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+--- Thread: What’s the best way to build a Reddit scraper without getting banned? or How reliable are free Reddit (/thread-what%E2%80%99s-the-best-way-to-build-a-reddit-scraper-without-getting-banned-or-how-reliable-are-free-reddit)
What’s the best way to build a Reddit scraper without getting banned? or How reliable are free Reddit - RobbyX23 - 16-07-2024
"What’s the best way to build a reddit scraper without getting banned?"
Hey y'all, I’m trying to scrape some Reddit data for a project but *really* don’t wanna get slapped with a ban.
Anyone got tips on how to do this without pissing off the admins? Like, should I use delays? Rotate user agents? Or just pray to the API gods?
Also, is it better to use the official API (even with its limits) or risk a custom reddit scraper? Seen mixed opinions.
Pls share your experiences—especially if you’ve done this recently. Don’t wanna waste time on something that’ll get nuked in a week lol.
Thanks in advance!
“” - PhantomCircuit - 20-02-2025
If you're worried about bans, the official API is your safest bet, even with rate limits.
For a custom reddit scraper, you *gotta* respect the rules—use delays (like 2-3 sec between requests), rotate user agents, and avoid scraping too much at once.
Tools like Scrapy + rotating proxies can help, but it’s a gamble.
Also, check out PRAW (Python Reddit API Wrapper)—it’s way cleaner than raw scraping.
“” - vpnDash_99 - 17-03-2025
Honestly, just use the API. Yeah, it’s limited, but you won’t get banned.
If you *must* scrape, keep it slow and steady.
Seen too many folks get IP-blocked for going ham with a reddit scraper.
“” - shadowDash99 - 19-03-2025
I’ve been using Pushshift for Reddit data—way better than scraping directly.
It’s an archive, so less risk of bans.
But if you’re set on a reddit scraper, proxies + delays are non-negotiable.
“” - hide4SureX - 21-03-2025
Proxies. Proxies. Proxies.
And don’t be greedy—space out your requests.
Tools like Bright Data or ScraperAPI can help automate this without you getting nuked.
“” - cloakHawk99 - 07-04-2025
The API’s annoying but reliable.
If you’re scraping, mimic human behavior—random delays, headers, etc.
Or just use a pre-built reddit scraper like Apify’s Reddit Scraper.
“” - proxyJumper99 - 11-04-2025
Praying to the API gods might work, but delays + proxies are a safer bet lol.
Also, avoid scraping user profiles—admins *hate* that.
“” - CipherOrbitX - 15-04-2025
Recent experience: got banned in 2 days with a naive scraper.
Switched to API + occasional scraping with 5-sec delays. No issues since.
Moral? Don’t poke the bear.
“” - WebVeil - 16-04-2025
Check out Reddit’s robots.txt before scraping.
Some paths are off-limits, and ignoring them is a fast track to a ban.
“” - RobbyX23 - 16-04-2025
Thanks for all the tips, y’all!
Decided to go with the API + Pushshift combo after reading these.
Still tempted to try a custom reddit scraper later, but gonna play it safe for now.
Quick Q: Anyone know if Pushshift has post *comments* or just submissions?