Jomo - Screen Time Blocker Reviews

this app as an app by itself has dramatically curved my phone usage. So it works as intended when you set it up upon installation. Where it differs with the other applications in this space has to do with the level of control offered + their philosophy around screen time. As I also believe, not all screen time is bad screen time.

Let’s go back now. To Covid, 2020, and just how weird everything was online then. I am not afraid to admit to having once had a double digit screen time habit each day. This habit was ripping me apart to my core. It was but a symptom of a huge problem of myself being mindful and present. I think I may be speaking on behalf of others as well.

I abruptly deleted my Facebook account during the Summer of 2023 as I could no longer take the pull of it and just how awful it was. this app had showed up on an ad somewhere in a social media feed. I had been using another famous app in this space on a yearly subscription. I was kind of disappointed with it however, due to the lack of control within Jomo and not much flexibility. Off the initial install, this app surprised me with its control and flexible approach towards using your phone. For instance, yes, I do want to block a lot of different apps that sink your time. But sometimes, I want to be intentional in that doom scroll. this app let’s you scale your block sessions in a way where you can finely tune your breaks down to the nearest 5 minute intervals or an hour. It uses a built in feature that lets you even express why you’re taking a break. This is extremely helpful and forms a sort of agreement to not stay too long out of the present moment.

The above is but a small glimpse into what I like about this application. The developers are also great. Responsive and kind. Open to ideas as well and very innovative for such a small team. I went in on a lifetime membership for the above features and Team behind this application. Give it a try. Get off the Hedonic treadmill of dopamine addiction. Be intentional with the computer in your pocket :)

I’m really liking Jomo so far and it’s teaching me just how bad my phone addiction is. I love that it lets you set limits on websites you visit too. Jomo is really helping me get back into hobbies I actually enjoy.

My one issue that I hope they can fix is that even though I have restricted an app to one minute (it’s a silly game that gets me hooked for hours) I can very easily go in and remove it from the list of what to limit even in strict mode. I know that there’s a level of responsibility on my part to not do that, but I would love it if I could set some kind of delayed response that would give me the time to contemplate if I really wanted to do that. For example, I would love it if I removed it from my list and instead of it happening right away it would remove it in 24 hours, in which I would be able to realize I don’t need it and cancel the removal.

I’ve been testing out a few screen time apps like this app, Opal, and Refocus, and this app is by far the best. And it’s actually a decent price. Jomo deserves so much more cred than it’s getting.

I’ve used this app to help block my work apps outside of my working hours. Jomo has given me more time back in my life and helped me align my actions and intentions. I’m so grateful.

Another use case is as a Christian, I have it to where entertainment apps cannot be opened until I’ve done my daily Bible reading which has be helpful. Amazing app and developers and it keeps getting better!

Super easy and great! I’ve lowered my screen time by 2 hours every day on average. I feel like I’m getting my life back!

Positive reaffirmations, journal, app breaks, no ads. The best app to keep screen time in check!

I did so much research before finding the right app. This is it: the design, user friendly app, at an affordable price this app is the one.it allowed me to gain my focus and stay super productive with a very demanding schedule.
I have been telling all my friends about it !!

Awesome app! Exactly what I was looking for to help with my phone addiction. I can block apps and websites for several blocks of time during the day, which gives me more time throughout my day to do more meaningful things.

Best free screentime app, when I say I’ve tried them all I literally think I have, this is clean, actually locks you out of the apps that you want to be locked out of, and my screentime as dramatically decreased. Give them a try.

UX fail: When you’re done selecting apps, you have to click “select”. Then the “select” button subtly turns into “save” and you have to click it again. So you have to confirm changes twice, or you lose all choices you just made and have to do it again. I’m not even sure one is necessary.

It took me a while to find a good blocking app that I can't bypass (I'm quite savvy at tech) and this app is the winner here. Pair it with Cold Turkey on Windows or Mac (and additionally SelfControl on Mac) and you have a rock solid defense against blocking sites or distracting apps. You can also pair it with AppBlock I turned on this app to block for 1 hour which had finally motivated me to put laundry where it should be put. Subscription for this app is affordable and isn't easy as other blocking apps to bypass. Good job to the this app team.

