Reddit market research means reading, not asking. Search the subreddits where your buyers talk for threads where they complain about a tool, ask what others use, or compare two options. Copy the exact phrases, tag each thread with the problem behind it, and count which problems repeat. You end up with reddit pain points in customers' own words, each linked to the thread it came from as evidence.
Reading matters because asking is often against the rules. Of the 35 business subreddits we profile, at least 14 restrict or ban research posts, surveys or "what are your pain points" questions. We read the rules below on Reddit on 7 November 2026.
Key takeaways
- Read existing threads first. Most business subreddits remove posts that ask for pain points, feedback or survey answers.
- Three thread types carry the most signal: complaints about a tool, "what do you use for X" questions, and "X vs Y" comparisons.
- Copy the exact wording and the link. If you can't link a pain point back to a real thread, it's a guess.
- Group threads by the problem, not the product named, then count. Ten threads about one problem beat one long rant.
- Where a subreddit allows research, use its sanctioned thread (r/startups' feedback thread, or moderator approval in r/SaaS and r/devops).
Where your market talks, and what each subreddit allows
| Subreddit | Members (7 Nov 2026) | Research or survey posts |
|---|---|---|
| r/smallbusiness | 2,562,882 | "No market research posts". Posts asking about pain points are removed |
| r/marketing | 1,982,344 | Research surveys removed. App idea and "would you pay for this" posts can get a permanent ban |
| r/startups | 2,148,848 | Feedback requests, surveys and polls go in the weekly feedback thread |
| r/SaaS | 840,659 | Surveys and polls need moderator approval first |
| r/ecommerce | 688,291 | No "dev research" posts asking for pain points or app validation |
| r/shopify | 384,769 | No "dev research" or app developer posts looking for pain points |
| r/devops | 520,670 | Survey, poll and research posts need moderator approval |
| r/ProductManagement | 285,732 | No product research, even without self-promotion |
| r/PPC | 290,157 | No "dev/founder research" posts |
| r/LawFirm | 110,032 | Not a place for market research for a product |
All of these communities still let you read and search, and that's where the research happens. For a wider list by industry, see the best subreddits by industry and run the subreddit finder on your own market.
What to search for
Reddit's own search works, and so does Google with site:reddit.com. These phrasings surface the threads with the most signal:
| Search | What it finds |
|---|---|
"alternative to" [competitor] |
People leaving a tool, usually with the reason |
[competitor] "too expensive" or "switched from" [competitor] |
Price and switching pain |
"what do you use for" [job] |
Buyers listing their options, with the reasons |
[tool A] vs [tool B] |
The criteria buyers compare on |
"is there a tool" [job] or "how do you" [job] |
Unmet needs, sometimes with no product named at all |
[job] "I hate" or [job] "nightmare" |
The emotional version of the problem |
Sort by top or by relevance over the past year, and read the comments as well as the post. People disagree in the replies, and the disagreement shows you the segments.
How to turn threads into pain points
- Collect. For each thread, save the link, the subreddit, the date and the exact sentence that states the problem.
- Tag the problem, not the product. "Can't export to CSV" and "stuck with their reporting" are both reporting problems, even when they name two different tools.
- Count. Note how many distinct users raise each problem. Discount accounts that mostly promote one product.
- Rank. Put the most repeated problems at the top, and mark the ones where people say they would pay or have already switched.
- Keep the words. Use the phrases people wrote in your landing copy, your ads and your interview questions.
A simple sheet is enough:
| Pain point | Threads | Distinct users | Example wording (with link) | Willing to pay or switch? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your first problem | ||||
| Your second problem |
What works and what gets removed
Works: reading and searching, answering questions you know the answer to, posting a question in a weekly thread the moderators set up, and asking moderators for approval where the rules say research needs it.
Gets removed: "What are your biggest pain points?" posts in subreddits that ban them, survey links, "would you pay for this?" posts, and unsolicited DMs to people who complained. In r/marketing, the subreddit's own rule says the app-idea version of that post gets a permanent ban.
A 4-week Reddit market research plan
| Week | Do this | You end with |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pick 5 to 8 subreddits. Read each one's rules. Run the searches above for 2 or 3 competitors | 40 to 60 saved threads |
| 2 | Tag each thread by problem. Count distinct users per problem | A ranked list of pain points |
| 3 | Set keyword alerts on the top three problems so new threads arrive by email | A live feed instead of a one-off sample |
| 4 | Where rules allow, post one question in a sanctioned thread. Answer questions in the problem areas you found | Fresh answers to test your ranking |
The free Reddit keyword alerts cover week 3.
How we run it, and how the app helps
Self-serve. Our Reddit monitoring app watches the subreddits and keywords you choose and ranks each new thread by fit with your product, so complaints and comparisons collect in one running feed. Reddit brand monitoring tracks mentions of your brand and competitors with a tone label. For a one-off search, the thread finder is free.
Done for you. If you want the research done and turned into a plan, our Reddit marketing agency starts every engagement by mapping where a client's buyers talk and what they complain about. For a wider view of the channel, read how to find your target subreddit.
Frequently asked questions
Is Reddit good for market research?
Yes, for qualitative reddit customer research. People describe problems, prices and switching reasons in their own words, without prompting. It isn't a representative sample, so treat it as a source of hypotheses and wording, then test them.
Can I post a survey on Reddit for market research?
Only where the rules allow it. Many business subreddits ban surveys outright, and r/SaaS and r/devops require moderator approval first. r/startups wants them in its weekly feedback thread. Check the subreddit's rules before you post.
How do I find reddit pain points for my market?
In the subreddits where your buyers talk, search for complaints about competitors, "what do you use for" questions and "X vs Y" comparisons. Tag each thread by the underlying problem and count how many distinct users raise it.
How much market research on Reddit is enough?
Stop when new threads stop adding new problems. In a narrow B2B market that's often a few dozen threads. Then keep alerts running to catch new ones.
Do I need a tool for Reddit market research?
No. Reddit search and a spreadsheet are enough. A tool helps when you want new threads to show up on their own, ranked, so you don't have to search by hand every week.