Top 10 Timeline Infographic Tools: Online Makers Overview

upqode | Feb 11th, 2022

Timelines are the most beneficial kind of infographics! And thanks to the internet, making a digital timeline is as easy as pie – especially if you use the tools we talk about in this article.

Infographics are a great way to add flair to any project. There are many different kinds of infographics that can be incorporated into your work – but in this article, we will be discussing timelines. 

Timelines are essentially a way to put facts, events, and ideas in order. They can help you narrate a story and ensure that you are explaining your point with the necessary clarity. 

However, the best thing about timelines is that they are so easy to create. Thanks to the plethora of tools available in the market, all it takes for you to create a full-fledged digital timeline is a few clicks. 

Excited to learn more about what these tools are and how you can use them? Well then, let’s keep reading!

What is a timeline infographic?

But before we dive into any of that, it is very important for us to consider what a timeline is. In the simplest of terms, a timeline can be described as a linear organizer that aims to depict events happening over a certain period of time. It reflects the passage of time and helps us learn more about events in chronological order. 

It is very effective and is often recommended to be used during the studying/teaching process because it allows people to identify particular trends in a chain of events, thanks to its concise and streamlined format. Basically, a timeline summarizes the most important occurrences in a passage of time and makes them not only easy to look at, but also to memorize!

There are many different forms that a timeline infographic can take: it can be a horizontal timeline, a vertical one, a roadmap, a graph, and even a Gantt chart! We will look into the different types of timelines in depth later in this article, but one thing to remember is that deciding which kind of timeline is the best for your needs has a lot to do with understanding what you want the timeline for. Do you want it to supplement a lecture, explain a business goal, or simply narrate a story for better understanding? 

Understanding the purpose of your timeline infographic will help you not only decide the timeline you should be making, but also what tool you should be using when it comes to creating your timeline! 

Purposes of using a timeline.

The underlying reason behind your using a timeline will always be the same: you want to depict the happening of multiple things simultaneously. What better way to do it than to organize all of it in order by employing key visualization aspects to the process? Essentially, the main reason for using a timeline is to make something interesting out of time records. 

As discussed, it is very important to identify the purpose of the timeline if you want to make one that fully fits your needs. Timelines are usually used by teachers to explain the events of a certain period of time in history. They are also used by scholars for knowledge-sharing, considering they are a lot more interactive and comprehensible than other kinds of techniques. However, timelines are not limited to these purposes only. Anyone can use a timeline!

You can use a timeline on your website to show your clients your progress as a company, you can use it in a presentation to explain where you want to be in the future, you can use it to describe a certain event pertinent to the growth of your business, and whatnot. 

Students can use timelines in projects, or even for personal study time to understand things better. 

Long story short, timelines can be used in various ways and for various purposes. 

Why Use Timeline Infographics?

1. More attention-drawing and attractive 

If you want people to view and comprehend important data and statistics, putting the information in a timeline infographic can help immensely. The use of infographics makes all data look more appealing to people, and it is more likely to catch their attention. 

The use of colors and graphics makes timeline infographics more eye-catching and the audience will look at it for a longer period. With the help of timeline infographics, you can ensure that people are actually taking in the information rather than scanning through it. 

2. Shareable 

If there is any crucial information regarding your products, projects, or company itself, creating timeline infographics can help ensure that more people understand and share the information. If you present the information in the form of plain text, people are bound to ignore it or forget about it. 

Creating timeline infographics ensures that the information you need to spread becomes more shareable, and people don’t feel bored by it when they share it with others. 

3. Improves engagement and SEO 

Creating timeline infographics is a fun way to increase engagement on your website. If the information is interesting and presented in the form of an infographic, people are more likely to click on it and share it. Using timeline infographics on your website is an excellent way to form a connection with visitors. 

When the engagement increases on your website due to the use of timeline infographics, the SEO of your website is also enhanced. With more people visiting your website and sharing the content, your rankings on search engines are bound to improve. 

4. Use less space 

Timeline infographics can take long texts and information and put them in one graphic, making better use of the space. These infographics take less space on your website and you can get all the details and crucial information across. 

Pictures also help you leave a more significant impact on the audience, and you can use timeline infographics to do that with any data or information regarding your business and projects. 

Types of timelines

As mentioned earlier, there are many different types of timelines. Each one follows a different format and is hence more fitting towards a particular set of needs. 

Let’s have a look at some of the most commonly-used timeline examples: 

Chronology timeline

chronological timeline
Source: Chronological timeline

This is the most common timeline. A chronological timeline, as the name suggests, organizes events in chronological order. This means that the chain of events is pictured from the earliest to the latest in a linear fashion. So, the timelines you usually find in your History books are chronological timelines, and they are the most effective method in terms of telling a historical event. 

