Software advice
Best AI Genealogy Software in 2026
AI genealogy software is a family tree program or service for recording ancestors, sources, places and photos, where the vendor names some AI function such as reading old records, translating them or letting an assistant edit the tree. It is not a DNA testing service, and most programs in this field name no AI at all.
Quick answer
Heredis ranks first because its legal terms describe an AI record reader and its prices are printed. Family Historian is the pick for Windows users who want an AI Connector. RootsMagic fits buyers who want a free starting version.
Someone starting or rescuing a family tree faces a practical choice: a desktop program that keeps the file on their own computer, or a hosted service that shares one tree among relatives. AI is the new selling point, yet only two of the ten products here name an AI feature on their own pages: Heredis and Family Historian. This ranking weighs what the vendors state about AI, printed prices, the platforms supported, where the data lives and how easily a tree leaves the program. We read vendor pages in November 2026 and ran no software, so feature descriptions are the vendors' own. Where a page says nothing, the entry says so rather than guessing.
The 10 best AI genealogy software in 2026, ranked
There is no score. Vendors can pay for more visibility on this website, for example a higher place in a ranking or more room on a page. Commercial relationships can also affect which products we feature and how prominently. How we rank.
| # | Tool | Best for | Free plan | Entry price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heredis | Researchers who want a named AI record reader plus hints, with Windows, macOS and mobile apps | Trial | 39,99 € for the Standard licence |
| 2 | Family Historian | Windows users who want a desktop tree they own, with an AI assistant allowed to edit it | Trial | € 6.74 per month for an individual licence |
| 3 | RootsMagic | Hobbyists who want a free starter tree and a one-time paid upgrade path from other programs | Yes | Free for RootsMagic Essentials; $39.95 for RootsMagic 12 |
| 4 | MacFamilyTree | Mac and iPhone households that want a visual tree with FamilySearch search built in | Trial | US$ 34.99 for new customers (list US$ 69.99) |
| 5 | Ahnenblatt | German-speaking family researchers who want a lean Windows program with GEDCOM and PDF export | Trial | Free version; 59,00 EUR for the full version 5 license |
| 6 | Ancestris | Cost-conscious researchers who use Linux or want GEDCOM files stored on their own machine | Yes | Free |
| 7 | Legacy Family Tree | Windows users who want a free program with source citation tools and reports | Yes | Free |
| 8 | webtrees | Families who want to publish a shared tree online and control who can see living people | Yes | Free |
| 9 | Geni | Relatives who want to build one shared online tree and connect to the World Family Tree | Yes | Free for Basic accounts |
| 10 | Family Tree Maker | Ancestry subscribers who want tree sync and hints in a Mac or Windows desktop program | No | Quoted |
- 1
Heredis ranks first because it is the one product here whose own legal terms describe an AI feature that does something concrete: assisted reading and translation of genealogical records, sold through credits. Prices are printed in euros for Standard, Pro and Premium. The weak spots are that the AI reader costs extra credits and that Standard cannot receive updates at preferential prices.
Strong on
- Legal terms describe AI-based assisted reading and automatic translation of old records
- Premium adds ancestor hints, direct import with the source URL kept, and 10 GB of backup storage
- Apps for iOS and Android come with Pro alongside Windows and macOS
Weak on
- The AI record reader runs on credits that are sold separately from the licence
- Standard has 50 features and no update eligibility, so serious users end up on Pro
Skip it if: Buyers who want one flat price covering all AI use, or who need a free tier without a time limit. Standard is one-time without update eligibility; Pro is 99,99 €; Premium starts at 19,99 € for six months.
- 2
Family Historian takes second place because it names an AI Connector that lets an assistant update a project while the user keeps control of changes, and because its price ladder is clear: monthly, annual or outright. The 30-day trial lowers the risk. It loses to Heredis on how much AI behavior the vendor describes, and Mac users need compatibility software.
Strong on
- AI Connector lets an assistant update the project, with the user keeping full control of changes
- Monthly, annual and outright licences are all priced, and the annual option is marked as recommended
- Charts, reports, books, mapping and photo face-linking come in the base product
Weak on
- Windows only; Mac owners must run Parallels, Boot Camp or CrossOver
- The outright licence excludes major new releases, which are bought separately
Skip it if: Mac-first households that do not want to run Windows software, and anyone who wants a free plan after the 30-day trial. Annual is €32.80 a year with future releases included. Buying outright is €71.33 without major upgrades.
