About
Family Tree Maker (FTM 2024) by Software MacKiev is the long-standing gold standard in genealogy software, empowering users to discover, document, and share their family history across Mac and Windows platforms. Whether you're just starting out or a seasoned genealogist, FTM scales to your needs with an intuitive interface, powerful data management, and a rich set of charts and reports. The software integrates directly with Ancestry.com and FamilySearch, surfacing record hints as you build your tree and enabling single-click synchronization to keep your data consistent across platforms. The new Connect Workspace makes family collaboration effortless — invite relatives to view your tree on the free FTM Connect mobile app (iOS and Android), where they can leave Relative Hint sticky notes that instantly appear in your desktop tree. FTM 2024 introduces Turn Back Time 5000, an extended undo history that records every change — including complex merges and syncs — allowing you to roll back up to 5,000 steps with a single click. The platform also supports legacy planning, letting you designate a successor to inherit your tree and license. From casual hobbyists tracing their roots to professional genealogists managing thousands of records, Family Tree Maker offers the depth and reliability to preserve your family legacy for generations to come.
Key Features
- Ancestry.com & FamilySearch Integration: Single-click synchronization with Ancestry.com and automatic record hints from both Ancestry and FamilySearch help you grow your tree with verified historical records.
- Turn Back Time 5000: An extended undo history logs every change — including complex merges and syncs — letting you roll back up to 5,000 steps to correct mistakes made weeks or months ago.
- Connect Workspace & FTM Connect App: Invite relatives to view your tree on the free iOS/Android FTM Connect app. They can leave Relative Hint sticky notes that instantly appear alongside Ancestry and FamilySearch hints in your desktop tree.
- Advanced Charts & Reports: Generate a wide variety of printable family history charts, genealogy reports, and shareable exports suitable for both casual family sharing and professional research documentation.
- Legacy & Successor Planning: Designate a successor to inherit your family tree and FTM license, ensuring your genealogical research is preserved and passed on for future generations.
Use Cases
- Building and maintaining a multi-generational family tree with detailed biographical records, photos, and source citations.
- Syncing existing Ancestry.com family tree data to a local desktop application for offline access, advanced editing, and richer reporting.
- Collaborating with geographically dispersed relatives to fact-check genealogy data and gather family stories using the FTM Connect mobile app.
- Generating printable family history books, wall charts, and genealogy reports to share at family reunions or preserve as heirlooms.
- Preserving a lifetime of genealogy research by assigning a designated successor who inherits both the tree data and the software license.
Pros
- 35+ Years of Proven Reliability: With over three decades of continuous development, Family Tree Maker is a battle-tested, feature-rich platform trusted by millions of genealogists worldwide.
- Deep Ancestry.com Integration: Native two-way sync and intelligent record hints from Ancestry.com and FamilySearch dramatically speed up research and help surface relevant historical records.
- Real-Time Family Collaboration: The free FTM Connect mobile app lets relatives fact-check your tree from their smartphones in real time, crowdsourcing accuracy improvements without requiring them to own the software.
- Robust Undo History: Turn Back Time 5000 gives unmatched peace of mind, allowing users to reverse up to 5,000 changes including complex merge and sync operations.
Cons
- One-Time Paid Purchase Required: Family Tree Maker is a premium paid product with no free tier, which may be a barrier for casual users who only want basic genealogy features.
- Desktop-First Experience: The full feature set requires a Mac or Windows desktop installation; the mobile app is view-and-annotate only, not a standalone tree-building tool.
- Ancestry.com Dependency for Full Value: Many of the most powerful features — record hints, syncing, and guest access — rely on an active Ancestry.com subscription, adding ongoing cost beyond the software purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Family Tree Maker?
Family Tree Maker is a genealogy desktop application for Mac and Windows that helps you build, manage, and share detailed family trees. It integrates with Ancestry.com and FamilySearch, supports collaboration via a free mobile app, and includes advanced charting and reporting tools.
Does Family Tree Maker require an Ancestry.com subscription?
An Ancestry.com subscription is not required to use the core software, but many key features — including single-click tree syncing, record hints, and the TreeVault-powered Connect Guest Access — work best with an active Ancestry.com account.
What is Turn Back Time 5000?
Turn Back Time 5000 is an extended change-log feature introduced in FTM 2024 that records every edit, merge, and sync operation. You can roll back your tree up to 5,000 steps with a single click, giving you a comprehensive safety net against accidental data loss.
Is there a mobile app for Family Tree Maker?
Yes. The free FTM Connect app is available for iOS and Android. Relatives can use it to view your tree, browse relationships and notes, and leave Relative Hint sticky notes that sync back to your desktop tree in real time.
What platforms does Family Tree Maker support?
Family Tree Maker 2024 runs as a native desktop application on both Mac (macOS) and Windows. The companion FTM Connect app supports iOS and Android devices for mobile tree viewing and collaboration.
