This comparison is written by Generation Archives, so we're not a neutral party. We've described Gramps using the project's own pages and linked them so you can check.
Generation Archives vs Gramps: open-source desktop power or a simple free tree online?
Gramps and Generation Archives are both free to use (Generation Archives charges only for media hosting beyond its free upload credit), and both can import and export GEDCOM. Gramps is free, open-source genealogy software, built by a community of genealogists, that you install on your own computer. It aims to work for hobbyists and to be feature-complete for professional genealogists. Generation Archives is a free family tree in your browser and on your phone, focused on people, photos, and stories rather than research tooling.
The short version
- Choose Gramps if you want a powerful open-source research tool on your own computer, with deep data on sources, events and places, many reports, and add-ons. Gramps Web is available if you want to self-host a web version.
- Choose Generation Archives if you want a free tree with nothing to install or host, photos tagged to each person, drag-anywhere layouts, and private sharing with invited relatives.
- Use both. Research in Gramps, then export GEDCOM to share a simpler, photo-friendly tree with family.
Where Gramps shines
Gramps is mature, community-governed, and licensed under the GPL. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and its data model handles sources, citations, events and places in depth. It reads and writes GEDCOM 5.5.1 and has its own Gramps XML format for full backups. For anyone who wants control over their data on their own machine and professional-grade research tools, it's a great choice.
Where Generation Archives fits
Generation Archives trades research depth for simplicity. There's nothing to install, update or host, and the app is free to use. Media uploads are limited: new accounts get 100 MB-years of free upload credit, then hosting is $1 per GB per year, and linking photos you already store elsewhere is free. You can drag anyone anywhere, auto-arrange, keep several named layouts, tag people in photos, and add any number of parents per person. Trees are private by default, visible only to you and relatives you invite unless you share a public link.
Side by side
| Gramps | Generation Archives | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free and open source (GPL-2.0) | Free to use. Media hosting beyond 100 MB-years of free upload credit is $1 per GB per year |
| Runs on | Desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux). Gramps Web can be self-hosted | Browser and phone, nothing to install or host |
| Research depth | Extensive: sources, citations, events, places, reports, add-ons | Simple: people, relationships, photos, notes and bios |
| Sharing | Reports and exports, or Gramps Web if you host it | Invite relatives, or share a public link |
| Layout | Charts and views generated from the data | Drag-anywhere, auto-arrange, several named layouts |
| GEDCOM | Reads and writes GEDCOM 5.5.1 | Imports and exports GEDCOM 5.5.1, GEDCOM 7.0 and GEDZIP (GEDZIP links to pictures but doesn't include the image files) |
Moving between Gramps and Generation Archives
- In Gramps, use Family Trees → Export and choose GEDCOM.
- In Generation Archives, open Import / export and import the .ged file.
- Add photos, since GEDCOM files don't contain pictures.
- To go the other way, export GEDCOM 5.5.1 from Generation Archives and import it in Gramps.
GEDCOM can't carry everything either app stores, so keep your original files as a backup. See What is GEDCOM?.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gramps free?
Yes. Gramps is free, open-source software.
Is Generation Archives open source?
No. Generation Archives is a free hosted web app, not an open-source project.
Which is better for a beginner?
It depends on what you want. Gramps rewards people who want deep research tools. Generation Archives is built to be quick to start, with a no-signup demo tree on the homepage you can try first.
Which GEDCOM version should I use to move from Generation Archives to Gramps?
GEDCOM 5.5.1, which Gramps reads and writes. Generation Archives exports both 5.5.1 and 7.0.
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