Want to know what the differences are between the two best genealogy programs? Do they differ that much? Well, read on as I explore 16 reasons why the Legacy genealogy software program is far better than Family Tree Maker.
My first choice was …
I must admit that when I first started to trace my family history and I was looking for a genealogy software program I decided upon Family Tree Maker.
The reason for this decision was simple!
Like many others, I had become familiar with the Ancestry website through the many adverts that I saw on TV.
My local library also had a subscription to this site and so I used it to create and build my tree.
Back then the Family Tree Maker program would give you web hints that came from Ancestry, and so it was only natural for me to purchase this program.
Ancestry was the producer of Family Tree Maker but since December 2015 this was no longer the case.
But there was a better option …
I realized when I first started to review the genealogy software programs that were on offer that even though Family Tree Maker was the most popular it certainly wasn’t the best.
That title belonged to Legacy!
And that is why I decided to write this post so that I could show you the many reasons why this is the case.
16 Reasons Why Legacy Is Better:
Want to make the switch?
You may have already purchased and used Family Tree Maker but are contemplating making the switch to Legacy.
And that is quite alright as many people have been in your position.
Through comments given by people who have made the switch Legacy has come up with the top 9 reasons that Family Tree Maker users are now Legacy users.
Credit: Legacy Genealogy Software
Express Your Thoughts Below!
I would love to hear from you.
1. Many Different Views of a Family
Legacy
There are 7 different views that you can choose between to display your opened family file. And you are also able to have two family files open at the same time.
This helps when you want to compare information between the two and to see if there are any differences.
Family Tree Maker
You only have one view of your family file while you work on it.
Also, you are not able to have more than one file open at a time.
This means that to compare to files you either have to close one file and then open the other or have two programs open at the same time.
This second option may sound better but you still have to switch between both programs to compare the two family files.
2. Can View More Than Two Parents
Legacy
The highlighted Parents button will clearly show you whether an individual has more than one set of parents.
By this I mean step-parents.
Family Tree Maker
This situation is not so clearly visible with this program.
To be able to check this you need to go to the People menu and then select the Other Parents option to see if there are more than two.
3. Can View More Children
Legacy
You have the option of whether you would like up to 10 or 15 children displayed within the family group for this program.
And Legacy does allow up to 60 children to be added to a family.
Family Tree Maker
Your view of a family group is restricted to just four children.
So, if you do want to see the others then you need to scroll down the list. Legacy, therefore, does make it easier to view the entire family.
One advantage though with Family Tree Maker is that you can have up to 99 children entered in for a family.
But let’s be honest what family comes close to that.
The same thought can be said with the 60 children limit for Legacy.
4. Add Sounds to Pictures
Legacy
Just why would you want to link sounds to pictures within the Legacy program?
Well, by doing so you can then create what is called a narrated slideshow.
And the bonus with Legacy is that you can record sound files within the program.
Family Tree Maker
You can input both sounds and pictures with this program but you cannot link sounds to people.
5. Quick Source Citations
Legacy
A Source Clipboard can be used where store up to 5 different source citations.
The point of this is that you can easily with a click of a button assign any one of these citations to a particular event.
You are also able to create 10 of these Source Clipboards, so essentially you can have access to 50 citations straight away.
Switching between each clipboard is done by clicking the right mouse button.
And this can be done from any input window.
Family Tree Maker
There is no such quick easy feature as this.
6. Assign Source Citations While Importing
Legacy
Legacy allows you to import your family history from either a standard GEDCOM file or a PAF file.
When you choose to import a file you are given the option of whether you would like to assign a source citation to all of these imported records.
The advantage of this is that later on when you are reviewing your tree you can see where the information came from.
If you did not have this option you may be scratching your head to know where did it come from.
Family Tree Maker
This import ability is not available with this program.
You would therefore need to remember what records that you had imported into your family tree and attach the correct cite sources.
Could you remember them all?
7. View Your Navigation History
Legacy
One great feature of Legacy that I like is that you can track your navigation history.
