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TimelineJS

timeline.knightlab.com

Free plan WebAPISelf-hosted
Visit timeline.knightlab.com
Spec score 7.4 #16 of 22 in Data Storytelling Tools

What it is

TimelineJS is a free, open-source tool from Northwestern University Knight Lab for creating interactive timelines with text, media, and narrative sequencing. Beginners can work from a Google Spreadsheet template: enter events, publish the sheet to the web, and generate the timeline. Experienced users can instead supply JSON for custom installations and direct JavaScript setup. Timelines can run on websites and blogs, be embedded with an iframe, or be self-hosted with downloaded JavaScript and CSS. Built-in media support covers Twitter, Instagram, Flickr, Google Maps, Dropbox, DocumentCloud, Wikipedia, SoundCloud, Storify, iframes, YouTube, and Vimeo. Fonts, navigation position, and initial zoom are adjustable, and CSS can be overridden by technically capable users. Knight Lab recommends 20 slides or fewer and a strong chronological story. The standard spreadsheet method publishes data publicly; JSON supports access control. TimelineJS uses the Mozilla Public License 2.0 and allows commercial use without additional fees or permission. It runs through web, API, or self-hosted deployment.

Spec sheet

Purpose
TimelineJS is an open-source tool for building visually rich, interactive timelines.Read 7 Oct 2026 · timeline.knightlab.com
Audience
Beginners can build timelines with a Google spreadsheet, while experts can use JSON for custom installations.Read 7 Oct 2026 · timeline.knightlab.com
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.Read 7 Oct 2026 · timeline.knightlab.com
Support
Knight Lab offers support by email or web form and says it has no dedicated tech support staff.Read 7 Oct 2026 · timeline.knightlab.com
Headquarters
Evanston, Illinois, United StatesRead 28 Sep 2026 · timeline.knightlab.com
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.Read 7 Oct 2026 · knightlab.northwestern.edu
Authoring workflow
The standard authoring workflow uses a Google Spreadsheet template, which users publish to the web before generating a timeline.Read 7 Oct 2026 · timeline.knightlab.com
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.Read 7 Oct 2026 · timeline.knightlab.com
Customization
Users can adjust fonts, navigation position and initial zoom, and technically capable users can override the timeline CSS.Read 7 Oct 2026 · timeline.knightlab.com
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.Read 7 Oct 2026 · timeline.knightlab.com
Media integrations
Built-in media support includes Twitter, Instagram, Flickr, Google Maps, Dropbox, DocumentCloud, Wikipedia, SoundCloud, Storify, iframes, YouTube and Vimeo.Read 7 Oct 2026 · timeline.knightlab.com
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.Read 7 Oct 2026 · timeline.knightlab.com
Story structure
Knight Lab recommends keeping a timeline to 20 slides or fewer and choosing stories with a strong chronological narrative.Read 7 Oct 2026 · timeline.knightlab.com
WordPress limitation
TimelineJS does not work with WordPress.com sites; Knight Lab says its plugin supports WordPress installations that allow plugins.Read 7 Oct 2026 · timeline.knightlab.com

Plans and prices

TimelineJS Free 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

Every TimelineJS plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free plan with no trial requirement
  • Spreadsheet workflow for beginners
  • JSON supports custom installations and access control
  • Broad built-in media integrations
  • Embeddable or self-hosted deployment

Limits

  • Spreadsheet workflow requires publishing data publicly
  • Does not work on WordPress.com sites
  • No dedicated technical support staff
  • Known not to work before Internet Explorer 10

Who it suits

It suits beginners who want spreadsheet-based timeline creation and developers needing JSON, JavaScript, or self-hosted control. It is intended for websites, blogs, journalism projects, education, and other chronological narratives.

Verdict

TimelineJS covers both simple spreadsheet authoring and technical JSON deployments, with extensive media support and embedding options. Check its public-data requirement, WordPress.com limitation, and browser compatibility before choosing a workflow.

Where Specifiction places it

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