Geni versus My Heritage

Geni's goal is one common collaborative tree among every user, while MH is probably keeping a single separate tree for every user, so in my personal view, they will not be merged.

So, if you want a private tree for your own, use MH, if you want collaboration with users from the rest of the world, use Geni.

That is my opinion also.

I believe MH & Geni work together to ensure & optimize the best experience possible for all members, whichever platform they choose (or both).

Neither system is private. From Geni, the matches in MyHeritage show details, including birthdates of living members.

MyHeritage members can see the details of private profiles in your Geni tree, unless you have very specifically marked the option in http://www.geni.com/account_settings/managed_profiles

MyHeritage is 'private' in that, while everyone can see your tree (via the matching system), only you can change the contents. Others can copy your information into the Geni tree. From other discussions, this profile transfer will be a one-click operation in the future.

There is always confusion on using the word "private."

The better terminology, I suppose, is that MyHeritage is set up more like ancestry.com individual trees - and they make it easy to "copy across" data from one tree to another.

Geni is set up as one connected world tree. There are refined "privacy" settings - family group & individual "close family" - dialogs.

As far a I understand the less privacy on matches between Geni and MH is natural. You get a match with those details simply because you have the same profiles, - i.e. already known information for you. People not within the same privacy range at your side will not see those details.

Thanks a lot for all replies.

I had expected a reply from My Heritage, as I suppose they have some plans related to the acquisition of Geni.

Kjell - i wouldn't expect MyHeritage corporate staff on Geni genealogy discussion forums.

http://help.geni.com/forums/21545466-Geni-has-joined-the-MyHeritage...

Seems Geni is a bit of a swiz, glad I stuck to the free account except that I can not now export or transfer all the data I have input.
Should have gone straight to My Heritage

Any updates or thoughts on this? I have a bit of data in Geni, but am about to go through in much more detail to create a book for my family. I am base din NZ, so I think my heritage will be better for me (than ancestry etc.). What do you think?

I cannot imagine why where you are based would make a difference.