You want to post or comment on Reddit without hitting the constant “your post has been removed” wall. You have two accounts: one created two years ago with some history, and one you just made yesterday. Which one do you use?
The answer is not just “the older one.” Old reddit accounts vs new reddit accounts is a comparison that depends on more than age. A three-year-old account with zero comments is less trusted than a six-month-old account with 500 comment karma and visible discussion history. Here is how to evaluate both and choose the right one for your goal.
What you need to check before deciding
Before you pick an account, gather this information from each account you are comparing:
- Account creation date (visible on the profile page)
- Total comment karma and post karma
- A quick scan of the last 20 comments: are they real, helpful, or copy-paste?
- Subreddits where the account has participated
- Any previous bans or shadowbans (check with a test post in a non-restricted subreddit)
Step 1: Check account creation date and activity history
Open the account profile. Look at the “cake day” date. Take a screenshot or note the month and year.
Then scroll through the profile. An old account with zero posts and zero comments has no trust signals. Reddit’s spam filters and many subreddit automoderator rules check for account age combined with activity. A two-year-old account with no history is often treated similarly to a two-day-old account.
Why? Because automated systems look for patterns of real human behavior. An account that sat dormant for two years and suddenly posts in a marketing-heavy subreddit looks suspicious.
Step 2: Evaluate comment karma vs post karma balance
This is where most beginners make the wrong choice. They look at post karma and think it is enough. It is not.
Comment karma carries more weight in most subreddits because it shows the account has engaged in discussions, followed community norms, and received upvotes from real users reading actual comments. A subreddit about photography wants to see that an account has contributed meaningful feedback in photography discussions, not just posted photos.
Check the ratio. If Account A has 10,000 post karma and 50 comment karma, and Account B has 2,000 post karma and 1,500 comment karma, Account B is usually more trusted for commenting and participating in text-based discussions.
Step 3: Assess visible comment history quality
Open the comments tab on each profile. Look at the content. Are the comments:
- On-topic and relevant to the subreddit?
- Written in complete sentences?
- Receiving replies from other users (even if low upvotes)?
- Free of spammy links or self-promotion?
An account with 500 comment karma from 50 high-quality comments is better than an account with 500 comment karma from 500 one-word replies. Moderators sometimes check profiles manually, especially in strict subreddits.
Step 4: Compare subreddit-specific requirements
Each subreddit sets its own rules. Some require a minimum account age of 30 days. Others require 100 comment karma. Some check both. A few check your account’s participation history in related subreddits.
Before choosing an account, check the subreddit’s rules sidebar or use a tool like the subreddit’s wiki to find posting requirements. If the subreddit requires 30 days and 200 comment karma, a new account with 400 comment karma still fails the age check. In that case, the old account with 150 comment karma may be the only option, but you would need to build up its comment karma first.
Step 5: Decide when to warm up versus use an existing account
If you have an old account with no history, or a new account that you just created, you may need an account warm-up period. This means spending a few days or weeks making genuine, helpful comments in subreddits related to your target subreddit.
If you have an old account with existing, relevant comment history, you can often skip warm-up and start participating immediately, unless the account has been inactive for more than six months. In that case, a short warm-up of 5-10 comments over two to three days is still a smart safety step.
Common blockers and how to fix each one
| Blocker | Why it happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| “Your post was removed” on old account | No recent activity; account looks dormant | Make 5-10 comments in the same subreddit over 2 days, then try posting |
| “You need more karma” on new account | Age filter or karma minimum not met | Build comment karma in smaller, less strict subreddits first |
| Profile looks like a bot | All comments are the same length, same structure, or contain links | Delete or edit repetitive comments; add variety and natural replies |
| Shadowban on old account | Previous spam behavior or automated flag | Test with a post in r/ShadowBan or r/amishadowbanned; if banned, do not use that account |
Practical example: two accounts, one subreddit
You want to post in r/smallbusiness about your new e-commerce tool.
- Account A: Created 2019, has 8,000 post karma from meme subreddits, 80 comment karma, last comment was 11 months ago.
- Account B: Created 2023, has 1,200 comment karma from r/entrepreneur, r/ecommerce, and r/smallbusiness, 600 post karma from business-related posts, active last week.
Result: Account B is the better choice. Despite being newer, it has recent, relevant comment history in the exact subreddit. Account A’s age does not compensate for being dormant and having the wrong kind of history.
Quick decision checklist
Before you use an account, run through these checks:
- [ ] Account is at least 30 days old (check subreddit requirement)
- [ ] Comment karma meets subreddit minimum (if known)
- [ ] Last comment was within the past 30 days
- [ ] Comments are relevant to the target subreddit
- [ ] No shadowban or active ban
- [ ] Profile looks like a real person, not a bot
If your account fails three or more checks, you are better off building up a different account or warming up this one before posting.
Practical takeaway
Do not default to the oldest account you have. Evaluate both comment karma and visible history. A newer account with real, relevant participation often performs better than an older account with no history or irrelevant karma. When in doubt, warm up the account with genuine comments in your target subreddit for a few days before posting.
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FAQ
Q: Can I use an old account that has been inactive for years?
A: Yes, but you should warm it up first. Make 5-10 genuine comments in subreddits related to your target over a few days before posting. Inactive old accounts can still trigger spam filters.
Q: How much comment karma do I need for a new account to be usable?
A: There is no universal number. Many subreddits require 50 to 200 comment karma. Start in smaller, less restricted subreddits and build up gradually before trying larger communities.
Q: Is post karma completely useless?
A: No, post karma matters in subreddits where users submit posts like photos, videos, or links. But for most text-based discussions, comment karma is more trusted by moderators and automoderators.
Q: What if my old account has negative comment karma?
A: Negative comment karma is a major red flag. You are better off creating a new account and building positive karma from scratch rather than trying to recover a negative profile.
