Case Study: How Many Reddit Engagements Does It Take to Rank #1?

Most Reddit campaigns fail for a simple reason.

They try to buy one signal and ignore the other.

Upvotes help a post get seen. Comments and replies help the post look worth discussing.

You usually need both.

In our May 2026 check, we analyzed 10,788 posts from 280 subreddits with 20k to 500k members across SaaS, marketing, apps, ecommerce, gaming, finance, and crypto.

The posts sitting at #1 on Reddit's Best feed were rarely carried by votes alone.

In small niche subreddits, a post can rank #1 with low numbers when the feed is quiet.

For example:

In small niche subreddits like r/micro_saas, r/AmazonFBA, r/smallbusinessuk, and r/ProductMarketing, a post with around 14 upvotes and 8 to 11 comments/replies can rank #1 when the feed is quiet.

If you are trying to move a Reddit post up, your question should not be "how many upvotes do I need?"

Your question should be:

How much early activity does this subreddit need before my post looks alive?

If you want the vote-only version of this question, our 50-subreddit Reddit ranking case study covers how raw upvotes changed ranking positions.

Why Best Sort changes the Reddit marketing plan

Reddit used to make marketers think mostly in Hot-feed terms.

Fast upvotes mattered because Hot rewarded fresh momentum.

But Reddit is pushing more default feed behavior toward Best. And Best is a different game.

Best is not only about a post getting a quick vote spike.

It also needs to look like something people want to open, read, and discuss.

Our Reddit algorithm guide explains the broader ranking signals behind Hot, Best, time decay, and engagement.

That matters for your order.

Upvotes still create the first visibility push.

But comments and replies help the thread look alive once users see it.

If you only order upvotes and the thread has no discussion, the post can look thin.

If you combine early upvotes with useful comments, the post has a better shape for Reddit's Best feed.

The short answer

Use the subreddit size and current feed to choose the order.

Simple rule:

• If the post is good but buried, use upvotes.
• If the post has upvotes but no replies, add comments.
• If it is a launch, comparison, or product post, use both.

Upvotes give the post a chance to be seen.

Comments make the thread look active enough for real users to join.

What did we measure?

We checked Reddit's Best feed across six commercial niches: SaaS, marketing, apps, ecommerce, gaming, finance, and crypto.

The data covered 10,788 posts from 280 subreddits between 20k and 500k members.

We ignored stickied posts, mod posts, removed posts, and communities without enough visible posts.

The goal was practical.

We wanted to answer one buyer question:

What should I order in the first 60 minutes after posting?

What should you order for a normal post?

Start with the feed in front of you.

Open your target subreddit.

Check the top five non-sticky posts in Best or Hot.

Look at upvotes, comments, replies, and age.

If the timing window is unclear, use the best time to post on Reddit guide before you pick the launch hour.

Then use this planning table:

If the current #1 post has 18 upvotes, 6 comments, and is 12 hours old, you are in an easier window.

If the current #1 post has 250 upvotes, 35 comments, and is 90 minutes old, you are in a harder window.

For most mid-size subreddit posts, start with:

• 50 to 80 early upvotes
• 5 to 10 useful comments/replies if the post has no discussion
• Fast replies from the original poster while the thread is fresh

Upvotes help the post get out of New.

Comments and replies help the thread look worth clicking.

Why comments make upvotes work better

Reddit is built around voting, but users judge the whole thread.

Reddit's own help center says Hot prioritizes posts recently getting upvotes, comments, etc., while Top prioritizes posts with all-time high upvote numbers and comments. Reddit also explains that upvotes show users think a post or comment contributes to the community in its upvotes and downvotes guide.

A post with 70 upvotes and zero comments can look empty.

A post with 70 upvotes, 6 useful comments, and a few OP replies looks alive.

That is why comments matter.

Use comments when they can do a real job:

• Ask the question other users are thinking
• Answer a pricing, safety, compatibility, or use-case objection
• Add context that did not fit in the post
• Give the original poster a reason to reply

Do not use comments as filler.

One useful comment is better than five generic reactions.

For more ways to create real discussion, read the Reddit engagement guide before writing your first comments.

The important detail is balance.

Do not place generic comments under a weak post.

Do not send a pile of upvotes to a post that reads like a link drop.

Use comments when they make the thread more useful.

Use upvotes when the post deserves a chance to be seen before it gets buried.

When to use upvotes only vs upvotes plus comments

Not every campaign needs comments.

Some posts already get organic discussion.

In that case, early upvotes may be enough to help the post reach more people while the thread is still fresh.

Use upvotes only when:

• The post is strong on its own
• The subreddit already comments on similar posts
• The original poster is active and ready to reply
• The current top posts have low or moderate comment counts

Use upvotes plus comments when:

• The post has useful content but no one has replied yet
• The topic needs explanation or proof
• The post is a product launch, app launch, case study, deal, or comparison
• The subreddit is skeptical and readers need more context
• The first comment can answer a real question

Use comments first when:

• The post is getting views but no replies
• The first few replies can make the thread less promotional
• You need someone to ask the question other users are thinking
• The original poster can answer fast

This is the part most buyers miss.

They order upvotes as if Reddit users only see one number.

Reddit users see the whole thread.

If the post has upvotes but no discussion, users notice.

If the comments feel fake, users notice that too.

So the comment service should be used carefully.

A good comment does one job. It asks a useful question, adds missing context, shares a grounded reaction, or helps the original poster explain the post better.

What did we find across niches?

Different niches need different Reddit marketing plans.

SaaS, marketing, and small business subreddits were often easier.

