Getting Recommended by ChatGPT Through Reddit: What Studies Show
By the CEO of Upnext Agency · November 6, 2026 · 8 min read
In short: Reddit is one of the sources AI tools cite most. According to Profound, it's the number one source for Perplexity (46.7% of top citations) and Google AI Overviews (21%), while ChatGPT cites Wikipedia first. A Peec AI study published in March 2026 puts Reddit at the top across all AI engines. To get recommended by an AI, a brand needs to be mentioned, positively, in the Reddit threads that answer its customers' questions.
Why AI tools read Reddit
Two reasons:
- 1Official deals. Google signed a deal in 2024 to use Reddit content (about $60 million a year, according to Reuters), and OpenAI announced a partnership with Reddit in May 2024.
- 2The content matches the questions. People ask AI tools "what's the best X for Y?". Reddit is full of threads asking exactly that, answered by users.
What the studies say
| Study | Period | Finding on Reddit |
|---|---|---|
| Profound | August 2024 to June 2025 | Top source for Perplexity (46.7%) and AI Overviews (21%). ChatGPT cites Wikipedia first (47.9%). |
| Semrush | July to October 2025, 230,000 prompts | Reddit among the top 5 domains cited by ChatGPT, Google AI Mode and Perplexity. Sharp drop in ChatGPT's Reddit citations in mid-September 2025. |
| Peec AI | Published March 2026, 30 million sources | Reddit the most cited source on ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, Gemini, Perplexity and AI Overviews. |
Methods differ and shares move fast. What they agree on: Reddit stays near the top everywhere.
How a brand gets into those answers
An AI doesn't recommend a brand because it has a Reddit account. It recommends it because the name keeps coming up, positively, in threads that answer the question asked. The work:
- 1List your customers' questions: "best [category] for [use]", "[competitor] alternative", "[your brand] review".
- 2Find the Reddit threads that rank on Google for those questions. They're often the ones AI tools reuse.
- 3Join them with useful answers, from established accounts, mentioning your brand when it really answers the question, alongside other options.
- 4Check regularly what ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google answer to those questions.
What doesn't work: fake reviews, bought votes, new accounts that only talk about the brand. Moderators remove them, and a removed thread will never be cited.
How long it takes
Accounts have to be warmed up first. Then a thread has to rank on Google before AI tools pick it up. Expect 2 to 3 months for the first citations. Our Perplexity guide covers Perplexity in detail, and our SEO and GEO tools comparison lists tools to track your citations.
What we do at Upnext
Upnext gets ecommerce brands, SaaS and prop firms into the Reddit threads that rank on Google and feed AI answers, with hand-warmed accounts and a monthly report on which threads rank. €1,000 to €4,000/month excl. VAT, no commitment (our plans).
FAQ
Does ChatGPT use Reddit?
Yes. OpenAI announced a partnership with Reddit in May 2024, and the Semrush and Peec AI studies place Reddit among the domains ChatGPT cites most.
Which AI cites Reddit the most?
According to Profound (August 2024 to June 2025), Perplexity: Reddit makes up 46.7% of its top citations.
How do I know if AI tools mention my brand?
Ask ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google the questions your customers ask, and note who gets cited. GEO tracking tools automate that check.
