What are Reddit awards if not just shiny badges under popular posts? They’re Reddit’s way of saying, “Hey, we see you, and we like what you’re doing here!” Whether it’s a laugh-out-loud comment, a mind-blowing insight, or just a post that feels oddly relatable, awards have become a fun way to keep the Reddit vibe alive and reward the content that makes scrolling worthwhile. Over the years, these awards have grown from simple tokens of appreciation into a whole system that not only lets us celebrate great content but also gives a financial boost to creators who truly make Reddit what it is. So, whether you’re just here to enjoy the ride or hoping to stack up some contributor gold, Reddit awards have become a core part of the community experience, bringing us all a little closer (and a little richer) one badge at a time. If you want a cheat code to get more Reddit awards then you can buy Reddit upvotes. This method guarantees more love from the community since posts with more upvotes get more attention.
What Do Reddit Awards Mean?
Reddit awards are like little digital high-fives, medals, applauses (sometimes even turds) that users give to posts or comments they find interesting, funny, or just plain valuable. Originally, these awards were simple virtual badges, a way for Redditors to say, “Hey, nice work!” Some of them even came with cool perks, like Reddit Premium for the person receiving the award. So back then, awards were all about that sense of community—a friendly nudge that says, “We see you, and we appreciate what you’re sharing!”
These days, Reddit awards have leveled up. Beyond just a nod of appreciation, awards are now part of Reddit’s Contributor Program. This means that users whose posts or comments rake in a lot of awards—and especially the gold ones—can actually earn real money. Reddit has even jazzed up the awards system with new designs, more customization, and a leaderboard, turning it into a bit of a competition. So now, while awards still carry that good ol’ appreciation vibe, they’re also a way for top-notch content creators to turn their Reddit fame into a bit of cash. It’s a blend of tradition with a dash of modern flair, making awards a win-win for the Reddit community.
How Do I Give Awards?
Giving awards on Reddit is pretty easy, though you will need some Reddit Gold in your digital pocket to do it. Here’s how it breaks down:
- First, you’ll need to buy Reddit Gold with real money, which gives you the currency needed for awards. There’s a range of awards to choose from, each costing different amounts of Gold and adding various “contributor gold” values to the person receiving it.
- Once you’re set with Gold, find the post or comment that deserves some extra recognition. Look for the “Award” button under the post or comment. Tapping it opens up the menu, where you’ll see all the award options, from basic badges to more elaborate designs.
- Now, pick an award that fits the vibe of what you’re applauding. Each award gives a specific amount of Gold to the recipient and lets them know you appreciate their effort.
- Finally, hit “confirm,” and bam! The award shows up under their post or comment. Some awards let you add a little message, and if you want to stay mysterious, you can even send it anonymously.
These awards add up to real earnings for those in the Contributor Program if they gather enough contributor gold. Of course, even awards without a cash component are always a nice gesture—just a way to give props to someone who’s making the Reddit world a bit more interesting.
History of Reddit Awards
Reddit awards have been around since 2011, kicking off with the classic “Reddit Gold.” This original award let users give a little extra recognition to top-notch posts and comments, while also treating recipients to some premium perks. Over time, Reddit got creative, adding a whole collection of badges that could be bought with Reddit Coins. These awards became a staple, adding flair and a bit of Reddit’s unique personality to the platform, and soon, collecting these badges turned into a hobby for many users.
But in 2022, Reddit shook things up. They decided to retire the classic awards, swapping them for a “golden upvote” and introducing a Contributor Program, where select users could start earning cash for their award-worthy posts. The idea was to simplify things and make awards a bit more meaningful. However, not everyone was thrilled about saying goodbye to the iconic badges, and users let Reddit know.
By May 2024, Reddit listened, bringing back the awards that people missed along with a few new twists. The revived awards included features like a fresh new award button and a leaderboard to show off the most-awarded posts. This updated system brought back that sense of community appreciation while adding a dash of competition and customization. However, now, awards aren’t the only badge of honor on Reddit. Reddit achievements allow users to showcase other milestones, from karma milestones to community-specific badges.
