GeneratorsTimeline

Animated Timeline Generator

Lay out milestones in order, beautifully. Export as PNG, SVG, GIF or MP4.

Exports asMP4GIFPNGSVG

Free to try · No design skills · Ready in about two minutes

Overview

What is a timeline?

A timeline places events in chronological order along a line, turning a list of dates into a clear narrative. It is how you show a journey: a company's milestones, a product's history, a fundraising path, a launch plan. The order and the spacing carry the story, what happened, and in what sequence.

Unlike a data chart, a timeline is about events rather than quantities, so it shines when the message is 'here is how we got here' or 'here is what is coming'. It builds credibility in an investor deck and context in an about page or a launch post.

Reochart animates each milestone onto the line in turn, so the story unfolds instead of sitting flat, which is exactly what holds attention in a video or a social post. Add a date and a short description per milestone and export as MP4, GIF, PNG or SVG, on your brand on Pro.

reochart.com/editor
Data
2019
2020
2021
2022
+ Add row
MP4GIFPNGSVG
Export

How it works

How a timeline works

1

Each milestone has a date or label and a short description, and they are laid out in order along a line so the eye travels through the sequence. Even spacing reads as a steady cadence; the labels do the explaining.

2

Keep descriptions short, a few words each, so the line stays scannable. A timeline is a summary, not a paragraph.

Examples

Example timelines

Real charts made in Reochart, each with its own data and theme. Hover to play the animation.

Company milestones from founding to scale.
Fundraising history.
A product launch plan.

Good fit

When to use a timeline

  • Company or product milestones
  • Fundraising history
  • A launch or rollout plan
  • A project or customer journey
  • A year-in-review recap

Reach for something else

When not to use a timeline

  • You are showing a quantity changing over time, use a line or area chart.
  • You have work grouped into lanes or phases, a roadmap fits better.
  • You have dozens of events, a timeline gets cramped; summarise the key ones.
  • The order does not matter, then it is just a list, not a timeline.

Compare

Timeline vs other charts

Timeline vs the alternatives.

VisualBest forAvoid when
TimelineEvents in chronological orderQuantities changing over time
RoadmapPlans grouped into lanes/phasesA simple linear history
Line chartA metric trending over timeDiscrete events with no value
CounterA single headline numberA sequence of milestones

Your data

What data you need

One row per milestone: a date or label and a short event description. Paste from a sheet or import a CSV. 4 to 8 milestones reads best.

DateEvent
2021Founded
2022First 100 customers
2023$1M ARR
2024Series A

Step by step

How to make a timeline

1
Paste or import

Drop your numbers in, or import a CSV.

2
Pick a style

Choose the chart, theme and animation speed.

3
Make it yours

Tune colours, labels and add your brand.

4
Export anywhere

Download MP4, GIF, PNG or SVG.

Best practices

Get it right

Do
  • Order milestones chronologically.
  • Keep each description to a few words.
  • Show the milestones that matter, not every event.
  • Use consistent date formats across the line.
Don't
  • Write full sentences on each point.
  • Cram in dozens of events until the line is unreadable.
  • Mix wildly different time scales without making it clear.
  • Use a timeline for a quantity that should be a line chart.

Watch out

Common mistakes to avoid

!
Too much text

Long descriptions clutter the line. Keep each milestone to a few words; the timeline is a summary.

!
Too many milestones

Show the key moments, not every event, or the line becomes unreadable.

!
Using it for quantities

If you are tracking a number over time, that is a line chart, not a timeline.

!
Inconsistent dates

Mixing formats (2021, Q1, 'last spring') makes the sequence confusing. Pick one.

Why Reochart

Built for sharing, not just charting

  • No design skills required
  • Animated MP4 and GIF exports
  • PNG and scalable SVG too
  • Your brand colours and logo (Pro)
  • Paste from a sheet or import a CSV
  • Presentation and feed ready in minutes

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is a timeline?

A visual that arranges events in chronological order along a line to show a sequence, history or plan.

What do I need to make one?

A date or label and a short description for each milestone. Paste them from a sheet or import a CSV.

Timeline or roadmap?

A timeline is a single chronological line of events. A roadmap groups work into lanes or phases (like Now / Next / Later). Reochart makes both.

How many milestones should it have?

Four to eight keeps it clean and scannable. Show the moments that matter rather than every event.

Can I make it animated?

Yes. Charts animate by default, and you can export the animation as an MP4 or GIF, or grab a static PNG or SVG if you prefer.

Can I export as SVG?

Yes. Pro exports a crisp, scalable SVG vector, alongside MP4, GIF and PNG. Every export renders at 1080p.

Is Reochart free?

Yes. The free plan lets you make every chart type and export an animated MP4 with a small watermark, no card needed. Pro removes the watermark and adds GIF and SVG, your brand colours and logo, longer videos and CSV import.

Make your timeline now

Drop in your numbers and export something worth sharing, in about two minutes. Free to start.