Karma is one of the most important elements of a Reddit profile. Many users believe that post karma defines reputation, but in reality, comment karma carries much more weight: it shows that a user is active, helpful, and genuinely participating in community discussions.
What Is Karma on Reddit?
Reddit karma is divided into two main types:
1. Post Karma
This is the score you receive when you publish new posts (text, images, links). It increases when users upvote your content and decreases with downvotes.
2. Comment Karma
This is the score you earn through comments you leave under other users’ posts. Here too, upvotes increase your karma while downvotes decrease it.
Why Comment Karma Is More Important Than Post Karma
Many communities consider comment karma more reliable than post karma for a simple reason: it proves the user is genuinely active.
1. It Shows Consistent and Authentic Activity
Post karma can be inflated by a single viral post. Comment karma, however, grows only through frequent interactions, helping others, and participating in multiple discussions.
2. It’s a Better Indicator of Interaction Quality
Comment karma doesn’t just reflect how much you post—it shows how much value you contribute. Users with high comment karma typically provide helpful responses, clarify doubts, participate in meaningful conversations, and offer insights appreciated by the community.
3. Many Subreddits Require Comment Karma to Participate
Some subreddits set minimum comment karma thresholds for posting or commenting. This demonstrates how comment karma is seen as a sign of trustworthiness and genuine participation.
4. It Reduces Suspicion of Spam
Spammers tend to publish posts, not comments. Users with high post karma but very low comment karma may appear suspicious—such as bots, alts, or low-effort accounts. High comment karma, on the other hand, signals authenticity.
Summary: Comment Karma Has More Value
| Type of Karma | Usefulness | Community Perception |
|---|---|---|
| Post Karma | Shows how popular your published content is | Important but can be “lucky” or inconsistent |
| Comment Karma | Shows consistent activity and genuine engagement | Much more important |
Conclusion
If you want to build a strong, trustworthy Reddit account that moderators and communities value, focus primarily on comment karma. Commenting on discussions, helping users, and engaging regularly will give your profile a far stronger identity than simply posting content.
Comment karma is the clearest proof that you’re an active and valuable member of the community.