What this means is that you can track the last 160 people within your tree that you have viewed.
I like this because you can keep track of where you left off last and the people leading up to this last person.
You can check through these individuals via the History List menu, or use the Forward and Backward History arrows to navigate between them.
Family Tree Maker
You are not able to do this with Family Tree Maker.
So, if you want to remember which person you last viewed then you would have to keep a handwritten note.
8. Add Bookmarks to People
Legacy
Besides the navigation history feature, you can also have bookmarks for individuals as well.
So, this gives you even more precision as you were as to where you left off on a person.
The limit to the number of bookmarks per person is set at 160, which I feel is more than enough.
Family Tree Maker
Again Family Tree Maker does not have such a feature.
9. Add Tags to People
Legacy
Three different tags can be assigned to each individual within your tree.
And the same number of tags can be assigned to marriages as well.
What this means is that you can highlight differences between the people within your family tree.
So, for example, you may want to select a group of people that only lived up to the age of 10, or maybe over 100.
Or, maybe even the people who didn’t marry.
You can then use this tagging system to print out only the people that you have selected.
Family Tree Maker
No feature available.
10. Navigating Between Different Views
Legacy
The Family View and Pedigree View allow you to navigate quite easily between the different generations.
Yes, this can be done with Family Tree Maker but let me continue to explain.
Within either of these views, you can edit any information on an individual.
Family Tree Maker
You are only able to edit information within the Family View.
Also, you can only see two generations at a time with this view.
With Legacy, however, you can see a couple, their parents, and the couple’s children.
11. Integration with FamilySearch
Legacy
FamilySearch contains a collection of family records that can be accessed and viewed for free online.
It is one of the first online destinations that you will make when you first trace your family history.
Legacy is fully integrated with FamilySearch.
You are also able to print and prepare what is called Ordinance cards that can be taken to the Latter Day Saints Temple, (LDS operates FamilySearch).
Family Tree Maker
To do this with Family Tree Maker, you need to export a GEDCOM file.
This can then be ready for the Temple but the information is not as easy to read as ordinance cards.
12. Easily Create Ordinance Reports
Legacy
Legacy gives you the ability to print Ordinance reports which have or do not have Ordinance dates
Family Tree Maker
Family Tree Maker on the other hand allows the following:
- Incomplete Individual Ordinances
- Incomplete Marriage Sealings
13. More Information on Name Index
Legacy
Within your Name Index, there are eight pieces of information that can be displayed for each individual.
Following features within the Name Index:
- Set to show any information that you wish within the list,
- Either set whether you want to search people by surname or RIN number,
- Jump to a surname starting with a particular letter,
- Tag or bookmark people, and
- Customized reports can be printed from the Name Index.
Family Tree Maker
The amount of information is severely limited within this program. You will only be able to see a person’s birth and death dates.
14. Multiple Searching Options
Legacy
There are many different options that you can use to search for people within your family tree. This can be done by what is called a fill-in-the-blanks form.
So, you put in whatever information you know to bring up the person that you desire.
The great advantage of this searching ability is that you can bring up certain people that fit certain criteria.
So, then you are then able to tag these people and create a unique report.
Family Tree Maker
Searching for someone within your family tree is carried out only on one field.
And the disadvantage with this program is that you cannot even create lists like you can with Legacy.
15. Greater Merging Capabilities
Legacy
There may come a time when you will want to merge two separate family files. This may be because you have been given a file from a family member who is also tracing your ancestry.
When merging you can then compare any similarities or differences between the two.
With Legacy, you can set comparison parameters which are then used to help define and present any possible duplicates between the two files.
There is also the option to suspend merging midway if you wish. And if you do decide to continue to merge then you can do so.
Keeping certain pieces of information is an option as well.
And whatever is not kept can be put into the notes field for the respective person, or made into an event, or even put into an alternate names list which you can check out later.
The great thing about this last fact is that no information is tossed aside.
Family Tree Maker
The downside with Family Tree Maker is that if there are any differences between people’s spellings or there are differences between relationships then they will not even be considered during the merging.
