# Dull: No Reels, No Shorts — user reviews

> 30 indexed App Store user reviews of Dull by KASPAR NOOR, rated 3.50/5 from 43 ratings.

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dull-no-reels-no-shorts/id6759723829/reviews
- App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dull-no-reels-no-shorts/id6759723829.md
- Rating breakdown: 5★ 22 · 4★ 4 · 3★ 3 · 2★ 3 · 1★ 11

## Newest reviews (10 of 30)

### 2/5 — Good Idea bad Practice

*2026-08-23*

I like the idea
I enjoyed using it to detox
However I found myself detoxing because of the inability of the app to be used properly
Between being poorly sized for the screen, not having back options and just user UI problems that can't be changed, it took me away from Instagram not because of reels but bc it made it very hard to use, not intentionally.
Also no marketplace

**Developer response:** I am working on the screen scaling and navigation issues you mentioned. I will also look into the missing marketplace. Please email hello@getdull.app so I can get more details on your device and fix these specific UI bugs.

### 2/5 — No reals AD doesn’t work

*2026-08-12*

I don’t know if I’m using this product wrong, but I checked every single feature and none of them allows you to use Instagram while blocking reels like it does or how we presented itself in the advertisement. In fact to do it a block Instagram as a whole rather than just blocking the reels alone.

**Developer response:** Dull is designed to hide the Reels tab and feed while keeping the rest of Instagram functional. If the app is blocking the entire platform for you, that is a bug I need to fix. Please email hello@getdull.app so I can see how your settings are configured and resolve this.

### 2/5 — Good app

*2026-08-11*

Pretty good app, 7-day trial convinced me it is effective in lowering my phone screen. I went to Instagram and Youtube for the right purpose, no doom scrolling.
Dull even disables the delete app function, which prevent me from delete any app - Dull included. This kept me in the loop quite effective.

Some things I would suggest is block facebook link too because I found my way to doom scroll facebook on browser (IG, YT are blocked but FB is not). And on IG, I’d love to be able to post stories with music or repost mentioned stories on my stories.

Dull reminded and instructed how to cancel subscription before it’s charged, I appreciate it. Low star rating because even when I followed the steps, unsubscribed before due date, I still get charged $50. Emailed, 12 business days and still no reply.

**Developer response:** I missed your email and that is entirely on me. Apple handles all subscription billing directly so you can request an immediate refund at reportaproblem.apple.com, but please email me again at hello@getdull.app so I can make sure it gets sorted out. I have also noted the Facebook browser leak and the Instagram stories issue.

### 3/5 — Screen cut off

*2026-07-05*

I mean the app works yess, but the screens are totally cut off snd idk how to fix it. Tried everything in apple settings and I dont see anything in the app settings. Pls help!!!

**Developer response:** I see the issue with the cut-off screen. Email hello@getdull.app so I can get your device details and look into the layout bug.

### 3/5 — functional

*2026-06-17*

Clearly ai coded and hard to use 😭

**Developer response:** "Hard to use" I can fix, if you tell me where you got stuck: kaspar@getdull.app. I genuinely want to know.

### 3/5 — Not perfect but has helped

*2026-06-15, version 1.8.3*

The app needs some improvement, and there are loopholes to use social media with reels even within the app. I discovered the loopholes by accident and hopefully will not get into old habits this way

### 4/5 — almost perfect

*2026-05-15, version 1.7.3*

once theres a youtube adblocker and story-posting support for instagram it’ll be perfect

### 3/5 — Almost there

*2026-04-17*

Would’ve been great if all screen time (ios screen time included) was input into the app not just screen time via dull. i need to post regularly and i get distracted. But ultimately it was the fact that i can’t switch ig accounts that made me pass on this app

**Developer response:** Hey! Switching Instagram accounts is now possible in the latest version, just tap the profile icon in the top left of the Dull menu when in Instagram. iOS screentime integration coming soon.

### 4/5 — Good but needs Adblock functionality

*2026-04-12, version 1.4.5*

Overall excellent for what it promises to do. Only thing I dislike is that adblockers (e.g Adblock) do not work when accessing YouTube through the app (they block ads on safari).

### 1/5 — Great concept. Bad execution

*2026-04-03, version 1.4.4*

Using Reddit in this app was horrible as it constantly looses your position and reloads pages as you go back and forwards so you lose posts you haven’t yet consumed.

This app is basically just a wrapper around a web view. Shame because it could have been awesome

## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated)

### 1/5 — Good idea - bad execution

*2026-09-01*

My Instagram account was briefly disabled and I had to delete dull and work w Instagram to get it reinstated.

**Developer response:** Dull only filters content locally on your device and never accesses your login credentials or account data, so it shouldn't trigger an account action. I want to look into what happened here—please email me at hello@getdull.app so I can investigate.

### 1/5 — Don’t use this app

*2026-08-17*

Probably one of the worst user experiences I’ve had using this app. Sociallite is a much better alternative and they’re free. Someone definitely vibe coded this app without thinking of the user experience.

