History.
In parallel.
A timeline app for iPhone that lets you explore history side by side.
Get notified when Parallel launches. Rare updates, no spam. By signing up you accept the privacy policy.
Three giants. One year.
The year 1564 is a quiet collision. Three people whose names define the era, and most history books never put them on the same page.
Galileo is born. Three days later, Michelangelo dies.
That same year, Shakespeare comes into the world.
History rarely tells you what else was happening. Parallel does.
“Standing in front of a painting in a museum, I want to know: Who were the artist's contemporaries? Who was in power? What wars were being fought? What else was happening at the time? I want to understand the circumstances under which a work was created. Parallel is the tool I built for exactly those questions.”
Parallel at a museum. Tap a name, see who shared those years.
Centuries at a glance. Details at a tap.
Most history is told as a single thread. One person, one period, one place.
Parallel layers multiple timelines on top of each other. Zoom out to see centuries at a glance, or zoom in until you can read every month. Swipe through thousands of years of history with a single gesture.
Double-tap any entry, and the app shows you who else was alive at the same time. Goethe was six when Mozart was born. Beethoven died while Schubert was still composing. Parallel makes that visible.
A timeline for many uses.
For the curious
You always wanted to know what else was happening during Mozart's lifetime? Exactly for that.
While reading
A novel set in another century? A biography? Look up who was alive at the same time, across art, science, and politics.
In the classroom
Make history understandable by laying it side by side. Build a collection for each lesson or import via CSV.
For your own stories
Family chronicle, oeuvre catalogue: anything that can be told on a timeline.
Inside the app.
Every entry comes with a short story and a Wikipedia link to read on.
Filter by region, era, or topic. Everything else quietly fades out.
Built-in collections and premium packs, all in one tab.
Who lived at the same time?
A few of the questions Parallel answers at a glance. Open one and see the overlap for yourself.
The tool for the curious.
Nine collections to explore
A curated cross-section of history: Important Events, Empires & Eras, Rulers & Politicians, Painters & Sculptors, Classical Music, Philosophy & Religion, Science & Technology, Literature, and Buildings. 285 entries, each with a short note and a Wikipedia source. Bilingual, included from day one.
Your own collections
Build a timeline of your grandparents' lives, every Beethoven symphony, or every Roman emperor. Parallel does not care what you collect. Start with up to 15 entries for free, go unlimited with Pro.
Import your own timelines (Pro)
Create CSV files in any spreadsheet and import them into Parallel. Build exactly the timeline you need.
Filter and discover
Filter by contemporaries, categories, or eras. Everything that does not match fades away. A fast way to discover unexpected connections.
Pay once. Keep forever.
No subscription. No hidden fees. No surprise bills. One payment unlocks everything. Family Sharing lets up to five family members use it from the same purchase.
Your privacy is respected
Everything stays on your device. No account to create. No tracking. No ads. The app works completely offline after install.
Simple. No subscription.
Free
- Nine collections to explore (English & German)
- 1 personal collection
- Up to 15 entries
- All filters included
Pro
- Unlimited collections
- Unlimited entries
- CSV import
- Timeline export (PDF)
- Copy and customize collections
Premium packs
- Expand built-in collections
- Curated by Anatol
- Bought once, kept forever
No subscription, no ads, no account required. Family Sharing supported. Requires iPhone with iOS 18.2 or later. Under 10 MB. Works offline.
Questions? Write to me.
Parallel is built and maintained by me alone. Just send an email to [email protected].
You'll find the FAQs here.