Legacy Review by Jerzee Girl,  Mar 10, 2013

I used the free version when I began my journey over 11 years ago. I then bought the deluxe software and find it meets my needs.

Legacy Review by Jennifer Burgess,  Mar 3, 2013

I purchased the deluxe version because some of my friends have it and I liked it, and some friends use both Legacy and Ancestry, I struck my first very major problem when transferring my data from FTM via a gedcom file. the baptisms, over 3000 went into events, not into the christenings, doing a Google search I discovered the only way to put a baptism into the christenings, is to do each baptism manually, that means one at a time, and not only is it several clicks to put the baptism in, the place does not follow and also has to be done manually, more clicks of the mouse, and then of course you need to delete the event, which is several more clicks of the mouse. I’m doing a manual check of my tree as I have discovered some people didn’t transfer at all. I’ll be keeping my FTM as well as the legacy. I did get confirmation from my email to customer service, (after a few days) that manually is the way it has to be done.

Biggest Pro: easy to swap information with other family
Biggest Con: the problem with not matching information via a Gedcom file

Legacy Review by Peter Rezende,  Feb 8, 2013

The features in Legacy are about average for what you’d expect of a family tree program but there’re many more user friendly programs on the market. I use Legacg, FTM, FTB, PAF and CGR depending on what I want to do and which reports I want to run.

But would you trust your family tree data, data that has been collected after years of painstaking research, to a program that does not correctly export to a Gedcom?

Legacy is more concerned with developing new features rather than fixing the bugs in their current version. Below is correspondence with their “support” department when I discovered a bug in the system..a bug they claim to have known about and fixed in Oct 2012 but the fix has not been released as at 8 Feb 2013..

< < Moderator note: Sorry, personal correspondence with the company should not be included in a review and has been removed >>

Biggest Pro: Photo Management
Biggest Con: Fixing bugs and support

Legacy Review by Saskey,  Feb 4, 2013

The free version is pitiful. If you are considering this program, skip this clumsy program and go directly to the fully functional version, which *may* be better.

Biggest Pro: Free
Biggest Con: Not very user-friendly or useful.

Legacy Review by Nancy Hanson,  Jan 12, 2013

I have been using the program for 10 years and find the Deluxe Version meets all my needs. I teach beginner classes and recommend the free version for people starting their research.

Biggest Pro: All the features
Biggest Con: Wouldn’t have found all of the features without collaborating with other users.

Legacy Review by Virginia from Florida,  Jan 3, 2013

I started with Legacy approx. 9 years ago…downloading the free version…and then upgrading along the way to the “Deluxe”…have never regretted my decision…Periodically I would “test drive” a competitor (if they offered a free version) but always returned to Legacy. Legacy offers great support including webinars, active user groups, a very professional support team (they even answer questions thru the user groups on WEEKENDS!!!)…Legacy is very well structured to accommodate everyone from the novice to the professional genealogists. To anyone reading this who is not a Legacy user…go to their web site and download the free program…you will not regret it!

Biggest Pro: Very active user groups who answer any questions…in a friendly manner!!!!
Biggest Con: Has made my genealogical pursuits so easy (and fun)…that its difficult to get other things done!!!

Legacy Review by Michigan Girl,  Jan 2, 2013

Switched from Family Tree Maker about 6 years ago. This program is very user friendly. LOTS of help available via training tutorial CD’s and phone or email if you need it. They have about 15 webinars a year that are free to anyone. There are two instruction manuals available and many user groups in the country. I facilitate one of those groups in San Diego. Their user support and the template for sources are fantastic! The geo map feature shows you exactly where your ancestors lived and where they migrated. The many reports you can produce are easily customized allowing you to add or leave off whatever you choose. There are updates (free during that version) all the time. In reading some of the negative reviews of this software it sounds as if those people have not learned or taken the time to use the program. I’m on this program daily. I’m a heavy user and use ALL the features.