- 3
RootsMagic ranks third because the buying path is the easiest to read in this group: a free version that does not expire, a one-time $39.95 license and a $29.95 upgrade. Its pages name no AI features, so it is a conventional tree program here. Guides for moving in from Family Tree Maker, Legacy and PAF help switchers.
Strong on
- Essentials is free with no time limit, so a tree can start at no cost
- Connections to FamilySearch and Ancestry are listed on the About page
- Switch guides cover Family Tree Maker, Legacy, TMG, PAF and Family Origins
Weak on
- No AI features are named on the product or About pages
- Personal Historian and Family Atlas are separate products with their own prices
Skip it if: Researchers who want AI record reading or AI editing, because the vendor pages show neither. Essentials has no time limit. RootsMagic 12 is one-time with free version 12 updates; upgraders pay $29.95.
- 4
MacFamilyTree sits fourth as the strongest Apple-only choice. It offers a 3D Virtual Tree, a Virtual Globe, FamilySearch search inside the app and iCloud sync for collaborators. The vendor pages do not name an AI feature, and Windows is not supported at all, which limits who can use it. The discount price is flagged as short-time.
Strong on
- 3D Virtual Tree and Virtual Globe give a visual view of ancestors and places
- FamilySearch archive can be searched from inside the app
- CloudTree Sync & Share invites relatives to collaborate via iCloud after unlocking
Weak on
- Runs on Apple products only and needs macOS 12 or later
- No AI feature is named on the vendor pages, and the discount prices may change
Skip it if: Windows or Linux users, and anyone who wants AI features described by the vendor. The page shows a short-time offer; upgrades are US$ 24.99. A free demo exists; CloudTree sync needs the full version.
- 5
Ahnenblatt ranks fifth as a plain, well-priced desktop program: a one-time 59,00 EUR full license, 29,00 EUR to upgrade, and a plausibility check that flags odd data. Nothing on its pages is described as AI, and it is a Windows-based program. It works well for a single researcher who wants clean printouts and a PDF export.
Strong on
- One-time license for one user on any number of own computers, with updates inside version 5
- Plausibility check helps find errors in family data
- GEDCOM import and export plus PDF export keep the tree portable
Weak on
- The vendor describes a Windows-based program and does not name any AI feature
- Demo prints carry watermarks until a license key is entered
Skip it if: Mac-only households, and researchers who want automatic record reading or AI assistance. One-time payment for one user on any number of own computers; upgrading from version 3 or 4 is 29,00 EUR.
- 6
Ancestris is sixth because it is free on all three desktop systems and keeps data in GEDCOM files, but it asks more of the user. Java is a prerequisite, no paid support is published, and the pages mention no AI. It suits people who value control and low cost over polish, a mobile app or vendor assistance.
Strong on
- Free on Windows, macOS and Linux with install guides in the documentation
- More than 30 tools, including duplicate detection, a dynamic tree and geographic view
- Version 13 is stable and version 14 is updated daily
Weak on
- Java is a stated prerequisite for installation and use
- No AI features and no paid support plan are named on the pages opened
Skip it if: Users who want vendor support, AI assistance or a polished mobile app. Freeware for Windows, macOS and Linux. No paid tier or support plan is published on the pages opened.
- 7
Legacy Family Tree ranks seventh. Legacy 10 is free to download, with more than 100 reports and charts, SourceWriter for citations and a Hinting search of genealogy sites. The pages do not call Hinting AI, and no privacy policy or terms page could be found from the homepage or download page, which weakens the data picture.
Strong on
- Legacy 10 is a free download, with version 10.0.0.271 dated October 30, 2025
- SourceWriter supports source citations and the program offers 100+ reports and charts
- Hinting searches outside genealogy websites for records missing from your tree
Weak on
- No privacy policy or terms page was found from the homepage or download page
- Hinting depends on external genealogy websites and is not described as AI
Skip it if: Buyers who need a published data-handling policy before storing family data. The download page offers Legacy 10 for free. No paid tier is published on the pages opened.
