Family tree software: How we test
Ease of use
Our expert and our panel of testers assess the ease of creating, managing, printing and presenting a family tree as well as the comprehensiveness, usefulness and clarity of information provided. The programs and services were also rated on the ease of attaching files such as photos and video clips.
Performance
Our testers rated the programs and websites on how well they present data and on how well they print out where this option is available.
Versatility
We measured the versatility of the programs on test by assessing the extent to which our expert and reader-testers could present and share their family tree the way they wanted.
In the best programs there are a multitude of chart types, each letting you control which parts of your tree are displayed. There are options, too, for making each chart visually engaging, with adornments such as frames and scrolls.