Free Apps to Block Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts on iPhone (2026)
You can block Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts on iPhone without paying. Nope is completely free but only works in Safari. minulo, Stillfeed, Reelmute and Awhile hide Reels for free in their own app and keep DMs working, and charge only for extras such as schedules or lock modes. YouTube's Shorts limit and iPhone Screen Time are built in and free, but one is easy to turn off and the other blocks the whole app.
This page is written by the developer of minulo. Facts about other apps come only from their US App Store pages and descriptions, checked on 2026-10-23. Prices can change.
| Option | How it works | What is free | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nope | Safari extension for instagram.com and youtube.com | Everything. No subscriptions or in-app purchases. | Only works in Safari, not in the Instagram or YouTube apps. 2 US ratings. |
| minulo | Opens 10 networks inside the app with the parts you choose hidden | Hiding Reels, Shorts, Explore and suggested posts on all 10 networks. | Schedules, Hard Mode and multiple block lists need Pro ($9.99/month or $39.99/year in the US). New app, no US ratings yet. |
| Stillfeed | Opens Instagram and YouTube in its built-in browser | Blocking Reels and Shorts. | Following-only feed, Stories and feed blocking and DMs only are Pro. Instagram and YouTube only. |
| Reelmute | Opens networks inside the app and hides Reels, Shorts and For You | Hiding Reels and Shorts. | DMs-only, hiding suggested posts and locking the original apps are Premium. |
| Awhile | Loads instagram.com in its own browser | Filtering. | Instagram only. Premium is €2.99/month or €9.99 once. |
| UNDOOMED | Opens each network's mobile site in a private browser | Many features (its App Store page does not list which ones are free). | Plus ($1.99/month) and Pro ($2.99/month, $17.99/year or $29.99 lifetime) add more (US prices). |
| ScreenZen | Adds a delay before an app opens | All features; its only in-app purchases are optional tips. | Does not hide Reels. After the delay the whole app opens. |
| YouTube's Shorts feed limit | A setting in the YouTube app | Set the daily Shorts feed limit to 0 minutes. | A soft limit: an adult account can turn it off again. YouTube only. |
| iPhone Screen Time | Built-in limits for apps and websites | App Limits and Downtime. | Limits the whole app, so Instagram DMs are blocked too. It cannot target Reels only. |
Is there a completely free app that blocks Instagram Reels?
Yes. Nope is completely free, with no subscriptions or in-app purchases, but it is a Safari extension, so it only works when you use instagram.com in Safari. If you want to use an app instead of Safari, minulo, Stillfeed and Reelmute hide Reels for free and charge only for extra features.
Can I block Reels for free and still use Instagram DMs?
Yes. Nope, minulo, Stillfeed, Reelmute and Awhile all say DMs keep working while Reels are hidden, and hiding Reels costs nothing in each of them. iPhone Screen Time is free too, but it blocks the whole Instagram app, DMs included.
What is the free way to block YouTube Shorts?
In the YouTube app, set the Shorts feed limit to 0 minutes. It costs nothing but an adult account can switch it off again. To hide Shorts entirely, use YouTube's website in Safari with Nope, or open YouTube in minulo or Stillfeed, where hiding Shorts is free.
Which free option is the hardest to get around?
iPhone Screen Time with a Screen Time passcode and Block at End of Limit turned on is the strictest free option, but it blocks the whole app. The apps on this page that hide Reels are easier to live with, but you can always open the official app unless you also lock it. minulo can lock the official Instagram app with Screen Time and send you to its Reels-free view, and that is free too, up to 2 hours per block; the official app's notifications don't arrive while it is locked.
Why do some of these apps still charge?
In Nope, minulo, Stillfeed, Reelmute and Awhile, hiding Reels is free. What usually costs money is enforcement and extras: schedules, strict lock modes, DMs-only modes, hiding Stories, and multiple accounts.
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