I use a desktop software program to organize and save data (Reunion for Mac) and export a backup GEDCOM from time to time which can be imported into other applications if need be:
https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/GEDCOM
GEDCOM has many drawbacks, but it's the de facto standard, it's been around for nearly 40 years, and it's plaintext.
Core data and pictures and family stories gets put into photo books and widely shared with relatives, including some cousins I barely know. I've done three so far for different branches, and will do some updated ones as well as new research is completed.