Best Office Timeline Alternatives Shortlist
Here are my picks for the best Office Timeline alternatives.
Get free help from our project management software advisors to find your match.
If you're finding that Office Timeline isn't the right project management software tool for your team, there are lots of Office Timeline alternatives available that can help you plan projects, build Gantt charts, and create timelines.
Office Timeline might not have the right feature set to fulfill your use case, so I've tested and reviewed dozens of alternatives to Office Timeline to help you find a replacement. Whether you need more customization, collaborative features, or integrations, these are my recommendations for the best Office Timeline alternatives.
What is Office Timeline?
Office Timeline is a user-friendly add-in for Microsoft PowerPoint that allows users to create visually appealing project timelines and Gantt charts. It simplifies the process of transforming complex project data into easy-to-understand visuals for reports, meetings, and presentations.
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Best Office Timeline Alternatives Summary
Compare pricing and other specs for each of my picks for Office Timeline alternatives below.
Tool | Best For | Trial Info | Price | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Best for visual project management | 14-day free trial | From $5/user/month (billed annually) + free plan available | Website | |
2 | Best for proofing and file approval | 14-day free trial | From $45/month (billed annually) | Website | |
3 | Best for layer-based timeline views | 14-day free trial | From $10/user/month (billed annually) + free plan available | Website | |
4 | Best for 3D timeline visualization | 14-day free trial + free plan available | From $150/user (billed annually) | Website | |
5 | Best for auto-scheduling features | 14-day free trial | From $149 (one time purchase, billed annually) | Website | |
6 | Best for simple drag-and-drop interface | Not available | From $8/user/month + free plan available | Website | |
7 | Best for interactive Gantt charts | 14-day free trial | From $7/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
8 | Best for managing team workloads | Freemium version available | From $10/user/month (min of 2 seats) | Website | |
9 | Best for advanced timeline management | 10-day free trial + free plan available | From $4/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
10 | Best for increased resource visibility | 14-day free trial + free demo available | From $7/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
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monday.com
This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.6 -
Wrike
This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.2 -
CRM Creatio
This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.7
Best Office Timeline Alternatives Reviews
Here’s my detailed analysis and overview of each alternative to Office Timeline. I cover advantages and disadvantages, features, and ideal scenarios for each tool.
Trello is a tool that facilitates team collaboration on projects. It’s best for visual project management due to its intuitive boards, lists, and cards for a clear visual status of projects.
Why it's a good Office Timeline alternative: Trello offers a highly visual and intuitive interface for managing projects and timelines through customizable boards, lists, and cards. Its flexibility and ease of use make it ideal for teams to collaborate in real-time, track project progress, and manage tasks efficiently, without the need for extensive setup or training.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include customizable boards, lists, cards, and other views such as Timeline and Calendar.
Integrations include Slack, Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, Evernote, GitHub, Mailchimp, Salesforce, and Zapier.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Extensive integration options
- Multiple views for project tracking
- Intuitive and customizable interface
Cons:
- May lack advanced project management features for some users
- Paid plans may be costly for larger teams
ProofHub is a project management tool that simplifies team collaboration and project execution. It’s best for proofing and file approval due to its integrated markup tools that streamline the review process.
Why it's a good Office Timeline alternative: ProofHub offers advanced project management features without charging per user, making it a cost-effective alternative to Office Timeline. Its proofing and file approval capabilities stand out for teams that require efficient feedback and sign-off processes.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include task management with to-do lists and Kanban boards, Gantt chart project planning, time tracking, custom workflows, and file sharing. It also offers proofing tools for feedback and approvals, real-time collaboration with chat and discussions, project templates, and calendar integration.
Integrations include Dropbox, Google Drive, Box, and OneDrive.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Comprehensive set of project management and collaboration features
- Unlimited users are allowed on both plans
- Flat pricing model with no per-user fee
Cons:
- May be higher cost for small teams
- Limited customer support
Preceden is a timeline maker designed for various applications, from project management to education. Its layer-based timeline views enable users to manage and visualize complex data efficiently.
