamilySearch Support
• MacFamilyTree Tree Share, Sources, Discussions, Change History

Running Certified programs for FamilySearch that were created for Windows on a Mac

1. You will need a valid copy of Microsoft Windows.
   
2. You can partition your hard drive and create a windows section on your computer which will allow you to run any of the certified programs for New Family Search on your computer. You would partition your hard drive using Apple's Boot Camp. Boot Camp comes preinstalled on your computer. The program walks you though step by step how to partition the hard drive although I do recommend that you print out the instructions before you begin. Apple
   
3. As alternatives to BootCamp there are a few virtualization programs that allow you to run the Windows OS as you would a native program program.
   • Oracle VM VirtualBox is free open-source software similar to Vmware Fusion and Parallels. Virtual Box
     
   • Parallels is currently $79.95. Parallels contains a feature similar to VMware Fusion's Unity called Coherence. Parallels
     
   • VMware Fusion is currently $79.95. It has a feature called Unity, which allows you run Windows programs like native applications. VMware

Free Family History Software For Mac Computer