Family Tree Builder

by MyHeritage Ltd. (Gilad Japhet)
Free software with a heavy emphasis on visual data such as photos and documents. Includes face recognition software and multi language capability. The program is free to help promote their myheritage.com genealogy hosting site. They have a blog.

Free • Subscription • Windows • Full Featured
http://www.myheritage.com/family-tree-builder
27 Reviews, latest Aug 6, 2010
Enjoy Using It4.11 out of 54.11 out of 54.11 out of 54.11 out of 54.11 out of 5 4.11
Use It Often4.31 out of 54.31 out of 54.31 out of 54.31 out of 54.31 out of 5 4.31
Easy Input4.01 out of 54.01 out of 54.01 out of 54.01 out of 54.01 out of 5 4.01
Useful Output3.98 out of 53.98 out of 53.98 out of 53.98 out of 53.98 out of 5 3.98
Overall Rating4.15 out of 54.15 out of 54.15 out of 54.15 out of 54.15 out of 5 4.15
Add Your Review

27 Reviews of Family Tree Builder     RSS 2.0 RSS     Showing 1 - 20

Family Tree Builder Review by Klaus Grande Øeegårdstuen,  Aug 6, 2010

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I realy like this program

Biggest Pro: Easy to use and expand
Biggest Con: Needs a lot of memory

Family Tree Builder Review by Kristi,  Aug 4, 2010

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LOVED IT…until I reached the 250 maximum person limit (Free Version) and couldn’t merge files unless I pay. Really have a lot of info loaded so far so don’t want to have to start over with different software but I also don’t consider $75 “inexpensive upgrade”.

Took a little bit to figure out how to make edits (children with multiple partners, divorces, etc) but easy enough once I figured it out.

Overall, very easy to use but unless you want to pay, you better plan to keep your tree small…

Biggest Pro: Very easy to use
Biggest Con: 250 person limit and no merge of data unless you upgrade to premium

Family Tree Builder Review by Alan,  May 14, 2010

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Pretty easy to use program with a really useful ‘close family’ chart option (if tweeked).
Better than some programs costing £30+.
And it’s FREE!
Try out the commmercial ones before you buy one, I did and found FTB to be better than nearly all of them. Recommended.

Biggest Pro: Pretty good and FREE.
Biggest Con: Would be nice to have ‘all relatives’ chart option and be able to merge trees - but did I mention it’s FREE??

Family Tree Builder Review by Martin,  Apr 30, 2010

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  • Not Rated
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Pros:
+ Nice graphs.

Cons:
- No response from customer support in 2 weeks since requested.
- Some Czech characters (e.g. ř, č, ě) are not supported at all, although MyHeritage.com claims Family Tree Builder is fully localized into Czech language.
- Graph output into JPG file is only 72 DPI - far too little for large prints.
- Can have more graphs and reports built in (such as “All blood relatives” graph found in other programmes).
- No information on MyHeritage.com about what´s planned to be improved in the next version of Family Tree Builder and when

Biggest Pro: Nice graphs.
Biggest Con: Bad customer support - 2 weeks since I requested feedback to few questions (sent through their web form), I received no response.

Family Tree Builder Review by Arnold Buys,  Jan 28, 2010

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After using a few other programs this one is absolutely the most complete and the most friendly to use.
A few technical problems at the start are cleared thanks to prompt, useful and adequate help via e-mail from and with the support team.

For my one use i would like to see more type’s of reporting possible. For example i would like to print out a list of all persons within a tree by alfabetical order. Other type’s of reporting using criteria defined by the user would be welcome.

(P.S.: sorry if i made some mistakes but english is not my home language)

Biggest Pro: Easy to use
Biggest Con: more reporting types would be welcome

Family Tree Builder Review by Michelle,  Jan 8, 2010

  • Not Rated
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  • Not Rated

Very user friendly.

Biggest Con: Needs other ways to add other members of family to tree such as step parents and/or members who have children with more than one person.

Family Tree Builder Review by Angela,  Dec 17, 2009

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This program is easy to use for a beginner. However, it crashes often and is sometimes very slow. Also, if you make a blunder in your lineage you CANNOT go back and edit. It is there for all eternity. Huge problem with the program if you ask me.

Biggest Pro: easy to use
Biggest Con: cannot edit lineage info. once it is put in.

Family Tree Builder Review by Paul,  Nov 6, 2009

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Without a doubt, the best free software available.

Its one weakness is that additional facts are difficult to add and give the same status as the preset facts. If you want to add genetic information, such as yDNA haplogroup, or phenotypic information, such as eye colour, it gets hidden in the back.

