Independent · Read-only · Not affiliated with Reddit
Reddit API — Official Access or a Managed Public-Data API?
If you only need public Reddit posts, comments, and search as JSON, you can call a managed read-only API with one Bearer key. If you need posting, voting, user data, or official access, use Reddit's own API.
What this is not
- This page is not Reddit's API documentation.
- Not Reddit's official API, and not affiliated with or endorsed by Reddit Inc.
- Not a way around Reddit's Data API terms or app-registration process. If you need official access, apply through Reddit.
- Read-only public data. No posting, commenting, voting, messaging, or moderation.
- No logged-in user data: no inboxes, saved or upvoted items, private or quarantined communities.
- Not a full historical archive or deleted-content recovery tool.
- You remain responsible for how you collect, store, and use Reddit data. This page is not legal advice.
Official references: Data API Wiki · Data API Terms · App Registration
What people mean by “Reddit API”
Sometimes they mean Reddit's official Data API (Wiki, Terms, App Registration). Sometimes they mean a Python wrapper like PRAW. Sometimes they mean a managed public-read API such as SpideyData /v1/reddit. This page helps you choose—without pretending we are Reddit.
Capability strip (managed public reads)
When managed public reads are enough, these surfaces apply.
Search
Keyword search public posts—see Search API.
Posts
Listings and post-by-id—see Posts API.
Comments
Live trees and async jobs—see Comments API.
Comment search
Keyword search over comments.
Monitors
Follow one subreddit for new posts.
Free tools
Limited no-key previews for export, listings, and search.
Official Reddit Data API vs SpideyData
What it is
Official Reddit Data API: Reddit's own Data API (app registration + OAuth; see Reddit docs)
SpideyData /v1/reddit: Independent hosted public-data read REST API; not affiliated with Reddit
Auth for public reads
Official Reddit Data API: Reddit app credentials / OAuth
SpideyData /v1/reddit: SpideyData Bearer API key—no caller-built Reddit OAuth app for these public reads
Public posts / comments / search
Official Reddit Data API: Yes (via official API)
SpideyData /v1/reddit: Yes via /v1/reddit
User inbox / saved / upvoted
Official Reddit Data API: Yes with user OAuth scopes
SpideyData /v1/reddit: No
Write / vote / mod
Official Reddit Data API: Yes with appropriate scopes
SpideyData /v1/reddit: No—read-only
Collection helpers
Official Reddit Data API: —
SpideyData /v1/reddit: Async comment jobs; subreddit monitors
Minimal managed examples
- Create a SpideyData API key.
- Call GET /v1/reddit/search or GET /v1/reddit/posts for public data.
- Use Reddit's official path whenever you need write or user-scoped access.
$ curl -sS -G "$SPIDER_BASE_URL/v1/reddit/search" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer $SPIDER_API_KEY" \
--data-urlencode "q=web scraping"Choose the official API if…
You need posting, voting, messaging, moderation, user-authorized data, or a direct commercial relationship with Reddit. Register an app through Reddit and follow Reddit's Data API terms.
Choose managed public reads if…
You only need public posts, comments, and search as JSON; you want any-language REST with a Bearer key; and you do not want to operate a Reddit OAuth app just for these public reads.
Is this the right fit?
Choose this path for managed public Reddit JSON. Do not expect:
- Full historical Reddit archive or deleted-content recovery
- Keyword or brand-mention monitoring inbox
- Private, quarantined, or logged-in-only content
- Official Reddit API approval bypass or write/mod OAuth replacement
- Hard-coded credit unit prices on this page—see Pricing for meters
Credits & billing
Public reads and successful deliveries use Plan Credits. Exact meters and rates follow Pricing; failed requests on our side are not charged when billing is active. Confirm live meters in Pricing and the Reddit API docs before publishing numbers.
Frequently asked questions
Pick the right Reddit API path
Get a SpideyData key for public reads, or apply through Reddit when you need official access.