GenogramAI
Updated February 2026

Best Genogram Creator 2026

We compared the top 3 genogram creators head-to-head on what matters most: genogram-specific features like McGoldrick symbols, emotional relationships, medical tracking, and AI generation.

Last updated: February 21, 2026 | 3 tools compared | Focused on genogram-specific features, not general diagramming

Quick Verdict

Best Overall
GenogramAI

AI-powered, 48 relationship types, medical quadrants, McGoldrick notation

Best for Design
Canva

Beautiful templates, drag-and-drop, best for casual family diagrams

Best for Teams
Creately

Real-time collaboration, infinite canvas, affordable team pricing

Feature Comparison: GenogramAI vs Canva vs Creately

Side-by-side comparison of genogram-specific features. General diagramming features are similar — the difference is in clinical genogram support.

Feature
GenogramAI
CanvaCreately
Genogram-Specific ToolYes — purpose-builtNo — general designNo — general diagramming
McGoldrick Standard Symbols
Structural Relationships17 types0Basic lines
Emotional Relationships24 types0Basic only
Child Connection Types7 types01 type
Total Relationship Types480~5
AI Text-to-Genogram
AI Image-to-Genogram
Medical Quadrants4 customizable
Cultural Heritage Patterns12 patterns, 14 colors
View Modes (Medical/Cultural)
Twin/Multiple Support
Cloud Storage
Real-Time CollaborationPro+
Export FormatsPNG, PDF, JSONPNG, PDF, SVGPNG, PDF, SVG
Free Tier2 genogramsLimited templates3 documents
Paid Plans From$9/mo$15/mo$5/mo
Data EncryptionAES-256StandardStandard

Detailed Reviews

In-depth look at each genogram creator, including strengths, weaknesses, pricing, and who it's best for.

GenogramAIEDITOR'S CHOICE

Best Overall Genogram Creator

4.9/5

The only AI-powered genogram creator built specifically for clinical and educational use. Create professional genograms from text descriptions or hand-drawn images in minutes, with full McGoldrick notation and 48 relationship types.

Pros

  • AI creates genograms from text or uploaded images
  • 48 relationship types with full McGoldrick notation
  • 4 customizable medical quadrants for hereditary tracking
  • Cultural heritage patterns with 12 styles and 14 colors
  • AES-256 encryption for sensitive family data
  • Cloud sync + optional desktop apps (macOS & Windows)

Cons

  • Newer platform (launched 2024)
  • Free tier limited to 2 genograms
Best For

Therapists, social workers, nursing students, and anyone needing clinical-grade genograms

Pricing

Free (2 genograms) | Pro $9/mo | Unlimited $19/mo

Canva

Best for Visual Design

3.3/5

Popular graphic design platform with family tree templates. Easy drag-and-drop interface and beautiful visuals, but no genogram-specific symbols, clinical notation, or emotional relationship mapping.

Pros

  • Extremely easy drag-and-drop interface
  • Beautiful, visually polished templates
  • Huge template library for other design needs
  • Works on any device with a browser

Cons

  • No genogram-specific symbols or notation
  • Zero emotional relationship types
  • No medical quadrants or clinical features
  • Family tree templates only — not true genograms
  • Not suitable for academic or clinical use
Best For

Casual users wanting visually appealing family diagrams (not clinical genograms)

Pricing

Free (limited) | Pro $15/mo

Creately

Best for Team Collaboration

3.7/5

Cloud-based visual collaboration platform with genogram templates. Strong real-time teamwork features and an infinite canvas, but limited genogram-specific symbols and no AI or clinical features.

Pros

  • Excellent real-time collaboration for teams
  • Infinite canvas workspace
  • Ready-made genogram templates
  • Affordable team pricing

Cons

  • Limited genogram symbol library
  • No AI generation features
  • Basic emotional relationships only
  • No McGoldrick standard notation
  • No medical quadrants or cultural patterns
Best For

Teams needing visual collaboration on diagrams including basic genograms

Pricing

Free (3 docs) | Personal $5/mo | Team $8/user/mo

Why Genogram-Specific Features Matter

Generic diagramming tools can draw boxes and lines, but professional genograms require specialized clinical features. Here's why these differences matter.

Medical Quadrants

Medical quadrants let you track hereditary conditions (heart disease, cancer, diabetes, mental health) across generations using color-coded sections on each person symbol. This is essential for genetic counselors and medical professionals — generic tools have no equivalent.

