What you actually want to do: understand Reddit awards from both sides
You want to know how Reddit awards work because either someone gave you one and you have no idea what happened, or you want to give one yourself and you are not sure what it costs or what it does.
This guide covers both sides. No theory, just the steps.
What you need before you start
- A Reddit account with some activity (you cannot give awards from a brand new account in many subreddits)
- Reddit coins if you want to give premium awards (old system) or direct cash if you are on the new system
- A post or comment you want to award (or a notification that you received one)
Step 1: Understand what a Reddit award actually is
A Reddit award is a small icon that appears on a post or comment. It is a way to say “this is good” without typing a comment.
Awards come in different tiers:
- Free awards (disappeared for most users in 2023 but some subreddits still have community awards)
- Premium awards (cost coins, give the recipient Reddit Premium for a limited time, and add a badge to the content)
- Community awards (created by subreddit moderators, cost fewer coins, no Premium time)
The important thing: awards do not affect your karma. You do not get karma for receiving awards. That is a common misunderstanding.
Step 2: Give an award (the short version)
- Find the post or comment you want to award.
- Click the “Award” button (it looks like a gift box or a trophy, usually below the content).
- Choose an award from the menu. You will see how many coins each award costs.
- If you do not have coins, you will be asked to buy a Coin Award Pack.
- Confirm. The award is applied immediately.
That is it. The user gets a notification, the award appears on their content, and they get any benefits tied to that award (like Reddit Premium if it is a gold-tier award).
Step 3: Receive an award (what you need to know)
When someone gives you an award, you get:
- A notification in your Reddit inbox
- The award badge visible on your post or comment
- If it is a premium award, Reddit Premium for a specific duration (usually one week for Gold, one month for Platinum)
- No karma, no special status, no automatic approval in other subreddits
You do not need to do anything. The award is just a signal that someone liked your content.
Step 4: Understand the cost and the coins situation
Reddit changed its award system in 2023. Here is the current state:
| System | How it works | Cost to give |
|---|---|---|
| Old system (still active for some) | Buy coins, spend coins on awards | $1.99 for 100 coins, awards cost 20-500 coins |
| New system (rolling out) | Direct cash payment per award | $0.99 to $4.99 depending on the award |
| Community awards | Created by subreddit, low coin cost | Usually 20-50 coins |
If you are on the new system, you will not see coins. You will see a dollar amount. If you are on the old system, you still need coins.
Common blockers and how to fix them
- “I do not see the Award button” – Some subreddits disable awards. Some mobile apps hide the button. Try the official Reddit app or desktop site. Also, you may need a minimum account age. Check the subreddit rules .
- “I received an award but nothing happened” – If it was a free or community award, there are no extra benefits. You just get the badge. Only premium awards give Reddit Premium.
- “I want to give an award but I do not want to pay” – You cannot give awards for free unless the subreddit has community awards that cost no coins (rare). Free awards from Reddit are no longer given to most users.
- “I accidentally gave an award to the wrong post” – Reddit does not refund awards after they are applied. Check twice before confirming.
Practical example: Giving your first award
You see a comment in r/AskReddit that is genuinely helpful. You want to give it a Silver Award (old system, 100 coins).
- You click the Award button below the comment.
- The award menu opens. You see Silver costs 100 coins. You have 150 coins in your account.
- You click Silver. A confirmation popup asks “Give Silver?”.
- You click Confirm.
- The comment now has a Silver badge. The user gets a notification.
That is the entire process. If you had zero coins, step 2 would ask you to buy a Coin Award Pack.
Final takeaway
Reddit awards are simple: they are paid appreciation badges that do not affect karma or account standing. If you want to give one, check whether you are on coins or direct cash. If you receive one, enjoy the badge and the Premium time if applicable, but do not expect any other benefit.
For a broader comparison, review how to how do reddit awards work before committing to one setup or workflow.
For this use case, practical proxy option for Reddit workflows should be compared by pricing, setup difficulty, support quality, refund policy, and whether it fits your workflow.
FAQ
Q: What does how to how do reddit awards work mean on Reddit?
A: It depends on the context, but the safest way to understand it is to look at Reddit’s community rules, your account history, and how users normally participate in that subreddit.
Q: Why does how to how do reddit awards work matter?
A: It can affect whether your posts, comments, or account activity look trustworthy. Reddit communities usually reward natural participation and may restrict accounts that look new, empty, or promotional.
Q: What should beginners do first?
A: Read the rules of the subreddit, build a visible comment history, avoid rushing into links or promotion, and focus on useful participation before trying more advanced Reddit workflows.
