- Karma is Reddit's reputation system. Users earn it by getting upvotes on their posts and comments.
- Two types: Post Karma (from submitted posts) and Comment Karma (from comments). Both factor into your account standing.
- Karma matters for posting permissions in many subreddits, Contributor Program eligibility, and basic credibility — not for cash directly.
What Is Reddit Karma, Exactly?
Karma is a number Reddit assigns each user based on how the community reacts to their content. Every upvote increases your karma; every downvote decreases it.
Your karma is publicly visible on your profile. It's a quick signal of how much value you've added to Reddit.
Types of Reddit Karma
| Type | Source | Visible on profile? |
|---|---|---|
| Post Karma | Upvotes on your submissions (links, text posts, images) | Yes |
| Comment Karma | Upvotes on your comments and replies | Yes |
| Awarder Karma | Awards you've given out (legacy, deprecated 2023) | No longer tracked |
| Awardee Karma | Awards you've received (legacy, deprecated 2023) | No longer tracked |
In 2026, only Post Karma and Comment Karma are still tracked separately.
Why Does Karma Matter?
1. Posting Permissions
Many subreddits enforce karma minimums before you can post. Examples:
- r/AskReddit — 100+ comment karma.
- r/wallstreetbets — 200+ karma.
- r/SubredditDrama — 500+ karma.
- Niche communities — 1,000+ karma common.
Low-karma accounts get auto-removed by AutoModerator before humans even see the post.
2. Contributor Program Eligibility
To earn money via gold, you need at least 100 post + 100 comment karma.
3. Credibility
Users check your karma when judging your content. A user with 50,000 karma is taken more seriously than one with 50.
4. Anti-Spam Filtering
New accounts with 0 karma trigger automatic spam filters. High karma signals legitimacy.
How to Earn Reddit Karma Fast
- Comment in popular subreddits. r/AskReddit, r/funny, r/Showerthoughts have huge volume. Even mid-quality comments earn karma fast.
- Be early on rising posts. Top comments on posts with 1K+ upvotes can earn 500-5,000 karma each.
- Post in image subreddits. r/aww, r/pics, r/oddlysatisfying favor visuals; one viral image = 10K+ karma.
- Match the subreddit's voice. Sarcasm in r/AskReddit; helpful in r/AskScience; deep in r/AskHistorians.
- Avoid downvotes. Don't argue with the hivemind, don't post low-effort content.
How to Lose Karma Fast
- Self-promotion in subreddits that ban it.
- Arguing with popular opinion.
- Posting in inappropriate subreddits.
- Bad humor or low-effort jokes in serious subreddits.
- Ignoring rules and getting comments removed (no karma but possible bans).
What Is Karma Worth in Cash?
Karma itself has no direct cash value. Reddit doesn't pay per upvote.
However, karma indirectly converts to money via:
- Contributor Program (gold income — high karma multiplies earnings).
- Account credibility (high-karma posts get more views → more bio link clicks).
- Subreddit access (some lucrative service subreddits require 1K+ karma to post).
Karma Farming — Why It's Banned
Karma farming = posting reposts, low-effort content, or buying upvotes to inflate karma.
Reddit actively bans karma farmers:
- Automatic detection of repost networks.
- Subreddit moderators report serial reposters.
- Bought upvotes get reversed and accounts banned.
Genuine karma earned over time = safe. Manufactured karma = ban risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is good Reddit karma?
1,000+ karma = active user. 10,000+ = power user. 100,000+ = top 5% of users. 1M+ = elite.
Does karma give you anything?
Not directly. It unlocks posting in some subreddits, makes you Contributor-eligible, and lends credibility — but no cash from karma alone.
Why does my karma drop overnight?
Reddit applies "karma normalization" — vote brigades and bot upvotes are removed retroactively. Your displayed karma can drop slightly even after old posts.
Can you sell a Reddit account with high karma?
Technically yes (and there's a black market for it), but it violates Reddit's TOS and accounts are often banned.
How long does it take to get 1,000 karma?
1-3 weeks of active commenting in popular subreddits. Faster if you post viral content; slower if you stick to niche subreddits.
Key Takeaways
- Karma = Reddit reputation. Earned via upvotes, lost via downvotes.
- Two types tracked: Post Karma and Comment Karma.
- Karma unlocks subreddits, Contributor Program, credibility — not cash directly.
- Earn fast by commenting early on popular posts in high-volume subreddits.
- Don't karma farm — Reddit bans it.
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