Reddit API pricing: what it costs and what is free
Short answer: Reddit's Data API is free for non-commercial use within 100 queries per minute. Commercial use is paid and arranged with Reddit directly. The rate Reddit announced in 2023 was $0.24 per 1,000 calls.
The official tiers
| Use | Cost | Limit | How you get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-commercial, personal, research | Free | 100 queries per minute per OAuth client | Register an app, use OAuth |
| Commercial | $0.24 per 1,000 calls, as announced in 2023 | Set in your agreement | Agreement with Reddit |
Reddit states the free limits in its Data API wiki. It does not publish a self-serve price list for commercial use, so treat the 2023 rate as a reference point and ask Reddit for a quote.
What the price means in practice
At $0.24 per 1,000 calls, one million calls would cost $240. The per-call price is low. The cost for most teams is elsewhere: you need a registered app, OAuth, a review of your use case, and for commercial use a contract. Approval can take time and is not guaranteed.
What third-party Reddit APIs charge
Third-party services return public Reddit data without an agreement with Reddit. They cost more per call than Reddit's commercial rate, and you can start in minutes. Published list prices range from about $0.50 to $2.00 per 1,000 read requests. See the side-by-side comparison for each provider.
Apixstar charges $0.0007 per request, or per 10 results of a listing or search. A post comes back with up to 200 comments for one request, and a request that fails is not charged. Full details are on the pricing page.
Which route should you take
- Use the official API if your project is non-commercial and fits in 100 queries per minute, or if you need an official agreement with Reddit.
- Use a third-party API if you need data today, cannot wait for a review, or want to pay as you go without a contract.
- Check your use case either way. Reddit's terms restrict some uses of its content, including training machine learning models without permission.
Questions about Reddit API pricing
Is the Reddit API free?
Partly. Reddit offers free access for non-commercial use within rate limits of 100 queries per minute per OAuth client. Commercial use needs an agreement with Reddit and is paid.
How much does the Reddit API cost for commercial use?
In 2023 Reddit announced a rate of $0.24 per 1,000 API calls for apps that need higher limits. Commercial terms are agreed with Reddit directly, so your price can differ. Ask Reddit for a current quote.
Does the Reddit API cost money for personal projects?
Not if the project is non-commercial and stays inside the free rate limits. You still need a registered app and OAuth.
Is there a cheaper way to get Reddit data?
Third-party Reddit data APIs sell access without an agreement. Apixstar charges $0.0007 per request, or per 10 results of a listing or search, and failed requests are free. These services are not affiliated with Reddit, and you remain responsible for how you use the data.
Why did Reddit start charging for its API?
Reddit introduced paid API access in 2023, saying that large-scale commercial use of its data should be paid for. Several third-party Reddit apps shut down after the change.
Next: how to get a Reddit API key and how the rate limits work.