Brother’s Keeper Review by David Jones,  May 16, 2013

Have used BK since early 90’s. Nothing over complicated for one who is only marginally computer literate. I had fast and helpful response to problems recently when moving to Windows 8. The trick of moving Databases under DATA instead of PROGRAM FILES, as instructed on the Website, was most successful for me, and I commend that to anyone who is thinking of upgrading to Win 8. It’s a bit fiddly doing Backups, but I have decided for the time being, to run BK6 on two computers with XP and 8 until my old hardware gives up and/or I feel more comfortable with MS and Win 8.

Biggest Pro: ‘One to one’ help. Where else would one get this service?
Biggest Con: None.

Brother’s Keeper Review by Penanne,  May 14, 2013

have used BK for many years,appreciate the support when needed..it is prompt and helpful. User friendly, I have recommended it to many genealogy newbies.

Biggest Pro: easy to use, great support
Biggest Con: none

Brother’s Keeper Review by Peter Jacobs,  Apr 16, 2013

My primary genealogy software for a number of years. BK’s John Steed adheres to keeping the BK software simple and straight forward. My cousins in NL also use BK, thus crossing the language barrier when sharing genealogy info is less problematic.
Hebben een goede dag,
Piet

Biggest Pro: Export trees to PDF.
Biggest Con: None that have not been corrected with quick updates.

Brother’s Keeper Review by Dave Sloan,  Jan 15, 2013

I have been a user for over 15 years. Love all of the reports you can create. Also like the way sources are entered and handled.

Biggest Pro: The mail llist with the author John Steed available to answer questions.
Biggest Con: There are none that I know of.

Brother’s Keeper Review by Nancy Roberson,  Jan 6, 2013

Been using BK for many years and have been totally satisfied. It is easy to enter data and easy to add documentation to the data. Also can easily add pictures into your BK. It is easy to print family group sheets and pedigree charts and I have printed many registers.

Biggest Pro: So user friendly!

Brother’s Keeper Review by GC,  Dec 22, 2012

Developed by a “one man band” who can’t be getting any younger. What will happen when he can no longer continue? That is the sole reason that I keep looking for an alternative. If I don’t find something soon, I hope I die before John Steed does.

Biggest Pro: Does what I want it to.
Biggest Con: Developed by a “one man band”.

Brother’s Keeper Review by John,  Sep 15, 2012

Purchased this on floppy drives! Been through many years of improvements, enhancements, etc. sometimes two or three a month. Just keeps doing more and better.

I never hesitate to recommend BK to folks who were/are struggling with fancier and far more expensive software.

Questions and problems are always resolved almost immediately. John Steed is always patient and never stops until your problem is resolved.

Biggest Pro: Superb tech support! Quickly responds to user group concerns and suggestions.
Biggest Con: none

Brother’s Keeper Review by Don Porter,  Sep 7, 2012

First used the DOS version on a Commodore 64 - have tried other programs over the years but always go back to Brother’s Keeper.

Biggest Pro: Learning curve is quick and easy.

Brother’s Keeper Review by John Montgomery,  Aug 16, 2012

I have been using Brothers Keeper since 1994 and find it to be an excellent programme giving me clear printouts which are not cluttered with fancy gimmicks. I have been in contact with John on several occasions over the years and, like many others have had replies virtually by return.
Yes, I have been tempted to look at other programmes but have found that they do not fulfil my requirements so I am very happy to stay with Brothers Keeper.

Biggest Pro: Easy to use and is private
Biggest Con: Cannot think of any.

Brother’s Keeper Review by Dennis,  Jun 27, 2012

I’ve used BK for many years. It is the only genealogy database that handles my GRANDMA 6 data. (1,107,275 people and 349,522 families) I don’t know of ANY database that can handle that amount of data and open in less that 5 seconds. Using Windows 7 64 bit SP1 on a medium fast computer.

Biggest Pro: Loads huge databases. It’s fast, simple & strait forward to use. Has all the basics plus some extra.
Biggest Con: Compatibility mode in Windows 7 64 bit is required on my machine. Doesn’t uninstall cleanly and leave junk all over the system.

Brother’s Keeper Review by Morris Simon,  May 9, 2012

Have used BK since the early DOS versions and have compared it with most commercial packages. BK remains the most flexible, modifiable and useful genealogy software you can find anywhere, at any price. It’s simply the best.

Biggest Pro: Easy to manipulate and produce desired output
Biggest Con: Lack of internet portals for temporary exits and returns

Brother’s Keeper Review by JR / J826,  Jan 14, 2012

Does not uninstall cleanly and leaves remnants of the microkernel db behind.

Tried to use the gedcom import feature but it kept failing. Tried rootsmagic gedcom import and all went well. I’l try rootsmagic for a while.

Brother’s Keeper Review by Nancy A. Roberson,  Jan 8, 2012

I have been using Brother’s Keeper for many years and encourage others to use it. It is easy to use and has great support. I would highly recommend this software.

Brother’s Keeper Review by RICHARD L. TRUDEL,  Jan 3, 2012

Have used BK since 2002– Great service by JOHN STEED–quick to response and the program as all what a beginner or advance user needs–U can export or keep everything private.Updates are accessible when released downloaded whenever you want.I tried others after but my BK is still my favorite. Like anything else the more u use it the more you appriciate what it offers. They keep improving it!- I publish my books to carry with me for show at my family gathering so I can make changes (additions ) or corrections and everybody can go through it without me having to pass around the laptop that some don’t know how to use.

Biggest Pro: SERVICE-EASE OF USE-PRIVACY
Biggest Con: I do not have the time to use it as I would like!!

Brother’s Keeper Review by Kaye Payne,  Dec 30, 2011

I use other programs but this is the one I cannot do without.

Biggest Pro: Descendant tree chart report.
Biggest Con: Can’t save the descendant tree chart report as a jpeg.

Brother’s Keeper Review by Jack Frost,  Dec 27, 2011

outdated design

Biggest Pro: None
Biggest Con: Old-fashioned and outdated design, slow to enter data, reports of poor design,

Brother’s Keeper Review by Joe Harland,  Dec 3, 2011

Like many others here I have been using Brother’s Keeper since the DOS days. I have followed along with each update. I believe the program to be simple to learn and operate. While the screens are a little plain, they are of free items not germane to the task being performed.

The citation template has not kept up with current standards. It is very difficult to follow the advice of Elizabeth Shown Mills in “Evidence Explained.” While I still use BK for my personal genealogy, I have gone to RootsMagic for “client” work.

Biggest Pro: Ease of use
Biggest Con: only one citation template

Brother’s Keeper Review by Régis Corbin,  Aug 22, 2011

This is the best genealogy software - C’est le meilleur logiciel de généalogie surtout pour le Québec.

Thanks John

Brother’s Keeper Review by Stafford MacSwain,  May 9, 2011

Great program, I have been using it since the DOS Days. I have tried other programs over the years but have not found any I would switch to. Also you have direct support with the programmer for any problems plus he is constantly adding features suggested by the users of the program. I do not know of another genealogy program with this type of support.

Biggest Pro: Full featured Genealogy program with everything you need for your family tree.
Biggest Con: Nothing comes to mind.

Brother’s Keeper Review by Heather McGillivray,  Mar 26, 2011

John Steed recently restored my corrupted files that contained over 15,000 names - we are ever so thankful - THANKS John.

We can’t speak highly enough of the program that we have been using for ten years and the assistance that John has provided.