This is a super well made app. Works smoothly and has the features I’m looking for.

this app is an outstanding app that manages to do everything that I want it to do and look good doing it. In the few weeks I’ve used it, it has been a joy to work with, significantly helping me manage my time spent on various apps. I’ve looked at a lot of these apps, and this app stands out by offering far more features at a fraction of the cost. Their dedication to quality and affordability is an absolute breath of fresh air in this current App Store landscape.

While no app is without its flaws, this app’s customer service compensates for it. The team is not only responsive to feedback but is incredibly transparent about what Jomo can and can’t do given iOS’s limitations, even providing workarounds which is so kind of them to do.

this app ranks at the top for me in paid blocking apps (yes there is a free version, but it’s more of a “trial” experience.) While truly free alternatives exist, as somebody who usually hates subscriptions, this app provides a premium service that justifies its cost. After all, time is money, and this app is a smart investment in managing it effectively!

I’ve tried out several app blocking apps for iOS, and they all were either expensive, clunky, buggy, easy to get around, didn’t have the features I was looking for, or had a combination of several of these issues. This is the first app blocker that checks all the boxes for me. I particularly like that it allows users to set time restrictions and conditions for use independently of each other. Bonus points for the really well-designed interface! Amazing app at an affordable price.

With this app, you can set conditions to block or unblock apps to faciliate habit formation which is an incredible feature. For example, meditate for 10 minutes before unlocking TikTok. Hoping for deeper apple health integrations in the future to add more automation. Super impressed with this product and excited to see it continue to improve.

Could you add a landscape view for tablets? Great app :D

Not user friendly at all!!!

Take a few minutes to configure Jomo and enjoy less screen time with addicting apps and more time for literally anything else. Responsive support, 5 stars.

I’ve tried using a variety of different screen blocking apps and this app has been the best by far.

Thats for a couple reasons:

The free plan is great, like it’s actually really really good.

You can activate sessions with shortcuts

The motivation / pause screen before opening an app actually do help.

I see something like you’ve tried to open Instagram 30 times today and it puts everything in perspective.

Great app and great team

Amazing app, better and cheaper than many others. Definitely worth the money.

It works!

I was on my phone for nearly 10 hours a day. It ate up every spare second of my life and was completely out of control. I couldn’t focus on work, I was falling asleep too late, and as a result I was tired throughout the day. I have tried other apps but none work as well as this one. I paid for the premium plan and I’ll say it was a great investment. I can set as many limits as I want on apps that take up too much of my time, and I can set a daily limit for screen time. With the Premium, you can also make it impossible to override a limit, while other apps allow it. The plan is also reasonably priced when compared to other apps. I’ve lowered my screen time by about 4 hours daily and am still working to lower it further. I’m also more focused and falling asleep at a better time. Overall, definitely worth it! The three-day trial is also helpful in case it doesn’t work out as you expected. Would recommend Jomo.

After reading Stolen Focus by Johann Hari, I was motivated to get my scrolling and wasted time under control. I trialed a number of screen time tracking and app/web blocking apps, including OneSec, Freedom, Opal, and OffScreen. I was very close to paying the steep price for Opal, but then using this app gave me all the same functionality PLUS a Mac version of Jomo . No brainer to go with this app for a much better price, use across my devices, and better control. As a remote worker with self-assigned work, it’s easy to get distracted and I need some strict boundaries to stay focused. A friend has joined my squad and I plan to invite my family members too. I like that this app doesn’t run ads on social media; it appears to be a very consistent company ethically. I’m excited to continue using and regain more of my time and focus, and I’m looking forward to more open conversations with friends and family about screen time.

The built-in screen time limiting features of iOS let you limit podcast apps by foregrounded app time but that wasn’t sufficient for me since the majority of the time I use podcast apps they’re backgrounded. I was also often able to resume podcasts via iOS media controls even when screen time was “blocking” them.

