4 Genetic Genealogy Tools I Use All the Time
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Updated for 2026
Modern family historians need more than just records—they need a toolkit to organize, visualize, and make sense of DNA evidence.
In this post, I’m sharing four genetic genealogy tools I use all the time: Lucidchart, DNA Painter, GEDmatch, and Airtable. Each one brings something different to the table, helping you analyze your matches, track your research, and simplify the often complex world of genetic genealogy.
Why Genetic Genealogy Matters
Genetic genealogy—the combination of DNA testing and traditional research—is one of the most powerful tools available to family historians today.
It can help you:
- Confirm your research. DNA evidence can support (or challenge) your existing conclusions and strengthen documented relationships.
- Discover new relatives. From distant cousins to unexpected close matches, DNA can reveal connections you didn’t know existed (buyer beware!).
- Explore ethnic origins. DNA results can provide insight into your ancestral background and geographic roots.
- Break through genealogical brick walls. When the paper trail runs cold, DNA can offer new clues and new directions for your research.
- Collaborate with others. DNA matches often lead to connections with researchers working on the same lines, opening the door to shared discoveries.
To organize and interpret all of this information, I rely on four tools that I use almost daily in my own research.
Lucidchart
As a visual learner, I need to see relationships to fully understand them. When I start a genetic genealogy project, one of my first steps is to build a working chart that shows how my DNA matches connect.
What It Is
Lucidchart is an online diagramming tool that makes it easy to create family trees, research maps, timelines, and other visual aids for genealogical analysis.
Because it’s cloud-based, there’s nothing to install, and you can access your charts from anywhere. There’s also a mobile app for iOS and Android, which makes it easy to review or tweak diagrams on the go.
One of my favorite features is the ability to collaborate. You can invite DNA matches to view or edit your chart by sharing a link or assigning permissions, making it much easier to work together on shared research questions.
How to Get Started
Lucidchart offers a free plan, which is a great way to get started. It includes up to three editable documents with a limit of sixty shapes per document, along with access to a library of templates.
If you’re new to genetic genealogy, the free plan may be all you need at first. However, if you’re working on multiple projects—or building complex charts—you’ll likely hit those limits pretty quickly.
Lucidchart does offer a variety of templates, though I’ll admit I don’t use them often. My working charts tend to be simple line drawings with color coding. That said, templates can be helpful when creating polished charts for clients or presentations.
I personally use a paid subscription. I ran through the free plan’s shape limit within a week of starting a complex project, and I’ve stuck with Lucidchart ever since. Other tools I tried either weren’t intuitive or couldn’t handle the kind of charts I needed.
When I need to see how a group of DNA matches might fit together, this is the first tool I open.
DNA Painter
The second tool I can’t live without is DNA Painter. Honestly, this is the tool that made genetic genealogy click for me—especially as a visual learner.
What It Is
DNA Painter is designed for genealogists who have taken an autosomal DNA test and want to map DNA segments to specific ancestors. In short, it allows you to “paint” your chromosomes using your DNA matches.
Beyond chromosome mapping, DNA Painter includes a suite of powerful tools to support your research, including:
- Shared cM Tool – Estimates possible relationships based on the amount of shared DNA
- What Are the Odds? (WATO) – Helps evaluate hypotheses using probability trees
- Ancestry Chromosome Painter Segments – Converts AncestryDNA segment data into usable start and stop points for mapping
- Bucketing – Groups matches into maternal and paternal sides
- Coverage Estimator – Estimates how much of an ancestor’s DNA has been identified through tested descendants
You can explore the full list of tools—and links to additional third-party resources—on the DNA Painter website.
Note: DNA Painter is an independent tool and is not affiliated with any DNA testing company.
How to Get Started
You can begin using DNA Painter for free. The free version includes access to all tools but is limited to one chromosome mapping profile, a single tree, and no bulk imports. GEDCOM uploads are also limited to the fourth great-grandparent level.
A paid subscription (currently $55 USD per year) removes these limitations and allows for multiple profiles and more advanced project work. For the value it provides, it’s one of the most worthwhile investments in my genetic genealogy toolkit.
If you’re new to the platform, DNA Painter’s help section includes excellent tutorials, FAQs, and videos to get you started.
I personally use a paid subscription with multiple profiles and projects.
When I need to make sense of shared DNA and connect it to specific ancestors, this is the tool I rely on most.
GEDmatch
The third tool I can’t live without is GEDmatch. Uploading your DNA here is one of the easiest ways to expand your matches beyond a single testing company.
What It Is
GEDmatch is a free DNA comparison and analysis platform for people who have tested with a direct-to-consumer company such as AncestryDNA, 23andMe, FamilyTreeDNA, or MyHeritage.