- 8
webtrees takes eighth place because it solves a different problem: publishing and collaborating on a tree online. It is free, open source, imports GEDCOM and supports user accounts with privacy settings. You must run PHP and MySQL yourself, and no AI feature is named, so it fits a technically minded family member who can maintain the install.
Strong on
- Free and open source, with all data staying on the server you run yourself
- Multiple user accounts, each with configurable privacy settings for living people
- Imports standard GEDCOM files and offers the interface in more than 60 languages
Weak on
- Needs your own web server with PHP and MySQL, and the PHP version must match the release
- No AI features are named on the vendor pages
Skip it if: Non-technical researchers who want a desktop install they can start in minutes. Open source, run on your own web server. Third-party hosting exists but is not priced on the pages opened.
- 9
Geni ranks ninth because it is a hosted social tree rather than a private desktop program. Basic is free, but Pro pricing is not published on the pages opened, and matching uses MyHeritage data. No AI feature is named. It works for collaboration and shared profiles, less for a researcher who wants to own the file.
Strong on
- Basic account is free and covers source citations, photos, groups and projects
- World Family Tree and tree matches connect profiles across users
- Smart Matches compares profile data with MyHeritage records and other trees
Weak on
- Geni Pro price is not published on the pages opened
- Tree data lives on a hosted service owned by MyHeritage, not on your computer
Skip it if: Researchers who want a local file, or who do not want their tree merged into a shared world tree. Basic is free. Geni Pro adds matching, merging and premium support; its price is not published on the pages opened.
- 10
Family Tree Maker ranks last here because no price appears on the pages opened and no AI feature is named, so a buyer cannot compare cost or assistance. It does sync with Ancestry, show hints from Ancestry and FamilySearch, and offer TreeVault Guest Access for relatives. Its value depends on an Ancestry subscription that sits outside this vendor's pages.
Strong on
- Tree sync with Ancestry plus hints from Ancestry and FamilySearch
- TreeVault Guest Access lets relatives view the tree on a phone or tablet
- Undo can return the tree to earlier versions
Weak on
- No price is shown on the product, where-to-buy or store pages opened
- The product page lists FTM 2024 as current and names no AI feature
Skip it if: Buyers who need a published price first, or who do not use Ancestry. No price is published on the product, where-to-buy or store pages opened, so a buyer must check the vendor store.
How these AI genealogy software were judged
Which genealogy software actually uses AI?
Only Heredis and Family Historian name an AI feature on their own pages. Heredis describes an assisted record reader and automatic translation in its legal terms, and its Pro comparison lists automatic AI transcription as a 2027 novelty. Family Historian describes an AI Connector through which an assistant can update a project, with the user keeping control of changes. RootsMagic, Ancestris, Ahnenblatt, MacFamilyTree, Legacy, webtrees, Geni and Family Tree Maker name none. Legacy's Hinting and Geni's Smart Matches are described as searching and matching, not as AI. Test a feature on one real page of old records before paying.
What does genealogy software cost?
Prices range from free to under 100 euros. As of November 2026, Ancestris, webtrees and Legacy 10 are free, and RootsMagic Essentials is free with no time limit. RootsMagic 12 costs $39.95, Ahnenblatt 5 costs 59,00 EUR, and MacFamilyTree shows US$ 34.99 in a short-time offer. Family Historian starts at €6.74 per month or €71.33 outright, and Heredis starts at 39,99 € for Standard and 99,99 € for Pro. Geni Pro and Family Tree Maker show no price on the pages we opened. Check whether the AI feature costs extra, as Heredis credits do.
Where does your family tree data live?
Desktop programs keep your tree on your own machine, which most vendors state or imply. RootsMagic says so on its homepage, and Ancestris stores GEDCOM files locally. webtrees runs on a server you choose. Geni hosts your tree on its own service, and MacFamilyTree can sync through iCloud. No vendor page we opened said whether customer data trains AI models, and retention was not checked. Family Historian's privacy policy refers to GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, and Legacy's pages showed no privacy policy. Ask the vendor in writing before sending records to any AI function.
Can you move a family tree to another program?
GEDCOM is the common exchange format, and Ancestris, Ahnenblatt, MacFamilyTree, webtrees and others list it for import or export. RootsMagic publishes switch guides for users leaving Family Tree Maker, Legacy, TMG, PAF and Family Origins. GEDCOM carries people, dates and sources but often loses charts, media links and program-specific notes. Heredis notes that it keeps access to each licensed product for six years from order. Before committing, export a test tree and open it in a second program to see what survives.
