Comparison

TreeView vs MyForebears

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

Head to head
About

TreeView

Easily build and manage your family tree with this intuitive application. Access your family history offline, add photos, and explore various tree designs. Sync your progress across devices and control your privacy settings.

Highlights
  • Flexible tree designs (Pedigree, Hourglass, Ancestors, Descendants, Family)
  • Add and amend details with notes
  • Upload photos to embellish your tree
  • Offline mode for viewing family trees
  • Automatic syncing across devices
  • Privacy settings (Private, Invitation only, Public)
  • Import GEDCOM files
Features
Read full description

Build your family tree with TreeView and you’ll have your family history at your fingertips, even when you have no signal! Whether you’re an experienced family historian or just starting out, you’ll find TreeView easy to use and an essential tool in your research. Features • Includes a number of flexible tree designs including Pedigree, Hourglass, Ancestors, Descendants and Family views. • Add and amend details easily and add notes, all from within the app. • View historical records for your ancestors via TheGenealogist (subscription required). • Upload photos to embellish your tree. • Offline mode – View your family tree even when you have no signal. • Information you add on one device will automatically be available on all your other devices. • Help and advice at your fingertips. Compatibility • Import a GEDCOM file of your family tree at TreeView.co.uk (Free of charge) or TheGenealogist to view and edit it on your device. • If you have already built a family tree on TheGenealogist or TreeView.co.uk, you can log in with that account to view and edit you tree. Privacy TreeView offers you the flexibility to be as private or public with your trees as you wish. With 3 settings you have the choice of who you share your family tree with. • Private • Invitation only (Users can see if there is a potential match in your tree, but cannot see the full tree’s details without your permission) • Public

About

MyForebears

Read full description

MyForebears is a full-function, pocket-sized genealogy app where you, and you alone, own the data. No costly subscriptions. Import a GEDCOM from any of the popular genealogy apps or build your own family tree in MyForebears. This app has the power to handle huge family history databases (tested on 15,000 members and 5,000 families). There's a unique graphic interface to move around and across the generations by tap gestures. We call it the 'Wonder Wheel' because that's what it is! Best of all, MyForebears has been designed as a standalone family history archive that's with you all the time and can be easily updated whilst you're on the go. --- MAIN FEATURES --- GEDCOM Import/Export • Import GEDCOM files of any size to instantly display family trees • Export GEDCOM files to exchange your family history with other Forebears users and other systems • Import/Export Forebears Folders including GEDCOM plus Images and Notes Publish to PDF • A comprehensive index of all the people in a family group, their dates, partnerships, and children. All clearly laid-out and alphabetically sorted, ready to be bound into a book. • The Ancestral Circle can be printed as a digital image or hard copy Wonder Wheel • Use the Wonder Wheel to view each 'nuclear family' (parents, siblings, partners, children and step-relationships) • Use the Wonder Wheel to quickly move around your family tree using simple 'tap' gestures • Use the Wonder Wheel to easily build your family tree using simple 'tap' gestures MyForebears Ancestral Circle (familiar chart showing previous generations on both paternal and maternal sides) • View all your ancestors on the Ancestral Circle, refocusing by simple 'tap' gestures • Tap to redraw the Ancestral Circle with different data displayed (dates, places, etc) • Display and Print the Ancestral Circle in large formats (iPad version displays more generations) Classic Family Tree • Display everyone descended from a chosen person (their gene-pool) or just the the patriarchal line • Quick navigation with single-tap anywhere on the tree to refocus the tree and the Wonder Wheel. • Scroll up/down and left/right to move swiftly around the largest Trees. Anniversary Calendar • Generate an Apple calendar for Birth, Marriage and Death events with Notification periods Analysis and Search tools • Find the fastest path between distant relatives and 'tap' named people to take a journey along this path • Search members by name or by position in family • Advanced search by occupation, location and event-date • Identify sub-groups (Kings and Queens, Soldiers, etc) • Identify logical inconsistencies in GEDCOM imports • Bulk 'geo-coding' raw textual addresses to display on a map in Forebears • Display Anniversaries by Month and Day • Chart showing how many people were born by decade (iPad) • Chart showing how many life events have date and address (iPad) • Find most popular boys and girls names • Find the most frequent family names • Count how many life events in the group • Count how many events have dates and locations • Display all the photos Secure data • Safeguard imported databases from change • Enable updates to imported databases • Hide display of living people Build family history from scratch • Build and/or import any number of family histories and easily switch between them • Apple-style contact records with standard gestures to build and display the members of your family tree • Quick entry of dates in all genealogical formats • Place lookups with grid references • Record wide range of life events in detail • Take photos or import from photo library • Display imported notes • Add any number of sub-groups to categorise people Packed with goodies! • Pre-loaded with the British Royal Family and US Presidents to get you started • Change the colour scheme (light and dark mode) • No need for public database subscriptions

Screenshots

TreeView4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is device support: TreeView at 3 against MyForebears's —. On price, in-app purchases and iOS requirement 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.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
TreeView versus MyForebears: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTreeViewMyForebears
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.0 (4 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews30.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 days—
AdsNo—
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — better—
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size38 MB318 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGenealogy Supplies (Jersey) LtdMartin Brooks

