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Storyline JS
Evanston, Illinois, United States
What it is
Storyline JS is a free, open-source web tool from Northwestern University Knight Lab for creating annotated line charts about time-series data. Charts use a single data set, and the horizontal axis accepts only dates or times. Creators add story cards to selected points; each card has a title, text, and date. A story can contain no more than 12 cards, with titles limited to 54 characters and paragraphs to 200 characters. To build a chart, users place data in a Google spreadsheet and publish that spreadsheet to the web. The tool works best with fewer than 800 data points. Finished Storylines can be embedded or shared by direct link, and the maker says they work on any site or blog. One date-display choice offers month names only in English, while most story language comes from the creator. Support is available through a web form and GitHub issue reporting, in English only, without dedicated technical support staff.
For and against
For
- Free, open-source web tool
- Narrative cards explain selected points
- Embeds or direct links
- Works on sites and blogs
- No paid plans stated
Against
- Only one data series
- Maximum 12 story cards
- Google spreadsheet publishing required
- English-only support without dedicated staff
The verdict
Storyline JS provides a focused way to pair one time-series line with short explanatory cards and share it online. Its spreadsheet workflow, character limits, single-series design, and support constraints should guide suitability.
Who it suits
Storyline JS suits journalists, educators, and other creators explaining one time-based data series with narrative annotations. It fits users comfortable preparing a published Google spreadsheet and working within card and data limits.
Plans and prices
Storyline JS
Open-source tool; no paid plans or price stated
Read 3 Oct 2026 · storyline.knightlab.com
On the record
- Card limits
- A story supports no more than 12 cards, titles are limited to 54 characters, and paragraphs to 200 characters.storyline.knightlab.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Chart type
- Storyline focuses on time-series line charts, and the x-axis accepts only time or date formats.storyline.knightlab.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Data capacity
- Storyline works best with fewer than 800 data points.storyline.knightlab.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Data source
- To create a Storyline with the authoring tool, users put their chart data in a Google spreadsheet and publish it to the web.storyline.knightlab.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Languages
- Month names in one date-display choice are available only in English; the maker says most of the story uses language supplied by the user.storyline.knightlab.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Maker
- Storyline JS is made by Northwestern University Knight Lab, a team of technologists and journalists working on news media innovation.storyline.knightlab.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Multiple series
- The tool can visualize only one set of data at a time.storyline.knightlab.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Publishing
- Users can publish a Storyline as an embed or share it through a direct link, and the tool says it works on any site or blog.storyline.knightlab.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Storyline is an open-source tool for building annotated, interactive line charts that tell the story behind time-series data.storyline.knightlab.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Security
- The product page does not state security certifications or compliance claims.storyline.knightlab.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Story cards
- Stories use cards with a title, text, and date to explain selected points in the data.storyline.knightlab.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Support
- The maker offers a tech support web form and GitHub issue reporting, says support is available only in English, and notes it has no dedicated tech support staff.storyline.knightlab.com · read 3 Oct 2026
