About
Legacy Family Tree is a powerful, user-friendly genealogy software designed for everyone from beginners to professional researchers. With its latest version, Legacy 10, users can build comprehensive family trees enriched with photos, audio recordings, and videos, while leveraging automated hinting that searches top genealogy platforms—including FindMyPast, FamilySearch, GenealogyBank, and MyHeritage—to surface missing ancestors, records, and images even while you're away from your desk. The software includes over 100 stunning charts and reports, such as wall calendars, FAN (Friends, Associates, and Neighbors) club reports, Origins reports, and full heirloom family history books. Its built-in SourceWriter helps users maintain proper citation records, while Chronology and Descendant Views, a To Do List, Hashtags, and Color Coding keep research organized and on track. Legacy 10 also introduces Google Maps integration for visualizing your ancestors' geographic movements, new reporting formats, and enhanced media organization through a Photo Album and Family Picture Tree. The free download gives access to the core feature set, while the Legacy Unlocked upgrade provides access to premium tools and advanced content. Legacy Family Tree is ideal for hobbyists, serious genealogists, family historians, and anyone wanting to preserve and share their heritage for future generations.
Key Features
- Automated Ancestor Hinting: Automatically searches FindMyPast, FamilySearch, GenealogyBank, and MyHeritage in the background to find missing relatives, photos, and historical events.
- 100+ Charts & Reports: Generate stunning family history books, wall calendars, FAN club reports, Origins reports, and many more shareable outputs.
- Media Preservation: Attach and organize photos, audio recordings, and videos to family members, then showcase them in Photo Albums, wall charts, or a Family Picture Tree.
- Google Maps Integration: Visualize your ancestors' locations and migration paths by mapping all places in your family tree directly on Google Maps.
- Advanced Genealogy Tools: Includes SourceWriter for citations, Chronology and Descendant Views, To Do Lists, Hashtags, and Color Coding to keep research thorough and organized.
Use Cases
- Building and expanding a detailed multi-generational family tree with photos, documents, and life events.
- Discovering missing ancestors by automatically searching major genealogy databases like FamilySearch and MyHeritage.
- Creating professional-quality printed or digital family history books and heirloom reports to share with relatives.
- Organizing and preserving family photographs, audio recordings, and videos alongside genealogical records.
- Researching and documenting the geographic origins and migration patterns of ancestors using Google Maps integration.
Pros
- Free Core Version: The full-featured base software is available for free download, making professional-grade genealogy tools accessible to everyone.
- Comprehensive Feature Set: Covers the entire genealogy workflow from data entry and research hinting to media management and polished report generation.
- Multi-Database Integration: Connects with major genealogy platforms like FamilySearch, MyHeritage, FindMyPast, and GenealogyBank for broader ancestor discovery.
- Trusted by Millions: A long-established platform with a large, active user community and extensive help resources including videos, webinars, and user groups.
Cons
- Windows-Focused: Primarily a Windows desktop application, which may limit accessibility for Mac or mobile-only users.
- Premium Features Behind Paywall: Some advanced tools and content require the paid Legacy Unlocked upgrade, which is not clearly priced on the main site.
- Offline-First Design: As a desktop app, it lacks the real-time cloud collaboration features that modern web-based genealogy tools offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Legacy Family Tree really free?
Yes, the core Legacy Family Tree software (Legacy 10) is free to download and use. A paid 'Legacy Unlocked' upgrade is available for access to additional premium features and content.
What genealogy websites does Legacy connect with?
Legacy integrates with FindMyPast, FamilySearch, GenealogyBank, and MyHeritage to automatically search for hints about your ancestors while you work or even while your computer is idle.
Can I import my existing family tree into Legacy?
Yes, Legacy Family Tree supports importing files (such as GEDCOM format) from other genealogy programs, making it easy to migrate your existing research.
What types of reports can I create?
Legacy offers 100+ reports and charts, including family history books, wall calendars, FAN club reports, Origins reports, descendant charts, and ancestor trees suitable for printing or sharing.
Does Legacy Family Tree work on Mac or mobile?
Legacy Family Tree is primarily designed for Windows desktop. Mac and mobile users may need to explore alternative solutions or use compatibility tools to run it.
