Reddit Data API pricing
Also called: reddit api pricing, reddit api cost, reddit api changes 2023, $0.24 per 1000 api calls
Definition
Reddit Data API pricing refers to the fees Reddit introduced in 2023 for heavy API use, reported at $0.24 per 1,000 calls above free limits. Reddit stopped accepting new public API requests on October 31, 2026, and commercial access now means a contract with Reddit.
Reddit's API used to be free for almost everyone. In 2023 Reddit started charging high-volume users, which shut down several popular third-party apps and set off one of the biggest protests in Reddit's history. The pricing still shapes which Reddit tools exist.
What happened in 2023
- The rate. Apps above the free limits were charged $0.24 per 1,000 API calls, the figure reported by Business Insider in June 2023 and widely cited since. Pricing took effect in July 2023.
- Third-party apps closed. Apollo, one of the most popular third-party Reddit apps, announced it would shut down on June 30, 2023, its developer saying the new costs were unworkable at Apollo's volume.
- Protests. Many subreddits went private or read-only in protest in June 2023. Reddit's own "key facts" page from that month said more than 96% of its top 5,000 communities were open again by the time it was updated.
- Free limits went up. Reddit Help says that as of July 1, 2023, free API limits rose from 60 to 100 queries per minute for clients using OAuth.
- Exemptions. Reddit said mod tools and bots keep free access, that API access stays free for non-commercial researchers under the threshold, and that it had signed agreements exempting some accessibility-focused apps (it named Luna, Dystopia and RedReader as of June 30, 2023).
- Most apps paid nothing. Reddit's 2023 page said "more than 98% of apps do not pay" as long as they are not monetized and stay below the usage threshold.
Where things stand (November 2026)
Reddit no longer publishes a per-call rate card in its help center, and the public API itself is closing:
- New requests for public API access stopped on October 31, 2026. Access removal begins January 12, 2027 for apps that haven't registered with Reddit, and remaining public API access ends in March 2027 (Reddit changelog).
- Apps that were already approved keep free access capped at 100 queries per minute per OAuth client ID until then, under the Responsible Builder Policy.
- Reddit offers "both free and paid access," and "select developers who require broader access to Reddit data may be charged fees to lift those limits."
- Commercial use requires Reddit's permission and a contract. Reddit's examples of commercial use include paid data access, subscription services and free features used to upsell.
So the 2023 $0.24 figure is history, useful for context, not a quote you can plan on. There is no public API to buy into any more: commercial access means a direct contract with Reddit.
Large data partners are a separate category. In February 2024 Reddit announced an expanded partnership giving Google structured access to Reddit content through its Data API.
Why it matters for marketers
API pricing is why many Reddit tools changed or disappeared after 2023, why archives like Pushshift were restricted, and why some monitoring tools are expensive or limited. When you choose a Reddit monitoring or analytics product, the way it gets Reddit data affects its coverage, freshness and long-term reliability. See Reddit API for the current rules.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Reddit API cost?
In 2023 Reddit charged high-volume apps $0.24 per 1,000 calls above free limits. Since October 31, 2026 Reddit no longer accepts new public API requests; already-approved apps keep free access within 100 queries per minute until March 2027, and commercial access is priced by contract.
Why did Apollo shut down?
Apollo's developer said the cost of Reddit's new API pricing at Apollo's request volume was not sustainable, and the app closed on June 30, 2023.
Is the Reddit API free for moderators?
Mod tools that already have access keep it for now, but Reddit is moving them to its Developer Platform (Devvit) and public API access ends in March 2027. Reddit's 2026 migration program pays selected tools serving communities with 1,000 or more weekly active users $1,000 for migrating by December 31, 2026.
Sources
- Reddit, Inc.: Key facts to understanding Reddit's recent API updates (June 2023)
- Reddit Help: Moderation Bots & Tooling (2023 rate limit change)
- Business Insider via Yahoo Tech: Apollo shutting down over API pricing (June 2023)
- Reddit Help: Changelog, October 8, 2026
- Reddit Help: Developer Platform App Migration Program 2026 Terms