Easily Create Timelines with Our Free Online Timeline Maker

Creating a timeline allows you to visualize information and events in chronological order. Our free online timeline maker is an easy-to-use tool that lets you quickly create timelines, timeline infographics, and other visual representations of complex information. Read this article to learn why our timeline creator is the best way to communicate information and collaborate with your team.

Why Use an Online Timeline Maker?

There are many reasons why you may want to utilize a timeline maker to create a timeline. Our online timeline generator lets you easily build timelines to:

• Visualize information chronologically

• Highlight important events, deadlines, and milestones

• Show progress of a historical event or person’s life

• Communicate complex information, ideas or processes in a visual way

• Show chronological order and connections between events 

• Help stakeholders understand information or a project plan

• Collaborate with a team when planning a project

Timelines are an excellent way to grasp complex information and easily see it in chronological order. Whether you need to visualize a historical sequence of events, map out a process, or plan a project, timelines help simplify complex ideas into an easy-to-understand visual diagram.

With an online timeline maker, creating timelines is quick and simple. Our tool empowers any team to easily collaborate on planning projects, documenting processes, and brainstorming ideas.

How to Make a Timeline from Scratch

Creating a timeline with our online timeline maker is simple. Just sign up for a free account to get started.

You can either select a pre-made timeline template or create your timeline from scratch by clicking and dragging timeline elements onto your canvas. Customize fonts, colors, and add images or other visual elements. You can create basic, vertical timelines or more advanced designs like circle or ladder timelines.

Our tool is drag-and-drop with a user-friendly interface so you don’t need any design experience. Within minutes, you can create beautiful, professional timeline infographics to clearly communicate complex data and ideas.

Selecting a Timeline Template

We offer over 100 professionally designed timeline templates to start your timeline. Browse industry or category timeline templates to quickly find relevant designs for:

• Business plans

• Marketing campaigns

• Company history

• Product launches

• Hiring processes

• And countless more

Customize the built-in template by adding your own events, dates, colors and fonts. Templates give you an easy starting point to edit until your timeline is perfect.

Building Timelines from Scratch

If you want complete creative freedom, start building your timeline from a blank canvas. Simply use drag-and-drop to add timeline elements like:

• Dates

• Text boxes for events

• Icons

• Images

• Connecting lines between timeline points

• Dividers

Arrange and layer these visual elements to map out processes, plans, histories and any other sequences. Customize colors, shapes, positions and layers until your timeline communicates exactly what you want.

The editor makes it all completely customizable without any design expertise required.

Examples of Timelines You Can Create

Some examples of timelines you can quickly create include:

Project Management Timelines

Visually map out key milestones and deadlines for projects and initiatives. This helps teams understand objectives, align priorities, and track progress.

You can make project roadmaps for:

• Software development

• Product launches

• Marketing campaigns

• Business growth plans

• Company milestones

• Event planning

• Hiring/recruitment

Historical Timelines

Bring history to life by highlighting important dates, era, people and events on a historical timeline. Easily explain complex narratives like:

• Rise and fall of civilizations

• Revolution and wars

• Personal biographies

• Evolution of inventions/technologies

• Company origins and changes

Process & Operation Timelines

Showing processes visually makes them easier to standardize and optimize. Map out sequences like:

• Manufacturing workflows

• Customer onboarding

• Policy and legislation timelines

• Seasonal business operations 

• Employee onboarding

• Daily routines and habits

The possibilities are endless. Whatever sequence of connected events you want to explain, our free timeline tool can help you map it out beautifully.

Share and Embed Creative Timelines

Once your timeline infographic is complete, you have a few options for sharing or embedding it:

Download and Share Creative Timelines

• Download as PNG or JPEG to share as an image file

• Download as PDF to share a printable version

Email downloads to stakeholders or team members. Print timelines as handouts and visual aids.

Share Interactive Timelines

• Copy and share a viewable link of your hosted timeline

• Embed via iframe in websites, blogs or tools like Google docs

• Present from a URL link or directly in Powerpoint

Let people click through your timelines to understand information better. Interactive timelines bring complex data to life.

Collaborate on Timelines in Real-time

• Share editing access with team members

• Discuss ideas and changes in the built-in comment section

• Watch the timeline update live as collaborators edit

Seamlessly polish timelines as a team to align on project plans, processes, and creative ideas.

Sharing options make it easy to collaborate with your team or stakeholders on timelines. Our tool facilitates alignment through easyiteration on timelines together.

