The strategies to find your first 10,000 mobile app users using Reddit. If you’re not familiar with Reddit yet, it’s a massively popular community platform in the US — great for idea validation, but even better for app distribution. I’ll walk you through, step by step, how to use Reddit to quickly & efficiently get your first users. These are the exact strategies we use at THE QUEST when we launch new mobile apps.
You’ll learn how to create and manage multiple Reddit accounts (without getting banned), how to analyze the best subreddits to post in, and most importantly, how to write high-converting posts that won’t get flagged by moderators.
1/ Setting up the Reddit accounts
The first step involves creating & setting up the Reddit accounts that you’ll use to engage with different communities and subtly promote your app.
1/ The proxies
To manage multiple Reddit accounts, you’ll need to invest in high-quality, algorithm-friendly social proxies. These proxies let you simulate connections from different locations while maintaining human-like behavior — which is key to avoiding detection and keeping each account independent. I recommend using dedicated US Mobile Proxies. Feel free to DM me if you want some recommendations on the best proxy providers.
2/ The browser
Just like with TikTok and Instagram Farm strategies, you’re going to use a multi accounts approach. You’ll be working with an anti-detection browser like Dolphin Anty, which lets you run isolated sessions with different locations — so you can manage multiple Reddit accounts at the same time without getting flagged or banned. This setup makes it much easier to manage multiple Reddit accounts without risking bans or detection.
In Dolphin, you’ll be able to add your proxies using HTTP connections, allowing you to simulate connections from different locations. With the free version, you can connect up to 10 proxies.
Next, you’ll create multiple Dolphin profiles, each connected to one of your proxy to stay under the radar and appear as a legitimate US-based user. To reduce the risk of getting flagged by Reddit, I recommend sticking to a ratio of 3 Dolphin profiles per proxy. Each profile should also be linked to a unique Gmail address for proper isolation.
You’ll have your profiles set up and connected. For each one, enable Chrome sync using the unique Gmail account to keep everything organized. I also recommend bookmarking a proxy-checking website on each profile to quickly verify that the connection is using the correct IP address.
3/ The accounts
The next step is to create (or purchase) the Reddit accounts you’ll use for these strategies. You can either go with fresh accounts or buy aged ones through specialized marketplaces like G2G or Social Reach. You’ll find a full list of trusted social account marketplaces in my article “100 Tools to Build a Viral Mobile App.”
Once the accounts are bought and delivered, you can add them to your Dolphin Anti profiles and start warming them up gradually.
2/ Warming up your Reddit accounts
Before diving into posting about your app, it’s crucial to warm up your Reddit accounts by mimicking authentic user behavior. This helps you build credibility, avoid bans, and train the algorithm to better align with your niche.
1/ Manual warm-up
For the first few days — especially the first 72 hours after account creation — focus on manual interactions that make your activity look real:
Upvote relevant posts
Leave thoughtful comments
Subscribe to a few subreddits
These small actions create a natural activity pattern and signal to Reddit’s algorithm that your account is trustworthy.
2/ Auto-scrolling tool
To automate part of the warm-up, you can use Chrome extensions like Simple Auto Scroll. It mimics human browsing by slowly scrolling down Reddit pages, simulating a user actually reading through content.
You can take it a step further with OCR-based script that help detect specific keywords or visual elements in posts. This allows your browsing behavior to “train” the Reddit algorithm — just like how engagement patterns shape your TikTok feed. (I’ll be sharing an in-depth article on this soon — click here to get notified.)
3/ Join beginner-friendly subreddits
Join welcoming communities where newcomers are encouraged to engage. A great place to begin is r/NewToReddit, which provides a list of subreddits that are open and low-pressure.
