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Gramps is free, open-source genealogy software for building and researching a family tree. Use the desktop app to organize people, relationships, events, places, sources, and media; use Gramps Web when you want browser-based access and sharing. The project lists Gramps 6.0.8, released April 9, 2026, as its current release.
What is Gramps?
Gramps is a genealogy application and database designed to help you collect evidence, organize family relationships, and produce reports or share information. It is a community project created, developed, and governed by genealogists. The project aims to make the software approachable for hobbyists while retaining features for professional genealogists. Its guiding description is “Research, organize and share your family tree with Gramps.”
Rather than treating a tree as only names and parent-child links, Gramps records people, families, events, places, sources, and media. Its relationship tools handle multiple relationship types, including adoptive and foster relationships. Views, reports, and third-party add-ons extend the ways you can work with the information.
Is Gramps free, and what version is current?
Gramps is free and open source. The project’s download page lists version 6.0.8, released April 9, 2026; the Gramps 6.0 manual identifies 6.0.8 as the current release in its August 7, 2026 revision. Download it from the official Gramps download page and check that page for the installer or package appropriate to your system.
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Which operating systems does Gramps support?
| Platform | Project guidance |
|---|---|
| Linux | Install options include Flatpak and Snap. See the download page. |
| Windows | A 64-bit installer is available for Windows 8, Windows 10, Windows 11, and later. See the download page. |
| macOS | The project provides macOS support guidance. Consult the Gramps for Mac page for the applicable instructions. |
| BSD and Solaris | The project documents installation options; consult its platform guidance for details. |
How do you install Gramps?
Choose the instructions for your operating system on the official download page. On Linux, select the Flatpak or Snap route that fits your setup; on Windows, use the 64-bit installer; for macOS, follow the project’s Mac guidance. Before installing a new version over an existing family-tree database, make a Gramps XML backup.
- Open the Gramps download page.
- Select your operating system and follow the linked installation instructions.
- Before upgrading an existing installation, export a Gramps XML backup as described in the project’s backup guidance.
Can Gramps import GEDCOM?
Yes. Gramps supports importing and exporting GEDCOM 5.5 and 5.5.1, as well as using its native Gramps XML format. GEDCOM is useful when exchanging a tree with other genealogy programs, but it is a limited interchange format: it cannot represent every detail Gramps can store. Gramps also supports HTML export for presenting information outside the application.
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- 1.Detailed records: Each family group sheets can perfectly accommodate the detailed information of a couple and their parents, and can also register the names, birth dates, spouses and other key information of up to 12 children, so that the kinship of family members can be clearly seen at a glance, and the complete veins of the family can be easily sorted out. Whether it is tracing the family history or understanding the relationship between current family members, it can be easily dealt with.
- 2.Long-term preservation: Using high-quality 8.5x11-inch paper, the texture is thick, not easy to fade or break, ensuring that family information can be preserved for a long time. Whether it is carefully kept at home or passed on to future generations, the family's memory can be continued, so that future generations can also clearly understand the family's past.
- 3.Three-hole design: The unique three-hole punching design makes it easy to bind the genealogy charts into a book, forming a complete family pedigree, which is convenient for sorting and consulting. Whether it is sorted by generation, surname or other methods, it can be easily realized, and it is convenient to check the information of family members at any time. Whether it is sharing family stories at family gatherings or checking the kinship of a member on a daily basis, you can quickly find the answer.
- 4. Practicality: This 100 pcs family group sheets is perfectly suitable for both small and large families. For small families, multiple information pages can be integrated to record information of several generations; for large families, they can be recorded separately by branch and then bound together for easy management. Whether it is the daily registration of family members or the information collation during family activities, it can be easily handled to meet various family needs.
- 5.Inheritance of culture: The family tree charts is not only a tool for recording the relationship between family members, but also an important carrier for inheriting family culture. By recording the detailed information of family members, you can explore the excellent traditions and family stories in the family, let family members better understand the roots of the family, enhance family cohesion and sense of belonging, let the family culture be inherited and carried forward, and let the power of the family continue from generation to generation.
For transferring a tree, use GEDCOM when the destination requires it, then review the imported people, relationships, sources, and other records for any differences. For preserving a Gramps research database, use Gramps XML rather than treating a GEDCOM file as a complete archive.
How should you back up a Gramps family tree?
Use Gramps XML for backups, upgrades, and migrations. The project specifically advises users to “Always backup with the more robust Gramps XML format.” GEDCOM is valuable for exchanging genealogical data but may omit Gramps-specific detail, so do not rely on GEDCOM as the sole backup of your research database.
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Before upgrading or moving your data, create a Gramps XML backup and keep it somewhere separate from the working copy. If you need to send data to software that accepts only GEDCOM, create a GEDCOM export for that transfer while retaining the XML backup as your fuller archive.
Can you share a family tree online with Gramps?
Yes, through Gramps Web, a free, open-source web system that can accompany Gramps Desktop or run as a standalone deployment. It is designed with user control and privacy in mind. Depending on the deployment and permissions, it supports family-tree charts, timelines, maps, and lists of people, families, events, places, and sources. Role-based permissions let administrators control what different users can access.
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- This friendly organizer will enable you to record the story of your family.
- Fill-in pages for details about family genealogy, children, relatives, pets, family gatherings, favorites, traits, your world, and much more!
- Leaf through this book, select a section, and begin!
- In the end you'll have a keepsake you'll want to preserve for yourself and for future generations to come.
- Acid-free/archival paper.
Gramps Web can import Gramps XML and GEDCOM, and it can provide downloads of tree data and media for backup or migration to another server. It also supports relationship graphs and PDF book reports. See the Gramps Web project page and its user guide for deployment and feature details.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can Gramps Web work with DNA matches?
Gramps Web supports uploading DNA match data from genealogy providers and exploring matches in an interactive chromosome browser. This is a way to connect match information with the broader family-tree research workflow; it does not mean Gramps provides DNA testing itself. The feature documentation is available in the Gramps Web features guide.
Quick Recap
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- 【Preserve Family Legacies】Record detailed life stories, milestones, and achievements for every family member across generations
- 【Map Your Family Tree】Dedicated sections with relationship diagrams to visually document ancestry and connections
- 【Guided Memory Keeping】Thoughtful prompts for births, marriages, traditions, and heirlooms to capture priceless memories
- 【Heirloom-Quality Design】Beautifully bound and designed to become a cherished family heirloom, ready to hand down with pride
- 【A Gift for Generations】The ultimate shared treasure for reunions, genealogy research, or passing down family pride
When is Gramps a good fit?
- Choose Gramps Desktop if you want a free, feature-rich genealogy database with control over your local research records, reports, views, and add-ons.
- Consider Gramps Web if you want browser-based access, charts and maps, user permissions, or a way to share a tree with other people.
- Keep both formats in mind if you exchange data with other genealogy applications: GEDCOM supports interoperability, while Gramps XML is the safer format for preserving a Gramps database.
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