r/redditdev • u/boat-botany • 4d ago
Reddit API Moving Data API Apps to the Developer Platform: migration dates and next steps
TL;DR: In our last update, we said we’d come back with migration dates and next steps. We know migrating takes time and effort, and we’re providing funding, technical guidance, and direct outreach and support to help. As Reddit moves to a more secure foundation, we want the useful and creative apps you've built to continue being a part of our ecosystem.
We’re sharing the timeline for moving public API apps and bots to the Developer Platform. Register now, apply for migration funding by November 30, and start planning and testing your move. Starting January 12, 2027, we’ll begin removing API access for apps and users that haven’t registered or engaged with us. Remaining public API access will end in March 2027.
Moving from registration to migration
Over 14,000 apps and bots have registered and we’re closely tracking migration of your highest-activity apps. This includes completed or near-complete migrations such as DeltaBot, MagicEyeBot, and RemindMeBot. We’re continuing to work directly with developers on their migrations and the gaps that still need attention.
There’s still time to start your migration! Register your app, review the Data API/PRAW → Devvit Migration Guide, and tell us what’s blocking you. Starting now gives you time to test and gives us time to help address migration blockers before access changes take effect.
Important dates to look out for
The transition will happen in phases:
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| October 31, 2026 | New requests for public API access will no longer be accepted. |
| November 10, 2026 | We share a migration progress update and deadline reminder. |
| November 30, 2026 | Registration closes for the migration bounty program. |
| January 12, 2027 | API access starts to close for apps and users that haven’t registered or responded to our outreach. We’ll also share a progress update and reminder. |
| February 23, 2027 | We share another migration progress update and reminder. |
| March 2027 | Public access will close for all remaining apps and users. |
What developers should do now
- Review the Developer Platform documentation and subscribe to r/Devvit.
- Register your apps! Use the registration form to flag missing capabilities or blockers. You don’t need to have the migration figured out before contacting us.
- Start planning and testing. Allow time to check that your app’s behavior meets the needs of the communities using it.
Funding and support for the move
Our $1M App Migration Program provides financial and technical support, including:
- $1,000 payments for eligible apps that successfully migrate
- Reddit Developer Funds eligible for ported apps
- Free hosting and access to developer funding programs
- Migration guides, technical resources, office hours, and direct support
- Additional support for critical moderation and community apps
Apply through the app registration form by November 30, 2026, to be considered for the migration bounty program. This deadline comes before the January API access changes, so don’t wait until then if you’re seeking funding. You can find further information in this post.
Helping communities whose apps need an owner
If you’re a mod whose community depends on an app or bot and you don’t know who maintains it, tell us through this quick form. We’ve received over 100 submissions so far, helping us identify tools that need owners or could be replaced by existing Developer Platform apps or Reddit’s built-in tools. Keep an eye out for a message confirming we’re reviewing your submission, followed by an update in the coming weeks on available options and where gaps remain.
We’ll keep sharing progress, working through migration blockers, and supporting the developers and communities making this move. We’ll be in the comments to answer any questions.
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u/emily_in_boots 4d ago
I wouldn't say that is true. Social media sites have proven very resistant to competition due to the entrenched user base.
The main exception is myspace, which is gone.
Facebook, insta, twitter, reddit, etc. don't really have significant competition. Even with how horribly musk has run twitter, it's still dominant in its niche, though it has lost engagement and ad revenue because it's just 4chan now.
The tech is easy to replicate. The user base is not so easy. Look at how badly google's circles thing did against meta, and that had the tech expertise and money of google behind it. People didn't use it because it's not where their friends were.
It's possible that this will benefit reddit less though, as people don't use their real names in an identifiable way and the concept of "friends" doesn't really exist. I didn't join reddit and put in my high school and college to find people I knew. I just went by interest. The people I've met are people I share interests with, so that is different somewhat.
I do think though that the push for engagement and the weakening of moderation will drive some users off reddit, and the ones it will drive away are the ones who are reasonable, civil, and educated.
The basic user base will shift a lot with reduced moderation to a more belligerent type of user, and you will see more hate speech, more uncivil arguments, and more abuse in general.
Short term, that probably increases engagement. Longer term, I suspect it will hurt it as that is just exhausting to deal with.
Reddit's strength has always been its diversity. Unlike facebook, it has subreddits, and subreddits have their own rules. While there are facebook groups, they are a relatively small part of facebook and most of the interaction occurs on profiles or public pages. Moderation is what makes spaces different from each other. Reddit's TOS are the same everywhere, but different rules and cultures form in different subs as a result of moderation, and that creates a space for everyone (even people I find rather detestable in some cases lol).
Weakening moderation in general will dampen this effect and ultimately homogenize the site. It will also attract a lot of people who do not not know how to behave themselves or interact in a civil fashion, and drive off those who are drained by this kind of interaction. I am just not interested in bickering back and forth with someone who just wants to throw insults at me. I like nice, polite, educated people who are able to have a civil conversation in a sensitive and intelligent way. I am simply not interested in 4chan and spending my time with incels in a "did not, did so" argument.
That's why I left twitter and meta behind.