Why it's a good Office Timeline alternative: Preceden’s distinctive layer-based views facilitate the organization of timelines with multiple activities. This capability is particularly beneficial for complex project management, positioning it as a noteworthy alternative to Office Timeline.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include unlimited timeline creation, unlimited event addition, and export options, including links, PDFs, images, HTML embeds, PowerPoint presentations, and spreadsheets.
Integrations include Microsoft Powerpoint and Microsoft Excel.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Multiple export options for sharing and presentations
- AI-generated timelines for quick setup
- Layer-based views for complex timelines
Cons:
- No offline access
- Moderate learning curve
Tiki-Toki is a web-based timeline creation software that allows users to create interactive and visually appealing timelines. It’s suitable for various applications, from educational purposes to business presentations, and supports easy sharing and embedding of timelines on websites.
Why it's a good Office Timeline alternative: Tiki-Toki’s unique 3D timeline view offers a dynamic and visually engaging way to present historical data or project timelines. This makes it a compelling alternative to Office Timeline for those who want to add a new dimension to their presentations.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include interactive timeline creation, support for images, videos, and audio, multiple view options including 2D and 3D views, extensive customization options, embedding timelines on websites, sharing capabilities, category-based event filtering, collaboration tools for team projects, a variety of timeline templates, and easy integration with social media platforms.
Integrations include YouTube and Vimeo.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Web-based with no downloads required
- Interactive multimedia timelines with images, videos, and audio
- Unique 3D timeline visualization
Cons:
- Customization options may be limited compared to other tools
- Pricing may not be suitable for all budgets
Timeline Maker Pro is a strong timeline creation tool. It stands out for its auto-scheduling features, which streamline the process of organizing events on a timeline.
Why it's a good Office Timeline alternative: Timeline Maker Pro’s unique auto-scheduling capabilities helps teams automatically arrange events in a logical order. This feature is useful for creating timelines that require precise sequencing and scheduling, making it a strong alternative to Office Timeline.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include one-click timeline creation, intuitive event entry through a spreadsheet-style interface, customizable themes, various timeline formats like bar charts, Gantt charts, and flag charts, and options for printing, publishing, and sharing timelines in multiple formats.
Integrations include Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft PowerPoint.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- No annual license subscription fees
- One-click timeline chart creation with multiple styles
- Auto-scheduling features for efficient timeline organization
Cons:
- Primarily designed for Windows platforms
- Limited collaboration features
Gantt.io is a tool that simplifies the creation of Gantt charts with an intuitive drag-and-drop interface. It's best for those who need a straightforward solution for charting project timelines.
Why it's a good Office Timeline alternative: Gantt.io provides teams with a user-friendly interface, which makes it easy to create and manage Gantt charts. Its simplicity and efficiency make it a strong alternative to Office Timeline, especially for users who prioritize ease of use over complex features.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include interactive Gantt charts, drag-and-drop functionality, multi-user editing, customizable templates, time-travel to view project history, and high-resolution export options.
Integrations include Google Ads and Microsoft PowerPoint.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- High-resolution and SVG exports
- Unlimited number of Gantt charts
- Simple drag-and-drop interface
Cons:
- No real-time collaboration
- Limited to 30 elements per chart on the free plan
GanttPRO is an online project management tool that leverages Gantt charts for planning and collaboration. It's interactive Gantt charts allow team members to work together synchronously, enhancing overall collaboration.
Why it's a good Office Timeline alternative: GanttPRO emphasizes collaboration and real-time updates, which are essential for dynamic project environments. Its ability to facilitate immediate communication and adjustments among team members makes it a strong alternative to Office Timeline.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include interactive Gantt chart creation, task and milestone tracking, project templates, resource management, custom fields and colors, budget tracking, time tracking, and project baselines for progress comparison.
