Family History Collaboration Software

Software Comparison Sheet

name

GED- COM im- port

Priv- ate Groups

Roles

Fol low/ Sub scribe

User Comments (for view- er role)

Self Hosted? Last Update

sec- urity

Pedi- gree

Pict- ures

pri- vacy

Public Share

note, sour- ces

Fo ru m

Cost per yr

Ad verti sing?

Data- base Ex- port

GED- COM ex- port

Book Output for Archive

Colla- borative Doc/Book Writing

Change History Review

Editor ease of use score

Tags

Anony- mous Comm- ents

Moder- ated Comm- ents

Ma ps

Cal en dar

Social Net work

L D S

Notes

Weight (essential=10, non-essential=0)

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

0

familysearch.org (family tree)

n

n

n

y

y

y

y

y

y

/

www.wikitree.com

y

n

y

y

y

n

y

y

y

y

0

n

y

?

wiki

y

nyet

widget in ext

build one big tree with carefully designed permissions you control. Advertisements not very intrusive.

geni.com

n

y

y-

y

y

y

y

y

mundia.com (in beta) (ancestry)

y

y

3

n

y

y

y

y

y

y

y

0

n

n

y

y

y

ancestry.com’s, everyone maintains own, invites others, facebook integration

myheritage.com

y

y

y-

n

n

y

y

y

120

n

y

y

familylink.com

WeRelate.org (private groups in open source version)

y

y

n

y

mediawiki

n

y

y

y

y

n

y

y

n

good

y

n

currently using an old version of mediawiki

familypedia.wikia.com

n

n

y

mediawiki

n

y

y

y

n

good

y

n

semantic-mediawiki.org/wiki/Whealton_Family_Genealogy

y?

y?

y

mediawiki

www.genealogywiki.org

n

n

y

wiki

y

Twiki (family tree plugin)

n

y

?

wiki

y

www.familytreebank.com (drupal 6)

y

y

3

y

y

2010

y-

y

y

y

n

mysql

n

y

y

ok

y

y

y

y-

not polished, but may be good for collaboration

www.rodoslovlje.com (drupal 7?)

y

y

3

y

y

2012

y-

y

y

y

n

mysql

n

y

y

good

y

y

y

y

y-

not polished, not available until end of year

www.ancestry.com

y

n

n

n

y

y

y

y

200/u

y

similar to geni

www.onegreatfamily.com

200/u

simllar to ancestry or maybe wikitree, but $/user; www.onegreatfamily.com/LearnMore/HowDifferent.aspx

tng (www.lythgoes.net)

y

y

y

RSS

y(in menu

2013

y

y

y

y

n

y

pdf

y+

n

n

wordpress has a plugin (is it secure?).

tufat.com/s_family_tree_builder.htm

y

y

3

n?

n?

2008

y

y

y

n

y

familybelle.com

n

y

3

n

n

n

y

y

0

y

n

ELM Associates CMS

familieswebsite.us

n

y

3

n

n

n

y

y

$

n

n

ELM Associates CMS

familyinhistory.com

y

y

n

24/u

n

good

efamily.com

y

y

n

24

n

seems to be better for private family social network

genoom.com

y

y

n?

n?

n

y

y

n?

y

y

y

onefamilytree.com

y

y

y

treex.com

y

y

n?

n

n

y

y

myfamily.com

y

n

y

y

30

n

y

good for private family social network, but does have tree. Apparently not viewable except by members. Tree must be imported from ancestry.com

tflink.com

n

y

2

n

n

y

sharedtree.com

n

y

y

y

www.webtrees.com

y

y

y

RSS

n

2013

emailv

y

y

n

pdf

http://kiwitrees.net/webtrees/webtrees-as-cms/

www.phpgedview.com

y

y

RSS?

2009

y

n

pdf

www.phpmyfamily.net

y

y

n

n

2007

y

n

n

www.familytreephp.net

y

y

3

RSS

y

2013

y

y

y

y

y

y

n

y+

fast

www.noktree.com

n

n

y

y

n

y

y

y

looks like anyone can edit anything

gramps-project.org/

y

y

n?

n?

