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Genogram Pro vs WinGeno (2026)
WinGeno is a free desktop program that draws biological family structure, but it explicitly does not represent emotional or social relationships, runs best only on Windows, and relies on the Mono runtime on Mac and Linux. Genogram Pro is a browser-based genogram maker with the full emotional bond set, medical conditions, AI, and encrypted storage.
Genogram Pro
Dedicated clinical genogram maker
- 39 emotional bond types
- Works in any browser
- AI assistant
- End-to-end encrypted
From $9.99/mo billed annually
WinGeno
Free desktop genogram editor for biological family structure
- Completely free to download and use
- Fully offline desktop app
- Available in English, French, German, and Spanish
- Simple installation on Windows
Completely free to download, copy, and distribute
Quick comparison
WinGeno is a free, Windows-first desktop tool that charts biological family structure but, by its own description, does not represent emotional or social relationships, the heart of a clinical genogram. Genogram Pro adds 39 emotional bond types, medical tracking, AI, GEDCOM, and encryption, in any browser.
Which should you use?
Use Genogram Pro when
You need emotional and social relationships, medical conditions, AI, export options, and encrypted storage, not just a biological family skeleton.
Use WinGeno when
You only need to chart biological family structure on Windows, for free and fully offline, and do not need emotional bonds, medical tracking, or cloud access.
Genogram Pro vs WinGeno: feature comparison
A side-by-side on clinical notation, structured data, privacy, and access.
| Feature | Genogram Pro | WinGeno |
|---|---|---|
| Core Genogram Support | ||
Dedicated genogram tool Built for genograms, not a generic diagram add-on | ||
Emotional relationship lines 39 types: closeness, conflict, cutoff, enmeshment | ||
Medical condition tracking 16 built-in plus custom conditions, with onset dates | ||
McGoldrick notation Standardized clinical genogram symbols | ||
Structured data per person Dates and places, 6 vital statuses, 67 GEDCOM fact types | ||
| Intelligence & Layout | ||
AI genogram builder Describe a family in plain text and the AI builds it | ||
Auto-arrange layout One-click layout by generation, following McGoldrick | ||
Semantic data behind symbols Each node stores structured data, not just shapes | ||
| Data & Export | ||
GEDCOM export Export to the standard genealogical format, 67 fact types | ||
GEDCOM import Bring in existing family data from other tools | ||
PDF export | ||
PNG export | ||
| Privacy & Security | ||
End-to-end encryption No one, not even the servers, can decrypt your genograms | ||
Password-protected sharing Share genograms via secure links | ||
Works offline Keep editing with no internet connection | ||
| Usability & Access | ||
Cross-platform Mac, Windows, Linux, Chromebook, and mobile, not one OS | ||
Mobile support Edit genograms on tablets and phones | ||
Interactive legend A visual key of every symbol, bond, and condition used | ||
Reusable templates Save genogram structures to reuse across clients | ||
Auto-save | ||
Free editor (no signup) Start building without creating an account | ||
Pros and cons
Genogram Pro
Pros
- 68+ relationship types with full McGoldrick notation
- AI assistant for natural-language genogram building
- End-to-end encryption with zero-knowledge architecture
- Works in any browser: Mac, Windows, Linux, Chromebook, mobile
- Medical condition tracking: 16 default + custom, with onset dates
Cons
- Newer than long-established desktop genogram software
- No permanent free plan beyond a single saved genogram (7-day free trial of Professional)
- No offline access (can export for offline backup)
- Single-user editing, no real-time collaboration
WinGeno
Pros
- Completely free to download and use
- Fully offline desktop app
- Available in English, French, German, and Spanish
- Simple installation on Windows
Cons
- Does not represent emotional or social relationships
- No medical condition tracking, AI, or auto-arrangement
- Windows-first; Mac and Linux rely on Mono with known issues
- No cloud access, no encryption, and no documented GEDCOM support
Key differences between Genogram Pro and WinGeno
No Emotional or Social Relationships
WinGeno states plainly that it "does not represent social nor emotional relationships." It draws the biological skeleton of a family, parents, children, and the lines of descent between them, and stops there. That is enough for genealogy. It is not enough for clinical work, where the closeness, conflict, cutoff, and enmeshment lines between people carry most of the meaning a therapist, social worker, or family physician is after.
Genogram Pro supports 39 emotional bond types alongside 25 couple relationship types and 4 parent-child types, each drawn in standard McGoldrick notation and each carrying structured data you can view, filter, and edit. Those bonds live in the underlying data model, not as decorative lines layered on top of a canvas.
Windows-First Desktop App
WinGeno is a downloadable desktop application built on the .NET Framework. It runs natively on Windows, and on Mac and Linux only through the Mono runtime, where its own documentation notes redraw problems at high zoom, slow first launches, grid display issues, and no automatic updates. Your files live on a single machine, so there is no way to open a genogram from a laptop at the office, a tablet during a session, or a phone between appointments.
With Genogram Pro there is nothing to install and nothing to keep updated. It runs in any modern browser on Mac, Windows, Linux, Chromebook, and mobile, and your genograms are waiting wherever you sign in next.
No Medical Tracking, AI, or GEDCOM
Because WinGeno focuses on biological structure, it has no medical or illness tracking, no AI assistance, and no auto-arrangement. Every symbol and every line is placed by hand. Its documentation does not describe GEDCOM import or export or standard PDF and image export options, which limits how easily your work moves to other tools.
Genogram Pro covers all three. It tracks 16 built-in medical conditions plus any custom ones you add, each with its own color and onset date, and its AI assistant builds and edits genograms straight from a plain-language description. One click arranges the layout by McGoldrick convention, and your data moves in and out through GEDCOM, PDF, and PNG.
No Encryption for Sensitive Data
WinGeno stores genograms as plain files on a local hard drive with no encryption and no access controls. For genograms that hold family histories, health information, and relationship detail, that is a real exposure if the device is shared, lost, or stolen.
Genogram Pro encrypts your data end to end with a master password that only you know. Our zero-knowledge architecture means the servers store only encrypted data and cannot read your genograms, and you can share a genogram through an interactive view link with optional password protection.
The verdict
When to choose Genogram Pro
- 39 emotional bond types for clinical genograms
- Medical conditions with onset dates and custom entries
- Works in any browser on Mac, Windows, Linux, and mobile
- AI assistant and one-click auto-arrangement
- GEDCOM, PDF, and PNG export
- End-to-end encrypted storage with zero-knowledge architecture
When to choose WinGeno
- You only need to chart biological family structure, not emotional bonds
- You work on Windows and want a free, fully offline desktop tool
- You do not need cloud access, AI, medical tracking, or encryption
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WinGeno free?
Does WinGeno show emotional relationships like closeness or conflict?
Does WinGeno work on Mac?
Can WinGeno import or export GEDCOM files?
How does WinGeno compare to Genogram Pro?
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