ForeBranch
Publish your family tree on WordPress from a GEDCOM file: people, families, surnames, sources, and places.
Solid choice
ForeBranch is a solid plugin choice in 2026, with a few things worth checking first. Was last updated 6 hours ago, and scores 64/100 on our health check.
- Actively developed — last update 6 hours ago
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
- Small user base (<10 active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- Needs PHP 8.2 or newer
How does it stack up?
Side-by-side on installs, updates, ratings & support
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where ForeBranch stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| Ancestry | #5 |
| family history | #51 |
| family tree | #23 |
| GEDCOM | #7 |
| genealogy | #10 |
About ForeBranch
From the official readme · v1.0.5Description
ForeBranch turns a GEDCOM export into browsable family history pages on your WordPress site. Keep doing your research in your usual genealogy program, export a GEDCOM, and import it here to share it with responsive templates.
ForeBranch is a publishing layer, not a genealogy program. Editing, sourcing, and day-to-day research stay in your desktop or online software.
Features
- Import GEDCOM 5.5, 5.5.1, 5.5.5, and 7.0 files
- Three import modes when re-importing an updated file:
- Update tree: adds new people and updates matching people (same person IDs). Does not wipe the tree
- New / replace tree: deletes everything in that tree, then imports the file
- Add only: adds new people and families and leaves existing ones unchanged, including their events, sources, and media links
- Public pages under /genealogy/ for the hub, people, families, surnames, sources, places, and search
- Works with block themes (Full Site Editing) and classic themes
- Hub statistics: people, families, surnames, sources, and places
- Person and family pages show place names. Place pages show stored coordinates as text
- Store coordinates for places manually (the plugin does not display a map)
- Unlimited family trees
- Living people are hidden from everyone except Administrators. A death date means the person is treated as deceased. With no death date, anyone younger than 120 years (the default, and adjustable) is treated as living. With no birth year, family clues are checked first; if those are inconclusive, the person is treated as living. Visitors see “Private” instead of the name, dates, and places
- People can also be marked private in the admin. Visitors do not see their details
- GEDCOM media records are imported (titles, filenames, and links). The image files themselves are not copied out of the GEDCOM; a GEDCOM only stores the file path
External services
This plugin does not call third-party map, geocoding, analytics, or CDN services, and it does not bundle or load third-party JavaScript libraries. It uses only scripts included with WordPress core, such as jQuery and jQuery UI.
Links on the dashboard (for example to https://forebranch.com/ or https://gedcom.io/specs/) open only when an administrator clicks them. No data is sent automatically.
Privacy Policy
ForeBranch stores the genealogy data you import or enter in your WordPress database. It does not send personal or genealogical data to any external service.
Installation
- Search for “ForeBranch” under Plugins > Add New, or upload the plugin files to
/wp-content/plugins/forebranch/. - Activate the plugin through the Plugins screen in WordPress.
- Open the ForeBranch menu and create your first family tree.
- Import your GEDCOM file.
Frequently asked questions
What is GEDCOM?
GEDCOM is a standard file format for exchanging genealogical data between family tree programs. Most genealogy software can export one.
Does this replace my genealogy software?
No. ForeBranch presents your GEDCOM on WordPress. Your research, editing, and sourcing stay in your main program. The plugin includes unlimited trees and imports, browsing, place coordinates, and hub statistics.
Can I re-import an updated GEDCOM without creating duplicates?
Yes. Choose Update tree, New / replace tree, or Add only when you import. See the feature list above for what each mode does.
How are living people handled?
Only Administrators see living people on the public site. Everyone else sees “Private” in place of the name, dates, and places. A recorded death date means the person is not treated as living. Otherwise, people younger than 120 years are treated as living. That age is the default and can be changed under ForeBranch settings. If there is no birth year, the plugin checks family clues (spouse, children, parents) and, if those are inconclusive, treats the person as living. You can also change the living flag for a person in the admin.
Can I hide specific people, not only living ones?
Yes. Mark a person private in the Individuals screen. Visitors then see “Private” instead of that person’s details. Administrators can still see them.
Are there limits on GEDCOM file size?
The plugin does not set a fixed maximum. Large files are imported in chunks. The practical limit is your host’s upload size and PHP time and memory limits.
Does it work on multisite?
It is not specifically tested as a network plugin. Each site uses its own database tables (the site table prefix), so activate it on the site where you want the tree.
What happens to my data if I uninstall the plugin?
Deactivating the plugin does not delete your tree. Deleting the plugin always removes its settings. Genealogy tables and imported GEDCOM work files are kept unless you check “Delete all data when plugin is uninstalled” in ForeBranch settings before you delete it. That choice cannot be undone.
Does the plugin display maps?
No. The plugin stores place coordinates and shows them as text. It does not load map tiles or contact geocoding services.
For developers
Is this your plugin? Show off the numbers.
Add a live badge to your site, docs or GitHub README. It updates on its own — no account needed.
Best ForeBranch alternatives
All Ancestry plugins →FAQ
ForeBranch: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 12, 2026
Is ForeBranch free?
Yes. ForeBranch is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is ForeBranch safe to use in 2026?
ForeBranch is a solid plugin choice in 2026, with a few things worth checking first. Was last updated 6 hours ago, and scores 64/100 on our health check.
How many websites use ForeBranch?
ForeBranch is active on <10 WordPress websites and has been downloaded 20 times since it launched in October 2026. It was downloaded 2 times in the last 30 days.
Does ForeBranch work with WordPress 7.1?
Yes. The developer has tested ForeBranch up to WordPress 7.1.3, the latest release. It requires WordPress 5.9 or newer.
What PHP version does ForeBranch need?
ForeBranch requires PHP 8.2 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.
When was ForeBranch last updated?
The latest version, 1.0.5, was released on October 12, 2026 (6 hours ago).
Who makes ForeBranch?
ForeBranch is developed and maintained by jlcox1964.
What are the best alternatives to ForeBranch?
The most popular alternatives to ForeBranch are Genealogical Tree (600+ installs) and GeneaCanvas GEDCOM Family T… (<10 installs).
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