10 Cool Apps to Help You Do Your Family History
February 1, 2016
By Guest Blogger for FamilySearch
Today, there are literally hundreds of family history apps to help you do your family history research and detail the life of an ancestor. With so many apps available for free or for just a few bucks, it’s important to know which ones give you the best bang for your buck. Below is a review of the newest and most popular family history apps on the market with a brief description of their unique features:
This free app for the iPhone and iPad provides . . .
By Guest Blogger for FamilySearch
Today, there are literally hundreds of family history apps to help you do your family history research and detail the life of an ancestor. With so many apps available for free or for just a few bucks, it’s important to know which ones give you the best bang for your buck. Below is a review of the newest and most popular family history apps on the market with a brief description of their unique features:
This free app for the iPhone and iPad provides . . .
a place for you to preserve family records on your own customized family tree! The app links to your FamilySearch account so all your information will be kept up-to-date on all devices. As you discover stories about your own ancestors and add those stories to your tree, you will also be adding to the family trees of others. With this app you can add stories, photographs, and documents of your ancestors. Family Tree can be found on the App Store by searching “FamilySearch – Tree” or by downloading it from the iTunes store.
FamilySearch – Memories
This free FamilySearch app provides users with a place to collect stories and photos of family members. For no cost, you can record, preserve, and share stories shared by family members as they share some of their family memories. You can upload to your family tree, photos of current family events, pictures of old photos and records, and oral interviews and stories of family members.
This app can be found on the App Store by searching “FamilySearch – Memories” or by going to theiTunes FamilySearch – Memories app page.
This free FamilySearch app provides users with a place to collect stories and photos of family members. For no cost, you can record, preserve, and share stories shared by family members as they share some of their family memories. You can upload to your family tree, photos of current family events, pictures of old photos and records, and oral interviews and stories of family members.
This app can be found on the App Store by searching “FamilySearch – Memories” or by going to theiTunes FamilySearch – Memories app page.
HistoryLines
This popular and highly rated web app can give you a detailed outline of what your ancestors’ lives might have been like based off of where they lived. With this app, you can read about the time period and history of your ancestors’ lives and learn more about them than just a name and a date. Membership for this app can be purchased for $9.99 a month or $59 year on the HistoryLines website.
This popular and highly rated web app can give you a detailed outline of what your ancestors’ lives might have been like based off of where they lived. With this app, you can read about the time period and history of your ancestors’ lives and learn more about them than just a name and a date. Membership for this app can be purchased for $9.99 a month or $59 year on the HistoryLines website.
American Ancestors
This website provides a rich source of data for anyone looking for information about his or her American ancestors. With this app, you have access to hundreds of millions of names and hundreds of records including vital records, census records, newspapers, military records, maps, and more. This app is the creation of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, America’s top resource for family history research. Membership is $89.95 a year. To learn more, visit theAmericanAncestors.org website.
This website provides a rich source of data for anyone looking for information about his or her American ancestors. With this app, you have access to hundreds of millions of names and hundreds of records including vital records, census records, newspapers, military records, maps, and more. This app is the creation of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, America’s top resource for family history research. Membership is $89.95 a year. To learn more, visit theAmericanAncestors.org website.
Find-a-Grave
Find-a-Grave for Android is a free app provided by Ancestry.com. It allows users to search more than 100 million graves from cemeteries around the world. You can request headstone photos or upload your own and share them for others to view. The app contains millions of photos with memorials and bios, a meaningful tool for many. Find-a-Grave can be found on the Google Play Store by searching “Find a Grave” or by clicking the Find a Grave app page.
Find-a-Grave for Android is a free app provided by Ancestry.com. It allows users to search more than 100 million graves from cemeteries around the world. You can request headstone photos or upload your own and share them for others to view. The app contains millions of photos with memorials and bios, a meaningful tool for many. Find-a-Grave can be found on the Google Play Store by searching “Find a Grave” or by clicking the Find a Grave app page.
