Family Trees vs a spreadsheet or Word template
Short answerA spreadsheet is a fine way to list names and dates, and a Word template makes a quick chart, but neither understands relationships: you draw every line and update every copy by hand. Family Trees stores each person once, draws five tree views from that, tells you how any two people are related, and lets relatives edit the same tree.
At a glance
| Family Trees | Spreadsheet or Word template | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free up to 100 people | Free if you already have the software |
| Drawing the tree | Automatic, five views | By hand, box by box |
| Adding a person | Every view updates | Re-lay out the chart |
| How two people are related | Worked out in plain words | Work it out yourself |
| Photos | Portraits and tagged group photos | Pasted images |
| Several relatives editing | One shared tree | Copies drift apart |
| Export | GEDCOM, free on every plan | CSV or document files |
What a spreadsheet does well
A spreadsheet is good for research lists: names, dates, places and where each fact came from, sorted and filtered any way you like. A Word or Google Docs template is quick for a small chart that won’t change. If that is all you need, keep using them.
Where it breaks down
A family is a network of links. A spreadsheet row can’t show that two people are second cousins, and a document chart must be redrawn when a child is born or a second marriage is added. When several relatives each keep a copy, the copies disagree within a year.
What Family Trees adds
Each person is entered once, with their dates, places and photos. Family Trees draws Ancestors, Descendants, Hourglass, Fan chart and Everyone views from that, and redraws them as the family grows. Pick any two people to see how they are related, from first cousin to third cousin twice removed. Invite relatives to edit or view the same tree, and export a GEDCOM file whenever you want a copy for another program.
Prefer paper? The printable family tree templates are free.
Questions
Can I make a family tree in Excel or Google Sheets?
You can list people and draw a simple chart with shapes, but the spreadsheet doesn’t know how anyone is related, so every line and every update is manual. It works for small, fixed trees.
Can I import a spreadsheet into Family Trees?
Family Trees imports GEDCOM files and Family Trees backups, not spreadsheets. If your family is in a spreadsheet, the quickest route is usually to add people directly; most families have three generations in within minutes.
Is there a free Word family tree template?
This site has free printable family tree templates for several layouts. For a tree that redraws itself as you add people, Family Trees is free for one tree of up to 100 people.
Questions? Email support@familytreesapp.com and a person will reply.