The Best Family Tree Creator Apps
Discovering where we come from has never been easier. In 2026, new online tools and family tree apps use AI and smart record matching to help you find your ancestors and build a complete family story in just a few minutes.
You can now scan old photos, record family memories, and even connect your DNA results to your tree to find relatives from all over the world. In this guide, we’ll show you the best and easiest family tree creator apps, explain how to start your own tree, and share tips to make your family story look beautiful and easy to share online.
What is a family tree?
A family tree is a visual chart or diagram that represents the generations of your family and their connections over time. Sometimes, as seen in the templates below, they can resemble an actual tree.
Today, most people use online templates or apps to design their trees. You can easily drag and drop photos and names, even if you’re not good with computers.
Family trees can feature names, birth and wedding dates, and even photos. They can be simple, listing just immediate family members, or quite detailed, including ancestors from many generations ago.
With a family tree diagram, you can easily trace your origins, identify your ancestors, and see how you're related to them. It visually represents the connections among family members, showing how one person is related to others.
The tree can map out the ancestors of an individual or a nuclear family or trace the lineage of those sharing a surname. Some, like European nobility or royal families, have intricate family trees maintained over generations.
Your family tree chart doesn't need to be complex. There are numerous free templates that let you create a striking online family tree with just a few clicks. You can then publish it online as a digital brochure using Publuu or share it with family members worldwide.
Publuu’s online brochure example
View more online brochure examples
How to create a family tree?
Modern family tree makers let you design your tree step by step. Each generation usually appears on its own level, showing clearly who belongs where.
Start with yourself and your closest relatives. Add names, birth dates, and any family stories or photos you have. Then move backward - parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and so on.
Many apps in 2026 can automatically search for public records, find matching ancestors, and suggest relatives using AI. You can always return later to add more names as you learn more.
Next, fill in the fields with your ancestors' names, birth dates, and dates of death. You can also add other details, such as wedding dates or birthplaces, often found in family archives.
The list of the best family tree maker software
Family Historian
Family Historian is a trusted desktop program that now connects to major online databases. You can store photos, documents, and even video interviews. The 2026 version supports AI-assisted record hints and automatic timeline generation.
FamilySearch
FamilySearch is still completely free and supported by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It gives access to billions of records worldwide and lets you connect with distant relatives who may be researching the same family lines.
MyHeritage Family Tree Builder
This app offers both a web version and a downloadable program. Its AI photo tools can colorize old pictures, restore faded faces, and even create short “talking portraits.” The premium plan includes DNA integration and record searches.
Ancestry App
Ancestry’s mobile app keeps improving every year. In 2026, it offers AI-guided hints, record comparison tools, and interactive maps that show where your ancestors lived. It’s one of the most popular and beginner-friendly tools available.
Family tree free templates
This family tree template lets you create a detailed heritage chart or a fun image for school projects.
This simple family tree template helps you record names and direct ancestors in a linear format.
This unique family chart presents your family history in a fan-like design, showing both sides of your lineage.
This family tree template offers space for family photos and bios.
This retro template can serve as a distinctive family tree.
This simple template allows kids to create and print a family tree for school projects.
New family tree tools and trends in 2026
Technology keeps improving how we explore family history. AI can now read old handwriting in scanned records, translate birth certificates, and even suggest possible relatives from historical data. Some apps also use voice recording features so you can save personal stories directly in your tree — keeping family memories alive for future generations.
Conclusion on the best family tree creator apps
Family tree maker apps provide an efficient way to manage and display your family history. While many require subscriptions for full access to archives, you can create a family tree in any graphic design program and export it as a beautiful online brochure with Publuu!
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