2013

y

y

y

python

rodovid.com

y

n

y

mediawiki

n

y

attempting merger with wikitree and werelate, claims to be better than either (http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Rodovid#Wikidata

whosyerdad-e.com

y

2?

n

y

y

y

120

n

onefamilytree.com

y

n

n

n

livefamily.com (facebook “familytree” app)

y

y

n

n

n

y

lots of ads

www.humogen.com

y

y

y

RSS?

n

2012

y

pdf

geneotree.com

y

y

y

y

mysql

pdf

y

www.geneweb.org

y

y

y

?

n

2012

y

geneanet.org

y

y

y

$?

n

is geneweb

rootsPress (wordpress)

y

n

n

y

y

cannot add new persons or edit old, difficult to import large files

rootsPersona (wordpress)

y

?

y

y

y

WP Family Tree (wordpress) see reviews

has some potential but not going to try due to reviews at wordpress

JGen - Joomla (solventus.nl)

y

2008

familycms.com

n

y

2013

better for social, but gedcom support soon. Worth watching.

sql family tree (general tools)

gnuology

wiki

2007

typo3

gencircles.com

y

n

n

n

y

www.onegreatfamily.com/LearnMore/HowDifferent.aspx merge option available

name

GED- COM im- port

Priv- ate Groups

Roles

Fol low/ Sub scribe

Comments

Self Hosted? Last Update

sec- urity

Pedi- gree

Pict- ures

pri- vacy

Public Share

notes sour- ces

Fo ru m

Cost per yr

Ad verti sing?

Data- base Ex- port

GED- COM ex- port

Book Output for Archive

Colla- borative Doc/Book Writing

Change History Review

Editor ease of use score

Tags

Anony- mous Comm- ents

Moder- ated Comm- ents

Ma ps

Cal en dar

Social Net work

L D S

Notes

familyecho.com (see email)

y

n

n

n

n

n

relatedfamilies.com

TNG webhosting

myfamily.com

ancestry.com’s family social network solution. Import tree from ancestry, but not really collaborative.

gedcom2wiki

tree only and not very typical tree - use only if you want to code something else

