Keep a timeline private, send a read-only link, publish it as a public page, embed it with one iframe tag, or print it and export it as PDF or CSV.
A timeline is private until you decide otherwise. Then there are four ways out: a link for the people you choose, a public page anyone can find, an embed inside a page you already run, and a copy you take with you.
Step by step
1. Share a link, or put it in a page. Keep it to yourself, send a link to the people you choose, or publish it for anyone. Advanced adds the sharing, and the iframe for a wiki page or a site that has to stay current. Private: yours alone, and where every timeline starts Shared: a read-only link that needs no account; you can let its holders add events too Public: a page anyone can read and search engines can find, listed among the examples Embed: one iframe tag with no script, reading the live timeline, so an edit shows up without new code
2. Take it with you. Printing and both downloads are on every plan, the free one included. What is on the screen is what comes out: the style you are in, the order you sorted it in, and any filter you left on. Print, or save as an A4 PDF that keeps the chapters, the dates and the photos Spreadsheet (.csv): one row per event, every field Every photo from every event in one zip, with a manifest beside them
What a shared link lets people do
See the timeline: anyone holding the link, with no account. This is all a new link allows.
Add events and photos: off until you switch it on; the person signs in, and can always edit what they added.
Edit anyone's event, and change the timeline itself: off until you switch them on.
Set the timeline to Private again and the old link stops working. Share it later and it gets a new one.
Questions
Can I share a timeline on the free plan?
Sharing, publishing and embedding come with Advanced. On every plan you can print a timeline, save it as an A4 PDF or export it as CSV, and send that instead.
Do readers need an account?
No. Reading a shared or public timeline needs no account. Only adding or editing events through a shared link asks the person to sign in.