Software MacKiev Reviews 

Took pre-order payment for FTM 2024 in February 2024 and then didn't deliver it in 2024 and no indication of when (or even if) it is going to be delivered.

Info on the product has also now been removed from their site.

Pre-purchsased FTM2024 in February 2024 ($49 including a CD) and it's still not released. Worse, there has been NO COMMUNICATION made by myself and numerous customers AS TO A DELIVERY DATE.
MacKiev allegedly blames the war in Ukraine as a convenient excuse. When they realized they could not deliver in a reasonable amount of time using Ukraine programmers, they should have hired US software engineers to build/finish to release.

Paid for FTM 2024 in February. Numerous inquiries since the only get replies that it’s coming soon. It’s now a few days until 2025 and no communications.

I refer to the supposed Family Tree Maker 2024. I've tried to follow instructions to pre-order, but all I get is the opportunity to buy FTM 2019, which I already have and am using satisfactorily.
I keep reading that FTM 2024 will be out "soon" or in November. Well November is here and half gone! Is there still hope?

Still waiting for the 2024 update that was supposed to be released in April still no news. Communication from this company is the worst Ive ever experienced makes you wonder how they are still in business. Guess its time to look into another software.

The acquisition of Family Tree Maker by Software Mackiev has been a disaster from start to finish. A once market-leading genealogy software package has not kept pace with the times - the last edition was released in 2019 - and the functionality is full of bugs. I have the 2017 edition, which no longer connects with Ancestry.com, which is the main reason I bought this edition in the first place. Now Support say that I should fork out £49.95 for the 2019 edition. I'm sorry FTM, after 20 years, it's time to say goodbye and just use Ancestry.

I ordered and paid for the printed Family Tree Maker 2019 companion guide, which I thought would be needed for my new software. I paid for this on 2nd Oct 2020 and after numerous conversations with MacKiev, I am still waiting for it to be delivered and it is now October 2023. I think they are extremely dishonest and would not recommend them at all

On 8/9- 2033 i purchssed the fsmilytreemaker 2019,
Today 12/9 i received thd positive news that the items had been sjippede and may br exprcted in 5-7 working days , so far the company has demonstrated good style and reliability!
HasseG.Ekström in Denmark🇩🇰
NB: i do not get any bonus for this positive say!

After a few months break from ancestry.co.uk, Family Tree Maker 2017 no longer allows you to log in to the website and sync your tree with ancestry.co.uk but doesn't tell you why. You have to find out why on the ancestry website and the new price of the 2019 version with its multitude of expensive upgrades, many of which were included with 2017 is plain greedy. You can still access your trees on the ancestry website even if you are not currently subscribed, so MacKiev and their temperamental overpriced software gets a big thumbs down from me.

In February 2020 I ordered the FTM download along with the printed Companion Guide for Windows. Here we are 3 years later and I still haven't received the Companion Guide. Their website now discourages you from using their support centre for questions about the Companion Guide. I have asked for updates through their support lines several times in the past but always received the same answer - it will be ready to ship soon. Terrible customer service.

The newly purchased software does not perform as needed. The Support person that gave counsel who does not work for MacKiev, states that data files imported from a previous MacKiev edition are outdated and will not work in the new product. A reply from MacKiev website support is lost somewhere in the Cloud.

I bought this software 30 days ago. The sync with Ancestry caused errors twice...NOT ONCE. I lost all the notes and media I had added to FTM since buying this product. I actually think this product is not worth the money. Do not buy. Spent 4 weeks writing in notes and adding media and then CRASH!!! Forget this product.

Like so many other reviewers I never did receive my copy of the FTM spiral bound Manual. I ordered it when it was first announced, paid my £29 + pp and then waited and waited. Online conversations with MacKiev told me various stories about "it is currently being printed, it's being proof-read, it's about to be dispatched" etc but never materialised. After more than a year I requested my money back. I then received a refund LESS the P&P and had to request this again.
My sister has had exactly the same experience so clearly MacKiev are taking money fraudulently for a product that doesn't exist. The sooner authorities (I'm not sure who) put a stop to this illegal practise the better.
I warn everyone who is thinking of buying this manual, DO NOT PART WITH YOUR MONEY UNTIL YOU CAN BE ABSOLUTELY SURE THE MANUAL IS ACTUALLY AVAILABLE!!!
Like many others I am thinking of ditching FTM for some other software which is very sad because the product itself is very good, or was until Mr Jack Minsky got hold of the company.
As the programme synchs with Ancestry, perhaps they can do something to improve the abysmal service from Software MacKiev.

This company lives off FTM but has no concept of a relationship with the customers who buy the otherwise very good software. Seems to exist in virtual reality only. I know of no other software company that runs like this- minimal communication, bizarre Alice in Wonderland purchase and update procedures, and yes, after a couple years (!) still no sign or info about my paid-for printed manual. FTM is good, but I'd now use Rootsmagic or MacFamilyTree if you can.

Two months on from original review and I am still waiting for a refund from this company fro thw Companion Guide that has never been forthcoming. I am planning to take the matter further if I do not receive a refund in the next few days. I am afraid I have been conned into parting with money for goods that are not even printed yet. I am a pensioner and cannot afford to throw money away, what is more, I am sure the way MacKiev is working is illegal. You are not told the book isn't printed until after you have paid and every time you write they come up with some excuse.

I ordered a FTM 2019 Companion Guide - Windows Edition (lay-flat spiral binding) on 7 October 2019 costing £29. It was only after the money was taken from my card that I was told that this had not even been produced. After many emails and live chats over the last 18months I decided enough was enough and I requested a full refund, money to be returned to the card I had used to purchased it. The company refused this because it was longer than a year (was this my fault?); a 'check' was then offered (I suddenly realised this would probably be in dollars); next it could be put on my Pay Pal account (I don't have one) and finally they would put it in my bank account if I would supply them with the appropriate details. I was advised that I should never to do this - so stalemate.
No book, no money,
No more orders - ever.

This upgrade is a downgrade. 'Upgraded' from Family Tree Maker 2017 to 2019, Sync failed, people got erroneously detached from tree, program took 8-10mins to start and would crash. My computer is fine with all other software, tree was compacted and computer was clean booted. Mackiev has engineered a defective product. The Tech Support is usually available but not always observant, a problem clearly depicted in a screenshot was casually overlooked by employee Audrey and had to be re-explained. Tech Support Brandon said he can't talk about a refund, he has since forwarded my refund application to Mackiev's 'Orders Department'.