Comprehensive research report - January 14, 2026
| Category | Top Pick | Stars | Why Choose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Best | react-chrono | 4,100+ | Modern, feature-rich, actively maintained |
| Animation/Engagement | Framer Motion | 25,000+ | Scroll-linked animations, 60fps, lightweight |
| Interactive Boards | React Flow | 26,000+ | Node-based, drag-drop, Notion/Linear style |
| Gantt Charts | SVAR Gantt | New | MIT licensed, large datasets, modern API |
| Lightweight | Tailwind Timeline | ~2KB | Zero dependencies, CSS-only |
| No-Code Design | Venngage | SaaS | 20+ templates, HD export, 30 min launch |
| Customer-Facing | ProductBoard | SaaS | Embeddable widget, feedback integration |
| Library | Stars | License | Description | Key Features | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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react-chrono
prabhuignoto/react-chrono
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4,100+ | MIT | Modern timeline component for React with horizontal, vertical, and tree view modes. Perfect for product roadmaps and milestone visualization. |
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React Flow
xyflow/xyflow
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26,000+ | MIT | Node-based diagram library for building interactive roadmap boards. Similar to Notion/Linear-style interfaces with drag-drop. |
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Framer Motion
framer/motion
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25,000+ | MIT | Animation library for React. Use with timeline components for scroll-linked animations and engaging visual experiences. |
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MUI Timeline
Material UI
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90,000+ | MIT | Part of Material UI ecosystem. Simple vertical timeline with Material Design styling. Enterprise standard. |
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| Library | Stars | License | Description | Key Features | Pros | Cons |
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SVAR Gantt
svar.dev
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New (2024) | MIT | Modern open-source Gantt chart optimized for large datasets. Supports complex project management with task dependencies. |
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gantt-task-react
MaTeMaTuK
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1,100 | MIT | Simple Gantt chart for React with TypeScript support. Good for basic project management needs. |
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React Modern Gantt
MikaStiebitz
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- | MIT | Dynamic Gantt with infinite scroll that auto-extends timeline. Modern UI with interactive progress editing. |
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| Library | Stars | License | Description | Key Features | Pros | Cons |
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d3-timeline
denisemauldin
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- | Open | D3.js library for flexible, data-driven timeline visualizations with full customization control. |
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d3-milestones
walterra
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- | Open | Purpose-built for milestone visualization. Clean, minimalist design for historical timelines. |
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D3.js
d3/d3
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108,000+ | ISC | The foundational visualization library. Build completely custom timeline and roadmap visualizations. |
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| Solution | Size | License | Description | Key Features | Pros | Cons |
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Tailwind Timeline
Flowbite
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~2KB | MIT | CSS-only timeline built on Tailwind utilities. Zero JavaScript dependencies, fully responsive. |
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Pure CSS Timelines
Various
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0-5KB | Various | Collection of CSS-only timeline patterns. 90+ examples using Flexbox, Grid, and CSS animations. |
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| Tool | Type | Pricing | Description | Key Features | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venngage | SaaS Design | Freemium | Online design tool with 20+ professional roadmap templates. Perfect for pitch decks and presentations. |
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| Canva | SaaS Design | Free tier | Popular design platform with extensive template library. Unique animated video (MP4) export option. |
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| Notion Templates | Database | Free tier | Multi-view roadmap templates using Notion's database. Timeline, Kanban, Calendar views from single data. |
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| Platform | Type | Pricing | Description | Key Features | Pros | Cons |
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| ProductBoard | SaaS | $$$ | Feature-rich product management platform with embeddable public roadmap widget and feedback integration. |
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| Aha! | SaaS | $$$ | Comprehensive product strategy suite with multiple visualization views and enterprise integrations. |
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| Roadmunk | SaaS | $$ | Roadmap tool with multiple visualization types (timeline, swimlane) from single dataset. Now part of Tempo. |
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| Miro | Whiteboard | Freemium | Virtual collaboration platform with roadmap templates. Excellent for team brainstorming and planning. |
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| Library | Type | Stars | License | Engagement | Learning | Interactive | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| react-chrono | Timeline | 4,100+ | MIT | High | Low | Medium | Milestone roadmaps |
| React Flow | Board | 26,000+ | MIT | Very High | Medium | Very High | Interactive boards |
| Framer Motion | Animation | 25,000+ | MIT | Very High | Medium | N/A | Scroll animations |
| SVAR Gantt | Gantt | New | MIT | Medium | Medium | High | Project management |
| MUI Timeline | Timeline | 90,000+ | MIT | Medium | Low | Low | Material Design apps |
| Tailwind Timeline | CSS | - | MIT | Medium | Very Low | None | Static sites |
| D3.js | Visualization | 108,000+ | ISC | High | High | High | Custom visualizations |
| Venngage | Design | - | Commercial | Very High | None | None | Presentations |
| ProductBoard | SaaS | - | $$$ | High | None | Medium | Customer roadmaps |