You open your Reddit profile. You see a number. You assume that number is your comment karma. You try to post in a subreddit that requires 100 comment karma. Your post gets removed. That number on your profile? It’s your total karma—post karma plus comment karma combined. That number can be misleading.
If you want to know your real Reddit comment karma how to see checklist is simple, but most people skip Step 1 and end up confused. Here’s the exact process.
Why Your Reddit Account Reputation Depends on Getting This Right
Subreddit AutoModerators don’t care about your total karma. They care about your comment karma or your post karma separately. A subreddit that requires 50 comment karma will block you if you only have 20, even if your total karma is 200. Checking the wrong number wastes your time and gets your content deleted.
If you’re building your Reddit account reputation, you need the real split. Here’s how to get it.
The 6-Step Reddit Comment Karma How to See Checklist
Step 1: Log in and open your profile page
Click your avatar in the top right. Select “Profile.” Look at the number under your username. That is your total karma (post + comment combined). Ignore it for now.
Step 2: Find your comment karma split
On desktop, look at the right sidebar of your profile. You’ll see “Post Karma” and “Comment Karma” listed separately. On mobile (official app), tap your avatar, then “My Profile,” then scroll down slightly. The split appears right below your total. If you don’t see it, tap the three dots and select “View Profile.”
Step 3: Check the subreddit’s actual requirement
Go to the subreddit you want to post in. Look at the sidebar or the “About” tab. Some subreddits post their karma requirement publicly. Many don’t. If you don’t see it, search for “subredditname karma requirement” on Google or check the sub’s wiki. Don’t guess.
Step 4: Verify with a test comment in a low-barrier sub
Post a short, helpful comment in a subreddit like r/AskReddit or r/CasualConversation. Wait 10 minutes. Check your comment karma again. Did it change? This confirms that your comment karma is updating correctly and that you’re not shadowbanned.
Step 5: Compare your comment karma to the requirement
If the sub requires 100 comment karma and you have 85, you know exactly what you need. You need 15 more upvotes on comments. Don’t try to post yet.
Step 6: Audit your top comments to understand what earned you karma
Scroll through your comment history. Sort by “Top” or “Best.” Look at the comments that got the most upvotes. What did they have in common? Were they funny? Informative? Early in a thread? This tells you what kind of content your Reddit account reputation is built on.
Common Mistakes That Make Your Reading Useless
- Mistake 1: Using the total karma number. As explained above, this combines post and comment karma. It’s useless for checking subreddit requirements.
- Mistake 2: Checking right after you posted. Karma takes a few minutes to update. Don’t panic if your score doesn’t change instantly.
- Mistake 3: Forgetting that subreddit-specific karma exists. Some subs count karma only earned within that sub. Your 500 comment karma from r/funny won’t help you in r/science.
- Mistake 4: Relying on third-party tools that are broken. Many karma checkers stopped working after Reddit’s API changes. Use the official app or website.
Mini Scenario: Why One User’s 500 Karma Got Them Nowhere
A Reddit user named Alex had 500 total karma. He wanted to post in a photography subreddit that required 200 comment karma. He checked his profile, saw 500, and posted. His post was removed within seconds.
He followed this checklist. He found that his comment karma was only 45—the other 455 was from post karma. He had been upvoted for posting photos, not for commenting. He spent a week commenting on photography threads, earned 200 comment karma, and then posted successfully.
His Reddit marketing strategy improved because he stopped guessing and started checking the right number.
FAQ
Q: Does the Reddit app show comment karma separately?
A: Yes. On the official app, tap your avatar, then “My Profile.” The split appears below your total. If you don’t see it, tap the three dots and select “View Profile.”
Q: Can I check someone else’s comment karma?
A: Yes. Open their profile. On desktop, the split is in the right sidebar. On mobile, scroll down below their bio.
Q: Why is my comment karma lower than I expected?
A: You might have more post karma than comment karma. Or you might have downvoted comments that reduced your score. Check your comment history to see which comments are downvoted.
Q: How long does it take for comment karma to update?
A: Usually within a few minutes. If it doesn’t change after 30 minutes, your comment might not have received any upvotes yet.
