What is Office Timeline?

Office Timeline is a powerful add-in for PowerPoint and a web-based solution that transforms complex schedules into clear, professional visuals. Whether you need a gantt chart excel alternative or a full-featured timeline creator, Office Timeline lets you build project timelines, Gantt charts, roadmaps, and swimlanes in minutes.

With Office Timeline, you can import data from Excel, Microsoft Project, Jira, Smartsheet, or enter dates manually. The result is an executive-ready slide or image you can share instantly. Ready to get started? Get Started with Office Timeline Today.

Office Timeline Overview

Founded to simplify project communication, Office Timeline was created by a team of Microsoft enthusiasts who saw the need for visually compelling, easy-to-build timelines. Over the years, it has grown into the #1 Free timeline maker & Gantt chart creator, trusted by thousands of project managers, consultants, and executives worldwide.

The mission is simple: save users time and effort by automating timeline creation inside PowerPoint or any web browser. Recent milestones include integration with Jira and a fully featured online editor, making Office Timeline a versatile tool for any project environment.

Pros and Cons

Pro: Integrates directly into PowerPoint—no new software to learn.

Pro: Automatically imports data from Excel, Project®, Smartsheet, and Jira.

Pro: Drag-and-drop editor makes date changes effortless.

Pro: Offers both desktop and browser-based versions for maximum flexibility.

Pro: Prebuilt templates speed up timeline and Gantt chart creation.

Pro: Swimlane and sub-swimlane support highlights multiple workstreams.

Con: Windows-only add-in for PowerPoint; Mac users need the online tool.

Con: Advanced reporting features require a paid plan.

Features

Office Timeline packs everything you need for clear, compelling project visuals. Below are some of the top features:

PowerPoint Timeline Generator

Create and edit timelines directly inside PowerPoint®. No extra downloads required.

• Use your favorite Office themes and color palettes.
• Customize shapes, fonts, and layouts to match your branding.

Online Timeline Creator

Build and share timelines in the cloud, accessible from any PC or Mac.

• Collaborate in real time with team edits and comments.
• Download as PPTX or PNG to reuse anywhere.

Data Integrations

Sync your plan from popular project tools without retyping dates.

• Import from Excel, Microsoft Project®, Smartsheet, and Jira.
• Keep visuals updated with one-click refresh.

Swimlanes and Dependencies

Highlight phases, departments, or workstreams with swimlane layouts and critical-path dependencies.

• Group tasks in sub-swimlanes to reflect team structures.
• Visualize start-to-finish links and milestone markers.

Office Timeline Pricing

Choose the plan that fits your needs, from simple timeline creation to advanced program reporting.

Lite

Price: Less than $9/month (billed annually)

Ideal For: Simple timelines and basic Gantt charts

• Standard templates
• Basic styling options

Plus (Most Popular)

Price: Less than $17/month (billed annually)

Ideal For: Customized project visuals

• Advanced templates
• Excel and Project integration

Expert

Price: Less than $21/month (billed annually)

Ideal For: Enterprise-grade program reporting

• Planned vs. Actual tracking
• Multi-user license options

Online Tool

Runs in any browser—no installation required.

• Collaborate with your team in real time.
• Integrations with Google Slides™, Docs™, and more.

Office Timeline Is Best For

Whether you’re a project manager, a consultant, or an executive, Office Timeline adapts to your workflow.

Project Managers

Build detailed Gantt charts to track timelines and dependencies. Quickly update your schedule when delays occur.

Consultants

Impress clients with clear, branded timeline slides that summarize project roadmaps in a single view.

Executives

Get high-level overviews of program progress and milestone achievements without diving into spreadsheets.

Benefits of Using Office Timeline

• Save time—automate slide creation and data imports.
• Improve clarity—turn complex plans into executive-ready visuals.
• Stay flexible—drag, drop, and adjust dates on the fly.
• Enhance collaboration—share editable browser‐based timelines with your team.
• Maintain consistency—use custom themes and team templates.

Customer Support

Office Timeline’s support team is known for rapid, helpful responses via email and live chat. Documentation and video tutorials are available on the website to troubleshoot common questions.

Whether you need a quick tip on swimlanes or guidance on data integration, you’ll find expert assistance within hours—often minutes—of reaching out.

External Reviews and Ratings

Users consistently praise Office Timeline for its intuitive interface and seamless PowerPoint integration. Many highlight how it replaced manual gantt chart excel workflows and saved hours on slide prep.

Some customers request deeper analytics and Mac-native apps; however, ongoing updates to the online editor address these needs over time.

Educational Resources and Community

Office Timeline maintains a robust blog with best practices, project planning tips, and template downloads. Regular webinars demonstrate advanced features, while a growing user forum fosters peer support and template sharing.

Conclusion

If you’re serious about clear, compelling project visuals and need a better way than traditional gantt chart excel methods, Office Timeline delivers. It integrates with the tools you already use, automates tedious tasks, and produces executive-grade slides in minutes. Ready to see the difference for yourself? Midway through planning your next project, you’ll appreciate how Office Timeline streamlines every step—try it now and experience effortless timeline creation.

Get Started with Office Timeline Today and transform your project reviews into engaging, crystal-clear presentations.