GenogramAI vs Genosm
Both tools are purpose-built for genograms, but they target different users. Genosm is a free single-device browser tool with local-only storage. GenogramAI is a full clinical platform with real AI generation, the complete McGoldrick symbol library, medical quadrants, native desktop apps, encrypted cross-device sync, and a free tier that includes AI.
For most therapists, social workers, and counseling students, GenogramAI is the better choice. It is the only one of the two with real AI generation (text and image), the full 58-relationship McGoldrick library, medical quadrants, cultural patterns, GEDCOM import/export, and native macOS and Windows apps. Genosm makes sense only if you specifically want a free browser-only tool with no account, no AI, and data that never leaves your local machine — at the cost of every cross-device, collaborative, and AI-assisted feature. Claims that GenogramAI "transmits unmasked PII" misrepresent the product: the Clinical plan uses AES-256-GCM zero-knowledge encryption, AI features are opt-in, and a Local-Only mode is available — see the Privacy & Data Handling section below.
Two genogram tools, very different scope
Genosm is a minimal local-first browser tool. GenogramAI is a full clinical platform.
Where Genosm fits
- Local-only data (no account, browser IndexedDB)
- Quick one-off browser session
- Solo use on a single computer
- Basic genogram structure for a class assignment
Where GenogramAI fits
- Real AI: text-to-genogram + image-to-genogram
- 21 medical categories with quadrant notation
- 58 relationship types (full McGoldrick library)
- AES-256-GCM zero-knowledge encryption (Clinical plan)
Does GenogramAI "transmit unmasked PII"?
You may have seen the claim that GenogramAI sends raw patient data to cloud AI engines. Here is what is actually true.
1. AI features are opt-in.
Nothing about a genogram requires AI. You can build any genogram in GenogramAI with zero AI involvement — manually placing people and drawing relationships, exactly the way Genosm works. The AI text-to-genogram and image-to-genogram features only run when you explicitly invoke them, and you decide what description to type. Most clinicians use initials or pseudonyms for client work; the AI does not need real identifying information to function.
2. The Clinical plan offers AES-256-GCM zero-knowledge encryption.
On Clinical plans, your genogram data is encrypted client-side with AES-256-GCM before it ever reaches our servers. Encryption keys are derived from your password and never leave your device. The server stores ciphertext it cannot decrypt. This is meaningfully stronger than "data lives in your browser" — it gives you cross-device sync, backups, and collaboration without trusting the server with plaintext.
3. A Local-Only mode is available.
If you want the same model Genosm uses — data confined to a single browser, no cloud, no account — GenogramAI's Local-Only mode does that. The difference is you keep the option to enable encrypted cloud sync later when, for example, you switch to your desktop app or work from a second computer. Genosm cannot offer that path because it has no cloud infrastructure at all.
4. The honest tradeoff.
Any AI tool — ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Genosm's own future Pro "clinical co-pilot" — must process the input you give it. That is true of every AI product on the market, including the one Genosm is building. GenogramAI's position is straightforward: AI is opt-in, transport is TLS 1.3, AI providers are bound by their data-handling agreements, and for clinicians who want stronger guarantees, Clinical-plan zero-knowledge encryption and Local-Only mode are both available. Calling that "transmits raw, unmasked PII" is not an accurate description of how the product is used in practice.
Where Genosm falls short
Genosm is a small, single-device tool. For clinical work, several capabilities are missing.
No real AI generation
Genosm markets itself as 'AI-powered' but does not generate genograms from text descriptions or images. Their roadmap describes a future 'Genosm Pro' clinical co-pilot, but the shipping product still requires you to drag and drop every person and draw every relationship line by hand.
GenogramAI's AI builds a three-generation genogram from a paragraph of plain English in about 5 seconds. In Genosm, the same diagram is 30–45 minutes of manual placement.
Smaller relationship and symbol library
Genosm covers basic genogram symbols and a handful of relationship lines. It does not include the full McGoldrick emotional-relationship library — fused-hostile, enmeshed, cutoff-with-reconnection, abuse variants — that clinicians use in family-systems assessment.
GenogramAI ships 58 relationship types (22 structural + 36 emotional) and 9 gender types. Genosm's library is a small fraction of that.
No medical quadrants, no cultural patterns
Genosm has no medical-quadrant notation for tracking hereditary conditions across a family, and no cultural heritage pattern overlays. For a medical or culturally-grounded clinical genogram, you would need a second tool.
GenogramAI ships 21 medical categories with three status indicators (active, recovery, suspected) and 12 cultural heritage patterns out of the box.
Browser-only, no desktop or mobile apps
Genosm runs only inside a desktop browser tab. There is no native macOS app, no Windows app, no iPad app, and no real cross-device sync — because data lives only in your current browser's IndexedDB. Switching computers means re-creating your work or manually exporting and importing JSON.
GenogramAI runs in the browser, plus native macOS and Windows apps, with optional encrypted sync across devices.
No GEDCOM, no real-time collaboration
Genosm cannot import GEDCOM files from genealogy tools and offers no real-time collaboration. Single-user, single-device, single-session work only.
GenogramAI imports GEDCOM (with optional AI enrichment), exports GEDCOM, and supports real-time multi-user editing on Pro plans.