Gantt chart

Gantt chart
Source: Gantt chart

A Gantt chart is used for managing projects. They are made by putting all aligning factors like workflow, progress report, and project schedule into a singular spreadsheet-like template. As complex as they seem, these charts are also timelines – they cover how big the project is, how many factors are involved, inculcate progress, and allow team members to collaborate and establish a clear set of goals together. 

Interactive timeline

One-dimensional timelines may look good on paper, but when it comes to the digital world, interactive timelines are the way to go! These timelines allow you to scroll, zoom in, zoom out, and even change data in real-time. You can focus on a certain event or overview the whole period of time simultaneously. An interactive timeline is the best option if you are looking to cover a large period in time or large amounts of data in general.

Horizontal timeline

A horizontal timeline represents events with the help of a horizontal line; a line moving from left to right. In addition, there are pointers added to put in extra text. These kinds of timelines are the most used in presentations since they are the easiest to explain and also the most eye-catchy and can easily help you catch the reader’s attention. However, they may present a challenge in terms of understanding on the part of your audience, since there is not a lot of text involved. 

Vertical timeline

A vertical timeline is most used for research and reporting. If you want to add lots of text to your timeline,  a vertical timeline is the best option. As the name suggests, a vertical timeline involved a straight vertical line. This line can be labeled by adding text to both the left and right sides. The labels can be as long or short as you like and hence have the ability to make your research better. 

Roadmap timeline

Roadmap timeline
Source: Roadmap timeline

This is the kind of timeline diagram that is the best in terms of project management. So, think of a timetable. A roadmap timeline is a lot like a timetable – it is divided into various sections that represent a certain part of the period in question, or, if being used for project management, certain tasks. 

The whole point of a roadmap timeline is to organize everything in an orderly manner and reflect which tasks are prioritized. Other than that, it can also be used to gauge the amount of time spent on each task so you can get a better idea of your time management processes. Essentially, a roadmap timeline is a lot more scattered, broad and extensive than other kinds of timelines. 

Biographical timeline

Biographical timeline
Source: Biographical timeline

A biographical timeline is a timeline diagram that is used to illustrate the history of a person. As such, it presents events that are pertinent to the life of a certain person. Needless to say, these timelines can be very good tools for studying the lives of famous people and historical figures. They are used by students all over the world and can really boost their understanding of a subject. However, biographical timelines are also increasingly being used by HR teams to find people whose life journeys and skill sets align with the job openings in question.

Company background timeline

Company background timeline
Source: Company background timeline

A company background timeline is yet another type of visual timeline that is increasingly being used by companies. This one is a helpful chart that is used to represent the history of a company or a business in a creative way. You can always narrate the story of your company and its success through words, but doing it through a creative timeline that visualizes your journey is a better, much more attractive way of doing so! It can also be used to plan what you want the journey of your business to look like going forward. 

Career timeline

Yes! You can use a timeline to plan your career as well. A career timeline is a tool that is used to plan the future. You and edit it in accordance with your own goals and objectives. For example, you can start off by listing your studies, moving on to graduation, listing training programs, and other aspects till you get to the employment stage. From the employment stage, you can then start listing all the promotions and achievements you make during this time. Overall, a career timeline is essentially a comprehensive overview of your professional journey, and can really help you understand what your professional standing is a lot better. 

Family timeline

Family timeline
Source: Family timeline

A family visual timeline is another very common timeline infographic. Mostly, it is known as a family tree. It is used to focus on events related to you and your family members. Usually, it will consist of all the family members, along with certain details such as their jobs, achievements, etc. You can always add photos to your family timelines and create an ever-lasting snippet of your family that you can cherish for many days to come!

Top 10 Timeline Infographic Maker Tools

Now, let’s have a look at some of the best timeline infographic tools! These tools will help you create the types of timelines mentioned above, as well as many other types of timelines. 

Without further ado, let’s dive right in!

1. EdrawMax

infographic tool
Source: Edrawsoft.com

If you’re looking for an easy way to create professional diagrams and find creative timeline ideas quickly, then this tool might be just right for you. With this timeline software, you can easily import and export the results into various file types including PDF, Word, PowerPoint, HTML, JPG, PNG, TIFF, GIF, etc. You can create timelines from these templates online so they’re accessible anywhere at any time.

The program supports multiple projects simultaneously so you don’t have to worry about losing any work done earlier. It is highly customizable and allows users to add their own text or images to the timeline. Moreover, it comes with an array of features such as customizing your project according to your needs, adding a background music track, and using different types of transitions between clips in your video.