The other downside is that you have to choose which information that you keep.
You cannot keep information from both files that you are merging. You, unfortunately, have to disregard one.
16. Print Blank Forms, Reports, and Sheets
Legacy
You can print out blank Census forms, Individual Reports, and Family Group Sheets.
There is also the option of printing out customized questionnaires that can then be sent out to relatives who can then fill them in.
Blank Research Logs can be printed off which can then be used to help you to research your family tree.
Family Tree Maker
You can print out blank Family Group Sheets but that is pretty much the extent of Family Tree Maker’s ability.
Granted that other reports can be printed out but the names on these reports are essentially blanked out.
There are no Census forms, questionnaires, or research logs that you can print out.
What Do You Think?
If you decide to buy this software program then please come back and let me know what you think of it. I would love to hear how it is working for you.
All Round Software!
Setting a new standard in genealogy software!
Thank You and Please Leave A Comment
I hope you enjoyed this post highlighting why Legacy genealogy software is better than Family Tree Maker. If you have any questions or comments then please leave a comment below.
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Pity there is no native version for Apple. Used Legacy but when I moved to Apple running Legacy under bootcamp was a real pain for me. The developers promised and stated they were developing a version to run natively on Apple but it never materialised and refused to answer any questions on how far the development was. I moved Roots Magic which runs on Windows and Apple.
Shame that there is no version of Legacy that you can use on Apple.
I’m glad to hear that you opted for Roots Magic. It’s a great program.
All the best with your family history journey.
Hi
I do not know if you just publish the good reviews because I have a lot of problems with
Legacy and considering changing to Family tree maker.
I am losing photos I put into the media and stories out of the story list. The backup to the clouds is a pain in the proverbial as well because it keeps uploading everything again and not just the new info you put in.
I will be surprised if I get a answer to this or if it will be in the reviews
I’m sorry to hear this Robert. What version of Legacy are you using?
I personally use Family Tree Maker and it has been great for me. So it’s definitely worth a try.
All the best.
You forget one very important thing with Legacy…
Its not UNICODE/UTF-8 compatible.
Well yes, and no. It is true that Legacy does only support Western European fonts which includes English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Dutch, and the Scandinavian languages.
And as such it does not yet support Eastern European fonts, like Polish, Asian fonts, Hebrew, or any other non-Western European fonts. So I do apologise if you feel that this software is outdated to you.
There is however a work around to this issue which you can find on the Legacy Family Tree Support page.
If you do feel though that Legacy 9 is not adequate to your needs then by all means use Family Tree Maker or whatever program you are most comfortable with.
I have used Legacy for more than 17 years now, so I do know about the workarounds, does not change the fact that Legacy has limitations regarding languages and therefore should not be classified as “the best”…
Its a really good program, absolute, but there are a lot of limitations, it doesnt support multiple name definitions, i.e. patronyms, farms names with more in peoples name fields… If you want to define what different types of surnames is, you either need to hide it in a note field or make Name Events for each and every…
For most americans, this want be a problem, but for very many Scandinavian, South Europeans and East Europeans, theis is big problems… same as how names are sorted/ordering of names…
And this is something that Legacy has not Changed in more than 13 years…
Hello again Jaran,
Thank you for your input as to the limitations of Legacy. True there are drawbacks to this software, but that can be said for any genealogy software program on the market.
As for being the best, or rather classified as one of the best, I do understand that this is subjective. For my tastes it does tick many boxes but it may not for some, as for you this is the case.
But I have given people the choice when it comes to the best genealogy programs and what suits their needs.
Thank you and kind regards,
Owain
Thanks for sharing such an important tool. To tell you the truth, I was after such a program which could offer proper family tree generation. We as a family have kept the family tree intact passing generations after generation. All it needed now a digital makeover to keep the tradition alive.
Hi Fred,
Thanks for commenting. Legacy 9 is the currently the top genealogy software program that you can use. So you’re very wise to go for this option. It can help you to create and build your family tree and much more besides.
All the best.