**Developer response:** Dull is a paid subscription because keeping the filters working as platforms update takes constant maintenance. I am actively refining the interface to make it smoother and more reliable. If you want to share specific parts of the app that gave you friction, email me at hello@getdull.app.

### 1/5 — abysmal customer service

*2026-08-09*

got the 'free' trial. got charged twice for $12.71 AUD total. emailed them, no response. no refund was offered.

edit, 2 weeks later: emailed them on both of their accounts, no response 2 weeks later. still dont know if ill be charged the next subscription cycle.

**Developer response:** I am looking into the double charge now. Apple handles all payments and refunds directly, but I will check the support inbox for your message to help resolve this. Please send a follow-up to hello@getdull.app so I can prioritize your case.

### 1/5 — Good concept. Bad execution.

*2026-07-31*

Very buggy and slow loading. Clicking people’s stories takes you to their profile, not the story. Doesn’t load all stories. Redirect for Instagram doesn’t actually open the dull app, just pulls up a screen telling you to go to that app.

**Developer response:** I am working on the story navigation and the redirect screen issues now. I will fix the loading speed and the profile link behavior in the next update. Please email hello@getdull.app so I can get more details on your device setup.

### 1/5 — Plays on emotions

*2026-07-22, version 1.8.8*

This app makes you answer like 20-30 questions that doesn’t affect the experience. It tries to get you emotionally invested without selling actual value. It’s pretty much a browser. No thanks, i’ll use instagram and youtube from safari. Not much difference. Just a tacky instagram and youtube. This app does NOT offer value. This app uses every cheap trick in the book to make money off you.

### 1/5 — Waste of money

*2026-07-11*

Can’t believe they make you pay for this, Sociallite is better and it’s free. Tried this to see if it could be a competitor to sociallite but definitely not.

**Developer response:** Dull is a paid app because it requires constant updates to keep the filters working as social platforms change. The alternative you talked about requires payment to use the same featurea Dull provides. I understand if a free alternative is a better fit for you. I wish you the best.

### 1/5 — Pointless

*2026-07-05*

Don't waste your time. Another must pay app, is a scam.

**Developer response:** Paid, yes. Scam, no: the price is shown before you subscribe, the first 7 days are free, and you can cancel from the App Store at any point. If something in the app itself didn't work, tell me at kaspar@getdull.app and I'll fix it or refund you.

### 1/5 — Paid app

*2026-07-03*

It’s paid but also it needs work

**Developer response:** Half of this I can act on. Paid stays paid: the first week is a free trial, and it's a subscription because Instagram and YouTube change their sites constantly and keeping the filters working is ongoing work. 'Needs work' is the half I can fix, if you tell me what specifically broke or annoyed you: kaspar@getdull.app.

### 1/5 — Not real

*2026-07-02*

Doesn’t actually get rid of infinite scroll in apps like advertised, just makes you use the browser version of the app through there’s

**Developer response:** That's the design, not a trick: iOS doesn't let one app modify another, so the only way to actually strip Reels and the algorithmic feed is to run Instagram and YouTube through a filtered browser. Inside Dull those feeds really are gone, not hidden behind a timer. And if the native apps are the real problem, Hard Block in settings locks them with Screen Time so the filtered version is the only way in. If something specific slipped through, email kaspar@getdull.app and I'll fix it.

### 1/5 — Doesn’t open links.

*2026-07-02*

Doesn’t open links. Settings seem designed to discourage deleting Dull. Blocks WhatsApp without explanation or settings.

**Developer response:** Three separate things here. Links: check that "open links in safari" is on in Dull's settings. With it off, taps on outside links get blocked instead of leaving the app. WhatsApp: Dull doesn't filter WhatsApp, so with that toggle on, WhatsApp links hand off to the real app. If you enabled Hard Block during setup and WhatsApp got caught in the app selection, you can edit that list in settings. Point taken that a blocked link should say why instead of doing nothing. The delete friction is the optional bypass protection, which only exists because it was switched on. If links still dead-end, email kaspar@getdull.app.

## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated)

### 5/5 — Want to quit for real? Can’t just block, need to set limits on usage. Dull does it best.

*2026-08-25*

Title says it all really

**Developer response:** I built the app to handle this specific middle ground. Glad it works for you.

### 5/5 — Great idea with a lot of bugs

*2026-08-20*

Use it every day, saves me time. It deserves a worse review as it is, but I want to give you an opportunity to improve it. I added a facebook today and it is almost the same as the app! Same reels and feed as in the app. I use iphone 17 pro max on ios 26.5.2. Dull is fully updated. Other than that - instagram stories work weirdly (you first open the account and Instagram doesn’t show all the people with stories, just some of them). On Facebook marketplace some listings just don’t load up at all (blank screen when you try to open it). I need Facebook just for subscription feed, marketplace and notifications. Don’t need the feed from other groups or people that i’m not subscribed to (dull doesn’t fix it for Facebook). Youtube works good, almost no problems. Instagram generally works good too (i see the subscription feed only, which alone justifies the payment for dull and i cannot doom scroll at all; and I also see all the reals people send me, which is also great). Wish you the best, would be really great if you could fix the problems it has

**Developer response:** I am working on the Facebook feed filtering and the Marketplace loading issue now. The Instagram story tray behavior is also on my list to fix. Thank you so much for the feedback! Fill get those sorted.