A useful post in a quiet feed can rank with 10 to 30 upvotes and a few comments.

Apps, software, and gaming subreddits were harder.

These feeds move faster, and visual posts can collect activity quickly. Plan more upvotes and more OP replies.

Finance, crypto, ecommerce, and affiliate posts depend more on trust.

Do not use comments as filler in these communities. Use them to answer objections, explain context, or ask real questions.

The same 30 upvotes can be strong in one subreddit and useless in another.

Use this workflow before ordering:

1. Read the current feed.
2. Check how many upvotes and comments the top posts have.
3. Decide whether your post needs visibility, discussion, or both.
4. Order enough early support to match the window.
5. Keep replying after the first comments land.

Three real launch examples

The numbers get easier when you turn them into launch decisions.

Here are three common cases.

SaaS founder posting a useful breakdown

Imagine a founder posting a detailed breakdown in a mid-size startup or business subreddit.

The post is not a launch announcement.

It has numbers, lessons, and a clear point of view.

In that situation, the current Best feed often needs fewer votes than people expect.

A post with 20 to 30 early upvotes, one strong first comment from the original poster, and a few real replies can look competitive if the current #1 post is also modest.

The comment matters because it gives the thread somewhere to go.

Good first comments in this case might add:

• The constraint behind the test
• The mistake that almost killed the experiment
• The number that surprised the founder
• A specific question for other founders

For this kind of post, Upvote.Net's upvote service handles the early visibility.

The comment service helps if the thread needs a first question or a first reaction to get people talking.

Indie game or app launch

Gaming and app communities were harder.

In the data, gaming and indie game subreddits often needed 80+ early upvotes even with active discussion.

That means a tiny launch push is often not enough.

For a game trailer, Steam page, Mac app, mobile app, or major update, treat the first hour like a release window.

The Mac app launch case study shows this pattern in a real launch, where early upvotes and comments helped a product post turn into installs.

Post when the subreddit is awake.

Bring the strongest visual first.

Have a useful first comment ready with platform notes, build details, pricing, or a direct question.

Then support the post early enough that people can still find it.

Comments matter more in these communities because users ask questions fast.

They ask about price, bugs, compatibility, roadmap, and why the product exists.

If the original poster disappears, the thread loses momentum.

For app and game launches, upvotes help the post break out of New.

Comments and replies show that the creator is present.

Ecommerce or affiliate comparison thread

Ecommerce and affiliate-style posts live in a skeptical environment.

People question motives.

Mods watch for thin promotion.

Users compare alternatives.

That does not mean the post cannot rank.

It means the first comments have to be useful.

For a product comparison, a good comment might explain:

• Who the product is for
• Who should avoid it
• What changed after using it for 30 days
• What cheaper alternative almost worked

That kind of comment gives readers a reason to respond.

Votes with no discussion can look strange in these communities.

Votes plus grounded replies look more like a real buyer conversation.

How to check your target subreddit before ordering

You do not need to scrape Reddit to use this.

Open your target subreddit and look at the current Best or Hot view.

Ignore stickies and moderator posts.

Then inspect the top five posts.

Write down:

• The lowest upvote count among the top five
• The comment count on the #1 post
• The age of the #1 post
• Whether replies are happening inside comments
• Whether the top posts are links, images, text posts, or questions

Now make a rough call.

If the #1 post is 12 hours old with 18 upvotes and 6 comments, you are in an easier window.

You need a good post, a few early votes, and a comment thread that does not look dead.

If the #1 post is 90 minutes old with 250 upvotes and 35 comments, you are in a competitive window.

You need a stronger Reddit marketing plan or a different subreddit.

This habit saves budget.

You stop ordering random vote counts.

You match the campaign to the feed in front of you.

If the post needs the upvote side handled, use our Reddit upvote service on posts that already fit the subreddit.

If the post needs a first discussion, add useful comment support inside the panel instead of leaving the thread empty.

What this means for your order

Reddit does not rank posts from upvotes alone.

A 2025 empirical audit of Reddit's r/popular feed on arXiv found that rank and engagement interact in visible ways, including recent comments helping posts stay visible longer and climb the feed.

That matches the buyer lesson from our data.

A strong Reddit marketing plan needs:

• Enough early upvotes to get the post seen
• Enough comments or replies to make the thread look alive
• Good subreddit fit so the post does not look forced
• A real OP who replies while the thread is fresh

That is why "how many upvotes do I need?" is the wrong question.

Ask this instead:

What mix of upvotes and comments does this subreddit need right now?

Then order for that window.

Methodology and limits

This study used a live Reddit check from May 23, 2026.

We searched across six niches, filtered subreddits to 20,000 to 500,000 members, then collected each community's /best listing.

We excluded stickied posts, pinned posts, moderator announcements, and removed posts.

The final dataset contained:

For older #1 posts, we estimated what their first hour probably looked like by adjusting for age.

We treated comments and replies as a strong sign that people were engaging.

There are limits.

Reddit can personalize feeds.

Vote totals can be hidden or shifted in the first few hours.

Some communities move slowly.

Some communities move fast.

Some topics attract comments even with low vote counts, while image-heavy feeds often collect votes with fewer replies.

Use this study as a planning tool.

If your target subreddit is quiet, 20 to 30 upvotes plus a few real comments may be enough to matter.

If the subreddit is competitive, plan closer to 80 to 180 upvotes and make sure the post has real discussion.

If you want the safest general starting point, aim for 50 to 80 first-hour upvotes plus 5 to 10 useful comments/replies.

That combination looks much stronger than a quiet post with numbers attached.