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How to Export Reddit Comments to CSV

Step-by-step: export comments from a public Reddit thread to CSV using a free tool, then scale with the Comments API when you need depth or automation.

SFSpideyData team
6 min read

Introduction

Export a public Reddit thread’s comments to CSV in minutes—then know when to switch to the API. This works on one public thread URL at a time. It is not a way to export an account’s comment history.

Steps with the free exporter

  1. Open a public Reddit post in your browser and copy its URL (for example https://www.reddit.com/r/<subreddit>/comments/<id>/<slug>/).
  2. Go to the free Reddit comment exporter.
  3. Paste the URL and run the export. No account or API key is required.
  4. Review the preview, then download the CSV.
  5. Open the file in a spreadsheet or load it into pandas, R, or a BI tool.

Prefer a thread-focused or download-focused entry point? Export Reddit thread to CSV and Download Reddit comments CSV use the same capped export.

CSV columns explained

The export flattens each returned comment into a row. Expect identifying and content fields such as comment id, author name, comment body, score, created time, and parent/depth information that lets you rebuild reply structure. Column names in the downloaded file are the source of truth; build your analysis on those headers rather than on this summary.

Limits and NSFW

  • 10 requests per IP per 24 hours.
  • Up to 100 comments per export.
  • NSFW threads are excluded.
  • Public threads only—no private or quarantined communities, no deleted-content recovery.

Scale with the Comments API

When 100 comments is not enough or you need automation, use the Reddit Comments API:

  • Sync read: GET /v1/reddit/posts/{post_id}/comments returns a live public comment tree as JSON.
  • Deep collection: POST /v1/reddit/posts/{post_id}/comments creates an async job; poll GET /v1/reddit/comment-jobs/{job_id}, then page through stored comments.

Convert the JSON to CSV in your own pipeline. Credits apply to successful reads and jobs; see Pricing. Developer walkthrough: How to get Reddit comments with an API.

FAQ

Can I export all comments from a Reddit user?

No. The exporter works per public thread. User comment-history export is not offered.

Can I recover deleted comments?

No. Only comments that are publicly visible at fetch time are returned.

Why did my export stop at 100 comments?

That is the free cap. Use the Comments API async job for deeper threads.

Next step

Continue with the implementation

Related: Reddit comment export, Export Reddit thread to CSV, Download Reddit comments CSV, Reddit Comments API, How to get Reddit comments with an API, and the Reddit data hub.

Sources and further reading

Next step

Try the smallest path that fits your target

Start with the public Fetch guide, then add browser rendering, crawling, or extraction when the workflow needs it.