name	GED- COM im- port	Priv- ate Groups	Roles	Fol low/ Sub scribe	User Comments (for view- er role)	Self Hosted? Last Update	sec- urity	Pedi- gree	Pict- ures	pri- vacy	Public Share	note, sour- ces	Fo ru m	Cost per yr	Ad verti sing?	Data- base Ex- port	GED- COM ex- port	Book Output for Archive	Colla- borative Doc/Book Writing	Change History Review	Editor ease of use score	Tags		Anony- mous Comm- ents	Moder- ated Comm- ents	Ma ps	Cal en dar	Social Net work	L D S	-	Notes
Weight (essential=10, non-essential=0)	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10		10	10	10																	0
familysearch.org (family tree)	n	n	n	y	y			y	y		y		y									/
www.wikitree.com	y	n	y	y	y	n		y	y		y		y	0	n		y			?	wiki	y		nyet				widget in ext			build one big tree with carefully designed permissions you control. Advertisements not very intrusive.
geni.com	n	y	y-	y	y			y	y								y
mundia.com (in beta) (ancestry)	y	y	3	n	y			y	y	y	y	y	y	0	n	n	y									y	y				ancestry.com's, everyone maintains own, invites others, facebook integration
myheritage.com	y	y	y-	n		n		y			y		y	120	n		y	y												-
familylink.com
WeRelate.org (private groups in open source version)	y	y	n	y	mediawiki	n		y	y		y		y		n		y		y	n	good	y			n						currently using an old version of mediawiki
familypedia.wikia.com		n	n	y	mediawiki	n		y					y						y	n	good	y			n
semantic-mediawiki.org/wiki/Whealton_Family_Genealogy	y?	y?		y	mediawiki			-
www.genealogywiki.org		n	n	y	wiki			y
Twiki (family tree plugin)	n	y		?	wiki	y
www.familytreebank.com (drupal 6)	y	y	3	y	y	2010		y-	y		y		y		n	mysql	n		y	y	ok	y		y	y			y-			not polished, but may be good for collaboration
www.rodoslovlje.com (drupal 7?)	y	y	3	y	y	2012		y-	y		y		y		n	mysql	n		y	y	good	y		y	y	y		y-			not polished, not available until end of year
www.ancestry.com	y	n	n	n	y			y	y				y	200/u			y														similar to geni
www.onegreatfamily.com														200/u																	simllar to ancestry or maybe wikitree, but $/user; www.onegreatfamily.com/LearnMore/HowDifferent.aspx
tng (www.lythgoes.net)	y	y	y	RSS	y(in menu	2013		y	y		y		y		n		y	pdf				y+		n	n						wordpress has a plugin (is it secure?).
tufat.com/s_family_tree_builder.htm	y	y	3	n?	n?	2008		y	y		y				n		y
familybelle.com	n	y	3	n	n	n		y			y			0	y		n														ELM Associates CMS
familieswebsite.us	n	y	3	n	n	n		y			y			$	n		n														ELM Associates CMS
familyinhistory.com	y	y				n								24/u			n				good
efamily.com	y	y				n								24	n													+			seems to be better for private family social network
genoom.com	y	y		n?	n?	n		y	y		n?		y													y	y
onefamilytree.com	y							y	y
treex.com	y	y	n?	n	n			y	y
myfamily.com		y				n		y	y					30	n												y	+			good for private family social network, but does have tree. Apparently not viewable except by members. Tree must be imported from ancestry.com
tflink.com	n	y	2	n	n			y																						-
sharedtree.com	n			y				y					y																-
www.webtrees.com	y	y	y	RSS	n	2013	emailv	y			y				n			pdf											-
http://kiwitrees.net/webtrees/webtrees-as-cms/
www.phpgedview.com	y	y		RSS?		2009		y							n			pdf
www.phpmyfamily.net		y	y	n	n	2007		y	n						n
www.familytreephp.net	y	y	3	RSS	y	2013		y	y	y	y	y	y		n							y+									fast
www.noktree.com		n	n	y	y	n		y			y		y																		looks like anyone can edit anything
gramps-project.org/	y	y		n?	n?	2013		y	y								y														python
rodovid.com	y	n		y	mediawiki	n		y																							attempting merger with wikitree and werelate, claims to be better than either (http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Rodovid#Wikidata
whosyerdad-e.com		y	2?			n		y	y		y			120	n
onefamilytree.com	y	n	n	n
livefamily.com (facebook "familytree" app)	y	y	n	n	n										y																lots of ads
www.humogen.com	y	y	y	RSS?	n	2012		y										pdf
geneotree.com	y	y				y		y								mysql		pdf								y
www.geneweb.org	y	y	y	?	n	2012											y
geneanet.org	y	y	y	$?	n																										is geneweb
rootsPress (wordpress)	y			n	n			y	y																						cannot add new persons or edit old, difficult to import large files
rootsPersona (wordpress)	y			?	y			y	y
WP Family Tree (wordpress) see reviews																															has some potential but not going to try due to reviews at wordpress
JGen - Joomla (solventus.nl)	y					2008
familycms.com	n	y				2013																									better for social, but gedcom support soon. Worth watching.
sql family tree (general tools)
gnuology					wiki	2007
typo3
gencircles.com	y			n	n	n		y																							www.onegreatfamily.com/LearnMore/HowDifferent.aspx merge option available
name	GED- COM im- port	Priv- ate Groups	Roles	Fol low/ Sub scribe	Comments	Self Hosted? Last Update	sec- urity	Pedi- gree	Pict- ures	pri- vacy	Public Share	notes sour- ces	Fo ru m	Cost per yr	Ad verti sing?	Data- base Ex- port	GED- COM ex- port	Book Output for Archive	Colla- borative Doc/Book Writing	Change History Review	Editor ease of use score	Tags		Anony- mous Comm- ents	Moder- ated Comm- ents	Ma ps	Cal en dar	Social Net work	L D S	-	Notes
familyecho.com (see email)	y	n	n	n	n	n
relatedfamilies.com	TNG webhosting
myfamily.com	ancestry.com's family social network solution. Import tree from ancestry, but not really collaborative.
gedcom2wiki	tree only and not very typical tree - use only if you want to code something else

