- Desktop software across the board is feature packed and really comes down to which has the feature set you need most.
- But, yikes, the design and UI on family tree software feels 15 years behind (or more!) almost across the board (exception: MacFamilyTree which is, unfortunately, Mac-only and apparently has had a multitude of GEDCOM import and export issues).
- MyHeritage’s Family Tree Builder – What I’ve been using for almost 20 years. It’s good and the interface isn’t terrible but it’s got its quirks. Plus, it feels a little weird counting on software owned by a company focused primarily on their web product – the last major update was in early 2016 (eight years) and there’s only been one bugfix/minor update since early 2022. When I reached out to MyHeritage in 2024 to see if they had any intention of developing the software further, and they gave a non-answer: “There’s no specific time for a new update in the software. We thank you so much for taking the time to provide feedback on your experience with MyHeritage Family Tree Builder. Receiving feedback helps us grow and improve, so we greatly appreciate your contribution.” That doesn’t fill me with a sense of confidence.
- Rootsmagic is feature-rich and is very actively developed, but the interface continues to feel really awkward to me and I haven’t been able to make the switch. Yet.
- Feature I’d love to see: thoughtful document/citation management. Let me bring up a census record, mark everyone on it that is in my tree, and have it connect that document with those people and set their location to the same place all at once.