Reddit community monitoring agent skill for Claude Code and agents

This skill collects public Reddit posts, comments, profiles and community records through an Apify Actor. Choose it for community research, discussion exports or repeat collection that needs filters and saved watermarks.

Folder on GitHub Run on Apify

The Reddit Multi-Mode Scraper for Posts, Comments & Profiles Actor handles subreddit listings, post threads, profile history and keyword searches. The skill packages its instructions, input schema, example input and runner so an agent can prepare requests and retrieve JSON records.

Install

  1. Copy the folder reddit-multi-mode-scraper-for-posts-comments-and-profiles from GitHub, or save the three files below into it.

  2. Place it in ~/.claude/skills/reddit-multi-mode-scraper-for-posts-comments-and-profiles/ for Claude Code, or ~/.agents/skills/reddit-multi-mode-scraper-for-posts-comments-and-profiles/ for Codex and other skill-aware agents.

  3. Export APIFY_TOKEN, start the agent and ask for the job in plain words; the description tells the agent when to use the skill.

  4. Or let the skills CLI place the Actor's SKILL.md for your agent: npx skills add https://recipeforagents.com --skill reddit-multi-mode-scraper-for-posts-comments (the SKILL.md only; the runner script comes from the GitHub folder).

SKILL.mdreddit-multi-mode-scraper-for-posts-comments-and-profiles/SKILL.md

---
name: reddit-multi-mode-scraper-for-posts-comments-and-profiles
description: "Pick one of five modes to pull subreddit posts, full comment threads, user profiles, keyword search results or curated community listings from Reddit, each with deep post/comment filters. No account or API key needed. Output fields: subreddit_prefixed, title, author, score, commentCount and more, as JSON rows. Use it for requests like \"Reddit posts and comments scraper\", \"subreddit export\", \"Reddit keyword search\", or a CSV/JSON export of public Reddit data."
---

# Reddit Multi-Mode Scraper for Posts, Comments & Profiles

Pick one of five modes to pull subreddit posts, full comment threads, user profiles, keyword search results or curated community listings from Reddit, each with deep post/comment filters. No account or API key needed.

- Actor: https://apify.com/nimbryxo-studio/reddit-multi-mode-scraper-for-posts-comments (ID `nimbryxo-studio~reddit-multi-mode-scraper-for-posts-comments`)
- n8n workflow for the same Actor: https://github.com/bolvein-firex/scraping-n8n-workflows/blob/main/docs/reddit-multi-mode-scraper-for-posts-comments-and-profiles.md
- Example input: `references/example-input.json`
- Input schema: `references/input-schema.json`
- Output fields: `references/output-fields.json`

Short video breakdown:
- [Your customers are describing the problem for free](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3TmxkUNaB0U)

## When to use

Use this skill when the user wants:

- Reddit posts and comments scraper
- subreddit export
- Reddit keyword search
- a repeatable export of public Reddit data as CSV or JSON

Do not use it for private, login-protected or paywalled data.

## What it returns

One JSON row per result. Columns from the Actor's dataset schema:

- `subreddit_prefixed`: Subreddit prefixed
- `title`: Title
- `author`: Author
- `score`: Score
- `commentCount`: Comment Count
- `source`: Source
- `createdAt`: Created At
- `permalink`: Permalink

All 9 declared fields: `references/output-fields.json`.

## Inputs

| Field | Type | Required | Default | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `mode` | string | yes | subreddit | What to scrape: a subreddit listing, post URLs with comments, a user profile, or keyword search. |
| `source` | string | no | auto | auto uses live Reddit first and the Arctic Shift archive for depth/bulk or as a fallback. archive is faster and cheaper but lags live Reddit by several hours; live never uses… |
| `subreddits` | array | no | ["programming"] | Subreddits to scrape (mode=subreddit). Accepts names, r/ names or URLs. |
| `postUrls` | array | no | [] | Post URLs, comment URLs, share links or bare post IDs (mode=post). |
| `usernames` | array | no | [] | Reddit usernames to scrape (mode=profile). Accepts names, u/ names or profile URLs. |
| `searchQuery` | string | no |  | Keyword or phrase to search for (mode=search). Reddit search syntax such as "exact phrase", author:name, subreddit:name and -exclude is supported by live search. |
| `maxItems` | integer | no | 50 | Hard cap on all records pushed by the run, across every target. |
| `maxPosts` | integer | no | 25 | Posts per subreddit, keyword or profile section. |
| `maxComments` | integer | no | 100 | Comments per post, keyword, or profile comment section. 0 disables comment records. |
| `maxDepth` | integer | no | 6 | Deepest reply level to emit (0 = top-level comments only). |
| `includeComments` | boolean | no | true | Emit comment records for each post. Disable to fetch only the parent post. |
| `includePost` | boolean | no | true | Emit the post record before its comments. |
| `sort` | string | no | hot | Post/listing sort. Search accepts relevance, hot, top, new or comments; other modes use hot, new, top, rising, controversial or best. |
| `timeFilter` | string | no | day | Time window for top/controversial sorts and search. |

53 more optional fields on the Actor's Input tab.