This started out as an assignment from my priesthood quorum leader. He invited me to give a seminar on keeping families united using web-based software. He knew I was thinking about it as my children moved away from home. I made a list of features I felt were essential and set out to find the solution. It was not his original instruction to include a family tree, but I assumed that this could be and might as well be part of it. I did not expect the complexity that this added. If we do not require a collaborative family tree, then there are many options for families to share photos, blogs, and communicate on private family websites. Adding the family tree (pedigree chart) and including role based collaboration made it unexpectedly difficult.

I was also aware that the LDS Church’s website familysearch.org and other world family trees were experiencing significant growing pains, and that family organizations that were trying to contribute to them were frustrated by the lack of order, excessive time required to correct errors, and inability to prevent further errors. There still appears to be a need for them to maintain there own “space” where they can be confident things are correct and maintain control of changes. Information at familysearch.org and other world tree’s might even reference information on family organization websites because it will be trusted. So the list of requirements grew. The software must allow family organizations to:

Have their own private space that they control the information on.

Role based permissions could limit changes made to a select group if desired, but anyone should be allowed to comment and propose changes in a publicly viewable forum.

GEDCOM import - because no one has time to re-enter thousands of names.

Follow/Subscribe is also essential so that interested individuals from around the world can keep track of changes on an individual basis and so that users with an “edit” role can be aware of one anothers changes.

Aside from “Security” and using something that is reasonably supported, everything else was negotiable.

In short, the ones that seemed best suited were wiki based, particularly mediawiki. Because of my experience with Drupal, I hoped that this might work, but the modules are just not sufficiently advanced yet. The mediawiki sites were most functional, although not always the best looking. The main disadvantage to all of them is that they do not allow private instances. Therefore, you must upload your gedcom to the big family tree and lose control of it. Fortunately, one of the most promising, werelate.org, looks like it will become open source this year. I am watching this closely. There is a disadvantage to it, however, in that it is based on an old custom version of mediawiki, and therefore adding other customization’s might be difficult. Currently, you cannot limit edit capability to a select few without shutting out all comments from the outside. (Not sufficient role based access control). This could mean significant administration efforts which many family organizations will not be prepared for. This may be remedied in the future by upgrading werelate to a newer version of mediawiki which has a role based module, but this won’t happen without significant effort.

In the meantime, our family organization ( cookfamily.org ) has settled on webtrees ( www.porterweb.org/webtrees ). Unfortunately, the only method of getting feedback on changes is through full site based RSS and the developers have no intention of changing this. This won’t work as a tree continues to grow, as most individuals will not be interested in following every change. Therefore, we continue to encourage the open source version of werelate to develop and try to keep track of other changes in the matrix and new additions. Webtrees has a great interface though, and is recommended for sharing information, just not collaborating on changes.

Won’t we of necessity eventually graft into a world family tree? I suppose so, but at the moment, it just takes too long to correct errors in world trees like familysearch.org. Perhaps at some point they will add a “voting” feature or some other method so that changes cannot be made without sufficient approval of interested parties. I was recently made aware of a situation in which a family member was deleted carelessly and replaced with her twin sister. It required many, many hours to correct these errors which should simply not be allowed. Most people are just not willing to spend this kind of time, particularly when there is nothing to prevent similar errors from re-occurring.

Unfortunately, I think I would violate a copyright law if I published the presentation which resulted from my assignment. I may try to clean it up in the future.

Comments and suggestions on any aspect of this post are welcome.

Brad

Brad Porter commented on Sun, 02/08/2015 - 19:52

This work resulted in a presentation at the Phineas W. Cook Family Organization Annual Meeting which can be found at:

http://www.cookfamily.org/new