Backing up data to my computer

Gedcom is the primary way to backup data from Geni. It has it's limitations.

For that reason many people continue to use desktop software for their primary tree records and duplicate to Geni for sharing.

The only way without using manual input to backup your familytree is to use gedcom, and that is an old technology which havent been updaed in a long time.

As, Jonathan, I would say that you should do your genealogy on your desktop software on your personal computer and use online software as secondary to the database on your own computer(s)