Create Timelines on Mobile or Desktop

Yes, our online timeline tool is compatible on both desktop and mobile browsers. That means you can create timelines no matter where you are - perfect for building timelines on-the-go. 

The drag-and-drop editor responds seamlessly on touch screens making it easy to customize your timelines on phones and tablets. 

Easily add events, shuffle items, or make quick edits whether sitting at your computer or traveling. Our timeline builder allows you to visualize information anytime, anywhere.

Import Data to Build Timelines Faster

If you already have your timeline data, events, and dates in a spreadsheet, document or app, you can easily import it to instantly create your timeline. No need to manually recreate anything!

We support importing timeline information from:

• Google Sheets

• Excel

• Google Docs

• Trello

• Asana

• Jira

• And more

Just connect your account, select your timeline data or project plan, and our tool automatically visualizes it as an interactive timeline. This saves you tons of time when making timelines.

Import from Project Management Tools

Connect your Asana projects, Trello boards, or Jira tickets. Our system auto-generates timeline infographics displaying:

• Task names and details

• Assignees

• Start/end dates

• Task connections and dependencies

• Milestones

• Progress tracking

In seconds, transform your plans into easy to understand, visual timelines to align with teams. Changes sync automatically allowing you to manage projects in tools you already use.

Import from Google Workspace

If your timeline data lives in Google Sheets, Docs or other Workspace apps, it takes just 1-click to import it. Simply:

1. Open your Sheet, Doc, Calendar or Slides

2. Click "Share" and copy the link

3. Paste the link as a data source into the timeline builder

The timeline maker syncs with Google Drive so you always have access to up-to-date data. Instantly create status updates, plans, roadmaps without manual work.

Customize Timeline Designs with Flexibility

Start by selecting from dozens of professionally designed timeline templates to match different industries and use cases.

Beyond the template, you have 100% flexibility when customizing your timelines in the editor:

Fonts & Typography

Choose from a vast collection of font styles to set the tone of your timelines. Customize:

• Font family

• Colors

• Sizes

• Styles (bold, italic, etc.)

Pick unique fonts for timeline events, dates, title text and more. Consistent typography makes timelines more readable and appealing.

Colors & Themes

• Select color palettes and themes

• Set colors for backgrounds, text, lines, icons and more

• Use colors to categorize timeline channels 

• Adjust transparency and gradients

Matching colors to your brand gives timelines a polished, professional look. Use color coding to instantly communicate meaning and organization.

Images, Icons and Media

• Upload images and photos

• Add icons to timeline events and milestones

• Embed videos for more context

• Attach files like PDFs directly in the timeline

Visuals make complex ideas more memorable and easy to process. Use them liberally to enhance understanding and highlight meaningful information.

Layouts & Shapes

• Choose vertical or horizontal layouts

• Curve lines or use angled connectors 

• Group elements into columns and sections

• Layer items and adjust transparency

• Resize, rotate, duplicate any object

Flexible configuration options allow you to place every pixel exactly where you want. Perfectly compose timelines to focus attention on important details. 

In the timeline editor, it’s simple to tweak every visual aspect until you have a gorgeous timeline presentation. Our editor makes you feel like a pro designer.

Real-Time Team Collaboration

Absolutely! Our online timeline maker has built-in collaboration features that let teams securely access, edit, and leave comments on timelines together in real-time.

Secure Cloud Workspaces

Create shared cloud workspaces for your teams. Manage permissions to timelines so the right people have access.

Workspace activity logs track the status of timelines, edits, versions and more. Never lose work or wonder who made recent changes.

Interactive Commenting

Discuss ideas, provide feedback and make decisions right on timelines:

• Tag team members with @mentions

• Markup timelines with virtual highlighters and sticky notes

• React with emoji responses

• Resolve conversations as completed 

Smooth, asynchronous team communication eliminates unnecessary meetings while keeping everyone aligned.

Live Multiplayer Editing

Watch your team edit timelines together in real-time like a multiplayer game. The timeline updates live as others add events, adjust layouts, edit text and more.

Co-creation facilitates rapid iteration cycles so timelines quickly evolve from early concepts to polished end results.

Real-time collaboration enables creation of better timelines, faster. Remote teams can work together smoothly through integrated commenting and live editing features.

