Comparison

RootsMagic vs WikiTree Sourcer

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

RootsMagic

Access and explore your family tree on your mobile device. This companion app allows you to view your genealogy data, including media, notes, and sources, in various formats. It also provides helpful tools for research and organization.

Highlights
  • View actual RootsMagic files
  • Transfer files via iTunes/DropBox
  • Pedigree, Family, Descendant views
  • Search ancestors by name/record number
  • View media, notes, and sources
  • Relationship calculator
  • Perpetual calendar
Features
Read full description

Your family tree at your fingertips! Now you can easily take and show off your family history with you wherever you go. RootsMagic lets you carry your genealogy on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch! This viewer is designed as a companion product to RootsMagic, the award-winning desktop genealogy software which makes researching, organizing, and sharing your family history easy. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced professional, RootsMagic is the perfect tool for you! Features include: Files: * Uses your actual RootsMagic files- no conversion needed * Easily put your family history files on your device through iTunes or DropBox * Keep as many files as you want right on your device * Use the free desktop software to convert other genealogy files including PAF, Family Tree Maker, Legacy Family Tree, and GEDCOM into viewable RootsMagic files. Views: * Pedigree, Family, Descendant, and Individual Views to quickly explore your family tree * Browse people by surname and given names * Search ancestors by name or record number * View media, notes, and sources for people, families, events, and facts Lists: * Source list * To-do lists * Research Logs * Media Lists * Address Book * Repository List * Correspondence List * Place List Tools: * Perpetual calendar * Date calculator * Relationship calculator * Soundex calculator Note: Requires RootsMagic desktop family tree software or the free RootsMagic Essentials software to create, edit, or add to your genealogy files.

About

WikiTree Sourcer

This tool streamlines genealogy research by searching other sites for records, extracting data to build citations, and finding alternative sources. It helps users save time and effort when documenting family history on WikiTree.

Highlights
  • Search genealogy websites for records
  • Extract data to build citations
  • Find alternative record sources
  • Save time on WikiTree research
  • Supports multiple genealogy sites
Features
Read full description

The WikiTree Sourcer extension saves time and typing by assisting WikiTree users with three tasks: 1. From a WikiTree profile page it provides the ability to search other genealogy websites for relevant records. 2. From one of these genealogy websites' records page it can extract data and build a citation. 3. Also from one of these genealogy websites records page it can search other genealogy websites for similar records. For example on an Ancestry page it can help find free versions of the same original source.

Screenshots

RootsMagic4 screens
WikiTree Sourcer1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: WikiTree Sourcer at 83% against RootsMagic's 35%. WikiTree Sourcer also leads on rating (4.3 vs 3.8) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 3 months). RootsMagic's advantage is ratings volume (280 vs 3) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

WikiTree Sourcer holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RootsMagic has 280 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 35% of RootsMagic's written reviews are positive against 83% of WikiTree Sourcer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RootsMagic ships an update every 3 months, WikiTree Sourcer every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
RootsMagic versus WikiTree Sourcer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRootsMagicWikiTree Sourcer
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (280 ratings)4.3 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews34.7% of reviews83.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings280 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS9.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB28 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRootsMagic, IncRobert Pavey

Customer experience

RootsMagic

All ratings257 ratings
Positive71.6%
Neutral7.4%
Negative21.0%
Written reviews147 reviews
Positive34.7%
Neutral12.2%
Negative53.1%

WikiTree Sourcer

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%

Bugs and requests

RootsMagic

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Incompatible with newer RootsMagic file formats
  • Inability to load or view database files
  • Crashing issues on various iOS devices

Requested features

3 requests
  • Allow editing and adding data on mobile devices
  • Integrate with cloud storage services beyond Dropbox
  • Improve user interface and navigation

WikiTree Sourcer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

RootsMagic

No in-app purchases

None

WikiTree Sourcer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is RootsMagic free?
RootsMagic is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is WikiTree Sourcer free?
WikiTree Sourcer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, RootsMagic or WikiTree Sourcer?
WikiTree Sourcer is rated higher. RootsMagic averages 3.8 out of 5 from 280 ratings, while WikiTree Sourcer averages 4.3 from 3 ratings.
Do RootsMagic or WikiTree Sourcer have ads?
Neither RootsMagic nor WikiTree Sourcer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RootsMagic or WikiTree Sourcer?
RootsMagic ships an update every 3 months, and WikiTree Sourcer every 10 days. Most recently, RootsMagic was updated on November 10, 2026 and WikiTree Sourcer on November 11, 2026.

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