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Is Reddit the Next Big Search Engine?

The ways people search for information online have been quietly changing over the past few years. While Google and other search engines remain the most popular tools for search, a growing portion of users are turning to Reddit, not just for memes and the news, but for real, experience-based answers across all aspects of life and interests.

Is Reddit becoming a more powerful search tool than Google? Let’s take a look at why people are searching on Reddit, how Reddit search is different from Google, and what this shift means for users and brands.

Why are people using Reddit for Search?

Many users say Google, Bing, and other search engines are becoming increasingly cluttered with ads, SEO content, and stale results. Type a question into Google and you’re likely to be presented with 3 blue links to paid sponsored results, an article or two from blog sites and generic media sites, and maybe even one post from a Q&A platform like Quora or Yahoo Answers.

Users have often expressed a common frustration: they want real-life, human experiences and advice, but search engines are giving them ads, affiliate links, and fluff content. They are asking, “Is Reddit the next search engine, where can I find the real answers?”

Reddit, with its millions of individual communities, also known as subreddits, is a different kind of search result. A Reddit search provides access to real conversations, niche-expertise, unfiltered opinions, and community-ranked threads, all of which make it one of the most powerful search experiences available on the web. Advice and reviews on Reddit threads often contain more first-hand information and experience than other kinds of search results.

The Rise of Reddit Search: Key Stats

Reddit’s growth as a search destination is undeniable. As of Q2 2025, Reddit boasts over 110 million daily active users worldwide, a 21% increase from the previous year. The platform now sees more than 70 million weekly search queries, and its new AI-powered “Reddit Answers” feature has exploded in popularity, reaching 6 million weekly users, a fivefold increase in just one quarter.

Reddit’s CEO, Steve Huffman, has made it clear: “Reddit is one of the few platforms positioned to become a true search destination. We offer something special: a breadth of conversations and knowledge you can’t find anywhere else.”

Reddit search works differently: a few key examples

1. Search results based on community and conversation

Reddit’s search results are different because it is not just searching for pages or links like Google. Reddit searches for the best answers within Reddit conversations. Reddit threads are ranked by the community: if a post or comment in a thread is upvoted by the community, it moves to the top of the thread and the search results.

Example:

Google is likely to return a listicle, article, or static blog post when you search a question like “best budget travel tips”. On Reddit you’ll find a thread where dozens of other travelers share their personal tips, hacks, and stories their own ups and downs, mistakes, and recommendations, along with their own follow-up questions or advice to new travelers.

2. Search results with niche-expertise and unfiltered advice

With thousands of different subreddits for every possible interest or question, Reddit search also delivers answers from users who are “been there, done that”.

Example:

If a user is searching “how to fix a leaking faucet”, they might find a user post in r/DIY with a detailed step-by-step guide on how they fixed it at their own home, complete with photos, more troubleshooting advice, or comments from other plumbers and homeowners who have had similar issues.

3. Reddit Search is dynamic and real-time

Reddit threads aren’t static blog posts. They are dynamic, editable, and often updated as users find new information, update their answers, or correct outdated information. This constant evolution of Reddit search results makes Reddit answers more relevant than search results from other platforms.

Benefits of Searching on Reddit

• Real-life, real-time, real answers.
• In-depth coverage, including edge-cases and “what ifs”
• Speed and first access for breaking news and trending topics
• Community validation from upvotes and comments

Reddit vs. Google: Honest Comparison

Reddit is no stranger to web searches, but how do Reddit and Google compare fairly? We found some real Reddit threads solving common search queries in real-life situations, where Reddit provided better or unique answers than a simple Google search.

Real time Example 1: Product Research

A user is researching and thinking about buying noise-cancelling headphones. On Google they’ll most likely find a “top 10” style affiliate link article from some travel blog. On Reddit’s r/headphones, they find a community-driven thread where expert Reddit users, audiophiles, and podcasters go back and forth debating pros and cons of each model, long-term reviews, and even share current sales or coupon codes.

Example 2: Health Advice

Someone searching “side effects of intermittent fasting” on Google may end up on a website for some generic health or nutrition company with a half-page article. On Reddit’s r/IntermittentFasting, actual users post their own experiences, daily struggles, and what worked and didn’t work for them, often with much more nuance, detail, and transparency.

Example 3: Career Questions

A new graduate wants to break into data science and needs some career and job advice. On Reddit’s r/datascience, experienced professionals offer resume advice, interview experiences, and even free tutorials and learning resources, while a traditional blog post on “how to become a data scientist” can’t match this direct access to real experts.

Reddit search: Some (fair) complaints

Reddit is a powerful search engine, but it isn’t perfect, and some Reddit users have some fair complaints. Account bans and strict subreddit rules are a big pain point and user research has shown users can be banned for minor infractions or past comments, which doesn’t make users feel very welcome.

Another point is not every subreddit is equally active or moderated well, so the quality of answers can fluctuate from subreddit to subreddit. Users also can be victims of misinformation or misleading advice, although the community usually curates and weeds out bad information through comments and downvotes.

Reddit is adding features to improve its search experience. It just released new Reddit AI app integrations and is expanding Reddit Answers to more subreddits and countries. The company sees Reddit search as an opportunity to tap into 40% of Reddit posts with purchase intent and a key opportunity to surface more products and shopping research. Reddit sees itself as a search engine that has valuable human perspective, and bets this search behavior will continue as AI-generated content continues to flood the web.

Reddit as a Search Engine: What does it mean for Users and Brands?

For users, the rise in Reddit search means more relevant, authentic, and useful answers to their questions. Instead of sifting through SEO-optimized and ad-heavy pages, users can connect with real, human experiences on Reddit.

Brands and marketers should take note. Reddit is becoming a more critical destination for product research and recommendations, and the only way to show up on Reddit is to show up, be helpful, and participate in the conversation. Brands that engage in a way that provides value to Redditors can see long-term trust-building on Reddit and also can rank highly on Google, as Reddit posts rank highly on Google, providing brand visibility across the web. (Source: BuzzSumo )

Summary: Is Reddit the new search engine?

Reddit isn’t about to overtake Google any time soon, but it’s quickly becoming the first choice for many users who want answers from real people. Reddit search trends are here to stay, and will only increase as more users demand real results to real questions.

Reddit search benefits brands and individuals who understand how Reddit works and want to participate, be helpful, and show up for users. Whether you’re a consumer trying to learn something new or a brand looking to connect, Reddit is a powerful destination for any search query.