Biggest Pro: Source template and clipboard
Biggest Con: Not being able to create a website

Legacy Review by Colin,  Dec 21, 2012

Have had for about 10 years now and it cant be beaten and they always test so well before uprades are issued which are FREE

Legacy Review by MaggyMay,  Dec 21, 2012

I LOVE Legacy! It’s easy to use and navigate. I love being able to offer my family a look at our family tree with your free verison being available to them. I also love having the Families app to sync with my iPad - it could(almost) be a perfect world for me, however my main computer is an iMac and there isn’t a Legacy version for Mac. My PC laptop is on borrowed time and I have a huge decision to make to go with a Mac or stay with a PC. My laptop is mainly used for genealogy and taking to the FHC and updating but would like to simplify my life with one program that can be synced with all three devices.

Biggest Pro: can sync with Families app on the iPad.
Biggest Con: no Mac version

Legacy Review by Jason,  Dec 11, 2012

Grand ideas but fair to poor execution. Many inconsistencies in report formatting and input screens. Sourcing is good but difficult to use. UI is old fashioned, windows handling is obsolete. Support is spotty…sometimes seems like they just go through the motions. The user group is active and helpful if you have a thick skin. Ver. 7 promised some sourcing tools that never were delivered. This could be a good program if they took the time to fix what they have instead of trying for big new features. They offer a lot of webinars and training videos.

Legacy does not handle same sex couples without ugly work-arounds. They say it is “too difficult” with the s/w structure they have. Support has shut down discussion of the issue on the user group with the implication that it is just not for them.

Biggest Pro: The way they keep event notes together with the event.
Biggest Con: Many inconsistencies and difficult UI.

Legacy Review by Ann Phillips,  Oct 30, 2012

My husband and I have used Legacy in its successive versions since 2003. Its versatility enables each of us to use it in different ways: he prefers Pedigree view, and I use Family view, for example. The source citation process is very good : I’d like some additional source categories, “Monumental Inscriptions”, “Internet Family Trees”, “Occupational Records” [or something to look after apprenticeships] - generally categories to handle U.K. records. We like being able to tell relatives to download the free Legacy program, so that we can send them a data file that they can use. The continuing support, which provides frequent free webinars on a variety of topics, is very good.

Biggest Pro: Full featured program that handles users from beginner to advanced
Biggest Con: Could use more support for U.K. sources

Legacy Review by Jerry Kocis,  Oct 9, 2012

I have been using Legacy Family Tree software for a little more than a year, at first the free version and, since December 2011, the premium version. I have and very limited interaction with the support forums as the program is very intuitive and easy to use. As I purchased the training videos and the printed manual, there is nothing that I have wanted to do with the software that I could not accomplish. Features like the interface with FamilySearch.org’s make Legacy a standout.

Biggest Pro: The combination of power and ease of use.
Biggest Con: Legacy doesn’t keep photos in the database, only the links to the photos.

Legacy Review by dissappointed,  Sep 24, 2012

Customer Support does not exist., neither does the sales department. I’ve called their 800 number several times and only recieved 1 call back to my home number.

Biggest Pro: Can’t find any yet
Biggest Con: customer service

Legacy Review by Ken Sturgill,  Jun 1, 2012

I have owned at least five different genealogy programs and until I found Legacy 7.5 I always had a hard time doing anything with them. Every step seemed to be a challenge but with Legacy the ease of use is nothing short of amazing! What a breath of fresh air! I actually started using the program efficiently without consulting the manual or video CDs that come with the package (they are great by the way). The last program I used for three years was The Master Genealogist and it was absolutely the worst, hardest to use, most cumbersome beast I have ever loaded on my computer. I was never so happy when I removed it from my hard drive and tossed the entire package in the trash can. I called them before I bought Legacy and asked “Have you made it more user friendly?” and their reply was that they had added many new features since my versions but never, not once could I get them to say it was easier to use so I ordered Legacy and have never looked back. Good bye TMG!
When I have a problem or question, which I rarely do, the answer is prompt, clear and quick. I don’t know how anyone could rate this software anything less than a 5.

