Reddit MCP Server
A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for interacting with Reddit - fetch posts, comments, user info, and create content.
[npm version]
[npm downloads]
[GitHub stars]
[License: MIT]
[reddit-mcp-server MCP server]
Reddit is closing its public API
Reddit announced on 2026-09-30 that it is ending RSS feeds and its public Data API, and moving apps to its Developer Platform (r/redditdev post, r/modnews post):
What this server uses to keep working
The server reads from three sources and uses the best one you have:
Arctic Shift is a third-party copy of Reddit, not Reddit's API, though it collects its data through Reddit's API. Its scores and comment counts lag, and every result from it says so. See Keyless Mode for what each tool can do without credentials.
What it means for you
- You have OAuth credentials: every read tool works. Write tools also need
REDDIT_USERNAME and REDDIT_PASSWORD. Register your app at developers.reddit.com/app-registration before 2027-01-12, or Reddit may remove its access early.
- You don't have credentials: most read tools work with no setup. Reddit no longer accepts new API access requests, so new users run in keyless mode.
- After 2026-11-13: without credentials, ranked listings for a single subreddit fall back to the archive's newest posts, because RSS is gone. The home feed and multireddits have no keyless source after that date.
- After March 2027: Reddit says public API access closes, and that is the path the OAuth tools use, so the write tools and the OAuth-only reads stop working. Arctic Shift says it collects all its data through Reddit's API, so the archive may stop getting new posts then. Keyless reads would still return what it already holds.
Features at a Glance
Quick Start
Option 1: Claude Desktop Extension (Easiest)
Download and open the extension file - Claude Desktop will install it automatically:
Download reddit-mcp-server.mcpb
Option 2: NPX (No install required)
Add to your MCP config (Claude Desktop, Cursor, etc.). Credentials are optional: without them the server runs in keyless mode, and with them you get live data and every tool.
Option 3: Claude Code
Leave out the two variables to run keyless.
Features
Read-only Tools
Most read tools also work without credentials. See Keyless Mode for each tool's limits.
Write Tools (Require User Credentials)
Write tools need Reddit's API, so they need OAuth credentials plus REDDIT_USERNAME and REDDIT_PASSWORD. Reddit closes its public API in March 2027 (details).
Configuration
Environment Variables
Credentials are optional. See Keyless Mode for what works without them.
Full MCP Config Example
Safe Mode (Spam Protection)
Protect your Reddit account from spam detection and bans with built-in safeguards. Enabled by default (standard mode) per Reddit's Responsible Builder Policy.
Why Use Safe Mode?
Reddit's spam detection can flag accounts for:
- Rapid posting or commenting
- Duplicate or similar content
- Posting the same content across multiple subreddits
- Non-standard User-Agent strings
Safe Mode helps prevent these issues automatically.
Mode Options
Disable Safe Mode
Safe mode is enabled by default. To explicitly disable:
What Safe Mode Does
- Rate Limiting: Enforces minimum delays between write operations
- Duplicate Detection: Blocks identical content from being posted twice
- Cross-Subreddit Detection: Prevents posting the same content to multiple subreddits (per Reddit policy)
- Smart User-Agent: Auto-generates Reddit-compliant User-Agent format when username is provided
Bot Disclosure
Reddit's Responsible Builder Policy requires bots to disclose their automated nature. Enable automatic bot footers on all posted content:
When enabled, a footer is appended to all posts, replies, and edits:
Customize the footer with REDDIT_BOT_FOOTER:
Authentication
⚠️ Reddit API Changes (2026)
Reddit's unauthenticated API no longer works. As of mid-2026, Reddit blocks unauthenticated API requests with HTTP 403, so reading Reddit's API needs OAuth credentials. REDDIT_AUTH_MODE=anonymous still exists, but it is now an alias for keyless mode.
Reddit is closing its public API. See Reddit is closing its public API for the dates and what this server does about them.
Reddit closed self-service OAuth app creation in November 2025, and as of 2026-10-31 it accepts no new requests for public API access. Existing OAuth credentials keep working until March 2027 if the app is registered by 2027-01-12. Reddit starts removing access for unregistered apps on that date.
Getting Credentials
If you already have a Reddit app (created at /prefs/apps before November 2025, or approved through Reddit's Developer Support): use your existing client ID and secret. They still work at 60-100 req/min. Register the app at developers.reddit.com/app-registration before 2027-01-12.
If you don't have credentials: Reddit no longer accepts new requests for public API access, so use keyless mode.
Mode Comparison
Keyless Mode
Without OAuth credentials, reads come from two free sources:
- Reddit's RSS feeds for ranked listings (
hot, top, rising, controversial, and the home feed). Reddit retires RSS on 2026-11-13. When a feed fails for a named subreddit, the server falls back to the archive's newest posts and says ranking is unavailable.
- The Arctic Shift archive, a free third-party copy of Reddit run by one volunteer. It is not Reddit's API and has no uptime guarantee.
Archive caveats: scores and comment counts lag, and are often 0 or 1 on recent posts. Keyword search on large subreddits is slow, and the archive throttles it. The server waits up to 10 seconds and retries once. If that fails too, the error says when to retry. Every archive result ends with a note naming the source.
Still needs OAuth: get_trending_subreddits, get_post_flairs, get_me, get_my_overview, get_my_saved, search_reddit with type=user, and all write tools.
Read-Only Access (OAuth)
Write Operations (OAuth + User Credentials)
To create posts, reply, edit, or delete content, add your Reddit username and password:
Development
Commands
CLI Options
HTTP Server Mode
For Docker deployments or web-based clients, use HTTP transport:
- The MCP endpoint is Streamable HTTP at
/mcp. Version 2.0 removed the legacy SSE endpoint (/sse) and /ready.
- The server binds
127.0.0.1 unless you set HOST. The Docker image sets HOST=0.0.0.0.
/health answers {"name":"reddit-mcp-server","status":"running"} and needs no token.
With OAuth Protection
If OAUTH_TOKEN is unset or empty, the server generates one and prints it at startup. Make authenticated requests:
A request with no token gets 401, and a wrong token gets 403.
Docker
Quick Start
Leave out the two credential variables to run the container keyless.
Docker Compose
Build Locally
Reddit Responsible Builder Policy
This server is designed with Reddit's Responsible Builder Policy in mind:
- Safe mode on by default — rate limiting and duplicate detection prevent spam
- Cross-subreddit duplicate detection — blocks identical content across subreddits
- Bot disclosure support — optional automated footer for transparency
- No voting/karma manipulation — upvote/downvote tools are intentionally excluded
- No private messaging — DM tools are intentionally excluded
- Policy-aware AI instructions — MCP server instructions remind AI assistants of data usage restrictions
Credits