If you spend lots of time on the internet, chances are you’ve come across the terms ‘Reddit’ and “subreddit’ at some point. For Reddit users, the difference between these two words is pretty obvious. But for those who have never been on the website, these terms sound so similar they might be considered interchangeable. However, they do actually mean different things. Do you know which one is a platform and which one is a part of this online platform?
Table Summary
| Subreddit | |
| Online platform for discussing several topics | Part of the platform dedicated to a specific topic |
| 430 million monthly active users | 140,000 active subreddits |
| Anyone can create an account | Users need a Reddit account to use subreddits |
Getty Images / AFP / LIONEL BONAVENTURE
Definitions
Founded in 2005, Reddit is an online platform used for sharing social content, news and discussions on basically any topic. On Reddit, users can post messages and links to other websites, comment on other people’s messages and even vote a post or comment up or down. The platform is divided into forums called subreddits.
Subreddits are communities within the Reddit platform. Each forum is dedicated to a specific topic, such as science, cute animal pictures, interesting facts, etc. There are approximately 2 million subreddits on the platform, of which over 140,000 are actually active.
Reddit VS Subreddit
The main difference between Reddit and subreddits is that the former is a platform and the latter are its subdivisions. This means that while anyone can access Reddit, you would need to be a Reddit user to be able to post and comment on subreddits. With over 430 million monthly active users, Reddit has over 2 million subreddits – although only approximately 140,000 of them are actively used.