How to get a Reddit API key

Last reviewed October 8, 2026

Short answer: Reddit does not issue a single API key. You create an app at reddit.com/prefs/apps, which gives you a client ID and secret, and you exchange those for an OAuth token. Reddit reviews API access, so approval may not be immediate.

Get official Reddit API credentials

Read the rules first. Reddit's Data API wiki explains what is allowed and what needs an agreement. Commercial use is not covered by the free tier.
Create an app. Sign in to Reddit, open reddit.com/prefs/apps and choose to create an app. Pick script for a tool only you run, web app for a server, or installed app for a client you distribute.
Describe your use honestly. Reddit reviews access requests. Say what data you will read and why.
Copy the credentials. The client ID sits under the app name. The secret is shown on the same page. Keep it private.
Request a token. Exchange the client ID and secret for an OAuth access token, then send that token with each request.
Set a real User-Agent. Reddit asks for a unique, descriptive User-Agent. Generic ones are throttled or blocked.

# 1. get a token
curl -X POST https://www.reddit.com/api/v1/access_token \
  -u "CLIENT_ID:CLIENT_SECRET" \
  -A "myapp/1.0 by u/yourname" \
  -d "grant_type=client_credentials"

# 2. call the API with it
curl https://oauth.reddit.com/r/typescript/new?limit=10 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer ACCESS_TOKEN" \
  -A "myapp/1.0 by u/yourname"

What the official key lets you do

Up to 100 queries per minute per OAuth client, for non-commercial use.
Reading and, with the right scopes, posting and voting as a user.
Tokens expire, so your code has to refresh them.

If you cannot get approved, or cannot wait

A third-party API gives you a key without a Reddit app. With Apixstar you sign in with Google and create a key in the console. There is no OAuth flow and no token refresh.

curl "https://api.apixstar.com/reddit/v1/r/typescript/new?limit=10" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"

The trade-offs are real. Apixstar is read-only, it is not affiliated with Reddit, and it costs $0.0007 per request, or per 10 results of a listing or search after $0.50 of free credit. If you need to post, or need Reddit's official sign-off, use the official API.

Questions about Reddit API keys

Is a Reddit API key free?

Creating a Reddit app and its credentials costs nothing. Free use is limited to non-commercial purposes and 100 queries per minute.

Where do I find my Reddit client ID and secret?

On reddit.com/prefs/apps, under the app you created. The client ID is the string under the app name and the secret is labeled "secret".

Why was my Reddit API request not approved?

Reddit reviews what an app will do with its data. Vague descriptions, commercial use without an agreement and data collection at scale are common reasons for refusal.

Can I get Reddit data without a Reddit API key?

Yes, through a third-party API. With Apixstar you sign in with Google and get a key at once, with $0.50 of free credit. You do not register a Reddit app.

Why is my Reddit API key not working?

The most common causes are a missing or generic User-Agent header, an expired OAuth token, the wrong app type for your flow, and exceeding the rate limit.

Next: what the Reddit API costs and how its rate limits work.