The reports section is so customizable that virtually anything I can come up with in my mind I can do. I now have over 7,000 persons in my file and Legacy handles them with ease. There is no problem combining different lines of the family which usually takes only seconds. What more could I ask?

Biggest Pro: Ease of use
Biggest Con: Haven’t found one yet.

Legacy Review by Regi,  Mar 17, 2012

I was a free version user for many years. I wrongly thought purchasing the Deluxe version would overcome many of the frustrations I encountered. After 2+ years of using it, I am more aggravated with the software and its support.

Biggest Pro: Supposedly has FamilySearch interaction built in.
Biggest Con: Many features don’t work as advertized. Non-Critical software problems a rarely fixed. Focus seems to be on developing new features before fixing errors and omissions. Charting capabilities are very basic unless add-on purchased. To-do list feature lacks report design flexibility resulting in many wasted pages printed. There are several inconsistencies between features.

Legacy Review by Mike Beier,  Jan 19, 2012

Very comprehensive program designed for the serious genealogist. Many extremely sophisticated features that provide exceptional documentation and research coordination possibilities, and easy clues (color changes and markings) to provide quick confirmation if these important steps have been completed. Very convenient and comprehensive linking with newFamilySearch. Excellent research guidance and linking to outside research databases for continued searching your lines, saving the retyping of data for searching. As an old PAF user this took some time to learn, but it’s well worth the effort for the professional level of research and documentation for which this program is noted. The training videos are excellent, and I would say required viewing.

Biggest Pro: Powerful, complete, many excellent features for research and for the compilation of information and multimedia materials.
Biggest Con: Requires people to clean up their database and recordes (helps are provided) to get the most out of the powerful and complex features.

Legacy Review by Sherry,  Jan 5, 2012

Absolutely awesome program that I’ve been using since 1997, when it first came out. I’ve done test drives of other programs and although there’s another one that runs close second (Roots Magic), Legacy has so much more capability and flexibility than #2 I can’t imagine seriously using that one.

I look for ease of use, excellent help files, ability to customize the program so I can view it better (I have impaired vision) and quick and easy data entry (Legacy has some “clipboards” so you can copy and paste Events and Sources).

Biggest Pro: Fully functional free version, exellent training available with Help file, videos and “Tips” on their website, lots of customizeation available
Biggest Con: Can’t think of any

Legacy Review by eu - europe,  Dec 28, 2011

Very comprehensive and intuitive SW. You will get the hang of this withe a little effort. Reasonably priced and comes in many localized flavors. Excellent support. I have used all the major SW. Though, religious influenced in a negative way , this is the one I go for.

Biggest Pro: Fast and easy
Biggest Con: Not same sex marriges, no patronym, no witnesses

Legacy Review by M Frager,  Sep 23, 2011

I’ve been using it in spurts for over 3 years, replacing Legacy Family Tree which I liked very much.
I find Legacy 7 a mixed bag. It does all the basics very smoothly and deeply. It let’s you bounce between spouses and siblings easily on the main family page. It lets you add tons of detail. In charting, you can add multiple text boxes and photos, with text sizing and appearance controls.
However, the detail options turn out to be way redundant when you create person reports. Birth, work, marriages, whatever, turn up twice in the generated essays.
Also, the graphics, photos and most especially the sourcing are problematic. In fact I’ve yet to master sourcing and find myself with incorrect links or artificially created links just to get the data references right.
Also some photos seem to disappear, or are not responsive. I haven’t tried other media files.
Finally, the charting is so pre-determined, like a large but fixed library of designs, that there’s no flexibility to highlight any individual with a different box appearance.
Overall, as a data manager, If I follow my own methods of perusing the files and linking them - i.e., workarounds - it is a relatively deep, smooth resource.

Biggest Pro: Plenty of recording room and detail.
Biggest Con: No Undo, confusing Sourcing, inflexible Charting, repetitive presentation in bio’s of info in detail pages.

Legacy Review by DougVL,  Sep 22, 2011

I tried the free version. It’s so limited in functionality that I call it useless.

Biggest Pro: Free
Biggest Con: nearly useless infree version