Reddit awards
Also called: awards, reddit gold, gilding, gilded, gold award
Definition
Reddit awards are paid or free badges users give to posts and comments to recognize them. Paid awards are bought with Reddit gold, typically 15 to 50 gold each, and awards received can count toward Contributor Program earnings.
Awards are Reddit's way of tipping a post or comment. Reddit Help calls them "a means of expression on Reddit used to recognize and react to each other's contributions." An awarded comment shows the award icon and a count, which makes it stand out in the thread.
A short history
Awards have changed several times. Reddit gold started as a single award; later Reddit introduced coins to buy many different awards. In September 2023 Reddit replaced coins with a new gold system: users buy gold and give it as an award directly on content, and the same announcement launched the Contributor Program, which pays eligible users based on karma and gold received. The current awards experience, priced in gold, is described below as of Reddit Help in October 2026.
How awards work now
- Giving one. On a post, open the overflow menu and choose Award this post; on a comment, tap the award icon underneath. Pick an award and select Give Award.
- Cost. Reddit says awards "generally" cost 15 to 50 gold. There are also free awards, labeled Free, which you can give once per eligible piece of content.
- Gold prices. Gold is sold in packs, for example 100 gold for $1.99 on mobile or $1.79 on web, up to 2,500 gold for $49.99 mobile or $44.99 web. Mobile costs more because of app store fees. Gold is non-transferable and non-refundable, and balances cap at 10,000 gold.
- Anonymous awards. You can give anonymously; only Reddit sees who gave it, and you lose any giver recognition.
- No self-awarding. You cannot award your own content, including content posted from your alt accounts.
- Earnings. Reddit tracks the total gold used to buy awards on your content and uses it as one signal for Contributor Program eligibility and payouts.
Where awards are not allowed
Reddit lists exclusions: content tagged NSFW, sexually explicit or graphic content, certain mature themes such as alcohol or gambling, content in NSFW or quarantined communities, communities dedicated to addiction or trauma support, ads and comments on ads, and content not posted in a community (awards can only be given in communities).
Why it matters for marketers
Awards are a weak marketing lever and an easy one to misuse.
- Do not award your own brand content from staff accounts. Self-awarding is blocked, and coordinated awarding to boost visibility looks like the same kind of manipulation Reddit's rules target with votes.
- Awards on a competitor's thread are a signal. A comment with several paid awards is one the community valued highly. Read why.
- Awarding helpful community members in your own subreddit is a reasonable way to say thanks, but keep it modest and genuine.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Reddit award cost?
Most awards cost 15 to 50 gold, according to Reddit Help. Gold packs start at 100 gold for $1.99 on mobile or $1.79 on web (October 2026 prices).
Do awards give karma?
Awards are tracked separately from karma. Reddit's 2023 gold announcement said users continue to earn karma through regular upvotes, while gold received feeds Contributor Program earnings.
Can I see who gave me an award?
Yes, unless it was given anonymously. Award details show a leaderboard of givers, excluding anonymous ones.