A family history chart turns a list of names and dates into something you'd actually hang on a wall — a fan chart or pedigree chart of your ancestry, printed at poster quality. There are really two ways to get one: pay a studio to design it for you, or build it yourself with software that does the layout automatically. This page compares both, so you can pick the route that fits your budget and timeline.
The best-known design studio is Family ChartMasters, so let's be fair about what they offer first, because it's genuinely good — then look at the self-serve route.
What a design service like Family ChartMasters does well
Family ChartMasters is a professional chart-design service. You send them your data and their designers hand-craft a custom genealogy chart — choosing layout, sizing, artwork and finish to your specifications. Pricing generally runs from around $99 to $699 depending on complexity. For that you get human expertise, bespoke layouts that off-the-shelf tools can't produce, and someone else doing the work. For a true heirloom or an unusual, intricate chart, that higher-touch service is worth what it costs.
It's a real craft, and Kindred isn't trying to replace a skilled designer.
Where Kindred fits instead
Not everyone needs — or can budget for — a custom commission. Many people just want a beautiful fan or pedigree chart, now, by themselves. That's the gap Kindred fills. It's self-serve software you run in your browser:
- Build your tree free, or import a GEDCOM and have your line laid out automatically.
- Pick a premium theme and a poster size.
- Render a radial fan chart or a classic pedigree chart from the same data, switching between them instantly.
- Pay a one-time $29 to export a print-quality, watermark-free copy.
No quote, no back-and-forth, no waiting on a turnaround. You're the designer, and the tool does the heavy layout work so the result still looks polished.
Service vs. self-serve
| Family ChartMasters | Kindred | |
|---|---|---|
| Who designs it | Professional designers | You (auto-assisted) |
| Typical cost | ~$99–$699 | $29 once |
| Turnaround | Days (custom work) | Minutes |
| Bespoke / custom artwork | Yes | No |
| Fan + pedigree from one tree | — | Yes |
| GEDCOM import | Varies | Yes |
| Print-quality export | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Heirloom / one-of-a-kind | Fast, polished, affordable |
An honest trade-off
The difference comes down to bespoke versus self-serve. With a design service you're paying for human judgment and a result tailored exactly to your wishes — including things software simply won't do. With Kindred you're trading that customization for speed, control and a much lower price. For a standard fan or pedigree chart, most people won't miss the bespoke touch; for a true commissioned heirloom, they might.
Who should use which
Choose Family ChartMasters when you want a custom, hand-designed chart and the budget and timeline to match — a special gift, a unique large-format piece, or simply having a pro handle everything.
Choose Kindred when you want a great-looking chart today, on your own terms, for $29 once. Build it free, preview it free, and unlock the print-quality export only when you're ready. It won't out-design a professional, but for the vast majority of family charts, it gets you a frame-worthy result in minutes.
Build your chart now and see how close self-serve can get.