Comparison

Complicated vs Truly Simple Timeline

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Complicated

Create custom watch complications by linking to JSON files hosted online. Display dynamic data from your own web applications, cloud storage, or automation services directly on your watch face.

Highlights
  • Create custom watch complications
  • Link to hosted JSON files
  • Supports HTTP and HTTPS
  • Multiple complication styles
  • Tap-to-view additional text
  • Automatic JSON reloading
Features
Read full description

Create your own custom watch complications! How does it work? * Create a simple JSON file and upload it to your favorite web hosting provider * Register the JSON file URL in the watch app itself (both HTTP and HTTPS are supported) * Now simply add complications with your custom data directly to your watch faces Examples of what you can do with the app: * Generate JSON files automatically by your existing web application to provide your users with an easy way to see selected information directly on their wrist * Publish your personal JSON files via OneDrive/Google Drive/Dropbox/etc. to add any static content directly on your personal watch * Automatically generate and publish JSON files using services like IFTTT/Zapier/etc. to seamlessly integrate complications with your automation routines * Use simple cron/scheduler jobs to scrape/compile/compute data from any source (weather, stock prices) into your own custom complications Features: * You can add as many JSON files as needed (to support multiple complication data sources) * The JSON file structure supports up to 9 different complication styles (so you can pick the ones that meet your needs) * The JSON file structure also supports simple "views" (so you can define additional text that gets displayed when the complication is tapped) * The app re-loads JSON files roughly every 10 to 15 minutes (to make sure your complications are always up to date) * We are hosting a sample JSON file (so you can easily test the app after its installation as well as have a simple template that you can immediately use for your own files) Our sample JSON file (which can be added to the app right after its installation to test all its features): http://devsincloud.com/complicated/example.json Terms Of Use / License agreement: http://www.devsincloud.com/complicated/terms-of-use.htm Privacy Policy: http://www.devsincloud.com/complicated/privacy-policy.htm

About

Truly Simple Timeline

Build and visualize narrative arcs, story beats, and character involvement across novels or any project. Its drag-and-drop interface supports various event types and date spans, with cross-device functionality for easy planning and adjustments.

Highlights
  • Drag-and-drop interface
  • Narrative arc and story beat tracking
  • Single-date and duration events
  • BC/AD date support
  • Vertical and horizontal modes
  • Cross-device functionality
Features
Read full description

Truly Simple Timeline was built by a professional author to keep track of narrative arcs, story beats, and character moments across a novel. It’s a clean, tactile workspace where you can add events individually or in bulk, drag and drop them across centuries or hours, and adjust all your milestones whenever and however you please. Features: • Intuitive interface: Drag and drop events across hours, days, or centuries. • Flexible event types: Mix large-scale narrative arcs, single-date events, and duration periods seamlessly. • Paper-like design: Organize with a curated color palette of warm creams, slate blues, and earthy greens, paired with your own custom hues. • Reliable device sync: Your data flows effortlessly between your Mac, iPad, and iPhone, and your sync status is viewable any time. • Fully accessible: Built natively for Apple devices with full VoiceOver support, Dynamic Type, and high-contrast readability. • Share timelines: Export timelines, which can then be imported into another device running TS Timeline (where it can be viewed, edited, etc) • Pay once, keep forever: All core features are free. Unlock unlimited timelines with a single one-time, lifetime in-app purchase. No subscriptions, no ads, no hidden fees.

Screenshots

Truly Simple Timeline3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Truly Simple Timeline at Free against Complicated's $9.99. Complicated's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.3) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). On ratings volume, update cadence, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Truly Simple Timeline is free to download; Complicated costs $9.99 up front. Truly Simple Timeline sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Complicated asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Complicated holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of Complicated's written reviews are positive against 50% of Truly Simple Timeline's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Complicated ships an update every 8 days, Truly Simple Timeline fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Complicated versus Truly Simple Timeline: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterComplicatedTruly Simple Timeline
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (4 ratings) — better4.3 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings44
Update frequencyEvery 8 days — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDevsInCloud, Inc.Colin Wright

Customer experience

Complicated

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

Truly Simple Timeline

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative25.0%

In-app purchases

None

Complicated

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Truly Simple Timeline

One-time1
  • Unlock Pro$4.99

Questions

Is Complicated free?
Complicated costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Truly Simple Timeline free?
Truly Simple Timeline is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Complicated or Truly Simple Timeline?
Complicated is rated higher. Complicated averages 5.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Truly Simple Timeline averages 4.3 from 4 ratings.
Do Complicated or Truly Simple Timeline have ads?
Neither Complicated nor Truly Simple Timeline shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Complicated or Truly Simple Timeline?
Complicated ships an update every 8 days, and Truly Simple Timeline fortnightly. Most recently, Complicated was updated on November 3, 2026 and Truly Simple Timeline on November 5, 2026.

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