Jomo offers way better tooling for my purposes - it lets me give myself limited sessions of podcast time, stops media playback when time is up, lets me set a “strict” mode on myself that’s less easily circumvented than the built-in iOS screen time stuff, etc. I have ADHD and a pretty addictive personality so all this has been really meaningfully helpful!

I’ve used a few apps to try to control my screen time (Apple native settings, Opal) but this is by far the best one I’ve used. I’ve only had it for a few days and it’s completely changed the way I’m using my phone. I’m still working on the urge to pick up my phone when bored, but by setting up healthy substitutes, I’m blasting through library books instead of doomscrolling. This approach works way betting than trying to make the user quit cold turkey, in my opinion. Excited to keep using it and see my screen time improve!

This is the *best* time management app I’ve seen to date. It actually doesn’t allow you to add any more time, providing an effective solution rather than just a system that goes halfway. You can even get everything you’d need without paying, but honestly, just support this awesome company if you can! Additionally, one of this app’s widgets has offline activity suggestions, which is such a smart idea!! Really encouraging.

As an phone user who hates the idea of how absorbed we are in our phones nowadays, this app offers so many features for me - digital detox which disables all unnecessary phone features, conscious use which makes it that I have to wait 15 seconds and write an intention before using the phone and many other amazing features. I am very pleased with Jomo that is also extremely affordable.

Thank you for making this wonderful app. My screen time on my phone has been cut in half after just a few days and the urge to randomly pick up my phone is slowly going away.

The fact that it also works on mac makes me wish I could give it 6 stars. To anyone wondering if this is the answer, it was for me.

This is a nicely built app that does what I want it to do - helps me avoid time-wasters on my phone and laptop. In the morning, most non-essential apps are off, and throughout the day my access to social media is limited.

It's always nice to support independent app developers, and revenue models that aren't ad-based. I'd highly recommend it!

The rules are super customizable for both apps and websites, Jomo is really powerful in terms of being resistant to compulsive urges, and the "intention setting" contingency for breaks helps me to actually enjoy my screen time when I choose to engage. Very grateful for Jomo. Thanks!

It’s amazing how much just being aware of your mindless clicking can change your habits. I’ve significantly decreased my screen time over all, especially social media. Jomo is well worth it.

I honestly cant find many faults on Jomo. The best part about it is the free versions is truly a way you can test Jomo out to see if you want it or not. What I mean by this is other apps with subscriptions allow you to use a free version of Jomo however it’s very restrictive, although Joni does hold back on certain features for the most part the free version gives you more than enough to see and free what you are getting yourself into. As for Jomo itself it does it job and it does it good. It’s simple enough to set everything up to your liking and just start. Honestly Jomo checks out most of the boxes it’s affordable, easy to use, and reliable.

I am a chronic workaholic and was having trouble keeping my work and personal life separate since everything is on my one phone. this app has been a godsend in being able to make specific rules for dates and times while also giving me flexibility when needed. Keeping the notifications and apps out of sight has helped me keep work off my mind when I’m not supposed to be working.

I wrote a 3 star review earlier but after turning off my phone and turning it back on Jomo updated and I was able to make the changes I was complaining about. Again, only 1 day in. But it’s already helping!

I have type one diabetes and all of my medical devices I wear to help keep me living are controlled using apps on my phone. For this reason I must have my phone on me 24/7. When I first started wearing these medical monitors and having to carry my phone everywhere it was so exhausting. I struggled to stay off my phone 24/7 and wished I could just do something without having my phone with me. I am so thankful I found this screen time app. It made all of the difference for my mental health. I went from scrolling 24/7 to having firm boundaries with my phone I could not break. I tried others before this app and many of them were not only more expensive but they also had a ton of glitches. After switching to this app I will never go back to another. Even family members have commented on the positive differences they have noticed since I started using Jomo. If you are considering using it I would 100% recommend Jomo without hesitation.

I have used several ‘app blocker’ type apps and they’ve never quite hit the spot. this app blows them all out of the water. I cut my screen time down from 4/5 hours a day to around 2 almost instantly once I started using it.

