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Reddit is one of the easiest ways to get first-hand takes on any number of topics, but those who frequent the site on mobile browsers are having their sessions interrupted by pop-ups that encourage them to download the official app.
“Get the app to keep using Reddit,” the overlay reads. “Search better, personalize your feed, and never miss an update on your favorite communities.” There's a link to download the app, but no option to close the pop-up and continue browsing without logging in, prompting complaints.
In a statement, a Reddit spokesperson said, “We recently started running a test for a small subset of frequent logged-out mobile users that prompts them to download the app after visiting the site. These users are already familiar with Reddit and we’ve seen that the experience is much better for them in the app. The app offers a more personalized experience and users can more easily find communities that match their interests.”
How to Use Reddit on Mobile Without Downloading the App
Reddit says it's trying to determine if logged-out users find the app easier to navigate than the web. However, not everyone wants to download another app when searching for a quick answer.
“Why is reddit obsessed with making me download the app now?? i will not do that i do not want an account i just want to read the random thread here and there when i need answers,” one user wrote on X. “No reddit, I will not download your app. If you make it so I can't view your website on my phones browser I'm just not going to use it,” added another.
For now, those who get the pop-up have a few options for avoiding it.
- Log in on the web. If you have a Reddit account, you can simply log in on mobile, and the pop-up will no longer appear.
- Clear your cache. Since Reddit is showing this to frequent users, clearing your browser cache or cookies could reset those signals and banish the pop-up.
- Use "old" Reddit. If you run into the pop-up, you can try swapping the "www" in the URL with "old," which brings you to a stripped-down, ancient version of the site. As Lifehacker notes, "The page will open in Reddit's old design...but you'll miss out on the current site's more optimized UI."
Why Is Reddit Doing This?
The Reddit app currently ranks #77 on the App Store’s top free apps list. But it shouldn’t be surprising that many people are exploring the site on the web.
In 2024, Reddit and Google signed a lucrative licensing deal that saw Reddit adopt Google's AI to enhance search on its site, and gave Google access to Reddit's Data API to "make it easier to access Reddit content from Google products." That year, Reddit also partnered with OpenAI to let ChatGPT access Reddit content.
That translates into more people stumbling on Reddit content when searching Google or interacting with OpenAI’s chatbot. But people have long added "reddit" to search queries, given the breadth of content available on the site.
In a recent earnings call, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman said the Google and OpenAI deals are “very meaningful to us.” However, daily active users (DAU) are “the top priority,” particularly in the US. Reddit currently has nearly 500 million weekly users globally, and 200 million in the US, Huffman said, and the goal is 100 million daily US users, up from 50 million.
On the call, COO Jennifer Wong acknowledged that logged-in users generate higher average revenue per user “because they spend more time and [generate] more impressions.” However, there’s “no differential in our ability to monetize” logged-in versus logged-out users, she said. “And we do monetize both types of users.”
Huffman added. “Logged-in users spend more time on Reddit and…we know them better. We know their interests. We can do personalization [which] improves retention and time spent.”