What Did Reddit Awards Mean in the Past vs Now
In the early days, Reddit awards were all about fun and community. Awards like Silver, Gold, and Platinum were ways to give a nod of respect, and they came with cool perks like Reddit Premium access for the lucky recipients. You could buy these awards with Reddit Coins, and for many, collecting these badges became gifts to show appreciation. It was a lighthearted way to give credit where credit was due, letting Redditors celebrate each other’s contributions and add some flair to their profiles.
Fast forward to now, and Reddit awards have taken on a whole new layer of meaning. When Reddit reintroduced awards in 2024, they brought back that sense of community recognition but added features that encourage engagement on a bigger scale. Now, awards are linked to Reddit’s Contributor Program, where top-rated posts and comments can actually earn cash for their creators. Along with the chance to make some money, Reddit rolled out extras like a leaderboard to track the most-awarded posts, exclusive awards for former coin holders, and safety features to keep awards from being misused in sensitive areas of the platform.
So, while awards still capture that community spirit, they’ve evolved into a mix of recognition and reward, blending Reddit’s old-school vibe with a new focus on rewarding quality content.
Past Reddit Awards (2011-2023)
In the old days, Reddit awards were a pretty straightforward way to show some love to posts and comments that deserved a bit of recognition. You had three main awards to choose from: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. If you wanted to hand out some Silver, you’d need 100 Reddit Coins, and it was purely a shout-out with no extra perks attached. Gold, costing 500 coins, was a step up, giving the recipient a week of Reddit Premium and 100 bonus coins on top of that. Then, for the big moments, there was Platinum, a top-tier award that cost a hefty 1800 coins and gave the lucky recipient a full month of Reddit Premium along with 700 coins.
Besides these standard awards, certain subreddits took things a step further with Community Awards. Designed by moderators, these awards came with custom designs, adding a little extra flair without the Premium perks. They didn’t come cheap, but they also supported the subreddit directly—20% of the cost went to the mod team, helping them keep things running smoothly.
It was a system that celebrated good content, rewarded users, and even helped support Reddit’s community-focused spirit. The awards made it fun to recognize quality posts and gave subreddits a chance to support themselves in their own unique ways. See how many of them can you recognize below:
Present Reddit Awards (2024)
Today, Reddit awards are doing double duty—they’re still a way to show appreciation, but they also come with the potential for a real financial boost. Users hand out awards to posts or comments they find helpful, entertaining, or just plain cool, but now the system is a bit more layered than before.
Reddit has tied awards into its Contributor Program, giving some users the chance to earn “contributor gold” whenever their content racks up awards. Each award translates into contributor gold based on its cost, typically adding anywhere from 15 to 50 units of contributor gold. When users in the program hit a threshold of 10,000 contributor gold, they can cash out, though getting there usually means accumulating quite a few awards.
If you want to give an award, you’ll need to buy Reddit Gold with real cash, which you can then use to pick an award. The gold you spend becomes contributor gold for the award recipient. So while awards still give a nod to quality content, they now also provide a financial incentive for users who consistently bring good stuff to the table.
In this updated system, awards still encourage community engagement and recognition, but they’ve added a new layer of value. It’s a mix of appreciation and financial reward, making awards as rewarding for content creators as they are enjoyable for the rest of us to hand out.
New Award: Conclusion
Reddit awards have come a long way from simple badges of approval to valuable rewards that keep the community motivated and engaged. Whether you’re a creator or just a fan of great content, awards make Reddit a more rewarding place for everyone. Now that you know what do Reddit awards mean, you should consider buying Reddit comments. Investing in comments could be the perfect next step if you’re looking to boost your presence on the platform. After all, a thoughtful comment might just be what gets you that shiny award (and maybe even some contributor gold) down the line!