Here are a few subs with minimal restrictions to safely begin interacting:
r/Advice — Ask or give advice on anything
r/AnimalsOnReddit — Chill animal content
r/AmITheAsshole — NSFW but great for discussions
r/animalscrossingroads — Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like
r/animeclouds — A niche but safe space for fans of anime-style cloud art
Engaging with these communities helps you build karma, establish a posting history, and create the appearance of an active, authentic Redditor — without the risk of getting flagged by stricter subreddits.
📍[HACK] Earn Karma by Reposting Popular Content with a Twist
Find top-performing posts from a subreddit, rephrase them using an AI like Claude, then repost them in a similar subreddit. It’s a fast and easy way to earn karma without starting from scratch.
3/ Targeting the right subreddits
Now it’s time to join subreddits that actually align with your product and the audience you want to reach. For example, if you’re launching a note-taking app, you’ll want to target productivity, organization, or work-related communities.
To find the right subreddits, I use a tool called GummySearch. Just enter a few keywords related to your niche, and it will surface relevant subreddits.
You can then sort them by activity level and member count to focus on the ones that are both active and sizable — the sweet spot for organic reach and engagement.
If you’re targeting productivity or work-related users, here are a few relevant subreddits:
r/work: Huge + Super Active
r/antiwork: Massive + Super Active
r/workadvice: Massive + Super Active
r/workOnline: Huge + High Activity
4/ Crafting the right posts
The success of your entire Reddit strategy hinges on the quality of your posts. Reddit values authenticity, practical insights, and content that genuinely serves the community. Your post should never feel promotional. Instead, lead with a real experience, share honest challenges or takeaways, and mention your app only if it fits seamlessly into the narrative.
Structure your post like a Redditor, not a brand. Use short paragraphs, bold sparingly, and format for skimmability. Include bulleted takeaways, examples, or tool comparisons. A strong post might include:
A relatable pain point (“I used to …”)
A concrete habit shift or system that helped
A short list of apps or resources that made a difference
An open question at the end to invite discussion
Here are a few examples of apps using this strategy:
1/ SupperHappy
2/ Be Present
3/ Lifestack
All of these posts follow simple principles that make them stand out on Reddit. They feel authentic, provide real value, and spark conversation — exactly the kind of content Reddit rewards.
1/ They open with a relatable hook
Every strong post starts with a first line that grabs attention and speaks directly to a common struggle. It’s personal, punchy, and designed to stop the scroll.
Example: “How Marcus Aurelius cured my phone addiction”.
2/ They tell a story — not a pitch
Instead of selling, they share a transformation. What was the problem? What shifted? What helped? The app shows up naturally, as part of the solution — not the centerpiece.
Example: “I used to … now I use … and [the app] to …”.
3/ They deliver actionable value
The best posts leave readers with something they can apply right away — whether it’s a useful habit, acurated list of tools, apractical mindset shift…
This positions you as someone contributing to the community, not promoting to it.
Example: “I used BePresent because it turns staying off your phone into a game with friends and has automatic morning app blocking sessions”.
4/ They sound like real people
The tone is raw, casual, and honest — no buzzwords, no fluff. Adding specific details, personal quirks, or even a bit of chaos makes your post feel human and relatable.
Example: “Y’all, the boomers were fucking right.”
5/ They invite people to join the conversation
Strong posts don’t end with a pitch — they end with a question. Asking for feedback, experiences, or recommendations boosts comments and visibility.
Example: “I’d love to hear your recs too”.
Write your own post
To write a high-performing Reddit post, start by giving Claude (by Anthropic) 2–3 examples of posts that worked well — like the ones above. Ask it to analyze their tone, structure, and what makes them effective. Then explore the subreddits you want to target: go to the subreddit, sort by top, select all time, and look for topics that align with your app’s value. Take inspiration from a popular post in one subreddit and adapt it into a new post for another, similar subreddit. Ask Claude to write in the same style — authentic, story-driven, and helpful — while mentioning your app naturally within a list of tools, actionable tips, or as part of the story itself.
👋 Awesome you made it to the end — hope this helps!
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