TimelineJS
TimelineJS: A free, open-source tool for building chronological stories from Sheets or JSON. Ranked #17 of 22 in Data Storytelling Tools by our editors (7.3/10); pricing: Free plan; best for anyone needing a free, simple timeline story.
At a glance
- Editor score7.3 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forAnyone needing a free, simple timeline story
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Interactive visualizationsYes
- Facts checked23 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Build timelines from Google Sheets or JSON data
- Embed chronological slides with text, dates, and media
- Use media from services including YouTube, Flickr, Vimeo, and SoundCloud
Where it doesn't
- Spreadsheet timelines require data to be published to the web
- Focused on timeline storytelling, not general-purpose data visualization
- Customization relies on configuration options or JSON and JavaScript
Our verdict on TimelineJS
TimelineJS creates interactive, media-rich timelines for people who want to tell a story in chronological order. Beginners can build from a Google spreadsheet, while developers can supply JSON and use JavaScript to create or customize installations. Events appear as chronological slides with text, dates, and media, and the finished timeline is designed for embedding on a website or blog. That makes it a fit for publishers, educators, and organizations with a sequence of events to explain, rather than teams looking for a broad data visualization tool.
Its workflow centers on familiar data and media sources. A spreadsheet-based timeline draws from Google Sheets, while the JSON option supports developer-led creation. Events can include media from supported services such as YouTube, Flickr, Vimeo, and SoundCloud; listed integrations also include Google Maps, Wikipedia, and Document Cloud. Presentation configuration can adjust elements such as fonts and initial zoom. For spreadsheet use, the sheet's data must be published to the web. Organizations that need locally controlled assets can host the JavaScript and CSS files themselves, while the product is also available on the web.
TimelineJS is open source under the Mozilla Public License, and Knight Lab says it does not charge fees to publish stories with it. Its focus is a strength when a clear sequence and accompanying media are the main point, but it is a limitation for users seeking general-purpose charts or broader analytical exploration. Choose it for an embeddable, free timeline built around a spreadsheet or JSON; look elsewhere if the project needs visualization types beyond chronological storytelling. Documentation and email are listed support channels, with options for both web and self-hosted deployment.
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TimelineJS pricing
TimelineJS fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Interactive visualizations | Yes |
| Narrative annotations | Yes |
| Presentation flow | Yes |
| Live data refresh | Not verified |
| Share mode | Both |
| Data source limit | Not verified |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web |
| Support | Email, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 8 integrations: Google Sheets, YouTube, Flickr, Vimeo, SoundCloud, Google Maps … |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | timeline.knightlab.com |
| Facts checked | 23 Sep 2026 |
TimelineJS integrations
TimelineJS lists 8 integrations on its own site.
- Google Sheets
- YouTube
- Flickr
- Vimeo
- SoundCloud
- Google Maps
- Wikipedia
- Document Cloud
Alternatives to TimelineJS
- FlourishA flexible browser-based toolkit for interactive charts, maps and scrollytelling.9.3
- DatawrapperA versatile choice for interactive data publishing, collaboration, and newsroom-ready exports.9.1
- InfogramA broad web-based toolkit for branded, interactive reports and infographics.9.0
See all TimelineJS alternatives →
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Featured on iTechGuides
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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