Emotional Relationships

Clinical genograms map emotional dynamics — close, distant, hostile, fused, cutoff — using standardized line styles. These 24 emotional overlays reveal family patterns that simple connecting lines cannot. Therapists rely on them to identify triangles and coalitions.

McGoldrick Standard Notation

The McGoldrick-Gerson notation system is the international standard for genograms in clinical practice. Squares for males, circles for females, specific line patterns for each relationship type — using proper notation ensures your genograms are understood by any professional.

AI Generation

AI text-to-genogram and image-to-genogram transforms how clinicians work. Describe a family system in plain English during a session, and get a complete genogram with proper notation in seconds — or upload a hand-drawn sketch to digitize it instantly.

When to Choose Each Tool

The right genogram creator depends on your use case. Here's a quick decision guide.

Choose GenogramAI if...

You need clinical-grade genograms with proper McGoldrick notation, emotional relationships, medical quadrants, or AI generation. Best for therapists, social workers, nursing students, genetic counselors, and anyone creating genograms for professional or academic use.

Choose Canva if...

You want a visually polished family diagram for personal or social use and don't need clinical genogram symbols. Great for creating attractive family trees for reunions, gifts, or social media — not for clinical or academic genograms.

Choose Creately if...

Your team already uses Creately for other diagrams and occasionally needs basic genogram-style family diagrams. Good for collaborative visual work but not for clinical or educational genograms requiring proper notation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best genogram creator in 2026?
GenogramAI is the best genogram creator in 2026 for clinical and educational use. It's the only tool with AI-powered genogram generation, 48 relationship types with full McGoldrick notation, medical quadrants, and cultural heritage patterns. Canva is better for casual visual family diagrams, and Creately suits teams needing general diagramming with basic genogram templates.
Is there a free genogram creator?
Yes. GenogramAI offers a free tier with 2 genograms including AI generation, all 48 relationship types, medical quadrants, and professional export. Canva has a free tier with basic family tree templates (not genogram-specific). Creately offers 3 free documents with limited genogram templates.
What is the difference between GenogramAI and Canva for genograms?
GenogramAI is purpose-built for clinical genograms with 48 relationship types, McGoldrick notation, medical quadrants, cultural patterns, and AI generation. Canva is a general design tool with family tree templates but no genogram-specific symbols, no emotional relationships, and no clinical notation. GenogramAI is the better choice for therapists and students; Canva works for casual visual family diagrams.
Can I use Creately to make a genogram?
Creately offers basic genogram templates through its visual collaboration platform, but it lacks McGoldrick standard symbols, has only basic relationship types, no medical quadrants, and no AI features. It works for simple family diagrams in team settings but isn't suitable for clinical genograms. GenogramAI is a better choice for professional or academic genograms.
Which genogram creator has the most relationship types?
GenogramAI has the most comprehensive relationship library with 48 total types: 17 structural relationships (marriage, divorce, separation, etc.), 24 emotional overlays (close, hostile, distant, fused, cutoff, etc.), and 7 child connection types. Canva has zero genogram-specific relationship types, and Creately supports only basic structural connections.
Do I need to download software to create a genogram?
No. All three tools — GenogramAI, Canva, and Creately — are web-based and work in your browser without downloads. GenogramAI also offers optional native macOS and Windows desktop apps in the Unlimited plan for offline access.
Which genogram creator is best for nursing students?
GenogramAI is the best genogram creator for nursing students. It supports proper McGoldrick notation required for academic assignments, includes medical quadrants for tracking hereditary conditions, and the AI feature helps students learn genogram construction by generating diagrams from text descriptions. The free tier includes 2 genograms — enough for most assignments.
How much does a genogram creator cost?
GenogramAI offers Free (2 genograms), Pro ($9/mo), and Unlimited ($19/mo) plans. Canva is Free or Pro at $15/mo for general design features. Creately offers Free (3 docs), Personal ($5/mo), and Team ($8/user/mo) plans. GenogramAI provides the best value for genogram-specific features, while Canva and Creately charge for general design tools that aren't genogram-optimized.

Ready to Create Professional Genograms?

GenogramAI is the best genogram creator for clinical and educational use in 2026. Try it free — create your first AI-powered genogram in minutes.

Free tier includes 2 genograms. No credit card required.