Key Features of Our Timeline Tool

Here are some of the standout benefits of using our timeline creator:

Intuitive Drag and Drop Editor

Our editor makes it incredibility simple to create timelines, even if you have no prior experience. Just click, drag and drop to add elements wherever you want. Intuitive tools help you create exactly the designs you imagine.

100+ Customizable Templates

Browse beautiful timeline templates for every use case imaginable. Select a relevant template for your needs and easily customize it to perfection.

Creative Branding Controls

Make timelines look polished and professional by customizing fonts, colors palettes, logos, and themes. Consistent branding boosts engagement and memorability. 

Upload Media, Images and Files

Make timelines more visually compelling by integrating photos, GIFs, videos and file attachments seamlessly into your timelines.

Real-Time Team Collaboration

Invite teammates to co-create timelines together with integrated commenting, annotations, chat, and simultaneous editing features.

Interactive Presentation Options

Allow viewers to click through milestone events on interactive timelines. Present timelines from links or embed them on websites and documents.

Export & Share Creative Timelines

Download timelines in presentation-ready file formats like PNG, PDF, and JPEG. Copy embed codes to display timelines on blogs, wikis and CMS platforms.

Connect to Project Management Apps

Sync timelines dynamically with Asana, Trello, Jira, Google Calendar, and other apps to automatically visualize data.

Responsive Mobile Timeline Creator

Craft beautiful timelines on your phone or tablet with our responsive editor optimized for touch and mobile devices.

Secure Cloud Hosting

Store unlimited timelines safely in our secure cloud workspace. We handle backups, updates, and maintenance behind the scenes.

With our timeline maker, creating stunning timelines is now fast, simple, and collaborative. The cutting-edge features empower anyone to visualize complex information clearly and beautifully. 

Get Started Quickly With the Timeline Maker

Ready to start creating your own timelines? Just follow these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a free account on our timeline website

2. Browse timeline templates and select one that fits your needs

3. Edit the template by adding events, milestones, date ranges and other elements. Or start customizing a blank canvas timeline from scratch. 

4. Enhance your timeline with images, icons, videos and file attachments

5. Customize colors, typography, shapes and layouts until your design looks perfect

6. Share timeline with team members for feedback and co-editing

7. Export finished timelines as images, PDFs, presentations and more 

In just minutes, you can have beautiful timelines ready to help communicate complex information and project plans visually. 

Sign up now to start using the best online timeline maker available today completely free!

Frequently Asked Questions About the Timeline Tool

Here are answers to some common questions about our intuitive online timeline tool:

How much does the timeline maker cost?

Our tool is 100% free! You can create unlimited timelines and access all professional features at no charge.

What file types can I export my timelines to?  

You can download your timelines in PNG, JPG, PDF, SVG, and HTML formats.

Can I create interactive timelines?

Yes! Our tool lets you make clickable timelines with drill-down events for storytelling and presentations. 

Do I need design experience to use the timeline builder?

Not at all. Our drag-and-drop editor is very user-friendly. No prior graphic design or coding skills needed!

Is there a limit on the number of timelines I can create?

Nope! Create as many timelines as you need with unlimited storage. Our cloud handles scaling to any volume of timelines.

How do I collaborate on timelines with my team?

Manage timeline permissions to invite teammates into cloud workspaces. Everyone can co-edit together in real-time with integrated chat and commenting.

Can I access timelines offline or sync them?

Timelines sync automatically to the cloud so you can open them on any device with internet access. Offline access is not currently supported.

What integrations do you offer?

We integrate dynamically with Google Workspace, Trello, Asana, Jira, Figma, Lucidchart, Evernote and more. More apps coming soon!

Don’t see your question answered? Contact our customer support team to get help with the timeline maker from a friendly expert.

Key Takeaways From This Article

Here are the main things to remember about our intuitive online timeline tool:

• It’s 100% free to create timelines with full access to all professional features

• User-friendly drag and drop timeline editor is very easy to master, even for beginners

• Pre-made templates make it fast to get started making timelines

• Customize every element including fonts, colors, layouts, icons and more

• Upload images, videos and files directly into timelines

• Download timelines in reusable file formats or embed them anywhere

• Import data instantly from apps like the Google Suite, Asana, and Excel

• Real-time collaboration helps teams align on plans and ideas 

• Use on desktop or mobile devices thanks to responsive editing

• Secure cloud hosting and unlimited storage for timelines 

Ready to get started with the best online timeline builder? Sign up now to create your first timeline free!