Lite
$9
/month
- + 2 swimlanes
- + Basic Excel copy-paste
- + Advanced timeline styling
- + PowerPoint add-in (Windows)
Office Timeline
PowerPoint add-in that turns project data into beautiful timeline and Gantt chart slides in minutes.
project-management
Our Score
4.3
Starting at $9 /month
Free Plan Available
Try Office Timeline Free →
Affiliate link
4.3
RecommendedOffice Timeline Score
Ease of Use
4.1
Features
4.2
Value
4.4
Support
4.0
Based on our editorial review across usability, features, value, support, and integrations.
Best For
Project managers who present schedules to executives and stakeholdersManagement consultants creating timeline slides for client deliverablesPMO teams standardizing project reporting visuals across the organizationAnyone using Microsoft Project who needs better visual outputProfessionals who work heavily in PowerPoint for business presentations
Best For
Project managers who present schedules to executives and stakeholders
Free Trial
Yes
Standout Feature
PowerPoint Timeline Add-in with dedicated ribbon for slide creation
Track Record
Since 2011
What Problem It Solves
Project managers spend hours every week creating status update presentations. They export data from project management tools, manually recreate timelines in PowerPoint using shapes and text boxes, align everything pixel by pixel, and then repeat the entire process when the schedule changes. Office Timeline eliminates this painful cycle by connecting directly to your project data sources and generating polished, stakeholder-ready visuals in minutes. When the schedule changes, you update the data and the visual refreshes automatically — no more manual PowerPoint editing. For consultants billing $200+/hour, saving 2-3 hours per week on presentation creation pays for the tool many times over. The result is professional visuals that clearly communicate project status, timelines, and milestones to non-technical audiences who don't want to see a 500-line Gantt chart.
Key Features
- PowerPoint Timeline Add-in with dedicated ribbon for slide creation
- Gantt Chart Maker with milestones, dependencies, and swimlanes
- Data Import from Microsoft Project, Excel, and Smartsheet
- Office Timeline Online — web-based timeline builder with collaboration
- 50+ Professional Templates for timelines, Gantt charts, and roadmaps
- Instant Style Options with custom colors, fonts, and layouts
- Swimlane Views for organizing tasks by team, phase, or category
Pros
- + Creates presentation-ready timeline visuals directly inside PowerPoint
- + Imports data from Microsoft Project and Excel — no manual re-entry needed
- + One-time license option means no recurring monthly subscription costs
- + Professional-quality output that impresses executives and stakeholders
- + Easy to learn even for non-technical users with drag-and-drop editing
Cons
- - Not a project management tool — no task assignment, tracking, or automations
- - PowerPoint add-in only available on Windows (no Mac support)
- - Online version has fewer features than the desktop PowerPoint add-in
- - Advanced features like data import require the Pro+ or Expert edition
Pricing
Plus
$17
/month
- + Unlimited swimlanes
- + Dependencies & critical path
- + Triple timescales
- + Full Excel import
Expert
$21
/month
- + Planned vs Actual tracking
- + Custom templates
- + Advanced integrations
- + Premium support
Starting at $9 /month
Free Plan Available
Try Office Timeline Free →
Affiliate link
Our Verdict
Office Timeline — Recommended
Office Timeline occupies a unique niche that most project management tools ignore entirely: the gap between raw project data and stakeholder communication. Every project manager knows this pain — you have detailed Gantt charts in MS Project or monday.com, but when it's time to present to executives or clients, you need something visual, polished, and simple. That's exactly what Office Timeline delivers.
The PowerPoint add-in is where the tool shines brightest. It adds a dedicated timeline ribbon to PowerPoint, letting you create professional timeline and Gantt chart slides directly in the software your stakeholders already use. You can import data from Microsoft Project (.mpp files), Excel spreadsheets, or build from scratch using their templates. The styling options are extensive — custom colors, fonts, milestones, task bars, and swimlanes — so the output looks like a designer made it, not a project manager.
The limitation is scope. Office Timeline is a visualization and communication tool, not a project management platform. You can't assign tasks, track time, manage resources, or run automations. It's also Windows-focused — the PowerPoint add-in only works on Windows, though Office Timeline Online (their web app) works cross-platform. Pricing for the desktop add-in is one-time license fees rather than subscriptions, which is actually a pro for users tired of monthly SaaS costs.
Our recommendation: Office Timeline is essential for project managers and consultants who regularly present project status to executives, clients, or boards. If you need beautiful timeline visuals and work in a PowerPoint-centric environment, nothing else comes close. If you need actual project management functionality, pair it with a tool like monday.com or MS Project.
Related Tools
How much does Office Timeline cost?
Office Timeline offers both one-time licenses and subscriptions. The Free edition lets you create basic timelines and Gantt charts with limited styling. Office Timeline Online (web-based) starts at $9/month per user for the Pro plan. The PowerPoint add-in comes in three editions: Pro ($59 one-time or $9/month), Pro+ ($99 one-time or $15/month) with data import capabilities, and Expert ($149 one-time or $19/month) with swimlanes, project grouping, and advanced formatting. Annual subscriptions offer discounts. Volume licensing is available for teams.
Does Office Timeline work with Microsoft Project?
Yes, this is one of Office Timeline's strongest features. The Pro+ and Expert editions can import .mpp files directly from Microsoft Project, as well as data from Excel spreadsheets and Smartsheet. Once imported, Office Timeline converts the raw project data into clean, visual timeline and Gantt chart slides. When your MS Project schedule changes, you can re-import the data and the timeline updates accordingly. This integration is a major time-saver for project managers who maintain detailed schedules in MS Project but need simplified visuals for executive reporting.
Is Office Timeline only for PowerPoint?
No, Office Timeline now offers two main products. The original PowerPoint add-in works within PowerPoint on Windows to create timeline slides. Office Timeline Online is a web-based timeline builder that works in any browser on any operating system — Windows, Mac, or Linux. The online version lets you create, edit, and share timelines collaboratively, with export options to PowerPoint, PDF, and image formats. However, the PowerPoint add-in remains the most feature-rich product, especially for users who live in PowerPoint for their presentations.
Starting at $9 /month
Free Plan Available
Try Office Timeline Free →
Affiliate link
Try Office Timeline Free →
Affiliate link