Jomo

Jomo is a screen-time app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac that helps people limit distracting apps and build focus habits. Blocks can run on a schedule, begin after a usage limit, or stay in place until the user takes an action. On Mac, rules can cover apps, keywords, and websites, including particular pages through wildcard support. Strict Mode can prevent rules from being deleted or bypassed. Unlock choices include waiting, providing a reason or password, scanning a QR code, or completing an AI proof. Jomo also offers journaling to review sessions and notice usage patterns. Its features include rules that sync with Focus Filters across iPhone and Mac, and its pricing page lists Apple Health Integration. Jomo says app usage remains on the user’s phone and is not sold to advertisers. A free plan and three-day trial are listed. The Free Plan is $0.00 per free; Annual is $29.99 per year, Student (Annual) is $14.99 per year, and Single Purchase is $99.99 per once.

Jomo combines blocking rules with several ways to unlock them and tools for reviewing sessions. The free plan is limited to one session, one action or limit, and one Screen Time Budget; paid options include annual, student, and one-time plans.

Jomo suits people who want scheduled or limit-based app blocking on Apple devices, with options to make blocks harder to dismiss. Its journaling and Mac blocking tools may also suit people who want to review usage or block sites and keywords.

Jomo is a screen-time app for people who want more control over when distracting apps and websites are available. It suits Apple users who want adjustable blocks and stronger session locks; its free plan’s narrow limits make a paid plan necessary for broader use.

Overview

Jomo combines scheduled blocking with sessions that can stay active until the user takes an action. Journaling adds a way to reflect on sessions and look for usage patterns, so the app addresses both the moment of distraction and the habit around it.

Jomo is independently run by a self-financed two-person team based in France and launched in October 2022. The company says app usage stays on the user’s phone and is not sold to advertisers. Support includes a help center with more than 70 articles, human assistance, in-app hints and video tutorials.

Key features

Users can block apps at set times, after reaching a limit, or until they take action. Recurring schedules suit routines, while Strict Mode can make rules unbreakable so they cannot be deleted or bypassed. That stronger lock is useful for people who routinely override their own limits, though it is a poor fit for anyone who needs to change rules freely in the moment.

Jomo offers several ways to unlock a session: wait, give a reason, enter a password, scan a QR code or complete an AI proof. The range lets users choose how much friction to add before reopening an app. Journaling can then help them review sessions and identify usage patterns.

On Mac, Jomo can block apps, keywords and websites, with wildcards for targeting specific pages. Rules can sync with Focus Filters across iPhone and Mac, and Apple Health integration is included in the annual plan. The maker describes Jomo as available for iPhone, iPad and Mac.

Pricing

The Free Plan costs nothing and includes one session, one action or limit, one Screen Time Budget, Squads and Reports. It is a useful way to start with basic limits, but the single-session and single-budget caps leave little room for separate routines or more involved setups. The pricing note also offers a 3-day trial.

Student (Annual) costs $14.99 a year, renewable every school year, and includes all Jomo Plus features on iPhone and Mac. It is the lower-cost paid option for eligible students who want the full feature set, with renewal tied to each school year.

Annual costs $29.99 a year and includes up to 10 sessions, up to 10 actions or limits, Strict Mode, Apple Health integration, the ability to delete apps from Screen Time, multiple Screen Time Budgets, Squads and Reports. It suits users who need multiple rules and budgets without a one-time payment.

Single Purchase costs $99.99 as a one-time purchase and includes all Jomo Plus features, shared with up to five family members. It costs more upfront than the annual plan but avoids recurring billing and can suit a household sharing the app.

Platforms

Jomo is available for iOS and macOS, with the maker also describing support for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Its Apple focus is a limitation for people who need the same blocking setup across Android, Windows or Linux.

Who it's for

Jomo is a strong fit for Apple-device users who want scheduled or recurring blocks, adjustable unlock friction and the option to make rules hard to undo. Its Mac controls and cross-device Focus Filters make it especially relevant to people managing distractions on both iPhone and Mac. Readers who only need a single basic limit may be comfortable on the free plan; users who need several routines should expect to pay.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Multiple schedule and unlock options let users tune how much friction a block creates.
• Pros: Mac blocking covers apps, keywords and websites, including specific pages through wildcards.
• Pros: Journaling, Reports and Squads support review and shared use alongside blocking.
• Cons: The free plan allows only one session, one action or limit and one Screen Time Budget.
• Cons: iOS and macOS availability excludes users looking for a multi-platform setup.
• Cons: The student plan renews every school year, while the one-time plan requires a much larger upfront payment than one year of Annual.

Alternatives

For broader platform coverage, Freedom supports Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, web and Windows. Its free plan includes limited features, blocking for apps, websites or the internet, multi-device sync, custom blocklists and website exceptions; choose it when cross-platform coverage matters more than Jomo’s listed unlock options and journaling.

Opal is another freemium option for iOS, Android and Mac. Its free plan includes one rule, basic timers and soundscapes, app blocking and an Opal Score for today; it may suit someone whose needs fit within one rule and who wants a daily score.

Phone-Free 2FA is a free option across Android, browser extension, iOS, Mac and Windows, with browser extension and TOTP accounts but no central recovery or sync. It is a narrower alternative for people seeking that specific tool rather than Jomo’s broader screen-time controls.

Pluckeye is free across Android, Linux, Mac and Windows and includes all its features. AppBlock is a freemium option for Android, browser extension and iOS. Focus Bear is freemium across Android, iOS, Mac and Windows; its free Essentials plan caps Pomodoro sessions at 25 minutes, allows up to five websites or apps and limits routines to three habits and three break activities. Focus Fence is available for iOS and Mac, with a free download and in-app purchases; its listed subscriptions include $4.99 a month and $14.99 a year. LeechBlock NG is a free browser extension for Android and supports up to 30 block sets.

For more options, browse Distraction Blocking Software or Screen Time Management Apps.

Verdict

Choose Jomo if you use Apple devices and want more than a basic timer: its scheduling, varied unlock steps, Strict Mode and session reflection make it a considered tool for managing screen habits. The main reasons to look elsewhere are the tight free-plan caps and the iOS-and-Mac focus; users needing several routines or broader device coverage should compare paid plans or a cross-platform alternative.