Kinleaf vs Gramps
Both help you build a family tree, but they aim at different needs. Gramps is a powerful desktop program for serious research. Kinleaf is a calm online tree you can open from any phone or computer. Here is an honest look at how they compare, and how to move your tree between them.
A quick side by side. Where one tool is clearly stronger, we say so.
Two tools for different halves of the same job
Gramps is desktop software built for detailed research, with deep tools for sources and citations. Kinleaf is a browser app built for everyday access, private sharing, and clean printed charts.
You do not have to choose one forever. Gramps XML import and export are live in Kinleaf, so you can keep your core tree in both and work wherever suits the moment.
Research depth versus everyday access
If your genealogy runs on careful sourcing, Gramps is hard to beat. It tracks citations, repositories, and evidence in ways a calm web app is not trying to match. Serious researchers stay in Gramps for good reason.
Kinleaf trades some of that depth for reach. You can open your tree at a family gathering, check a date with a relative, add a new person from your phone, and share a private link that hides living people. That is the part desktop software was never built for.
Moving your tree between Gramps and Kinleaf
Import a Gramps XML file into Kinleaf and your core tree comes across: people, families, relationships, events, dates, places, and notes. Export back to Gramps XML whenever you want, so nothing traps you in one place.
Be clear on the limits. This carries the core tree, not everything Gramps can hold. Media bundled inside Gramps package files, and deep source and citation records, do not migrate. Treat it as core tree portability rather than a lossless copy.
Choose Kinleaf when
- You want to view and edit your tree from a phone or a browser.
- You want private share links for relatives, with no files to email around.
- You want a modern interface without a steep learning curve.
- You want print ready PDF and PNG charts for reunions and gifts.
Choose Gramps when
- You do serious research and need deep source and citation tracking.
- You prefer your data to live only on your own computer.
- You want a free and open source tool with a large add on ecosystem.
- You are comfortable with a more advanced desktop program.
Common questions
01Can I move my Gramps tree into Kinleaf?
Yes. Import a Gramps XML file and your core tree opens in the browser. You can also import a GEDCOM if you prefer, and you can export back to Gramps XML at any time.
02Is Kinleaf trying to replace Gramps?
No. Gramps is a deep desktop research tool and Kinleaf does not try to copy all of it. Many people keep using Gramps for research and use Kinleaf for online access and sharing.
03Does Kinleaf import everything Gramps stores?
No. Kinleaf brings across your core tree, which is people, families, relationships, events, dates, places, and notes. Media inside Gramps package files and deep source and citation records are not migrated, so it is not a lossless copy.
04Is Gramps or Kinleaf better?
Neither is better in general. Gramps wins on research depth and offline control. Kinleaf wins on browser and mobile access, private sharing, and printed charts. The right pick depends on what you need most.
Bring your Gramps tree online in a few minutes.
Import your Gramps XML file, view and edit your tree anywhere, and export it back to Gramps whenever you like.
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