Example (`references/example-input.json`):

```json
{
  "mode": "subreddit",
  "subreddits": [
    "smallbusiness"
  ],
  "sort": "top",
  "timeFilter": "week",
  "maxItems": 25,
  "maxPosts": 10,
  "maxComments": 20,
  "includeComments": true
}
```

The input passes the Actor's input schema (checked at every publish). First run: `maxItems` = 25, small enough for the 300-second sync wait; raise it once the rows look right.

## Run it

Set `APIFY_TOKEN`, then call the synchronous endpoint for small and medium runs (it waits up to 300 seconds):

```bash
curl -s -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/nimbryxo-studio~reddit-multi-mode-scraper-for-posts-comments/run-sync-get-dataset-items" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $APIFY_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d @references/example-input.json > output.json
```

Or with Node 18+: `node scripts/run.mjs [input.json]`.

For large runs, start an async run and read its dataset when it finishes:

```bash
RUN=$(curl -s -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/nimbryxo-studio~reddit-multi-mode-scraper-for-posts-comments/runs" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $APIFY_TOKEN" -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d @references/example-input.json)
RUN_ID=$(echo "$RUN" | jq -r '.data.id'); DATASET=$(echo "$RUN" | jq -r '.data.defaultDatasetId')
curl -s "https://api.apify.com/v2/actor-runs/$RUN_ID?waitForFinish=60" -H "Authorization: Bearer $APIFY_TOKEN" | jq -r '.data.status'
curl -s "https://api.apify.com/v2/datasets/$DATASET/items?format=json" -H "Authorization: Bearer $APIFY_TOKEN" > output.json
```

## Cost and limits

- Apify bills the Actor's usage on your account; the Actor's Pricing tab shows the current price.
- Keep the limit in the input small for a first run.

## Guardrails

- Public data only. Do not pass cookies, sessions or private account data.
- Do not use the output for spam, harassment or unlawful discrimination.
- Check the target site's terms and local law before running at scale.
Checked against the Agent Skills format and the Actor's input schema: 15 of 15 checks pass
  • SKILL.md starts with YAML front matter
  • name is 1-64 lowercase letters, digits and single hyphens
  • name matches the skill folder name
  • description is present, at most 1024 characters and has no angle brackets
  • front matter uses only spec fields
  • compatibility is at most 500 characters
  • body has instructions
  • field descriptions end on whole sentences
  • no credential values are embedded
  • the token is read from APIFY_TOKEN
  • Example input: all 1 required input field is present
  • Example input: every input key exists in the published input schema
  • Example input: every value has the type the schema declares
  • Example input: every choice field uses one of its published options
  • Example input: numbers respect the published minimum and maximum

Runner scriptreddit-multi-mode-scraper-for-posts-comments-and-profiles/scripts/run.mjs

// Minimal runner: node scripts/run.mjs [input.json | '{"json": "input"}']
// Needs Node 18+ and APIFY_TOKEN. Without an argument it uses references/example-input.json.
import fs from 'node:fs';
import path from 'node:path';
import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url';

const token = process.env.APIFY_TOKEN;
if (!token) {
  console.error('Set APIFY_TOKEN');
  process.exit(1);
}
const actorId = process.env.ACTOR_ID || "nimbryxo-studio~reddit-multi-mode-scraper-for-posts-comments";
const here = path.dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url));
const arg = process.argv[2];
const raw = !arg
  ? fs.readFileSync(path.join(here, '..', 'references', 'example-input.json'), 'utf8')
  : (arg.trim().startsWith('{') ? arg : fs.readFileSync(arg, 'utf8'));
const input = JSON.parse(raw);

const res = await fetch(`https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/${actorId}/run-sync-get-dataset-items`, {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json', Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` },
  body: JSON.stringify(input)
});
if (!res.ok) {
  console.error(`HTTP ${res.status}: ${(await res.text()).slice(0, 500)}`);
  process.exit(1);
}
console.log(JSON.stringify(await res.json(), null, 2));

Example inputreddit-multi-mode-scraper-for-posts-comments-and-profiles/references/example-input.json

{
  "mode": "subreddit",
  "subreddits": [
    "smallbusiness"
  ],
  "sort": "top",
  "timeFilter": "week",
  "maxItems": 25,
  "maxPosts": 10,
  "maxComments": 20,
  "includeComments": true
}

Using it

  • Have the agent read SKILL.md and adapt references/example-input.json to the requested communities and filters. Set a small maxItems cap before using node scripts/run.mjs from the skill folder.

Prefer MCP? The Reddit Multi-Mode Scraper for Posts, Comments & Profiles page has configs for eight clients and a shorter, API-only SKILL.md.

Questions

How does repeat monitoring avoid older records?

Enable onlyNew to emit records newer than the watermark saved by a previous run. Use a consistent stateKey for that monitoring task so later runs refer to its saved state.

Can results include archive data?

With source set to auto, the Actor uses live Reddit first and may use Arctic Shift for depth, bulk history or fallback. Set source to live when archive data is unsuitable, and inspect the returned source field.

Can the agent collect posts without comments?

Set includeComments to false to omit comment records for each post. Keep includePost enabled when the parent post should remain in the output.