Pros:

  • It provides users with a wide range of templates for various careers, industries, and needs.
  • You can share mockups with your team so they can collaborate better.
  • It lets users create up to 260 different diagrams without encountering any trouble.
  • File transfers between computers are encrypted using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology so no one else but authorized parties can see them.
  • It serves as an important tool for communicating ideas because it allows us to organize our thoughts into structured patterns.

Cons: 

  • The lifetime plan is not the most affordable 

2. Preceden 

infographic tool
        Source: preceden.com

If you want to create beautiful project road maps and great-looking timelines, then this lightweight timeline creator tool might be just for you! With its web-based interface, this tool allows users to create multiple exports for sharing their timelines with different audiences. Layers help organize timelines by keeping them separate from each other.

People love this product because they can use it for their own projects or give it away to clients who need a simple way to edit their infographics and make them look professional. It is easy to use and very intuitive. The best part of all is that there is no learning curve. You just click and drag to do what you want. 

Pros:

  • A premium subscription gives access to an extensive set of features and offers regular updates for free.
  • The timelines can be downloaded in CSV, PNG, PDF, and XML format.
  • There are lots of different ways to share timelines easily and a lot of creative timeline ideas.

Cons:

  • It is not very user friendly and this might pose a threat for amateur users.
  • You can create one timeline using the free version of this tool which has 10 events.
  • Because security restrictions prevent you from embedding timelines directly onto your websites, you must use third-party services instead. 

3. Office Timeline 

infographic tool
Source: officetimeline.com

This time management tool was designed specifically to help people create timelines that are crucial for effective communication within their organizations. With Swimlanes, Gantts, and timelines, you can create amazing visualizations for projects. It has an easy-to-use interface that allows users to easily create their own reports from scratch without any programming knowledge.

The timeline infographic template software is a great tool for helping to manage your project schedule. It will allow you to create an interactive chart where you can view all the tasks and milestones on one page. The timeline software allows you to add comments, notes, or even share it with others. You can also use this type of software to track progress on projects.

Pros:

  • You can download timelines in XLS, PowerPoint, and PDF formats if you want them in different file types.
  • You can use the free version if you want to create timelines without any ads or watermarks.
  • It offers both online and offline tools for its users so that they can choose whichever tool suits them best.

Cons:

  • It doesn’t allow for any sharing options besides emails, which makes it difficult to share timelines via URLs.
  • Online and offline tools must be purchased separately.
  • Complex project timelines aren’t well suited for timeline templates. 

4. Visme 

infographic tool
Source: Visme.co

With its help, you can create professional-looking slideshows, timelines, and graphics for any purpose. It has an excellent free version too! Data visualization helps you understand complex concepts by translating them into easy-to-understand visualizations.

It’s a simple tool that allows users to create on the go. The interface is intuitive enough so that it doesn’t require any prior experience with this software. It also has an elegant design, which makes the process easy. The tool is a great way to present the history of any topic or event. With this timeline maker, you will be able to create an engaging presentation that will leave your audience with lasting memories. 

Pros:

  • It lets you create timelines using HTML5 and share them via their URLs.
  • You can embed these timelines into your website.
  • It provides users with a wide range of options for creating charts, including different types of graphs, templates, and shapes.

Cons:

  • More expensive than other solutions.
  • The best design templates available are reserved for premium members and offer fewer choices for free designs.
  • It doesn’t let users upload videos directly from their devices.

5. Venngage 

infographic tool
    Source: Venggage.com

With this online infographic creator, creating infographics becomes easier because there are more than 100 different templates available. Creative timelines provided by Venngage offer various types of designs for different needs, allowing you to show an overall view of a project and highlight key points easily.

You can also use the timeline templates to create a visual storyboard for your business or personal projects. Venngage is an online tool that allows you to make timelines in just minutes. It provides you with hundreds of beautiful, high–quality templates and themes. You can choose from various categories such as Business, Education, Fashion, Food & Drink, Health & Fitness, Home & Garden, Lifestyle, Music, Sports, Travel, and more. 

Pros:

  • Offers a wide variety of templates for you to pick from.
  • Drag and Drop Feature helps create and edit timelines.
  • It provides an extensive collection of stock photos that can be used without charge.

Cons:

  • It has no image uploading feature.
  • You can’t download images from the free version into any image format (PNG/PDF) without upgrading to the paid version.
  • Sometimes the software seems quite buggy and this may hamper the creative process. 

6. Lucidchart 

lucidchart infographic tool
    Source: Lucid.co

With this online timeline creation tool, you can not only create but also share professional timelines which can accelerate business processes through increased knowledge sharing. It lets people collaborate on cross-functional tasks online on a real-time basis through its timeline feature.

Lucidchart is ideal for creating, sharing, and publishing flowcharts, org charts, process diagrams, UML class diagrams, network diagrams, information maps, Gantt charts, floor plans, site maps, mind maps, and more. It has collaboration features to allow multiple users to work on the same document simultaneously. Users can easily share their documents with others using its integration with social media sites or email.