Integrations include Slack, Google Drive, Jira, and Microsoft Teams.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Native integrations with popular tools
- Comprehensive project management features
- Real-time collaboration on Gantt charts
Cons:
- Some advanced features may have a learning curve
- A minimum of 5 seats is required for the starting price
Wrike is a project management tool that helps teams plan, execute, and track their work. It offers various features to manage tasks, timelines, and resources effectively. With Wrike, you can organize projects, collaborate with your team, and monitor progress in real-time.
Why it's a good Office Timeline alternative:
Wrike's Gantt chart feature allows you to visualize your project timelines and dependencies, making it easier to plan and adjust schedules as needed. This helps your team stay on track and meet deadlines. Additionally, Wrike's dynamic request forms enable you to collect project information efficiently, ensuring all necessary details are captured upfront.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include workload management, time tracking, task prioritization, custom workflows, calendar view, file sharing, real-time editing, project templates, request forms, approvals, and reporting.
Integrations include Salesforce, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Adobe Creative Cloud, Google Drive, Microsoft SharePoint, OneDrive, Wrike for Gmail, Google Sheets, Power BI, Miro, and Trello.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Workflow automation capabilities
- Good resource management features
- Various project views such as Gantt charts, Kanban boards, and calendars
Cons:
- Limited storage on lower-tier plans
- Can be complicated to learn the platform
Zoho Projects is a project management tool designed to help teams organize tasks, track milestones, and collaborate effectively. With features that cater to project timelines, task dependencies, and scheduling, Zoho Projects gives you flexibility in visualizing and managing project workflows.
Why it's a good Office Timeline alternative:
I chose Zoho Projects because of its advanced timeline management features, including Gantt charts, which provide a detailed view of project schedules and dependencies. With Gantt charts, you can easily map out project timelines, set milestones, and adjust deadlines as projects evolve, helping your team stay on track. Additionally, its dependency feature allows you to connect tasks that rely on one another, making it easy to visualize the sequence of project activities and monitor any delays.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include task management, Gantt chart customization, task dependencies, timeline visualization, issue tracking, project templates, task prioritization, timesheets, reporting tools, task recurrence, custom fields, and project calendars.
Integrations include Cliq, Bookings, TeamInbox, WorkDrive, Sign, Office Suite, ZeptoMail, Calendar, Learn, Voice, and ToDo.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Customizable templates
- Document management for easy file storage
- Extensive timeline management
Cons:
- Mobile app has fewer features than desktop version
- Limited offline functionality
Hub Planner is a tool designed for scheduling and resource management. It stands out in resource planning due to its strategic overview of project allocations and team availability.
Why it's a good Office Timeline alternative:
Hub Planner provides an advanced view of resource scheduling and utilization. Its focus on avoiding overbooking and maximizing resource efficiency makes it suitable for those prioritizing detailed resource management over traditional timeline views.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include resource scheduling and management, project planning and forecasting, time tracking and timesheets, budget management, custom reporting and analytics, real-time availability and utilization tracking, and drag-and-drop interface for ease of use.
Integrations include Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, iCal, Zapier, and Slack.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Seamless integration with other tools
- Robust reporting capabilities
- Intuitive resource scheduling
Cons:
- Limited customization options
- Steep learning curve for new users
Other Office Timeline Alternatives
Here are a few other options for Office Timeline alternatives if you didn’t find what you were looking for above.
