minulo vs Intent: an Intent alternative that hides Reels and keeps DMs free (2026)
Intent and minulo both open social sites inside their own app with Reels and Shorts hidden. Intent asks you to pick a purpose before you open a network and covers 12 networks, including Xiaohongshu and NAVER, but its Messages feature needs Intent Pro. Pick Intent if you like choosing a purpose first or need those two networks. Pick minulo if you mainly want your DMs without the feed and don't want to pay for that.
Intent, listed on the App Store as “Intent: Block Reels & Shorts” and made by Evergoods Holdings LLC, is built around choosing why you are opening a network: messages, search or timed browsing. It hides supported Reels, Shorts and recommendation entry points, and its listing says it will not quietly drop you into an unrestricted feed. You sign in on each platform's own website inside the app. Several other apps on the App Store are also called Intent, such as a habit tracker and a pause-before-you-open app; this page is about the one that blocks Reels and Shorts.
This page is written by the developer of minulo, so keep that in mind. Intent facts come from its US App Store page (version 1.0.2, updated 2026-10-25), including its description, release notes and in-app purchase list, checked 2026-11-04. Features and prices can change.
| Intent | minulo | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Evergoods Holdings LLC | Ayumu Kitabayashi |
| How it works | You pick a purpose (messages, search or timed browsing) and Intent opens the platform's website inside the app for that task | Opens each network's official website inside the app and hides the parts you choose |
| Networks | Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Threads, Facebook, Xiaohongshu, Reddit, X, Pinterest, NAVER, Snapchat, LinkedIn (12). Its listing says features vary by platform, region and account | Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X, Threads, Facebook, Pinterest, Reddit, LinkedIn, Snapchat (10) |
| What it can hide | Supported Reels, Shorts and recommendation entry points. Version 1.0.2 adds an optional YouTube ads filter in beta | Reels, Shorts, Explore, TikTok's For You and suggested posts |
| DMs | Messages need Intent Pro, along with Notifications, Post and Profile. Search and timed browsing are free | Kept. Every tab but DMs for Instagram and TikTok (free) |
| The official apps | Optional Screen Time protection blocks the native apps you select | Can lock them with Screen Time; the block screen has an Open in minulo button. While an app is locked, its notifications don't arrive |
| Other features | Session timers, daily limits for focused browsing, focus and sleep routines, caption drafts and check-in reminders. Separate account profiles | Free blocks of up to 2 hours; Sleep mode, longer blocks, Hard Mode and a Daily limit in Pro |
| Platforms | iPhone and iPad (iOS 17.0 or later) | iPhone (iOS 16.4 or later), plus a Mac app for Safari and Chrome. No Android version |
| App languages | 9: English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Simplified and Traditional Chinese | 13, including Japanese and Korean |
| US App Store ratings | 1, average 5.0 (on the App Store since September 2026) | 1, average 4.0 (launched September 2026) |
| Price (US) | Free download; search and timed browsing are free. Intent Pro is $2.99 a month or $19.99 a year | Hiding is free; Pro is $9.99/month or $39.99/year |
Ratings were checked on the US App Store on 2026-11-04.
Pick Intent if
- you use Xiaohongshu or NAVER;
- you like picking a purpose (messages, search or timed browsing) before each visit;
- you want session timers, focus and sleep routines, or caption drafts;
- you want a cheaper Pro plan ($2.99 a month or $19.99 a year) or use an iPad.
Pick minulo if
- you want your Instagram or TikTok DMs without the feed for free;
- you want the official apps locked so you open them in minulo instead;
- you use a Mac;
- you want a plain app that just hides Reels, Shorts and suggested posts on the networks you open.
minulo shows each network's website rather than the official app, so screens look a little different from the app. While minulo locks an official app, that app's notifications don't arrive. minulo is new and has few ratings so far.
Is minulo a good Intent alternative?
Yes, if what you want most is your DMs without Reels. In Intent, Messages are part of Intent Pro, while in minulo DMs keep working for free and there is a free setting that shows only DMs on Instagram and TikTok. Intent covers more networks, including Xiaohongshu and NAVER, has a cheaper Pro plan, and asks you to choose a purpose before each visit, which some people find helpful.
Is Intent free?
Partly. Its US App Store listing says search and timed browsing are free, and that Messages, Notifications, Post, Profile and advanced customization need Intent Pro, which costs $2.99 a month or $19.99 a year (checked 2026-11-04). In minulo, hiding Reels, Shorts and suggested posts is free and DMs keep working without paying; Pro is $9.99 a month or $39.99 a year.
Which apps does Intent work with?
Its listing names Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Threads, Facebook, Xiaohongshu, Reddit, X, Pinterest, NAVER, Snapchat and LinkedIn, and says web features vary by platform, region and account (checked 2026-11-04). minulo works with Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X, Threads, Facebook, Pinterest, Reddit, LinkedIn and Snapchat.
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