Help & FAQ

By default, everything you create in FreeTimeline is saved locally in your own browser, using localStorage and IndexedDB. Nothing is uploaded to a server and we never see it. The trade-off is that your data lives on the specific device and browser where you made it — unless you opt into the free account below and explicitly save or publish a timeline to the cloud.

If a timeline seems to have vanished, check these first:

• You opened the same browser on the same device where you created it.
• You are not in a private / incognito window (those forget everything when closed).
• You have not cleared cookies, site data, or run a browser "clean-up" tool.

Clearing your browser's site data, uninstalling the browser, or using a cleaner tool will permanently erase any timeline that was not exported. There is no copy on our side to restore from. The only real protection is a backup — see the next question.

Open the Data ▾ menu in the app toolbar and choose one of:

• Export JSON — downloads a complete .json copy of your timeline. This is the format to keep for backups and for moving between devices.
• Save HTML — downloads a self-contained page you can open and read in any browser, handy for sharing or archiving.

Store those files somewhere durable — cloud storage, an external drive, or an email to yourself. Because your data lives only in your browser, a regular exported backup is the only guaranteed way to never lose your work. Make one whenever you have done a meaningful amount of editing.

Yes. FreeTimeline is local-first. Once the page has finished loading, the app runs entirely inside your browser and needs no internet connection to create, edit, or view your timelines.

A connection is only used to load the page in the first place and to show the ads that keep the tool free. Your actual timeline data never travels over the network — unless you opt into the free account and choose to save or publish a timeline to the cloud.

Since data is stored per-browser, you move a timeline by exporting then importing it:

1. On the original device, open Data ▾ → Export JSON and save the file.
2. Transfer that .json file to the new device (cloud, email, or USB stick).
3. On the new device, open FreeTimeline and choose Data ▾ → Import to load the file.

The same steps work when you simply switch to a different browser on the same computer — each browser keeps its own separate storage.

Yes, it is genuinely free, and no account is required. Open the app and start building a timeline right away — there are no premium tiers, trials, or hidden costs for the core local tool.

An account only becomes relevant if you want optional cloud save, publishing, or sharing features. The offline, on-device experience never asks you to sign up or hand over an email address.

If you choose to create a free account, we store your email and a salted password hash (never your plain password), plus any profile details you set such as display name, username, bio, or avatar.

When you explicitly save a timeline to the cloud, we store that timeline's JSON along with its title, description, and tags. If you use social features, we also store likes, favorites, follows, and comments you make or receive. All of this lives in an EU-hosted database.

Anything you set to public or share via a link is visible to others — private timelines are not. You can delete a timeline or your entire account at any time; deletion removes the corresponding data from the database.

FreeTimeline has no subscriptions and no paywall, so lightweight advertising (Google AdSense) pays for the domain and hosting. That is what lets the tool itself stay free.

Where required, a consent banner lets you accept or reject personalised advertising cookies. You can change your mind at any time using the "Manage cookie preferences" link in the footer of any page. For the full breakdown of what is stored and why, see our Cookie Policy.

We genuinely want to hear about problems and ideas. Head to the Contact page to send a bug report or suggestion. If it is a bug, please include what you were doing and which browser you use, so we can reproduce it.

You can also see what is planned, in progress, and already shipped — and vote on ideas — on our public Roadmap.

Universe Timeline is for fiction and world-building: fantasy histories, multi-book sagas, campaign lore, and the characters, factions and arcs that stretch across centuries.

Biography Timeline is for real life: your own milestones, relationships, and personal chapters — a private record of your journey through time.

Both are local-first, both work offline, and both let you export your data as JSON. Not sure? Read more on the About page.