minulo vs Konvo: Instagram for DMs only, compared (2026)
Konvo and minulo both let you use Instagram for messages only, without the feed, Reels or Explore.
Konvo does only that, and it needs a subscription. minulo's DMs-only setting is free, and minulo also hides Reels and Shorts on other networks.
This page is written by the developer of minulo, so keep that in mind. Konvo facts come from its US App Store page (version 2.5.7, released 2026-10-29) and its website (konvoinstall.com), checked 2026-11-02. Features and prices can change.
| Konvo | minulo | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Opens straight to your Instagram inbox. You sign in on instagram.com inside the app, and the feed, Reels and Explore never load | Opens each network's official website inside the app and hides the parts you choose |
| Networks | Instagram only | Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X, Threads, Facebook, Pinterest, Reddit, LinkedIn, Snapchat (10) |
| Free | Free to download, but a paid subscription is required to use Instagram DMs in the app | Hiding Reels, Shorts, Explore and suggested posts on all 10 networks; locking the official apps (up to 2 hours per block) |
| Paid features | DMs, group chats, message requests and story replies; optional alerts for new DMs while Konvo is closed (it stores an encrypted Instagram session on its server for this; a limited pilot for new users) | Schedules, blocks longer than 2 hours, Hard Mode and multiple block lists (Pro) |
| Messages only | That is the whole app (subscription) | Every tab but DMs for Instagram and TikTok (free) |
| The official apps | Optional Screen Time block of the Instagram app, with two five-minute passes a day for posting or calls | 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 |
| Platforms | iPhone (iOS 15 or later) and Mac, per its website. Android has a waitlist | iPhone (plus a Mac app for Safari and Chrome). No Android version |
| App languages | 8, including Korean (not Japanese) | 13, including Japanese and Korean |
| US App Store ratings | 0 (2026-11-02; on the App Store since August 2026) | 1, average 4.0 (2026-11-02; launched September 2026) |
| App Store privacy label | Data Linked to You: Purchases, User Content, Identifiers, Usage Data, Other Data | Data Not Linked to You: Purchases, Identifiers, Usage Data, Diagnostics, Other Data |
| Price (US) | Subscription: $4.99/week, $9.99/month, or yearly at $19.99 or $24.99 (US in-app purchase list) | Hiding is free; Pro is $9.99/month or $39.99/year |
Ratings, prices and privacy labels are from the US App Store, checked 2026-11-02.
Pick Konvo if
- Instagram DMs are all you want, and you are happy to pay for a focused app;
- you want alerts for new DMs while the app is closed (a limited pilot for new users);
- you want two five-minute passes a day into the real Instagram for posting a story or making a call;
- you want the same on a Mac.
Pick minulo if
- you want Instagram for DMs only without paying;
- you sometimes want your following feed too, just without Reels;
- you also want TikTok for DMs only, or Reels and Shorts gone on YouTube, Facebook, Threads and others;
- you want a privacy label with only Data Not Linked to You.
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.
Is Konvo free?
No. The download is free, but its App Store description says a paid subscription is required to use Instagram DMs in the app. The US in-app purchases include $4.99/week, $9.99/month and yearly plans at $19.99 or $24.99 (checked 2026-11-02). In minulo, the DMs-only setting for Instagram is free.
Will I get DM notifications?
Konvo offers optional alerts for new DMs while the app is closed. To do this it stores an encrypted Instagram sign-in session on its server, and the feature is in a limited pilot for new users. In minulo, while the official Instagram app is locked, its notifications don't arrive, so you check messages by opening minulo.
Can I still use the real Instagram app sometimes?
With Konvo's optional Screen Time block on, you get two five-minute passes a day to open the real Instagram app, for example to post a story or make a call. minulo can lock the official app for free for up to 2 hours per block; schedules and longer blocks are part of Pro.
Is Konvo safe to use?
Konvo says it never sees or stores your password, and that message content for notifications is processed in memory and not saved. Its App Store privacy label (checked 2026-11-02) lists purchases, user content, identifiers, usage data and other data as Data Linked to You. minulo's label lists only Data Not Linked to You.
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