If you want a SocialLite alternative for iPhone, minulo is the closest one. Like SocialLite, it opens social networks in its own view with Reels and Shorts hidden while your DMs keep working, and it can lock the official apps with Screen Time so tapping their icons sends you to minulo instead. It covers 10 networks, including TikTok, and hiding is free. In fairness, SocialLite has far more ratings (15,412 on the US App Store, 4.7 stars, checked October 26, 2026) and it has push notifications for Instagram and Snapchat, which minulo doesn't. I built minulo, so this is not a neutral review, but every fact about other apps below comes from their App Store pages.
Prices and features side by side: SocialLite alternatives for iPhone: apps that hide Reels and Shorts and keep your DMs (2026)
What SocialLite does
SocialLite shows social networks in its own focused view. Per its App Store description and release notes, it blocks short-form video feeds, recommendations, Explore, Live and Shopping tabs, and ads, keeps DMs, and can block the official apps and redirect you to SocialLite. Version 3.1.2 added push notifications for Instagram and Snapchat. Its page names Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, X, Reddit and others. TikTok isn't mentioned. It is a free download with in-app purchases.
People usually look for an alternative for one of two reasons: they also want TikTok, Threads, Pinterest or LinkedIn covered, or they want the hiding itself to stay free.
minulo vs SocialLite
| minulo | SocialLite | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Opens each service's official page in the app and hides what you choose | Opens social media in the app and removes the most addictive features |
| Networks | Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X, Threads, Facebook, Reddit, Snapchat, Pinterest, LinkedIn (10) | Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, X, Reddit and others (TikTok not mentioned) |
| DMs | Stay | Stay |
| Locking the official apps | With Screen Time, sends you to minulo (free) | App blocking and linking (per its release notes) |
| Notifications | None | Push for Instagram and Snapchat |
| Beyond iPhone | Mac app and Chrome extension | iPad support (per its release notes) |
| US ratings | None yet (released September 2026) | 15,412, 4.7 stars (released January 2026) |
| Price | Hiding is free. Pro adds schedules and Hard Mode | Free download with in-app purchases |
A video someone sends you in a DM is handled a little differently. In minulo it stops before the endless feed, and you can open it for 5 minutes. In SocialLite you can watch that one video but can't scroll to the next.
Other alternatives
- UNDOOMED opens each network's mobile site in its own private browser. No TikTok or Snapchat. Many features free, with paid Plus and Pro tiers.
- Awhile is Instagram only. Filtering is free.
- LoomWeb is a social media browser with per-site settings for Instagram, YouTube, X and Facebook. Free with a Pro tier.
- ScrollGuard and Nope are Safari extensions. Nope is fully free, but only for instagram.com and youtube.com in Safari.
Where minulo falls short
These are the things that would make SocialLite or another app the better choice for you:
- No notifications while an official app is blocked. Notifications come from the official app, and while minulo blocks it they don't arrive. minulo sends no push notifications of its own. If you can't miss Instagram notifications, SocialLite fits better.
- The official apps are not changed. On iPhone no app can change another app. Reels and Shorts are hidden only inside minulo, which is why the Screen Time lock exists.
- A free lock lasts up to 2 hours. Sleep mode, longer blocks, Hard Mode and a Daily limit are Pro ($9.99/month or $39.99/year in the US). Hiding has no time limit.
- iPhone and Mac only. Plus Chrome and Safari extensions. No Android version yet.
- It is new. minulo launched in September 2026 and doesn't have enough US ratings for the App Store to show an average.
- No Stories posting, voice messages or calls, because the web versions of these networks don't have them.
How minulo works, briefly
minulo loads each network's official website inside the app and hides the parts you switch off, so you sign in on the network's own page and minulo never sees your password. Locking uses Apple's Screen Time: a blocked app shows a block screen, and its Open in minulo button takes you to the cleaned-up view. Because this depends on each site's pages, the hiding rules are checked automatically every week.
Which one should you choose
- You mostly use Instagram and want notifications while Reels are hidden: SocialLite. It is the most established app of this kind.
- You also want TikTok, Threads, Pinterest or LinkedIn cleaned up, want the same thing on your Mac, or want hiding to stay free: minulo.
- You only browse in Safari: ScrollGuard or Nope.
Both SocialLite and minulo are free to try, so installing both for a day is a fair test.
The full list with sources is here: SocialLite alternatives, and the side-by-side table is in minulo vs SocialLite.
Written by Ayumu Kitabayashi, the solo developer of minulo. App details can change with updates.
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