TimelineJS
TimelineJS is an open-source tool for creating interactive timelines with text and media.
What TimelineJS is
TimelineJS is an open-source tool for creating interactive timelines with text and media. Its standard workflow uses a Google Spreadsheet template: users add timeline content, publish the spreadsheet to the web, then generate the timeline. Beginners can work with the spreadsheet approach, while technically experienced users can build custom installations using JSON. Timelines can be embedded on websites and blogs with an iframe or self-hosted using 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 adjust fonts, navigation position and initial zoom, and technically capable users can override the timeline CSS. Knight Lab recommends limiting a timeline to 20 slides or fewer and choosing a story with a clear chronological structure. The standard spreadsheet workflow requires publishing its data to the web; JSON with direct JavaScript setup is the suggested route for access control. TimelineJS uses the Mozilla Public License 2.0 and is free for commercial use without extra fees or permission.
Good
- Free for commercial use under MPL 2.0.
- Supports a range of media sources.
- Can be embedded or self-hosted.
- Offers font, navigation and zoom customization.
Watch out
- Spreadsheet workflow requires publishing data to the web.
- Knight Lab recommends 20 slides or fewer.
- Does not work with WordPress.com sites.
- Knight Lab has no dedicated tech support staff.
Who it suits
TimelineJS suits beginners who can work with a Google Spreadsheet and experienced users who want to build custom installations with JSON. It is useful for stories that can be organized as a chronological sequence.
Verdict
TimelineJS offers a free way to build and embed media-rich timelines, with a spreadsheet workflow for beginners and JSON for custom setups. Consider the public-data requirement of the standard workflow and the recommended limit on timeline length.
Plans and prices
From TimelineJS's own pricing page, checked 7 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| TimelineJS | Free | Open-source under MPL 2.0 · Google Sheets data must be published to the web for the standard workflow |
The facts
Each one read from TimelineJS's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Audience
- Beginners can build timelines with a Google spreadsheet, while experts can use JSON for custom installations.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Authoring workflow
- The standard authoring workflow uses a Google Spreadsheet template, which users publish to the web before generating a timeline.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Customization
- Users can adjust fonts, navigation position and initial zoom, and technically capable users can override the timeline CSS.checked 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.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Media integrations
- Built-in media support includes Twitter, Instagram, Flickr, Google Maps, Dropbox, DocumentCloud, Wikipedia, SoundCloud, Storify, iframes, YouTube and Vimeo.checked 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.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- TimelineJS is an open-source tool for building visually rich, interactive timelines.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Story structure
- Knight Lab recommends keeping a timeline to 20 slides or fewer and choosing stories with a strong chronological narrative.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- Knight Lab offers support by email or web form and says it has no dedicated tech support staff.checked 7 Oct 2026
- WordPress limitation
- TimelineJS does not work with WordPress.com sites; Knight Lab says its plugin supports WordPress installations that allow plugins.checked 7 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- 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.checked 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.checked 7 Oct 2026
The company
- Headquarters
- Evanston, Illinois, United Stateschecked 28 Sep 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.checked 7 Oct 2026
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