A free Jomo alternative that blocks apps and teaches you a language
Jomo helps you block and schedule distracting apps on a subscription. Glosso does the blocking for free, and turns the moment you're blocked into a 1-minute language session.
- 100% free, no subscription
- Earn your scroll by learning
- 9 languages, all included
Free · No ads · Uses Apple Screen Time API
9 languages available
Why people look for a Jomo alternative
Jomo (Joy Of Missing Out) is a well-built iOS screen-time app. It lets you block distracting apps, set app limits, build routines and schedules, and add a bit of friction before you open Instagram, TikTok or YouTube. For a lot of people, it does exactly what it promises: it makes mindless scrolling harder to start.
The most common reason people start shopping for an alternative is cost. Jomo's deeper features sit behind a subscription, and not everyone wants a recurring charge for a screen-time tool. So they search for apps like Jomo that are free, or at least cheaper, while keeping the same core blocking power.
There's also a second, quieter reason. Blocking and pausing handle the impulse, but they leave a gap. You hit the block, you sit with the urge, and a few minutes later you tap right back in. Some people want the blocked moment to actually give them something back instead of just standing in the way.
Glosso: free, and you learn while you're blocked
Glosso keeps the part of Jomo that works, the system-level block on distracting apps, and changes what happens during the block. Instead of just waiting out a timer or staring at a pause screen, you complete a short vocabulary session in the language you're learning. As short as one minute. Finish it, and your apps unlock.
It's the same idea Jomo is built on, handling your screen time at the iOS level, but the reward is different: you walk away having learned a few words instead of just having delayed a scroll. And all of it is free, with no subscription, no ads, and no premium tier.
Completely free
Every feature is included at no cost. No subscription, no trial, no premium upsell. The blocking and all 9 languages are free forever.
Earn your scroll
Your distracting apps stay locked until you finish a quick language session. The urge to scroll becomes the reason you actually study.
Enforced by iOS Screen Time
Glosso uses Apple's Screen Time and Family Controls APIs, so the block is enforced at the system level and is genuinely hard to bypass.
9 languages, switch anytime
English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Arabic, Japanese and Korean are all included. Switch whenever you like, at no extra charge.
How Glosso works
Pick the apps to block
Choose the apps that eat your time, like Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, Snapchat or Facebook. Glosso uses iOS Screen Time to lock them.
Hit the block, do a quick session
When you reach for a blocked app, Glosso asks for a short vocabulary session in your target language. One minute is often enough.
Unlock and keep your streak
Finish the session and your apps open up. You scroll having learned something, and your learning streak grows a little every day.
“Honestly, it's genius. It cuts me off cold in my scroll to make me work on my Spanish. Best app to stop wasting time!”
“Finally a useful app. I'd been looking for ages for a blocker that's both useful and fun. It's great!”
“The vocabulary toll… a bit annoying at first but honestly it works, a minute here, a minute there, and I'm learning my Spanish vocab, it's nice.”
Glosso vs Jomo
Both apps block distracting apps using iOS Screen Time. The real difference is price and what you get out of the blocked moment. Here's a fair side-by-side.
| Glosso | Jomo | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Paid plans |
| Learn a language while blocked | ✓ | ✗ |
| Blocks distracting apps | ✓ | ✓ |
| iOS Screen Time enforcement | ✓ | ✓ |
| What the blocked moment gives you | A 1-minute language session | A pause or delay |
| Platform | iPhone (iOS) | iPhone (iOS) |
FAQ
Is Glosso really free?
Yes. Glosso is 100% free with no subscription, no trial and no paywall. The app blocking and all 9 languages are included at no cost, and there are no ads.
Is Glosso a good alternative to Jomo?
If you like Jomo's blocking but don't want a subscription, or you want the blocked moment to do more than just pause you, Glosso is a strong fit. You get system-level blocking for free, plus a language session as the unlock.
What's the difference between Glosso and Jomo?
Jomo focuses on blocking, routines and schedules on a subscription. Glosso is free and replaces the blocked moment with a 1-minute language session, so you unlock your apps by learning a few words.
Does Glosso block the same apps as Jomo?
Glosso blocks the same kinds of distracting apps, like Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, Snapchat and Facebook. It uses Apple's Screen Time API, so the block is enforced at the iOS system level.
Do I have to learn a language to use it?
Yes, that's the whole mechanic. To unlock a blocked app you complete a short vocabulary session, as quick as one minute. It turns the urge to scroll into a tiny bit of daily learning.
Is Glosso available on Android?
Not yet. Glosso is iPhone only for now, because it relies on Apple's Screen Time and Family Controls APIs to enforce the block at the system level.
Block less, learn more, pay nothing
Get a free alternative to Jomo that turns every blocked scroll into a 1-minute language session. Download Glosso and earn your scroll.
Download freeFree · No ads · Uses Apple Screen Time API