10 Best Timeline Software For Mac of 2025 (Free & Paid)

Creating timelines on a Mac is useful in a variety of different jobs and projects.

Whether you need a sleek visual for a presentation, a detailed roadmap for a project, or just a way to make sense of your chaotic life, the right timeline software can help you see things more clearly.

Timelines aren’t just for historical events, they’re essential for roadmap planning, project management, and business strategy.

Whether you’re mapping out your next big product launch, planning a content calendar, or creating a structured business plan, having the right timeline tool can help you stay on track and visually communicate your ideas.

We found that most timeline tools out there either look like they were designed in the ‘90s on Windows PCs or require a PhD in engineering to figure out.

We’ve tested and reviewed the best timeline software for Mac that actually works, looks good, and, most importantly, won’t have you pulling your hair out.

1. Office Timeline Online – Best for PowerPoint Users

Price: Free with one year subscription ($149/year)

If you live in PowerPoint, Office Timeline Online is an easy way to create sleek, presentation-ready timelines.

It has a a free browser based versions with a drag-and-drop interface specifically tailored for business presentations.

The subscription version allows you to do more though including make timelines with Swimlane, show multiple projects on a slide, use Swimlane & Roadmap templates and shift dates instantly when plans change.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Designed for PowerPoint users
• Quick and easy to use
• Direct export to PowerPoint slides

Downsides:

• Limited free version
• Desktop PowerPoint plugin is Windows only

2. Aeon Timeline – Best for Writers & Project Managers

Price: $74.99 (one-time)

Writers, researchers, and project managers swear by Aeon Timeline.

Unlike basic charting tools, it’s built to handle intricate story structures, historical timelines, and even project tracking with dependencies.

You can visually track relationships between events and characters, making it an essential tool for authors and screenwriters.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Deep integration with Scrivener & Ulysses
• Tracks multiple arcs and relationships
• Great for both creative and business use
• Allows tagging and filtering for better organization

Downsides:

• No free version
• UI could be more beginner-friendly

3. MindNode – Best for Mind Mapping & Visual Thinkers

Price: Free with premium upgrade ($19.99/year)

If you’re a visual thinker, MindNode makes timeline creation feel natural.

It’s primarily a mind-mapping tool, but with its flexible branching system, you can create beautiful, non-linear timelines effortlessly.

The quick-entry feature allows you to jot down ideas instantly and convert them into structured timelines.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Simple, distraction-free UI
• Cloud sync across Apple devices
• Best for brainstorming and early-stage planning
• Quick-entry feature for seamless note-taking

Downsides:

• Less structured than traditional timeline tools

4. Timeline 3D – Best for Stunning Visual Timelines

Price: Free with premium features ($24.99 one-time)

Need a timeline that wows? Timeline 3D does exactly what it says, it creates stunning, cinematic 3D timelines that you can present in Keynote, export as movies, or print as interactive PDFs.

It’s a fantastic option for historians, teachers, and professionals who need visually engaging timelines.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Unique 3D timeline visualization
• Great for presentations & storytelling
• Easy drag-and-drop interface
• Allows multimedia integration for an immersive experience

Downsides:

• Not ideal for detailed project tracking

5. SmartDraw – Best for Business Timelines & Infographics

Price: Starts at $11.95/month for individuals, $9.95 for teams

SmartDraw is a solid business-focused alternative to Visio and one of the best diagramming tools we’ve ever used with excellent timeline, infographic and Gantt chart features.

It’s ideal for professionals looking for a detailed project tracking solution with automated formatting.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Enterprise-grade templates
• Great for professional planning
• Automated formatting for efficiency

Downsides:

• Subscription-based pricing

6. Microsoft Visio (via Virtual Machine) – Best for PC Compatibility

Price: Starts at $5/month (subscription)

If you need to run Visio on your Mac, your best bet is running it via a virtual machine or using the web version.

It’s overkill for most users, but for corporate teams working across Windows and macOS, it’s one of the most widely used timeline tools around.

Visio also offers deep integration with Microsoft Office, making it ideal for enterprise users.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Industry-leading diagramming tool
• Tons of professional timeline templates
• Deep integration with Microsoft Office Suite

Downsides:

• Requires a virtual machine to run on a Mac

7. Preceden – Best for Simple, Web-Based Timelines

Price: Free with limited features, $29/year for premium

Preceden is an easy-to-use online timeline maker. It’s great for lightweight project planning, historical research, and educational purposes.