RootsMagic
RootsMagic is a software package that provides organization tools for your family tree and family history. As you search for family records, RootsMagic will connect with FamilySearch and MyHeritage to find up-to-date information on your ancestors. You can document what you find and even print out detailed sheets of information. You can share information online and create maps of where your family members have lived. RootsMagic provides just about everything you might need in a family history app. The free software can be found at the RootsMagic Essentials page. The upgraded version for $29.95 at the RootsMagic Products page.
RootsMagic is a software package that provides organization tools for your family tree and family history. As you search for family records, RootsMagic will connect with FamilySearch and MyHeritage to find up-to-date information on your ancestors. You can document what you find and even print out detailed sheets of information. You can share information online and create maps of where your family members have lived. RootsMagic provides just about everything you might need in a family history app. The free software can be found at the RootsMagic Essentials page. The upgraded version for $29.95 at the RootsMagic Products page.
Kinmapper
Kinmapper is a free web app that connects with your FamilySearch family tree to map the locations where your ancestors lived. It provides a fun and useful visual that may even uncover locations you were previously unaware of! You can sign up for this fun service on the Kinmapper home page
Kinmapper is a free web app that connects with your FamilySearch family tree to map the locations where your ancestors lived. It provides a fun and useful visual that may even uncover locations you were previously unaware of! You can sign up for this fun service on the Kinmapper home page
StoryWorth – Innovator Challenge Winner!
StoryWorth is a new online app that won the People’s Choice Award and the First Place Judge’s Prize at the 2015 RootsTech Innovator Challenge. When you sign up, you can also invite family members to register with you. Each week you will all receive an email with a question about your life. Each family member’s response will be recorded and emailed to anyone you designate. It is an exciting way for family members to share stories they may never have heard about each other. Membership is $6.49 a month per family. To learn more, visit the StoryWorth website.
StoryWorth is a new online app that won the People’s Choice Award and the First Place Judge’s Prize at the 2015 RootsTech Innovator Challenge. When you sign up, you can also invite family members to register with you. Each week you will all receive an email with a question about your life. Each family member’s response will be recorded and emailed to anyone you designate. It is an exciting way for family members to share stories they may never have heard about each other. Membership is $6.49 a month per family. To learn more, visit the StoryWorth website.
Eternal Reminder
This highly rated web app sends a reminder to users to take the names of eligible ancestors to the temple to receive their temple ordinances. When an ancestor is 110 years old or older, he or she is eligible to receive temple work by proxy. The app is dependable and prompt, and it will not let you forget when temple work needs to be done! Registration is free and can be found on the Eternal Reminder website.
This highly rated web app sends a reminder to users to take the names of eligible ancestors to the temple to receive their temple ordinances. When an ancestor is 110 years old or older, he or she is eligible to receive temple work by proxy. The app is dependable and prompt, and it will not let you forget when temple work needs to be done! Registration is free and can be found on the Eternal Reminder website.
My Heritage Book
With this online app, you can create personalized children’s books based on a child’s family traditions and personal family trees. Users can add information on up to 6 different countries based on where their ancestors have lived. This is a great tool for parents and grandparents to share stories about their ancestors, teachers to teach students about different countries, and children to learn about their own family’s traditions and heritage. The cost of membership is $42.95 and can be accessed at the My Heritage Book website.
This article was written and submitted to the FamilySearch blog by Becca Allen Hardman. She is a writer and editor for the Publishing Services Department of the LDS Church.
With this online app, you can create personalized children’s books based on a child’s family traditions and personal family trees. Users can add information on up to 6 different countries based on where their ancestors have lived. This is a great tool for parents and grandparents to share stories about their ancestors, teachers to teach students about different countries, and children to learn about their own family’s traditions and heritage. The cost of membership is $42.95 and can be accessed at the My Heritage Book website.
This article was written and submitted to the FamilySearch blog by Becca Allen Hardman. She is a writer and editor for the Publishing Services Department of the LDS Church.