What ForeBranch Is (and Isn’t)

ForeBranch is a WordPress plugin that turns the family tree you already keep in your genealogy software into a set of browsable, shareable pages on your own website.

What ForeBranch does

You export a GEDCOM file from your genealogy program, import it into ForeBranch, and your research appears on your site under /genealogy/. Visitors can browse people, surnames, families, sources, and places, and search your tree.

• Imports GEDCOM 5.5, 5.5.1, 5.5.5, and 7.0 files.
• Supports unlimited family trees and unlimited individuals, even in the free version.
• Re-imports updated files with three import modes, so your site keeps up as your research grows.
• Hides living people from everyone except site Administrators, and lets you mark any person private.
• Works with both block themes (Full Site Editing) and classic themes.

With the ForeBranch Pro add-on you also get media galleries, interactive maps, charts, reports, the LifePath timeline, a relationship finder, AI-assisted biographies, a statistics hub, visitor comments and corrections, and more. See Free vs Pro Overview for the full list.

What ForeBranch is not

ForeBranch is a publishing layer, not a genealogy program. It does not replace software such as RootsMagic, Family Tree Maker, Legacy Family Tree, Gramps, or similar tools.

• It is not a tree editor. Names, dates, relationships, and sources are changed in your genealogy software, then re-imported. The admin screens for people and families are read-only views of what you imported.
• It is not a research tool. It does not search historical records or connect to online record collections.
• It does not create GEDCOM files. Your genealogy program does that.

What you can manage inside WordPress

Although research and editing stay in your genealogy software, ForeBranch gives you a few site-level controls:

• Mark people as private or living, and delete records you do not want shown.
• Edit place names, coordinates, and notes used on your public place pages.
• Merge duplicate places, geocode places, and review place corrections (Pro).
• Upload and organize photos and link them to people (Pro).
• Add or paste biographies for people (Pro).
• Review comments and corrections sent in by visitors (Pro).

The recommended workflow

1. Build and maintain your family tree in your genealogy software.
2. Export a GEDCOM file.
3. Import it with ForeBranch → Import.
4. Adjust privacy and display options under ForeBranch → Dashboard → Configuration.
5. When your research changes, export a fresh GEDCOM and re-import it using Update tree.

Why it works this way

• Your master research stays in the program you trust, with its own backups and tools.
• GEDCOM is a standard format, so you are never locked in.
• Your website stays focused on presenting your family history clearly to relatives and fellow researchers.

Ready to begin? Continue with System Requirements & Installation.