Jomo alternatives that hide Reels and Shorts but keep your DMs (2026)
minulo hides Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts and TikTok For You while your DMs keep working, and hiding is free.
Jomo is a Screen Time blocker: it blocks apps, websites or whole categories, limits how many times a day you open an app, and can keep rules locked for days. That works when you want an app gone. If you still need Instagram for group chats, blocking it also blocks the chats, and that is where minulo is different.
Written by Ayumu Kitabayashi, the developer of minulo. Facts about Jomo come from its US App Store page, checked on 2026-11-02. We haven't tested Jomo. Prices and features can change.
| Jomo | minulo | |
|---|---|---|
| What it stops | Apps, websites and categories such as social media, games and shopping | Reels, Shorts, Explore, suggested posts and For You inside minulo; can also lock the official apps |
| Instagram DMs during a block | Blocked with the app | Work inside minulo |
| Extra rules | Locks that limit daily opens or ask for an exercise to unlock, routines, Strict Mode | Take a break for set minutes; Hard Mode in Pro |
| Price (US App Store) | Free to download. Jomo Plus $5.99 a month or $29.99 a year, lifetime also listed | Hiding is free. Pro is $9.99 a month or $39.99 a year |
| US ratings (2026-11-02) | 4.8 from 2.5K ratings | 1 rating |
What Jomo does
The US App Store page for Jomo - Screen Time Blocker says it can block individual apps and websites in all browsers, or whole categories such as social media, games and shopping, on the schedule you choose. Its 2.0 release notes describe Locks that block an app continuously, limit how many times a day you can open it, and can ask for an exercise before unlocking. Strict Mode keeps your rules locked for a number of days. Jomo says it uses Apple's Screen Time API and can't see your messages or passwords.
Where an app blocker leaves students stuck
Class group chats, club plans and friends' messages often live in Instagram DMs or Snapchat. A blocker treats Instagram as one app, so blocking Reels means blocking those chats too, and many people end up turning the block off to reply. minulo splits the app: you keep DMs, your following feed and search, and Reels, Explore and suggested posts are not shown.
Jomo is the better pick if you want websites blocked, categories blocked in one tap, or a strict limit on how often you open an app. minulo doesn't block websites.
Hide Reels and keep DMs with minulo
- Open Instagram, YouTube or TikTok inside minulo. Install minulo and sign in to Instagram, YouTube or TikTok on the service's own sign-in page inside minulo.
- Choose what to hide. Turn off Reels, Explore and suggested posts on Instagram, Shorts on YouTube or For You on TikTok, one item at a time. Hiding is free.
- Lock the official apps. In the Block tab, allow Screen Time and choose the official apps. A free block lasts up to 2 hours, and you can start another when it ends.
- Use DMs inside minulo. When you need to reply, tap Open in minulo on the block screen and use your DMs there, with Reels and Shorts hidden.
minulo Pro (US $9.99 a month or $39.99 a year) adds blocks longer than 2 hours, schedules by day and time and Hard Mode.
Limits, so you can decide honestly: Reels and Shorts are hidden only inside minulo, and the official apps don't change. While minulo blocks an official app, that app's notifications don't arrive, and minulo sends none of its own. Posting Stories, voice messages and calls aren't available. minulo is for iPhone, with a Mac version that works in Safari and Chrome, and there is no Android version yet. It is new, with few ratings. See what minulo can't do.
Is Jomo free?
Jomo is free to download. Its US App Store page lists Jomo Plus at $5.99 a month or $29.99 a year, plus lifetime options. Check the page for what the free version includes.
Does Jomo block Instagram DMs?
Jomo blocks the apps you choose, so when Instagram is blocked, its DMs are too. minulo hides Reels and suggested posts and keeps DMs working inside its own view.
Can Jomo hide only Instagram Reels?
Its App Store page describes blocking apps, websites and categories, not hiding one part of an app. minulo hides Reels, Explore and suggested posts one item at a time.
Can I use Jomo and minulo together?
Both use iPhone Screen Time to block apps. We haven't tested them side by side, so if you use both, check that the same app isn't blocked by each one at once.
Is there a Jomo alternative that is free?
Apple's Screen Time App Limits and Downtime are built in. minulo is free to download, hides Reels and Shorts for free and locks the official apps for free, up to 2 hours per block.
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