- Basecamp
For team collaboration tools
- ProjectManager
For real-time project planning
- Asana
For workflow automation
- Resource Guru
For resource management
- Kantata
For professional services automation
- monday.com
For workflow automation
- Jira
For Agile software development teams
- Smartsheet
For spreadsheet-like project views
- Visor
For streamlined budget tracking
- GanttProject
For Microsoft Project compatibility
- ClickUp
For task versatility
Related Project Management Software Reviews
If you still haven't found what you're looking for here, check out these other related tools that we've tested and evaluated:
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- Time Tracking Software
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- Gantt Chart Maker
- Productivity Tools
- Project Tracking Software
- Project Scheduling Software
Office Timeline Alternatives Selection Criteria
When selecting the best Office Timeline alternatives to include in this list, I considered common buyer needs and pain points like the need for better collaboration across teams and more automation for timeline updates. I also used the following framework to keep my evaluation structured and fair:
Core Functionality (25% of total score)
To be considered for inclusion in this list, each solution had to fulfill these common use cases:
- Create and manage project timelines
- Track tasks and deadlines
- Generate visual project reports
- Support team collaboration and sharing
- Integrate with other work management tools
Additional Standout Features (25% of total score)
To help further narrow down the competition, I also looked for unique features, such as:
- Real-time timeline updates with automated adjustments
- AI-powered task recommendations and scheduling
- Customizable workflow automation
- Interactive Gantt chart functionality
- Advanced reporting with predictive analytics
Usability (10% of total score)
To get a sense of the usability of each system, I considered whether the tools:
- Provide an intuitive, user-friendly interface
- Offer drag-and-drop functionality for timeline editing
- Minimize the number of clicks to complete common actions
- Adapt well to both desktop and mobile use
- Maintain system stability and fast performance
Onboarding (10% of total score)
To evaluate the onboarding experience for each platform, I considered whether each tool offered the following:
- A quick-start guide or setup wizard
- Interactive product tours and walkthroughs
- Video tutorials and training resources
- Pre-built templates for common project types
- Easy data import from other tools
Customer Support (10% of total score)
To assess each software provider’s customer support services, I considered the availability of the following for each tool:
- Multiple support channels, including chat and email
- Clear, accessible documentation and FAQs
- Fast response times for support requests
- Active user community or forum
- Dedicated account support for enterprise users
Value For Money (10% of total score)
To evaluate the value for money of each platform, I considered whether the tools:
- Offer flexible pricing plans for different team sizes
- Include a free trial or demo option
- Provide transparent pricing with no hidden fees
- Balance features with cost-effectiveness
- Offer scalability without excessive price increases
Customer Reviews (10% of total score)
To get a sense of overall customer satisfaction, I considered whether customer reviews highlighted the following:
- Ease of use and adoption rates
- Reliability and performance consistency
- Quality of customer support
- Pricing satisfaction relative to features
- Common frustrations or dealbreakers
Why Look for an Office Timeline Alternative
Although Office Timeline is a valuable tool, there are several reasons you might be looking for an alternative. For example, you might find you and your team:
- Need more features: Office Timeline lacks advanced features necessary for managing complex project timelines.
- Prefer different integrations: If you rely on tools outside of Microsoft Office, look for software that offers broader integration options.
- Require advanced collaboration: Office Timeline's collaboration features may fall short of your team's requirements.
- Want more flexibility: Office Timeline's customization capabilities are limited.
- Need better value: Office Timeline's pricing might not suit your budget or offer the value you expect.
Key Features of Office Timeline
Here are some of the key features of Office Timeline, to help you contrast and compare what alternative solutions offer:
- Integration with PowerPoint: Lets you build and edit timelines directly within PowerPoint, so it's easy to include them in presentations.
- Customizable templates: Provides pre-made templates that you can modify to match your project’s needs and save time and effort.
- Swimlanes and sub-swimlanes: Helps organize tasks and milestones into distinct categories for better project clarity.
- Import from Excel: Lets you quickly pull in data from Excel to create timelines without manually entering task details.
- Task dependencies and critical path: Shows how tasks are connected and highlights the critical path to help you manage deadlines.
- Multiple timescales: Allows you to display daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly timelines to match different project needs.
- Custom themes: Gives you the option to create and apply consistent styling across all your project visuals.
- Data refresh: Updates timelines automatically when linked data in Excel, Project, or Jira changes.
- Integration with other tools: Works with Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, Jira, and Wrike to sync project data.
- Premium support: Provides priority technical support for faster issue resolution.
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