### 5/5 — So close to perfection

*2026-07-12*

I’m rating this 5 stars instead of 4 because I see some 1 star reviews bringing this down more than I think it deserves. The only problems I have with this app (and the reason my rating is spiritually 4 stars) is the fact that opening my camera on instagram crashes the app and I cannot send any videos. I have to give credit where credit is due, though. This app does many things well, like the inclusion of Adblock for the YouTube player, the amount of customization available in the settings, and the clean UI (as well as plenty of other things I didn’t mention). As another reviewer said, please keep this alive!

**Developer response:** I am working on a fix for the Instagram camera crash and the video sending issue. Please email hello@getdull.app so I can get more details on your specific setup to help resolve this. I plan to keep the app running and updated for a long time.

### 5/5 — game changer

*2026-06-30*

Thank you so much for running this app. Limited access to youtube & shorts in general reduced my screen time to 30% last week. Not consuming useless content online feels like freedom now

**Developer response:** That kind of drop in one week is the whole point. Thanks for writing it up. If anything ever slips through the filters: kaspar@getdull.app.

### 5/5 — Best App to Reduce Social Media Addiction

*2026-05-11*

Brilliant app for reducing mindless scrolling without deleting your favorite social apps. Love the removal of Reels, Shorts, and algorithm feeds along with screen time limits and quiet hours. Perfect for staying focused, productive, and intentional with social media use.

**Developer response:** Thanks. That's the pitch in one paragraph, glad it matches the experience.

### 5/5 — Please Don’t Let This Die

*2026-05-05*

This is a game-changer!! I was wasting hours of my life every day due to shorts harmfully injected in my previously innocuous app. The thing is, they are easy to quit unlike real drugs, no withdrawal symptoms. Just my time back thanks to this app.

**Developer response:** Thank you so much, this really means a lot. That’s exactly why I built Dull: to make social media useful again without the endless Shorts/Reels trap. I’m working hard to keep improving it and I’m not letting it die. I use it myself every day and notice if anything breaks! Feel free to leave any feedback in the app as well if you notice anything. Really appreciate the support.

### 4/5 — Great concept

*2026-07-15*

Let me start off by saying that this app has helped me cut my screen time in half within the first week of using it. I was going on Instagram for upwards of 1.5 hours a day some days. Since downloading this app, I haven’t had a single day where my IG usage was over 10 minutes for the whole day. It works better than any other screen time app I’ve tried. So for that, it gets five stars. The reason I gave it 4 stars is due to the fact that, for some reason, it blocks other apps that I don’t want blocked. It blocks both LinkedIn and X which are two apps that I need for work. I don’t know if this is a glitch or not but I haven’t been able to figure out how to unblock them.  Despite this, I’d still recommend using this app.

**Developer response:** I am glad the Instagram filter is working for you. LinkedIn and X should not be blocked by default, so I will look into why that is happening and fix it. Please email hello@getdull.app so I can see how your settings are configured and get those apps unblocked for you.

### 4/5 — Whatsapp doesn’t work

*2026-06-15*

liking the app but WhatsApp also gets redirected to instagram through it

**Developer response:** WhatsApp isn't one of the apps Dull filters, so a WhatsApp link tapped inside Instagram should hand you off to the real app. For that to work, "open links in safari" needs to be on in Dull's settings. With it off, the tap gets cancelled and you stay on Instagram, which is the redirect you're seeing. If it still misbehaves with the toggle on, email kaspar@getdull.app.

### 4/5 — Almost perfect

*2026-05-23*

Big fan of the app you’ve made, very affective in reducing screen time and the first app I’ve found that does exactly what I’ve been looking for. I love the format and different options with filters and that you can also see reels that friends send you. Lots of customisation for each app. My only issue is with instagram the speeds in general like loading messages, just scrolling through the regular feed, and going into settings and stuff are a bit slow, especially if your wifi is not good. I’m not sure if this is actually fixable but just a suggestion. Can I also recommend like adding a blocker to the real apps as an option so you’re not tempted to open/ install them. Overall great app, more effective at reducing screen time then opal or any of those popular apps.

**Developer response:** Your suggestion about blocking the real apps shipped: it's called Hard Block, in Dull's settings, and it uses Screen Time so the filtered version is the only way in. On Instagram speed, some of that is Instagram's mobile site being heavier than the native app, but there's real room to optimize on our side and I'm working on it. Thanks for the detailed writeup.

### 4/5 — Great app, just a few suggestions

*2026-05-19*

I love the concept. It’s actually something I’ve been looking for a while now. Only thing I would add is a section to filter who in your following list you want to see in your feed and stories bar. It could be something added in a patch! There are things that are still on my following feed that I don’t want to see, a filter to select who in your following list you want to see the most of would be perfect!!

**Developer response:** A follow-list filter is a good idea and it's on the list now. Until then, muting an account on Instagram (from their profile) removes them from your feed and stories bar without unfollowing, which gets you most of the way there. Thanks for the suggestion.

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-04.*