What is the best free software (not demo only!) to use for family tree charting and related genealogical work?

I used smart draw but it's a demo only, I got a pdf print before the expiry but I don't want to do all that work again many times over. I can't really justify paying the $200 for the software when I know freebies are out there.



Do any of you genealogists or family research buffs use a decent freeware or shareware program for your graphic tree-charting?What is the best free software (not demo only!) to use for family tree charting and related genealogical work?There are several that are available. I would avoid the PAF file unless you belong to the LDS Church or intend on becoming a member. There is a lot of things on it that are specific to the Church and have nothing to do with non-LDS genealogical research.
You can purchase Family Tree Maker (FTM), Legacy or Roots Magic, which seem to be the current popular ones for less than $40. FMT is affiliated with Ancestry, however, I have found that most serious or professional Genealogists seem to be using Legacy or Roots Magic. Either program cost about the same. I purchased both programs at a Genealogical convention for $10.00 a piece, but I think they are about $30 on line. All three provide about the same charts and are pretty straight forward and easy to learn. The printed charts may vary a little, but they have pedigree and Family Group Sheets as well as the ability to record document information and cite sources. Pictures and copies of documents can be up loaded as well. The primary difference is that Roots Magic is a Beta product so you can provide feedback and assist in the development of the program, while legacy is not a Beta program.
You can download either or both and try them out. When you decide on which you want you can then purchase online, and when the program down loads your files will copy to the purchased program.
Years ago I tried a couple shareware programs, but since there are inexpensive programs that ate stable available and they are accepted as easy to use, I wouldn't use free or shareware, I have found them to be to unstable.What is the best free software (not demo only!) to use for family tree charting and related genealogical work?
Family Tree Maker form Ancestry is an easy to use program and is around $40 but if you use a coupon code which can be found online you can get 25% off. I like it for easy of use. also Rootsmagic is okay for the free version but some of the things I like to use you have to buy the program to use so I just went back to FTM.What is the best free software (not demo only!) to use for family tree charting and related genealogical work?There are three programs you can download for free, and a number of them you can buy for less than the cost of dinner for two at Denny's. they will all print pedigree charts and family group sheets. The $29 Rm will print about 200 other reports as well. I assume FTM will; they are the Ford and Chevy of our little world., although I like Rm much better.



The Mormons will give you PAF for free because that's what they do; they are to genealogy what Zen Buddhists are to gardens.

http://www.familysearch.org/eng/default.…



Roots Magic and Legacy will both let you download "Lite" versions of their programs for free, in hopes that you like them so much you'll pay $29 to get the full strength version:



http://www.rootsmagic.com/

(Look for "Essentials")



http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/

(Look for "Standard" and ignore the graphics; they look like the world is ending with a volley of pedigree-shaped lightning bolts. The people in the farmhouse are either in the root cellar, burrowing beneath the rutabagas for protection, or on their knees, trying to confess to 30 years worth of sins in 30 seconds.)What is the best free software (not demo only!) to use for family tree charting and related genealogical work?
I use myheritage.com. I love it. It's free and very reliable.
Here's the site:
http://www.myheritage.com/What is the best free software (not demo only!) to use for family tree charting and related genealogical work?The three most popular genealogy programs that are free are:

PAF (Personal Ancestral File) from the LDS (Mormon) Family Search Website

http://www.familysearch.org/eng/default.…



This program is by far the simplest and some people like that but there are many things it cannot do that the newer programs can. Plus, now that other programs are working with FamilySearch.org this program will “never” receive another update.



Legacy Standard Edition 7.5 from Legacy Family Tree

http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/



The standard edition of this program is 100% free and only has a few less bells and whistles than the deluxe edition. They have a nice comparison chart showing the program’s features compared to others on the market. You can download the Deluxe Edition for $29.95.



RootsMagic Essentials from Roots Magic, Inc.

http://www.rootsmagic.com/Essentials/



http://www.rootsmagic.com/RootsMagic/Fea…



Rootsmagic Essentials is a relatively new offering in the “free” software category. This one I tried and it will not allow you to print any reports after you input your data until you purchase the “full-version” of the software, you can just view reports on you monitor, unless they have changed something that I am unaware of. The full version of RootsMagic is $29.95.



All of these free downloads will have less features than the deluxe software but I still think it is a good idea to download them and get a feel for their general appearance and function before making a decision…I always recommend the “try before you buy” policy whenever possible.



Also, the genealogy programs suggested here have message boards on Rootsweb where a user could search the archives to find an answer to most questions or post a new query and receive an answer within a day of asking. You could also read the post to get a feel for how other users like/dislike their software and find more specific details as to why. http://boards.rootsweb.com/topics.softwa…



Of course, Family Tree Maker is the number one selling software but you asked for information on free software so I did not include information on that program because they do not a free product.



Also, I think it is always better to have your data on your own computer rather than on a website because this way you have complete control of you information and never have to be concerned about what someone else might do with your data. I personally, never upload anything to Ancestry.com or any other website because the material becomes their property once you do that [read the terms and conditions, carefully].