RootsMagic vs Aeon Timeline 3
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
RootsMagic
Access and explore your family tree on your mobile device. This companion app allows you to view your genealogy data, including media, notes, and sources, in various formats. It also provides helpful tools for research and organization.
- View actual RootsMagic files
- Transfer files via iTunes/DropBox
- Pedigree, Family, Descendant views
- Search ancestors by name/record number
- View media, notes, and sources
- Relationship calculator
- Perpetual calendar
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Your family tree at your fingertips! Now you can easily take and show off your family history with you wherever you go. RootsMagic lets you carry your genealogy on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch! This viewer is designed as a companion product to RootsMagic, the award-winning desktop genealogy software which makes researching, organizing, and sharing your family history easy. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced professional, RootsMagic is the perfect tool for you! Features include: Files: * Uses your actual RootsMagic files- no conversion needed * Easily put your family history files on your device through iTunes or DropBox * Keep as many files as you want right on your device * Use the free desktop software to convert other genealogy files including PAF, Family Tree Maker, Legacy Family Tree, and GEDCOM into viewable RootsMagic files. Views: * Pedigree, Family, Descendant, and Individual Views to quickly explore your family tree * Browse people by surname and given names * Search ancestors by name or record number * View media, notes, and sources for people, families, events, and facts Lists: * Source list * To-do lists * Research Logs * Media Lists * Address Book * Repository List * Correspondence List * Place List Tools: * Perpetual calendar * Date calculator * Relationship calculator * Soundex calculator Note: Requires RootsMagic desktop family tree software or the free RootsMagic Essentials software to create, edit, or add to your genealogy files.
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
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: RootsMagic at none against Aeon Timeline 3's 4. RootsMagic also leads on ratings volume (257 vs 50) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 13.0). Aeon Timeline 3's advantage is review sentiment (60% vs 35%) and update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). On price, rating, ads and device support 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. RootsMagic asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.9 for RootsMagic against 3.9 for Aeon Timeline 3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RootsMagic has 257 ratings behind it against 50, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 35% of RootsMagic's written reviews are positive against 60% of Aeon Timeline 3's.
RootsMagic ships an update every 3 months, Aeon Timeline 3 monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | RootsMagic | Aeon Timeline 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.9 (257 ratings) | 3.9 (50 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 34.7% of reviews | 60.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 257 — better | 50 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 24 MB | 78 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | RootsMagic, Inc | Timeline.App Pty. Ltd. |
Customer experience
RootsMagic
Aeon Timeline 3
User reviews
RootsMagic
From 257 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 📱 Ability to view genealogy data on mobile devices
- 🔍 Convenient way to access family tree information
- 🗓️ Useful for family gatherings and research trips
Room to improve
- 🔌 Requires external services like Dropbox or iTunes to sync data
- 🚫 Limited functionality compared to desktop version
- 📤 Outdated instructions and compatibility issues
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability problems
Aeon Timeline 3
From 50 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Excellent for fiction writing
- 💡 Highly customizable data structures
- 🚀 Efficient for project management
- 🔄 Multiple flexible data views
- ✨ Aesthetically pleasing design
Room to improve
- 💸 Expensive pricing/licensing
- 🐛 Glitchy mobile app
- 📉 Steep learning curve
- 🐌 Slow performance with large datasets
- 🚫 No export options (iOS)
Bugs and requests
RootsMagic
Reported bugs
3 issues- Incompatible with newer RootsMagic file formats
- Inability to load or view database files
- Crashing issues on various iOS devices
Requested features
3 requests- Allow editing and adding data on mobile devices
- Integrate with cloud storage services beyond Dropbox
- Improve user interface and navigation
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
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- 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
In-app purchases
RootsMagic
No 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
Questions
Is RootsMagic free?
Is Aeon Timeline 3 free?
Which has better reviews, RootsMagic or Aeon Timeline 3?
Do RootsMagic or Aeon Timeline 3 have ads?
Which is updated more often, RootsMagic or Aeon Timeline 3?
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