Because it combines data from multiple testing companies, GEDmatch gives you access to a broader pool of potential matches—including many who tested elsewhere.
Here are a few reasons to consider uploading your DNA:
- Expanded match pool. Connect with matches across multiple testing platforms
- Powerful analysis tools. GEDmatch offers dozens of tools for deeper DNA analysis in one place
- User-controlled privacy settings. You can choose how your data is shared and who can see your matches
- Fast results. Matches are typically available within about 24 hours of upload
When I first started using GEDmatch, the interface was… let’s just say not intuitive. Thankfully, it has improved significantly and is now much easier to navigate.
What About Law Enforcement?
In 2018, GEDmatch gained national attention during the investigation of the Golden State Killer case. Since then, it has been used in other cases involving violent crime.
GEDmatch allows users to opt in or out of law enforcement matching. If you—or anyone whose DNA you manage—prefer not to participate, you can adjust these settings in your account under the law enforcement (POLICE) controls.
How to Get Started
GEDmatch is free to join and use for matching. Additional tools and features are available through a Tier 1 subscription (currently $10 USD per month).
To get started, download your raw DNA data file from your testing company and upload it to GEDmatch. After processing, your kit will be added to the database and available for matching and analysis.
Most major testing companies provide instructions for downloading your data:
Even with the improved interface, there is still a learning curve. Fortunately, GEDmatch provides tutorials and educational videos, and the user community is a helpful resource when you’re getting started.
I use a Tier 1 subscription for access to the additional tools and flexibility it provides.
When I want to expand my match list and dig deeper into DNA analysis, this is the first place I go.
Airtable
Time is at a premium, and I’m a big fan of using systems that actually make my research easier to manage. For that reason, one of the tools I rely on most is Airtable.
What It Is
At its core, Airtable is a flexible, cloud-based database that looks a bit like a spreadsheet but functions much more like a research management system.
If you’ve used Excel or Google Sheets, you’ll feel comfortable getting started, but Airtable goes quite a bit further. It allows you to:
- Link related records (for example, connecting DNA matches to research notes or ancestral lines)
- Create multiple views of the same data (grid, calendar, gallery, etc.)
- Customize fields and structure your data in a more meaningful way
- Collaborate with others in real time
As a visual learner, I especially appreciate the ability to color-code and organize information in ways that make complex projects easier to navigate.
How I Use It for Genetic Genealogy
I use Airtable to track DNA matches, organize research notes, and manage working hypotheses across multiple projects.
Instead of relying on static spreadsheets, Airtable lets me build a system where I can:
- Group matches by line or cluster
- Track shared matches and relationships
- Record research progress and next steps
- Keep everything connected in one place
The exact structure will vary depending on your research style, but the flexibility is what makes Airtable so powerful for genetic genealogy.
There are also pre-built Airtable templates available for genealogists, such as those from Family Locket. I’ve experimented with a few of these over time and adapted elements into my own workflow, but I’ve found that customizing the system to fit your specific research needs works best.
How to Get Started
You can get started with Airtable by creating a free account. The free plan includes unlimited bases (projects), up to 1,200 records per base, and generous storage—more than enough for most genealogy projects.
If you’re new to Airtable, begin with a simple setup and build from there. You can always refine your system as your research grows more complex.
Airtable also offers a helpful support section with tutorials and guides to walk you through the basics.
I’ve used the free plan for several years and have found it more than sufficient for my needs.
When I need to keep complex DNA research organized and connected, this is the system I rely on.
Wrap Up
Lucidchart, DNA Painter, GEDmatch, and Airtable are four tools I rely on every day in my genetic genealogy research. Together, they help me visualize relationships, analyze DNA evidence, stay organized, and uncover connections I might otherwise miss.
These tools are powerful—but how you use them matters even more.
Genetic genealogy can feel complex at first, but with the right tools and a clear approach, it becomes much more manageable. Take the time to learn how each tool works, understand its strengths and limitations, and incorporate it into your own research process.
Which tools are you using to explore your DNA results? I’d love to hear what’s working for you—share in the comments!
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Thanks for the info. I did not know Family Locket had their own Airtable Research Log Templates. I tried to give Airtable a quick try after I heard about it in one of their presentations, but it seemed like it wasn’t something that I could learn how to use in an instant. The same goes for Lucid Chart, which I just tried out quickly last week, but it also seems like something that can not be learned super quickly. When I have time on my hands, whenever that may be, I will give them a try again. 🙂
Hi Diane, There’s a bit of a learning curve to both products. I figured out Lucidchart pretty quickly, but I’ll admit that Airtable has some features that I’m still learning to use. When you have time, try playing around with the sample logs to see “how they did it” (that’s what I did). Sometimes time invested in learning something new can be time-saver later! 🙂