Is the Reddit API free?

Reddit Data API: Not published; commercial use needs a separate agreement. Reddit for Researchers: Not published. The InsightSocial Reddit API is pay-per-call: calls start at 10 credits, your first 10 calls up to 100 credits each are free, and failed calls cost nothing.

How do I get Reddit data without the official API?

Use a public-data API. InsightSocial has 14 Reddit endpoints for public data, with one API key and no Reddit app review. A Reddit profile lookup costs 10 credits; Pro's 10,000 monthly credits cover about 1,000 of them.

Is it legal to collect public Reddit data?

Collecting publicly available data is generally treated differently from accessing private data, but the answer depends on your jurisdiction, Reddit's terms and what you do with personal data afterwards. The InsightSocial API reads public data only. Talk to a lawyer for anything commercial.

Does Reddit have an API?

Yes. Reddit has a Data API, but you must request access and be approved before using it, and commercial use needs a separate written agreement.

To read public Reddit data you do not own, a public-data API is the usual route. InsightSocial has 14 Reddit endpoints from 10 credits a call, with one key and no app review.

Official documentation checked 2026-10-05.

The official Reddit APIs

API	What it covers	Who can get it	Cost
Reddit Data API	Public Reddit content and platform metadata, over OAuth.	Request access and get approval under the Responsible Builder Policy. Commercial use needs written approval.	Not published; commercial use needs a separate agreement
Reddit for Researchers	Data access for approved research participants.	Approved participants, non-commercial use only.	Not published

What the official API does not do

Free access is limited to 100 queries a minute per OAuth client, and traffic without OAuth is blocked. source
Commercial use, or research beyond the rate limits, needs a separate agreement with Reddit. source

Public Reddit data without the official API

Every Reddit endpoint has a published price, and failed calls cost nothing. A few of the 14:

Get a free API key All Reddit API endpoints Use it from Claude or ChatGPT

Reddit API: frequently asked questions