Aeon Timeline 3 vs PDF Indexer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Aeon Timeline 3
Create visually rich timelines for creative writing, project management, legal cases, and research. Offers multiple views like timeline, relationship, and mindmap. A free read-only mode is available, with editing unlocked via a one-time in-app purchase.
- Multiple data visualization views
- Timeline, relationship, and mindmap views
- Story arc and character tracking
- Project breakdown and task management
- Legal case event mapping
- Customizable calendars
- Scrivener/Ulysses integration
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Create beautifully organised, data rich timelines for every project: packed with templates and features for creative writing, project management, legal case management, and research and education projects. Free read-only mode: - Aeon Timeline is free to download and use in read-only mode to view timelines shared by other users. Buy Aeon Timeline, own it forever: - Unlock editing across up to 5 devices (MacOS, iOS and Windows) with an in-app purchase. - Each purchase comes with a year of free updates. - Renew to unlock further updates, or continue using your existing version forever - Renew updates at any time without penalty SAME DATA, MANY VIEWS: In Aeon Timeline, create your data once and visualise it any number of ways: * Timeline View: a graphical representation of events across time * Relationship View: a matrix showing how your events relate to people and places * Spreadsheet View: rapid data entry to get down your ideas * Subway View: shows how individual threads of people, story arcs and concepts are intertwined * Narrative View: a graphical depiction of an independent narrative order and structure * Outline View: a spreadsheet-like outline display of your narrative structure * Mindmap View: a free-form space to brainstorm ideas and create visual representations of relationships FOR WRITERS: Whether you are just starting your next writing project or looking to edit and refine the next great novel, Aeon Timeline helps you understand your story world like never before * Connect events in your story timeline with characters and setting. * Arrange events into story arcs and themes * Track character ages and developments through back story and live scenes * Drag events from your timeline into a story outline * On desktop, sync your narrative and characters with your writing project in Scrivener (Mac/Win) or Ulysses (Mac-only) * Story set off-world? No problem, build your own fantasy calendar FOR PROJECT MANAGERS: Break free of gantt charts with a range of views to visualise your project plan in new ways. * Quickly break down your project structure in Spreadsheet View * Organise tasks into hierarchies of stories, epics and projects * Assign people and resources to tasks; use split views and filters to compare progress across projects or people * Use date constraints and dependencies to keep your project in logical order * Add your own custom fields to track the data you need FOR LEGAL CASE MANAGEMENT: Create a visual representation of your legal case for clearer insights and court room presentations * Map connections between known events and facts with specific people, places, and documents involved * Use stacked split views to compare and corroborate different versions of events, and analyse theories of your legal case * Use dependencies and constraints to find inconsistencies in testimonies and evidence * Represent uncertainty by specifying earliest/latest ranges for event start and end dates. * Use Narrative View to prepare your legal argument for trial with supporting links back to the original data * Export images and PDFs of your timeline to present during a case FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION: History is not just about events, but the people, places and ideas that connect them. * View how people, ideas and advances in culture and technology are connected using Relationship and Subway Views. * Use stacked split views to compare timelines for different civilizations, innovations, or historical figures. * Create content specific to your needs by expanding on our starting education templates * Represent uncertainty by specifying earliest/latest ranges for event start and end dates. * Record dates and times down to the second, or simply record months or years. * Print and display your timelines for classrooms. Export images/PDFs to share in presentations or articles. Privacy Policy: https://timeline.app/privacy Terms of Use: https://timeline.app/terms-and-conditions
PDF Indexer
This app creates fast navigation for PDFs by turning title-to-page mappings into searchable indexes. It allows you to import mappings from various file formats and opens directly to the mapped page within the PDF. All data is stored locally on your device for privacy.
- Search across multiple indexed PDFs
- Exact, prefix, substring, and alias matching
- Jump directly to mapped pages
- Import mappings from CSV, JSON, XLSX, and text
- Page-offset calibration
- Mapping correction and export
- Local-first data storage
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PDF Indexer turns a separate title-to-page mapping into fast navigation for a PDF. Choose a PDF, add its index, and search titles across your library. On import, the app divides the PDF into private on-device sections at indexed title pages and removes its temporary full-size copy. A result opens only the matching section at the mapped PDF page. Page offsets handle documents whose printed page numbers do not match their PDF positions. Import mappings from CSV, JSON, XLSX, pasted text, or manual entry. Review validation warnings before saving, correct individual rows later, replace a mapping without copying the PDF again, and export a mapping as CSV or JSON. PDF Indexer is local-first. It needs no account and has no publisher-operated analytics or app-run cloud service. Your app library stays in private device storage unless you choose to export a mapping. The free app may show non-personalized banner ads after any required privacy choices. PDFs, mappings, titles, and searches are not sent to the ad service. See the Privacy Policy for operating-system backup details. Highlights: • Search across multiple indexed PDFs • Exact, prefix, substring, and alias matching • Jump directly to mapped pages • CSV, JSON, XLSX, pasted-text, and manual mapping input • Page-offset calibration and bounds validation • Mapping correction, replacement, and export • Missing-file recovery without losing the mapping • Light and dark appearance PDFs and mappings are supplied by the user. PDF Indexer does not include third-party books or indexes.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: PDF Indexer at 5.0 against Aeon Timeline 3's 3.9. PDF Indexer also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and update cadence (every 2 days vs monthly). Aeon Timeline 3's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (50 vs 2). On price there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Aeon Timeline 3 sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $34.99 per year. PDF Indexer asks for nothing beyond the download.
PDF Indexer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Aeon Timeline 3 has 50 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Aeon Timeline 3 ships an update monthly, PDF Indexer every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Aeon Timeline 3 | PDF Indexer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.9 (50 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 50 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Ad-supported — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 16.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 78 MB | 53 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Timeline.App Pty. Ltd. | MATTHEW BYONG BAE |
Customer experience
Aeon Timeline 3
PDF Indexer
Bugs and requests
Aeon Timeline 3
Reported bugs
11 issues- Mobile app is glitchy
- Cannot tap bottom option when scrolling
- Tilting phone sends back to another menu
- File icon drops into Files app with no way back
- Date inputs defaulting to year 2000
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- Bug with date inputs
- Item IDs do not adjust when rearranging timeline
- Licensing is glitchy
- Free trial ends prematurely
- Cannot purchase or use app after download
- Mobile version has bugs like 'untitled' event selection
Requested features
10 requests- Timeline-map feature
- Manual distance labeling on maps
- Sliding through time with character labels on maps
- Manual export options from iOS app
- A reference manual instead of just online knowledge base
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- BP (Before Present) option for dates
- More flexibility in calendar types
- Ability to see age of witnesses to an event
- German language support
- French language support
PDF Indexer
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Aeon Timeline 3
- Aeon Timeline 3 + Subscription1 Year trial$34.991 Year
- Updates: Subscription$34.991 Year
- Updates: One Year$34.99
- Aeon Timeline 3$64.99
PDF Indexer
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Aeon Timeline 3 free?
Is PDF Indexer free?
Which has better reviews, Aeon Timeline 3 or PDF Indexer?
Do Aeon Timeline 3 or PDF Indexer have ads?
Which is updated more often, Aeon Timeline 3 or PDF Indexer?
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