How to scrape data from Reddit for free and with no code?

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to scrape Reddit for free, without writing a single line of code. Using tools like Apify, you can collect data on posts, comments, user profiles, and more with just a few clicks.

What does Reddit Scraper do?

A scraper is a powerful automated tool for collecting data from Reddit. Without needing authentication or login credentials, a scraper enables you to extract a wide range of information. Built on robust frameworks like the Apify SDK, these tools can run seamlessly on platforms like Apify, providing an efficient way to access Reddit data for various purposes.

Key Features of a Reddit Scraper

Reddit scrapers offer a variety of functions to simplify data extraction:

• Subreddit Scraping: Extract top posts and trends from specific subreddits (communities).

• Post and Comment Data: Gather details like titles, text, usernames, timestamps, votes, media attachments, and URLs from Reddit posts and comments.

• User Profile Insights: Access user details, including their latest posts and comments, to understand individual preferences and activity.

• Sorting Options: Organize extracted information by relevance, popularity (Hot, Top), or recency (New).

• Custom Queries: Scrape data using specific URLs or keyword-based searches for targeted results.

What data can I extract from Reddit?

Reddit’s vast ecosystem offers a wealth of data types to explore:

1. Posts and Comments: These are the heart of Reddit. Posts spark conversations, while comments provide depth and community interaction. They reveal trending topics, opinions, and engagement, making up a significant portion of Reddit’s activity.

2. User Profiles: User data offers insights into interests, activity, and community participation. With over 52 million active daily users in 2022, Reddit provides a rich dataset for understanding audience behavior.

3. Upvotes and Downvotes: Upvote and downvote metrics highlight what’s popular or controversial, giving you a pulse on community sentiment. These metrics account for a major share of Reddit interactions.

4. Timestamps: Timestamp data allows you to analyze trends and activity patterns over time, making it a vital resource for time-sensitive studies.

How much will it cost to scrape Reddit?

It depends on what app you're using. I don't know how to code so Python-based is out of the question. My scraper of choice is Apify which has a general free plan. You can easily collect up to 1,000 results for under $4 in platform usage credits (you'll get $5 of monthly credits every month).

If you’re looking to scrape larger amounts of insights on a regular basis, upgrading to an Apify subscription is a smart move. The Starter plan, priced at $49 per month, is a great choice—it allows you to gather more than 10,000 results each month.

Two ways to scrape Reddit with no code

My favorite tool is Apify. The website says it's a platform where developers build, deploy, and publish web scraping, data extraction, and web automation tools.

But honestly, I have zero coding skills, and I get by great. The UI language can get a bit technical, but it's very easy to use, and that's why I'm writing these guides.

To scrape Reddit the process is straightforward. Step one is creating an account. Apify offers three tiers but their free tier is very generous.

Once you have the account, click "Store" and search for Reddit scraper.

There you'll see a list of Reddit scrapers. Most of them work as pay-per-download but if you still have free credits on your tier, you won't get charged anything. I suggest going with the most used and upvoted one - Reddit Scraper Lite by Gustavo Rudiger.

Their subpage states that the pricing is $4/1000 results, but again, you can easily use Apify's free tier.

In step two, click on the Reddit Scraper Lite. you'll land on this page. I know it seems like a lot of tech info, but it's not. There are two ways to go about scraping.

Method 1: Scrape posts, comments of a subreddit

With this method, you want to scrape comments, scrape Reddit posts of a known subreddit. Start by pasting in the URL and decide if you'd like to scrape the subreddit entirely or limit extracted data to posts or comments only. Don't forget to limit results to not burn through your credits and you're ready to run the scraper.

Method 2: Find and download comments and posts, communities and users with search words

In this second method, instead of using a subreddit URL, scrape Reddit data by using a keyword. First, add the target keyword and then decide whether you'd like to limit the search to only comments, posts, users, etc. As before, create a limit for scraped information to not burn through credits too quickly.

With both methods, wait for a few minutes to see the results.

You can download or share your results. Simply click on "Export results" and choose your preferred format. Apify supports JSON, CSV, XML, excel, html table, RSS, JSONL. You can also integrate your account with Google Drive, Gmail and others but you'll probably need to upgrade your plan.

Does Reddit allow scraping

Scraping publicly accessible information from Reddit is typically permitted, but it’s crucial to adhere to Reddit’s terms of service and respect its usage guidelines. Make sure to use scraping tools responsibly, limit the frequency of requests to avoid overloading the site, and ensure that any collected data is utilized in accordance with relevant laws and regulations. Here are also Reddit's official terms of services in case you're in doubt about legality of scraping data from Reddit.

FAQ

Are there public APIs for Reddit?

Currently, Reddit’s API is free to use, but it comes with specific rules and limitations. Recently, Reddit announced plans to transition its API to a paid model, citing concerns about data usage. In contrast, a Reddit web scraper offers several advantages over the official API. It eliminates the need for authentication, special permissions for commercial use, or registering for access tokens, making it a simpler and more flexible option for extracting data.

Why should I scrape Reddit?

Here are the most popular use cases:

1. Sentiment analysis

Subreddits are hubs of active discussions, with users engaging through questions, replies, and votes on countless topics. Researchers can gain insights into public sentiment, trends, and community behavior. It’s particularly useful for techniques like sentiment analysis, which rely on large volumes of social data for accurate results.

2. Competitive analysis

Businesses can use Reddit scraping to collect valuable feedback and opinions within their industry. By analyzing discussions about their market and competitors, companies can better understand customer perspectives, identify gaps, and make more informed decisions.

3. Automated browsing

Manually navigating Reddit to find specific discussions or topics can be time-consuming due to the platform's vast size and high engagement levels. Scraping automates this process, enabling quick and efficient access to the data you need, saving significant time and effort.

4. Content creation

Reddit is an excellent source of inspiration for content creation. By extracting insights from relevant subreddits, you can identify trending topics and popular conversations to create engaging and impactful content tailored to your audience.