Pros:

  • It’s really simple to use drag and drop interfaces for creating timelines regardless of your skill levels.
  • It helps people communicate complicated issues and share their thoughts on solutions for them.
  • You can export them directly into various image formats so they can be inserted into Google Slides presentations.

Cons:

  • It offers limited storage space for storing files.
  • When it comes to picking out themes for non-software-related projects, there aren’t too many options available.
  • Integration between Microsoft Office programs isn’t easy. 

7. Vizzlo

vizzlo infographic tool
  Source: Vizzlo.com

You don’t need any special skills to create timelines using this tool; just drag and drop images into place. With its easy integration into Microsoft Office programs, it provides seamless plug-in support for both Google Slides and Powerpoint apart from offering cloud storage. It’s easy to use, regardless of whether you’re an expert user or not.

Pros:

  • It’s pretty simple and quick to set up.
  • User interface (UI) design helps people get used to using an app quickly by making them feel at ease with its use.
  • Graphs built into Vizzlo allow for easy tracking of statistics.

Cons:

  • Many people complain about having to duplicate their designs because they lack a “Duplicate” function.
  • You get watermarked timelines when using the free version.
  • You cannot download multiple files at once using the free version; however, you can use the paid version for unlimited downloads.

8. Timetoast 

infographic tool
Source: timetoast.com

With this free timeline creator, you can create timelines that can really enhance your stories. You can view them either horizontally (one after another) or vertically (in groups). It works for any type of computer system to provide better access than ever before.

With a simple drag-and-drop action, you will be able to create the timeline without any trouble at all. You are also given ample customization options so as to make it user-friendly for everyone. For those who need more than just a basic timeline, this app has got everything covered.

Pros:

  • You can download the timelines in GIF, JPG, and PDF format.
  • Users can upload pictures onto their own websites.
  • Users get the ability to collaborate with their peers by sharing ideas and opinions.

Cons:

  • There is no tech support available for this product.
  • You cannot change the date in a timeline. They don’t just add events; they must remove them first before they can add a new one.
  • There aren’t enough customization options for changing colors, fonts, etc. 

9. TikiToki

infographic tool
Source: tiki-toki.com

Webalon’s TikiToki is an intuitive online timeline creator which stands out from its competitors by offering a range of features including sophisticated media support and sleek design. Those aspiring timeline makers who use this tool for creating timelines will benefit immensely from its numerous features including extensive date formatting options, built-in filters, and search capabilities.

Timeline makers are a great way for users to organize their content into timelines, but they can also be used to create unique websites or web pages. Webalon’s TikiToki timeline maker has been designed with the goal of creating a sleek website that looks good

Pros:

  • Users get to choose from a variety of options for viewing their projects.
  • Both web audio, as well as video, is supported by its stylish timelines.
  • You don’t need to install anything extra onto your phone or tablet to use it.

Cons:

  • It does not have import functionality.
  • There are some features missing from the app.
  • A free account lets you create just one timeline for yourself; after that, you must pay if you want to continue creating timelines. 

 10. Smartdraw

infographic tool
Source: SmartDaw.com

With this timeline tool, making timelines becomes a super simple task thanks to its smart automatic format engine which makes sure everything looks good no matter where you place each shape. You can use them together with design templates to create professional-looking timelines.

You don’t need to be a graphic artist or have any experience creating diagrams to use this application. With this application, you will be able to draw professional-quality diagrams. It’s also possible to export your work as images or vector files. The program has many features which make it more powerful than other similar programs.

Pros:

  • It allows users to create timelines from various template designs and options.
  • You can insert a SmartDraw into any spreadsheet program (Excel, Powerpoint, etc.) as well as Google Sheets and Docs.
  • Works well for both PCs and tablets.

Cons:

  • Now and again, the speed of the online version fluctuates wildly.
  • Collaboration tools aren’t ready for prime time yet.
  • It costs quite a bit to buy the full version.

So that’s it, guys! These were the ten best tools for timelines that we could find. We hope you can find the perfect timeline infographic template using these tools. We highly encourage you to use these tools and see which one works the best for you. Once that is sorted, you can create a timeline that really fits your needs and attracts your audience – regardless of who they are! 

Final takeaway

Timelines are a great addition to any sort of work. Not only do they add a creative flair to your job, but they also help you narrate your point a lot better. The timeline makers that we have discussed in this article are great tools to help you create unique timelines that can supplement your point and make your work a lot more interesting. 

Remember: the key to making the right infographic and especially the right timeline is to understand your own needs! Once you have understood why it is that you need an infographic, it will be a lot easier for you to create one that goes along with your work.

Filed under: Marketing

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