The tool is beginner-friendly, making it a good choice for students and teachers.

Why You’ll Love It:

• No downloads required
• Clean and simple UI
• Great for academic and educational use

Downsides:

• Limited free version
• Basic customization

8. Tiki-Toki – Best for Interactive, Shareable Timelines

Price: Free with premium options ($25/year)

Tiki-Toki is another web-based timeline tool, but its interactive storytelling and multimedia embedding features make it stand out.

It’s widely used by journalists and educators for creating compelling digital timelines.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Beautiful interactive timeline design
• Easy to share online
• Multimedia embedding for rich storytelling

Downsides:

• Online-only
• Not as flexible for project planning

9. Canva – Best for Casual Users

Price: Free with premium features ($12.99/month)

Canva isn’t a traditional timeline maker, but with its intuitive drag-and-drop design and ready-made templates, it’s a fantastic choice for simple visual timelines.

It’s perfect for social media content creators and casual users.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Super easy to use
• Beautiful templates
• Great for social media content

Downsides:

• Lacks advanced timeline features

10. OmniGraffle – Best Mac Desktop App

Price: Starts at $99.99 (one-time)

OmniGraffle is what happens when Apple-level design meets pro-level functionality.

It’s a powerful diagramming tool that excels at timelines, flowcharts, and visual storytelling.

With its drag-and-drop interface, customizable templates, and SVG export options, it’s perfect for professionals who need precise control over their visuals.

It also offers layer-based editing, making it great for highly detailed projects.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Gorgeous macOS-style UI
• Powerful shape-recognition & snapping features
• Ideal for complex and professional timelines
• Advanced layer management for intricate projects

Downsides:

• Higher learning curve
• Pricey one-time purchase

Trends for Timeline Software in 2025

Timeline tools have come a long way from clunky, static charts. In 2025, they’re evolving to match how we work: visually, collaboratively, and on the go. Here’s what’s shaping the next generation of timeline software for Mac users this year:

1️⃣ AI-Assisted Timelines
Expect more timeline tools to use AI to build drafts for you. Feed it raw notes, dates, or a project outline, and it’ll suggest a polished timeline in seconds. This helps writers, project managers, and marketers save time on setup and focus on strategy instead of dragging boxes around.

2️⃣ Real-Time Collaboration Becomes Standard
Remote work isn’t going anywhere, so timeline tools are doubling down on live collaboration. Tools like Lucidchart and SmartDraw are expanding features like real-time commenting, version history, and multi-user editing – think Google Docs, but for project roadmaps.

3️⃣ 3D & Interactive Visuals
Static slides are out; interactive, immersive timelines are in. Timeline 3D and Tiki-Toki are pushing the trend further with richer multimedia, animations, and AR/VR-ready exports. Expect to see timelines that feel like a story you can walk through, not just read.

4️⃣ Tighter Integrations With Productivity Suites
Modern timeline apps are plugging directly into your existing workflows. Whether it’s syncing tasks from Asana, importing data from Google Sheets, or updating milestones straight from Jira, the best tools in 2025 automate the busywork behind the scenes.

5️⃣ Mobile & Cloud-First Design
More timeline makers are embracing mobile-friendly design and offline sync, so you can tweak roadmaps on your iPad at the airport or brainstorm arcs on your iPhone between meetings. Cloud storage and seamless device sync are the new normal.

6️⃣ Templates Get Smarter
No more blank canvas paralysis. Expect timeline software to offer smarter, scenario-based templates, whether you’re a novelist planning plot twists, a teacher building a history project, or a startup mapping a product launch.

7️⃣ Privacy & Data Ownership
As more professionals share sensitive roadmaps online, timeline apps are adding better encryption and clearer ownership controls. This is especially important for teams working on confidential launches or client projects.

Conclusion

If you use PowerPoint and need slick timelines for business meetings, then Office Timeline can’t be beat.

If you’re looking for the most Mac-like experience, OmniGraffle and Aeon Timeline are your best bets.

For something simple and web-based, SmartDraw and Canva make great choices.

And if you want your timelines to look amazing, Timeline 3D and Tiki-Toki have you covered.

No matter your needs, there’s a timeline tool for you, just don’t spend too much time choosing, or you’ll need a timeline to track how long it’s taking!