Why we built StillTabs
We built StillTabs because every app that removed Reels wanted something in return: a subscription, a phone number, tracking, or Screen Time control over the whole phone. We wanted Instagram for our friends' messages and YouTube for the videos we actually search for, without the feeds, and without paying rent to stop scrolling. So we made it free, made it private, and spent most of our time making it feel like the real app.
On your side, not your wallet's
Most apps are designed to get as much as possible out of you: your time, your data, a subscription you forget to cancel. Even apps that promise to fix your screen time often work the same way. We wanted the opposite: an app that's on your side, asks for nothing and leaves you alone when you're done.
What we refuse to do
- No subscription, no trial, no "Pro". An app that helps you scroll less shouldn't earn more when you struggle. StillTabs has no in-app purchases at all, so there's nothing to upsell, renew or refund.
- No tracking. The App Store label is "Data Not Linked to You". Analytics are off until you turn them on, and even our website loads no trackers. An app about attention shouldn't sell yours.
- No locks on your phone. StillTabs never asks for Screen Time access, device management or a screen broadcast. Your other apps stay exactly as they are.
- No middleman. Pages load straight from Instagram, YouTube and the others. We run no proxy, so your passwords and messages never pass through us.
Where the time went
Removing Reels is the easy part. Making what's left feel like home is the hard part, and it's where most of our work went:
- A toolbar drawn natively. Instagram's bottom bar in StillTabs is drawn by the app itself, in Instagram's style, so it looks and responds like the real thing.
- Tabs that stay loaded. Home, Search, messages and your profile each keep their place in the background, so switching is instant instead of reloading every time.
- Gestures, not floating buttons. Swipe in from the edge to go back or return to the launcher, with a small haptic tick. Nothing sits on top of the page.
- Your habit, redirected. Home Screen icons named Instagram and YouTube open StillTabs, so your thumb goes where it always did and lands somewhere calmer. How the icons work.
- A launcher that tells the truth. Each platform's tile grows with the time you spend there, so you see your screen time without being lectured about it.
- Room for real life. Up to five accounts per platform, and four modes, from Off to Blackout, where only search, profiles and DMs remain.
See it for yourself: does StillTabs feel like the real Instagram app?
What StillTabs is not
We'd rather you know the limits before you install: StillTabs is iPhone only, it doesn't support TikTok or Snapchat, and Facebook, X and Reddit are still in beta. It shows each platform's own mobile site, so a few things from the official apps, like calls, aren't there. If you need those, our comparison of 19 apps says honestly which other app fits better.
How we keep it free
StillTabs runs on your phone. There are no servers handling your feeds, so each extra user costs us almost nothing, and we don't need your money or your data to keep it running.
Common questions
Who makes StillTabs?
A small independent team that uses it every day.
Why is StillTabs free?
It runs on your phone with no servers handling your feeds, so it costs almost nothing to run per user. We chose not to sell a subscription or show ads in an app meant to help you scroll less.
Is there a catch?
No trial that turns into a charge, no in-app purchases on the App Store, no ads and no account. The limits are the ones we list: iPhone only, no TikTok or Snapchat, and Facebook, X and Reddit in beta.
Does StillTabs track me?
No. Its App Store label is "Data Not Linked to You", analytics are off until you turn them on, and stilltabs.com loads no trackers.
StillTabs is free on the App Store, for iPhone. No subscription, no in-app purchases, no account. iOS 16 or later.
Sources
- StillTabs on the App Store (price, privacy label): https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stilltabs-block-reels-shorts/id6761367777
- StillTabs privacy policy: https://stilltabs.com/privacy