On the other hand, the online publishing is better than for most if not all paid sites. The visuals are wonderful, with two separate types of viewing. It is east to navigate. The data can be manipulated to form different charts containing different data. I can share with others efficiently. It is a real gem. But, you are limited to only 1000 family member unless you pay for the service, but it is still probably worth it for the online publishing alone.

The reasearch tools that come with a paid service are heavily other user based and so lacking somewhat in relaibility.

If I had the choice, I would do my research on ancestry.com (which has LDS dedicated software that is not designed for those of us who are not LDS or who are interested in genetic genealogy), build my tree with RootsMagic4 (which does not have a dedicated publishing site) and publish online at myheritage.com (the home site for Family Tree Builder).

Biggest Pro: Online publishing is the best out there.
Biggest Con: Not designed for those of us interested in genetic and phenotypic genealogy.

Family Tree Builder Review by Colin Rout,  Nov 4, 2009

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I think it is fantastic very user friendly and member friendly with all the features, I went on to a previous site the other day to check something and I now realise how limited that site is and how members cannot join in with anything on the site and how even as a member of someone else’s tree you cannot see some of the relatives.

Having read some of the other comments about the site and how we are sock puppets I completely disagree with that comment.

I have notice the date on them, they are prior to the new updated program which have a lot of new features, I will say if you have used this program before and found it not to your liking I would suggest you “TRY IT AGAIN”.

Biggest Pro: very user friendly and member friendly with all the fantastic features
Biggest Con: makes you want to use it more.

Family Tree Builder Review by Steve Woody,  Mar 3, 2009

  • Not Rated
  • Not Rated
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  • Not Rated

The program is not entirely free. If you want to add documents such as Word, PDF, or text files, you have to pay for a subscription. The free part is very misleading. I played with the program for a while, then erased it.

Family Tree Builder Review by Tammy,  Feb 25, 2009

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Probably the best free genealogy software out there. Excellent, intuitive entry of information. Amazing features for growing the tree like smart matches and smart research. Face recognition and tagging makes the use of photos much friendlier than other genealogy programs. And I love the publishing of the tree to the myheritage site to share with my family members. Warmly recommended!

Family Tree Builder Review by Mark Baldin,  Oct 9, 2008

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A great way to broadcast your family history.
Keep up with family events (birthdays, Anniversaries etc)
The free membership allows 1000 tree names and 15 family members to join (sufficient for most families)
Publish to your webspace with one click.
Stores you tree online and on your PC.
Uses GEDCOM file format for easy transference to other programs.

Biggest Pro: Allows family members to view your tree & site thus encourages correspondence
Biggest Con: Slower computers will chug along when displaying your tree (uses Flash)

Family Tree Builder Review by Michal,  Oct 6, 2008

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Great Software!

Family Tree Builder Review by Ivri Shalev,  Oct 5, 2008

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What a great software!

The interface is so user friendly, you can backup all your data to the Internet,
the software is packed with features and only gets better with every version released.

But the most important aspect for me is the live person support, IT IS AMAZING,
very responsive and helpful (and I did not even pay for this software).

Biggest Pro: Amazing support representatives
Biggest Con: Did not find any yet

Family Tree Builder Review by Guilt Ermo,  Oct 3, 2008

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Probably the worst free genealogy program out there.
No unique features at all. Works great in Recycle Bin. Overall, very unpleased.
There seem to be some reviews here published by disgruntled misfits, so ignore them.

Biggest Pro: easy to use
Biggest Con: beginnrs only

Family Tree Builder Review by Linde,  Oct 3, 2008

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I really like this website. Not only has it prompted me to find out more about my family from my grandparents, aunts and uncles, it has also given me an easy way to keep in touch with them and share memorable moments. The site is easily manageable, great for family research and great to share photos with the family.

Biggest Pro: the research databases and picture sharing option
Biggest Con: none so far

Family Tree Builder Review by Alex,  Oct 3, 2008

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It is very user friendly and easy to deal with. It supports my language which is kinda rare.
I use it very often and added my relative as well via their website.

Biggest Pro: user friendly
Biggest Con: none

Family Tree Builder Review by Ranmi Cinfo,  Oct 2, 2008

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love it, kicked out all other software

Biggest Pro: ease of use
Biggest Con: couldn’t find one yet

Family Tree Builder Review by Guillermo,  Oct 2, 2008

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Probably the best free genealogy program out there.
Some unique features not available elsewhere. Works great in Italian. Overall, very pleased.
There seem to be some reviews here published by disgruntled misfits, so ignore them.

Biggest Pro: Photos and charts
Biggest Con: Could use some more chart types

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