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TimelineJS
Evanston, Illinois, United States
What it is
TimelineJS is a free, open-source tool for creating interactive timelines with text and media. Beginners can work from a Google Spreadsheet template: enter events, publish the sheet to the web, and generate the timeline. Advanced users can build custom installations with JSON and JavaScript. Timelines can be embedded in websites or blogs through an iframe, or self-hosted with downloaded JavaScript and CSS files. Built-in media support includes Twitter, Instagram, Flickr, Google Maps, Dropbox, DocumentCloud, Wikipedia, SoundCloud, Storify, iframes, YouTube, and Vimeo. Users can change fonts, navigation position, and initial zoom, while technically capable users can override the timeline CSS. Knight Lab recommends no more than 20 slides and a strong chronological narrative. The spreadsheet method publishes data openly; JSON with direct JavaScript setup is suggested for access control. TimelineJS uses the Mozilla Public License 2.0 and permits commercial use without extra fees or permission.
For and against
For
- Free commercial use under MPL 2.0
- Spreadsheet workflow for beginners
- JSON customization for advanced users
- Broad built-in media integrations
- Iframe embedding and self-hosting
Against
- Spreadsheet workflow publishes data to the web
- Does not work on WordPress.com sites
- No dedicated technical support staff
- Known not to work before Internet Explorer 10
The verdict
TimelineJS offers a free path from spreadsheet-authored stories to custom JavaScript timelines. Choose the JSON route when published spreadsheet data or WordPress.com compatibility is a concern.
Who it suits
It suits beginners who can use Google Sheets and developers who want JSON-based, embeddable or self-hosted timelines. It is intended for websites, blogs, and narrative projects.
Plans and prices
TimelineJS
Open-source under MPL 2.0 · Google Sheets data must be published to the web for the standard workflow
Read 7 Oct 2026 · timeline.knightlab.com
On the record
- Audience
- Beginners can build timelines with a Google spreadsheet, while experts can use JSON for custom installations.timeline.knightlab.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Authoring workflow
- The standard authoring workflow uses a Google Spreadsheet template, which users publish to the web before generating a timeline.timeline.knightlab.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Browser compatibility
- Knight Lab identifies Google Chrome as its primary development and testing browser and says TimelineJS is known not to work with Internet Explorer versions before IE10.timeline.knightlab.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Customization
- Users can adjust fonts, navigation position and initial zoom, and technically capable users can override the timeline CSS.timeline.knightlab.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Licensing
- TimelineJS is released under the Mozilla Public License version 2.0, and the FAQ says it is free to use commercially without additional fees or permission.timeline.knightlab.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Maker
- TimelineJS is a project of Northwestern University Knight Lab, which describes itself as a community of designers, developers, students and educators working on journalism experiments.knightlab.northwestern.edu · read 7 Oct 2026
- Media integrations
- Built-in media support includes Twitter, Instagram, Flickr, Google Maps, Dropbox, DocumentCloud, Wikipedia, SoundCloud, Storify, iframes, YouTube and Vimeo.timeline.knightlab.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Platform and embedding
- TimelineJS works on websites and blogs, can be embedded with an iframe, and can be self-hosted using downloaded JavaScript and CSS files.timeline.knightlab.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The Google Spreadsheet workflow requires publishing data to the web; for access control, Knight Lab says to use JSON and instantiate the timeline directly with JavaScript.timeline.knightlab.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- TimelineJS is an open-source tool for building visually rich, interactive timelines.timeline.knightlab.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Story structure
- Knight Lab recommends keeping a timeline to 20 slides or fewer and choosing stories with a strong chronological narrative.timeline.knightlab.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- Knight Lab offers support by email or web form and says it has no dedicated tech support staff.timeline.knightlab.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- WordPress limitation
- TimelineJS does not work with WordPress.com sites; Knight Lab says its plugin supports WordPress installations that allow plugins.timeline.knightlab.com · read 7 Oct 2026
