TimelineJS is an open-source tool for making interactive timelines that combine a chronological story with media. Beginners can build one from a Google Spreadsheet template: enter the timeline content, publish the spreadsheet to the web, then generate the timeline. Users who need a custom installation can work with JSON instead. Timelines can be embedded in websites and blogs with an iframe, or self-hosted with downloaded JavaScript and CSS files. The tool supports media from Twitter, Instagram, Flickr, Google Maps, Dropbox, DocumentCloud, Wikipedia, SoundCloud, Storify, iframes, YouTube and Vimeo. Users can change fonts, navigation position and initial zoom; those with technical skills can also override the timeline CSS. Knight Lab recommends limiting a timeline to 20 slides or fewer and choosing a story that follows a strong chronological sequence. The spreadsheet workflow requires publishing its data to the web. For access control, Knight Lab recommends using JSON and initializing the timeline directly with JavaScript. TimelineJS is a Northwestern University Knight Lab project, released under the Mozilla Public License 2.0 and available for commercial use without additional fees or permission.
Who it is for
TimelineJS suits beginners who want to organize a story in a spreadsheet and more technical users who want to create a custom installation with JSON and can override the timeline CSS. It can also suit publishers who want to embed a timeline in a website or blog, provided the spreadsheet workflow’s public data requirement works for them.
What is good
- Free to use, including commercially, under MPL 2.0.
- Spreadsheet workflow is aimed at beginners.
- Supports embedding and self-hosting.
- Includes media integrations across social, mapping, audio and video services.
- Users can adjust fonts, navigation position and initial zoom.
What to know first
- Standard spreadsheet workflow requires publishing data to the web.
- Does not work with WordPress.com sites.
- Known not to work with Internet Explorer versions before IE10.
- Knight Lab has no dedicated technical support staff.
Verdict
Choose TimelineJS if you want a free, open-source way to present a chronological story with interactive media, using either a spreadsheet or a custom JSON installation. Look elsewhere if your site is on WordPress.com or your workflow requires keeping spreadsheet data private without setting up the JSON and JavaScript route.
Get started with TimelineJS
- Open the TimelineJS website.
- Choose the spreadsheet workflow for a beginner setup or JSON for a custom installation.
- For the spreadsheet workflow, fill in the Google Spreadsheet template and publish its data to the web.
- Generate the timeline from the published spreadsheet.
- Embed it in a website or blog with an iframe, or self-host it with the downloaded JavaScript and CSS files.
What the free plan stops at
The tool is free, with no paid plan limit listed. Knight Lab recommends keeping timelines to 20 slides or fewer; the standard spreadsheet workflow requires publishing data to the web.
Questions about TimelineJS
Is TimelineJS free?
Yes. Its listed plan is 0.00 USD per free, and it is released under the Mozilla Public License 2.0. Knight Lab says commercial use does not require extra fees or permission.
How do I make a timeline?
The standard workflow uses a Google Spreadsheet template. Add the timeline content, publish the spreadsheet to the web, and generate the timeline; JSON is an option for custom installations.
Can I keep spreadsheet data access controlled?
The spreadsheet workflow requires publishing data to the web. For access control, Knight Lab recommends JSON and instantiating the timeline directly with JavaScript.
Can I embed or host a timeline on my own site?
TimelineJS works on websites and blogs and can be embedded with an iframe. It can also be self-hosted using downloaded JavaScript and CSS files.
Which platforms and browsers are noted?
Its listed platforms are API, self-hosted and web. Knight Lab identifies Chrome as its primary development and testing browser and says TimelineJS does not work with Internet Explorer versions before IE10.
Does it work with WordPress?
It does not work with WordPress.com sites. Knight Lab says its plugin supports WordPress installations that allow plugins.
TimelineJS plans and pricing
All plansCompared on data storytelling tools
- Free plan
- Yes
- Interactive visualizations
- Yes
- Narrative annotations
- Yes
- Presentation flow
- Yes
- Share mode
- both