Jomo blocking ability is fantastic and as mentioned, much better than other apps, but what I also love is the ability to limit what apps are affecting my screen time amount. Apple screen time always felt skewed by the time that was spent being productive on my emails or FaceTiming with my parents. It might have spent 6 hours on my phone but four of those were productive! Now I can ignore that productive time and focus down on the time that I feel like I am misusing on social media and other distractions.

In addition Jomo looks great, feels very positive and just gets the job done.

Jomo has helped a lot as far as using my phone less and with intentionality. Sometimes there are glitches, but it’s a newer app so I’m okay with that. Customer service is OUTSTANDING. I’ve never encountered such helpful and kind customer service anywhere, ever. I can’t say enough about the customer service and the help you’ll receive when you reach out. I absolutely will continue to use and support Jomo and recommend to my family and friends.

I’ve been a power user of the iOS screen time settings for a while now, and this app has been a great improvement. The ability to fine tune behavior around time of day, breaks, and apps is exactly what I’ve been waiting for iOS to implement. Jomo also seems more stable/reliable than the vanilla iOS settings.

I’m not usually one to write a review but this app is amazing and has helped me and my family use our devices more mindfully. Also, I had a question on a subscription and the I heard back from support immediately and they went above and beyond to provide exactly what I needed and more. I highly recommend Jomo and company.

this app has helped me focus so much! If i even try to open another tab, it immediately shields me from searching anything and gives motivational little popups each time which i find really interesting. the features are super helpful since you can make your own sessions and block specific websites or even block every website except the ones you want to work on which i find very efficient. I searched for so many apps to help me focus but Jomo is the only one that has done that job properly

this app is lovely. It’s a thoughtful approach to the screen time issue and it’s made by people who very much care. I came across it via a Reddit post after I saw the incredibly high price that Opal was charging - I knew that someone a bit more civic-minded is probably out there. That was true! It’s this app. this app has very clear tracking, and different blocking templates which you can choose to tailor your experience. I started by blocking the two sites I spent the most of my doomscrolling time on, and received very pleasant screens which encouraged me to be more mindful of my use when I did try and log on to them. I have a couple of nitpicks on the design but honestly I have to say that it’s 10/10 for what I need: something that gently gets in the way between my impulses and my attention. Plus - supporting an independent app creator on a mission just feels good!

I love this app. Like many, I struggle to stay off my phone and I often find myself mindlessly scrolling when there are other things I should or could be doing. this app has helped me to curb my usage and keep it in check. I pay for the premium version because I like having multiple different sessions set up for work, home, and nighttime. I like that it’s more flexible than apple screen time, but I can also set it up so I can’t unblock my apps (one of the biggest downsides of apple screen time imo). I also love that it’s on Mac too so I can control my screen time on my computer.

I have never reviewed an app (I don’t think) but I wanted to stop here and make a note. I LOVE this app and how easy and flexible it is—it’s a phenomenal app (my screen time is down by EIGHTY PERCENT!!). But the reason I feel a need to review is the super responsive dev team—I had a specific, niche issue to solve and not only did a dev respond to me directly, they worked through how to solve the issue and sent me a video!! Just absolutely incredible team. I’m so happy to pay for the premium and support Jomo and this team.

All in all, this is a very good app and generally does what it says it will do. It's one of those apps that requires willpower, but once you build it into your practice it becomes part of your daily flow.

A few comments thus far:
1. I have noticed that on my phone, triggering a break doesn't open apps back up nearly half the time I do it. This seems like a bug that should be addressed.
2. Request: add calendar integration so that I can dynamically trigger sessions based on events.
3. Request: Enable full size on Mac. When using Jomo on my main monitor, it is pretty small and the size cannot be adjusted.
4. Request: enable sync between devices. Understand the limitations, but perhaps allow it for sessions that specifically filter webpages.

I do still recommend Jomo and look forward to its continued development. Thanks!

I highly recommend Jomo to anyone who struggles controlling their screen time. Since I started using Jomo I have halved my daily screen time and feel much less distracted by my phone overall. There are so many great features that allow you to customize your blocks in the most effective way possible, all while being a fraction of the cost of competitors such as Opal.