Which genealogy program fits your situation?
Match the program to your computer first. Mac-only households look at MacFamilyTree, Windows users at Family Historian, Ahnenblatt or Legacy, and mixed households at Heredis, RootsMagic or Ancestris. Researchers who want AI today have two named options in Heredis and Family Historian. Families that want to share one tree with cousins look at Geni or webtrees. Ancestry subscribers can use Family Tree Maker for sync. Beginners can start with RootsMagic Essentials, which is free and has no time limit, before paying.
How to choose an AI genealogy software in three steps
- Check your operating system before anything else. List the computers and phones that will open the tree. MacFamilyTree runs on Apple products only, while Family Historian and Ahnenblatt are Windows programs, and Family Historian tells Mac users to run compatibility software. Heredis, RootsMagic, Ancestris and Family Tree Maker cover more than one system. A program that cannot open on a relative's computer defeats the point of a shared tree, so settle this first, before comparing features or prices, because switching later means a full export and import.
- Test the AI feature on one difficult record. Pick a handwritten or foreign-language record that you struggled to read and try it in the program you are considering. Heredis offers its record reader through credits and a one-week trial for Premium, and Family Historian offers a 30-day trial. Note what the AI got right, what you had to fix and how many credits it used. Keep the sample and the corrections together so you can compare programs fairly. If neither named AI feature helps, buy on price and portability instead.
- Export a test tree before you commit. Enter ten people with sources, notes and a photo, then export a GEDCOM file and open it in a second program. Check dates, places, source citations and media links. This shows what you would keep if you left. Do the same with a free option such as Ancestris or RootsMagic Essentials, since both cost nothing to try and make a useful second opinion. Write down every field that changed, so the comparison is a plain list rather than just an impression.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best AI genealogy software in 2026?
Heredis is first in this ranking because its legal terms describe an AI-based record reader and automatic translation, and its prices are published in euros. Family Historian is second for Windows users who want an AI Connector. The ranking rests on vendor pages read in November 2026, not on running each program.
Which genealogy programs name an AI feature on their own pages?
Only two of the ten: Heredis names an assisted record reader sold through credits, and Family Historian names an AI Connector that lets an assistant update your project while you keep control of changes. The other eight pages we read name no AI feature, so this page says so rather than implying one.
Is there free genealogy software with no time limit?
Yes. RootsMagic Essentials is free with no time limit, Ancestris is free on Windows, macOS and Linux, Legacy 10 is a free download, and webtrees is free open-source software. Ahnenblatt lists a free version, and the full version 5 license costs 59,00 EUR. None of the free options names an AI feature.
Does Heredis charge extra for its AI record reader?
Its legal terms describe the assisted reading and translation of records as sold through credits, separate from the licence. Standard is 39,99 €, Pro is 99,99 €, and Premium is a subscription from 19,99 € for six months. Check the current credit price in the Heredis store before ordering, because we did not record it.
Can Family Historian run on a Mac?
Not natively. The store pricing page says Family Historian is Windows only and that Mac users need Windows compatibility software such as Parallels, Boot Camp or CrossOver. Mac-only households should look at MacFamilyTree, Heredis or RootsMagic, which the vendors describe as available for Mac, so check each store page before buying.
Should a family tree live on my computer or on a hosted service?
Desktop programs such as RootsMagic and Ancestris keep the file on your machine, which gives you control and an offline copy. Hosted services such as Geni make sharing with relatives easier but place the tree on the vendor's service. A self-hosted option like webtrees sits between the two and needs a web server.
How do I move my tree between genealogy programs?
Export a GEDCOM file and import it into the new program. Ancestris, Ahnenblatt, MacFamilyTree and webtrees list GEDCOM support, and RootsMagic publishes guides for users leaving Family Tree Maker, Legacy, TMG, PAF and Family Origins. Expect to recheck charts, media links and notes, which GEDCOM often drops.
Do genealogy vendors say whether they train AI on my tree?
Not on the pages we opened. No vendor stated whether customer data trains models, and retention periods were not checked for this ranking. Family Historian's privacy policy refers to GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Ask the vendor in writing before sending family records to an AI function.