Message Archive vs Timelines
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Message Archive
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PRESERVE YOUR MESSAGE HISTORY Message Archive lets you view and search your archived messages on iPhone. Perfect for preserving conversations or keeping a personal backup of important messages. FEATURES • View all your archived conversations • Search by contact name or phone number • Display photos and media attachments • Sort by most recent messages • Works completely offline • All data stays on your device HOW IT WORKS 1. Import your message archive folder 2. Choose your storage option (offline or linked) 3. Browse and search your message history PRIVACY FIRST Your messages never leave your device. No cloud services, no data collection, no tracking. Message Archive reads your archive files locally - your privacy is absolute. STORAGE OPTIONS Choose between: • Save to Device - Full offline access, uses device storage • Link Only - Access files from iCloud or external location, saves space PERFECT FOR • Preserving important conversations • Creating message backups • Legal or personal records • Keeping message history
Timelines
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TimeLines turns your events into a visual timeline. Create timelines for anything—trips, projects, family history, or daily milestones—then add entries with dates, photos, and locations. Scroll through time, zoom in and out, and find any moment in seconds. CREATE TIMELINES • Make as many timelines as you want: "Japan 2024," "House Renovation," "Baby’s First Year," or "Project Alpha." • Each timeline is a separate story you can open, edit, and scroll through. ADD RICH ENTRIES • Give every entry a title and date so it appears in the right place on the timeline. • Add a description, pick a location on the map, and attach up to 5 photos per entry. • Entries are ordered by date automatically—no manual sorting. NAVIGATE YOUR STORY • Scroll horizontally through your timeline to move through time. • Zoom in to see every entry, or zoom out to see months and years at a glance. • Search within a timeline to jump to the entry you want. DESIGNED TO STAY OUT OF YOUR WAY • Clean, modern interface with optional dark mode. • Your data stays on your device by default—private and under your control. • Optional cloud sync when you need your timelines on more than one device. Whether you’re documenting a trip, tracking project milestones, or keeping a personal chronology, TimeLines keeps everything in order so you can focus on the story.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Message Archive at 18.5 against Timelines's 26.0. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
| Parameter | Message Archive | Timelines |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.5 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 27 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Daniel Kennedy | zaid farouqi |
In-app purchases
Message Archive
No in-app purchases
Timelines
No in-app purchases