Jomo has helped me significantly to be intentional with my device usage, especially when I’m working, and gain back hours of my day. Before, I was using my phone upwards of 5.5 hours a day, mostly on social media. This meant I wasn’t spending much quality time with people or getting tasks done. With about 20 minutes of setting Jomo up exactly the way I want it, I can now make sure that I have time to enjoy social media while also using my phone as a tool for work and experiencing the world. It’s reasonably priced, offers a student discount, has great support, and has been very effective. Already recommended it to multiple people, I love Jomo.

I’ve tried many app blocking services over the years to help me with my compulsive/impulsive shopping addiction (thanks, ADHD…), but this one is Jomo that’s really got it all without an insane price tag. I like the conscious use function because it helps me snap out of my “must buy everything” state and there’s a reminder that asks for your intention of opening Jomo . I like that function as well, but I think there should be a minimum word count on that because sometimes I’ll be bad and just type in gibberish or a single letter to bypass it… I also wish that there was strict mode on the conscious use function too, but I suppose there isn’t one due to its constant activation. Overall though, the UI is simple, straight forward and pleasing to the eye, and there’s a lot of other functions that I personally don’t use but can appreciate because I know it’ll help others out too. And THANK YOU for the student discount, I’m already broke enough as it is due to my bad shopping habits!!

this app is very straightforward to use. Jomo provides a number of customizable App Limit templates based on your specific goals. For me, I simply select the apps I would like to limit (Reddit, Instagram, Twitter) and set a time limit. I like this app a lot more than the default Apple App Limits setting because the interface is easier to use, and it does not allow you to easily extend or eliminate the limit you have set for yourself.

When I had a minor issue with the Reddit website not being picked up by Apple’s screen time logging (which this app uses to determine limits), the developers responded within 12 hours with a fix that worked (installing the Reddit app and adding it to the Block List).

I would highly recommend this app as a tool for eliminating distractions, boosting productivity, and ultimately spending less time on your phone.

After not getting the results on AppBlock, I wanted to try something new once that subscription ran out. So far I think it’s amazing. I like the template that forces me to do something good prior to accessing any apps. I’ll be using that to make sure I get my daily devotional done. My fave feature is being able to set up strict mode for individual schedules which is something you can’t do on AppBlock. I was always able to disable strict mode and bypass all the schedules that way. this app has changed that for me. Once my trial is over I will be getting a year subscription.

I never ever write reviews but this deserves it. I started simple here, a few time blocks. But you can go all in with rules, like I need to have meditated for 8 minutes to unlock any of my social media apps. The blocks can have a certain number of breaks and you can set the max time limit for the break. You can set the delay before taking a break. You can push a button to disable all apps except for the essential ones (eg phone and GPS) for a period of time. Really lets you nail in your ideal balance of friction and restrictiveness. Makes it way easier to cut back on scrolling than trying willpower or trying to cold turkey it. I know I can check IG if I want to… after my work day is done, and after I’ve meditated. If I really feel I need to check my IG messages for 5 minutes, I can do that twice during my block period.

Stellar. And it seems the developer is responsive and cares a lot.

I have ADHD and it was taking over my life for the worse. I couldn't concentrate. The this app team is incredibly innovative creating such a customizable app based on goals whether that is being active, meditation, work, spending time with loved ones etc. I don't know any other blocking app that ties blocking conditions to Apple Health. Something so simple but genius. The customer support is AMAZING. Very responsive. I have given them ideas to improve Jomo and see it implemented. Because of this app I've been meditating everyday for a month, which is a huge deal for me. Thank you <3

I really like and have been greatly helped by Jomo on a grand scale! That said, whatever problem their is with Jomo ’s synchronization needs to be fixed. It doesn’t work to use intentional breaks / limit screen time when the blocking feature doesn’t turn off when it’s supposed to.
If I’ve spent hours focused and can’t have my little break because Jomo won’t recognize I have one initiated, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth and defeats the purpose. I can’t get onto any of the apps on my phone I want to right now, and have opened and closed all apps and this app several times. And this happens OFTEN. Please fix this bug, because I don’t want to have to delete this (otherwise very helpful) app.