Bugs and requests

TreeView

Reported bugs

118 issues
  • Fatal errors on startup
  • Cannot delete tree file
  • Fatal errors when trying to get going
  • Wouldn't upload images from iPhone 11
  • Siblings not in the right order
Show 113 more
  • Freezes up a lot
  • App is telling me my version is out of date but no updates on App Store
  • Program crashes immediately when trying to open on iPad 1 with IOS 5.1.1
  • App won't open
  • Keeps crashing
  • App crashes and comes up with fatal error
  • App crashes
  • App glitched and lost all history
  • App constantly force closes
  • Clears family tree when you log back in
  • Logged me out for no reason, deleted entire family tree
  • App won't allow me to sign in after signing up with Facebook
  • Login screen freezes
  • Incompatible with older devices
  • Cannot add collaborators
  • Collaborators can only view and comment, not edit
  • Cannot share trees from the app, have to login to website
  • Cannot see the whole tree at the same time
  • Cannot export the tree
  • Cannot add adoptive children/parents
  • Cannot add children of unmarried parents easily
  • Cannot add half-siblings easily
  • Cannot denote sibling order without birth dates
  • Cannot add a sibling without adding a parent first
  • Cannot denote person is deceased without a death date
  • Cannot invite others to edit
  • Cannot change date order preference
  • Cannot add day of the week
  • Cannot turn off middle name abbreviation
  • Cannot add more fields for other names
  • Cannot support cultures that write family names first
  • Cannot add more than 7 photos
  • Cannot add half-siblings well (different mothers)
  • Cannot assign different fathers to siblings
  • Cannot print or email the tree without paying
  • Cannot import GED file without going to developer's website
  • Cannot use app if 3rd party cookies are not allowed
  • Cannot add sibling of a parent
  • Only see parts of the tree depending on who is selected
  • App not updated for latest screens
  • Dates are open text fields
  • Subscription required for 'In Other Trees'
  • No subscriptions available for 'In Other Trees'
  • Requires subscription after 7 pictures
  • Charge a fee to stop paying
  • App is telling me I'm using an older version but no update available
  • Confusing to enter middle names
  • Fatal error when trying to enter father's death date
  • App freezes and takes too much time to invest
  • App is unstable
  • Interface with web based is impossible because it requires 3rd party cookies be allowed
  • Not open about privacy policies
  • Not open about when you must pay
  • Not warning about subscription after 7 pictures
  • Misleading about subscription
  • Frustrating, lost all history
  • Charged a fee to stop paying
  • Rubbish, garbage, don't waste your time
  • Have to pay to find out more about people
  • Loaded on ipad 1 with IOS 5.1.1 program crashes immediately when trying to open
  • Came through, said tree view did not come on
  • Waste of memory
  • Asks you to login with your Facebook account
  • Intrusive login
  • Sign in FIRST, deleting
  • Awful, please get thanks
  • 2 Issues Resulting Low Rating
  • Can't add collaborators
  • Ok.
  • Useful to use
  • Images
  • It great but
  • Okay
  • Kind of basic but works great; could use some more features and a software refresh
  • Subscription?
  • Hope this works
  • Great App and Free
  • Tired of account-based apps
  • Rubbish
  • Not great
  • Some siblings don’t have the same dad!!!!!!!
  • Pay to print
  • S**h
  • After registering I got spam mails.
  • I like it but...
  • Great for the Novice
  • Disappointing :(
  • Confusing
  • Eh... it's okay but...
  • Simple & Very good
  • LAB
  • Meh
  • Could be good, but lots of bugs
  • So far, very good!
  • Absolutely Rubbish
  • Update?
  • Unstable
  • Eh.
  • Ok
  • Worst app ever😡😡😡
  • Seems ok
  • Thumbs Down
  • Misleading
  • Frustrating
  • Not best
  • Awful
  • Crap
  • Rubbish
  • Treeview
  • Hate it so much !!!!!!!!
  • TreeView is Brill
  • Great tree building app!
  • The best tree building app I've seen

Requested features

49 requests
  • Ability to export/share trees
  • View the whole tree at the same time
  • Videos online under 6 years old
  • Easier to add people from different relationships (half-sibling, other parent)
  • Easier to remove people from the tree
Show 44 more
  • Add sibling before adding at least one parent first
  • Ability to choose which extra facts are visible in the main tree view
  • Make the app usable without creating/logging into an account first
  • Download family tree to mobile photo image
  • Ability to change sibling order (not just birthday order)
  • Support for adoptive children and parents
  • Support for children of parents that were never married
  • Support for half-siblings (easier implementation)
  • Setting to turn off middle name abbreviation
  • More fields for other names (maiden/birth name, former name, etc.)
  • Support for cultures that write family names first
  • Ability to denote sibling order without birth dates
  • Checkbox for 'name unknown'
  • Ability to change date order preference and add day of the week
  • Ability to denote person is deceased without a death date
  • Ability to invite others to edit
  • Ability to change the orientation of the tree
  • Make the software more beautiful
  • Facebook sharing
  • Tie people to Facebook profiles
  • Tie birth/death locations to a map
  • Dates should be dates rather than open text fields
  • Dark mode option
  • Improved UI/UX
  • More intuitive navigation
  • Better handling of complex family structures
  • Option to sort siblings by age
  • Fix for uploading images from iPhone
  • Fix for fatal errors on startup
  • Fix for inability to delete tree files
  • Fix for crashing on older iPads with older iOS
  • Fix for data loss after logging out/in
  • Fix for app not opening
  • Fix for subscription issues (no subscriptions available)
  • Clearer pricing information
  • Fix for login issues after signing up with Facebook
  • Fix for app requiring 3rd party cookies
  • Fix for not being able to add siblings of a parent
  • Fix for only seeing parts of the tree depending on selection
  • Fix for inability to assign different fathers to siblings
  • Fix for app crashing and clearing family tree
  • Fix for app freezing
  • Fix for app version issues (outdated but no update available)
  • Fix for subscription pop-ups after limited use

MyForebears

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

TreeView

No in-app purchases

None

MyForebears

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TreeView free?
TreeView is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is MyForebears free?
MyForebears is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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