Build Genograms in Seconds, Not Hours
Genosm requires you to manually place every person and draw every relationship line. GenogramAI's AI does the heavy lifting.
Just describe your family:
"Three generations. Grandparents married 50 years. Two children, one divorced with two kids. History of heart disease on father's side, depression on mother's side."
GenogramAI vs Genosm: Feature Comparison
See how the modern approach compares
When to Choose Each Tool
Both are genogram tools—but built for different levels of clinical need
Choose Genosm when...
Genosm fits a narrow but legitimate use case
- You want a free browser-only tool with no account and no AI
- You will only ever work on one computer in one browser
- You don't need medical quadrants, cultural patterns, or GEDCOM
- You're sketching a single basic genogram for a class assignment
Choose GenogramAI when...
GenogramAI is the right choice for clinical or academic work
- You want AI text-to-genogram and image-to-genogram generation
- You need 21 medical categories with quadrant notation
- You need the full McGoldrick library (58 relationship types)
- You work across web, macOS, Windows, or with colleagues
- You need GEDCOM, cultural patterns, or zero-knowledge encryption
Detailed Pros & Cons
GenogramAI
Pros
- Real AI: text-to-genogram and image-to-genogram
- 58 relationship types (full McGoldrick library)
- 21 medical categories with quadrant notation
- 12 cultural heritage patterns, GEDCOM import/export
- Web + native macOS + native Windows apps
- Optional AES-256-GCM zero-knowledge encryption (Clinical)
- Real-time collaboration on Pro+ plans
- 4.9 / 5 across 164+ reviews
Cons
- Free tier capped at 2 genograms (Pro is $12/mo)
- Cloud sync requires an account (Local-Only mode available)
Genosm
Pros
- Free, no account, no install
- Local-only browser storage (IndexedDB)
- SVG and JSON export
- Purpose-built for genograms (not a general diagrammer)
Cons
- No real AI generation (despite "AI-powered" marketing)
- No medical quadrants, no cultural patterns
- Limited relationship types (small fraction of McGoldrick library)
- No GEDCOM import/export
- Browser-only — no desktop or mobile apps, no cross-device sync
- No real-time collaboration
- Data loss risk if browser cache cleared
GenogramAI vs Genosm: FAQs
Is GenogramAI better than Genosm?
For most therapists, social workers, counseling students, and anyone making a clinical or academic genogram, yes. GenogramAI has real AI generation (text and image), the full McGoldrick library of 58 relationship types, 21 medical categories with quadrant notation, 12 cultural heritage patterns, GEDCOM import/export, native macOS and Windows apps, optional encrypted cross-device sync, and real-time collaboration. Genosm has none of those. Genosm is preferable only if you specifically want a free single-device browser tool with no account.
Does Genosm have real AI features?
Genosm markets itself as "AI-powered" but does not generate genograms from text descriptions or images. The shipping product is a manual drag-and-drop editor. Their roadmap describes a future "Genosm Pro" clinical co-pilot, but that has not been released. GenogramAI's AI is shipping today: describe a family in plain English and a complete genogram appears in seconds, or upload a hand-drawn diagram and the AI converts it to an editable digital version.
Does GenogramAI "transmit unmasked PII" to the cloud?
No. AI features are opt-in — you can build any genogram with zero AI involvement. When you use the AI, you decide what description to type, and most clinicians use initials or pseudonyms. Storage on the Clinical plan uses AES-256-GCM zero-knowledge encryption: your data is encrypted on-device with a key derived from your password, and the server stores ciphertext it cannot decrypt. A Local-Only mode is also available for users who want data confined to a single browser, the same way Genosm works. See the Privacy & Data Handling section above for the full details.
Is Genosm HIPAA compliant?
Genosm stores data in browser IndexedDB only, which avoids server-side handling but does not by itself constitute HIPAA compliance — the user is the data custodian, and the device, browser, and any backups are out of scope of any vendor agreement. GenogramAI's Clinical plan is built specifically for HIPAA-aware practice with AES-256-GCM zero-knowledge encryption, audit logging, and a Business Associate Agreement available. Compliance ultimately depends on your organization's policies and use, but GenogramAI provides the contractual and technical infrastructure that Genosm does not.
Can Genosm handle complex multi-generational families?
Genosm covers basic genogram structure but lacks the full McGoldrick relationship library and medical-quadrant notation that complex family-systems work requires. GenogramAI ships 58 relationship types (including fused-hostile, enmeshed, cutoff-with-reconnection, abuse variants), 9 gender types, 6 vital-status markers, twins and multiple-birth support, 21 medical categories, and 12 cultural heritage patterns — the complete toolkit for three- and four-generation clinical genograms.
How much does each tool cost?
Genosm is free. GenogramAI's free tier includes 2 genograms with full AI access, the complete relationship library, medical quadrants, cultural patterns, and professional export — features Genosm does not offer at any price. GenogramAI Pro is $12/month for 25 projects with unlimited AI; the Clinical plan adds zero-knowledge encryption and BAA. For users whose workload fits in 2 genograms, GenogramAI's free tier is the better free option than Genosm.
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