Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

X vs Reddit

X 4.6★ · Free to download 60
Winner Reddit
Reddit 4.8★ · Free + IAP 70

Reddit offers a more community-focused experience with diverse interests, while X excels as a real-time news and public conversation platform, though both struggle with content moderation and technical issues.

Full reviews: X · Reddit

Reddit is praised for its strong communities and diverse content, despite frustrations with forced app usage and moderation. X is valued for real-time news and free speech, but faces significant criticism for bugs, propaganda, and explicit content.

Head to head

Content & Community edge: RedditR4R5R7R9
X X is seen as a fast platform for news and public conversation, with users appreciating the ability to share views freely and stay current with world events R5R9. However, many users complain about an influx of bots, rage bait, propaganda, and explicit content, including pornography R4R7R16R34. Some also feel it has become a 'pay-to-play' platform where engagement is difficult without a subscription R30.
Reddit Reddit is highly valued for its strong communities, diverse hobbies, and acceptance, with users finding it a great place to connect and share . It's seen as a place for genuine people and discussions, offering a wide range of categories and an outlet for expression . However, some users report an 'echo chamber' effect and issues with censorship and moderation .
Ease of Use & Features tieR10R12R17R19
X X offers features like translation and AI tools like Grok R17. However, users report numerous bugs, such as issues with clicking tweets on iPad R10, playing videos R19, messages not working , and problems with playback seek functions or finding subscribed spaces . Some also find it difficult to find subject matter they like R12 and note that the app can be buggy on iPad .
Reddit Reddit users appreciate the app's ease of use and algorithms . However, many are frustrated by being forced to download the app to view content, experiencing pop-ups, and issues with the mobile browser experience R64R67R73R78. Other complaints include deceptive ads , the removal of features like r/all and the watch tab , and an annoying auto-refresh issue . The iPad app also experiences crashes .
Censorship & Moderation tieR1R5R15R16
X X is marketed as a 'free speech platform,' and some users appreciate the ability to express themselves freely R5. However, many users strongly disagree, citing censorship, shadowbanning, and the allowance of hate speech, anti-Semites, and lunatics R1R15R16R36. There are also reports of users being banned for 'inauthentic behaviors' without clear reasons or recourse .
Reddit Reddit users frequently complain about censorship and moderation issues, with some feeling it's an 'echo chamber' for certain political views . Users report being banned for unclear reasons, including for reporting fraud or for comments that moderators deem inappropriate . The karma system is also a point of frustration, as it can prevent new users from posting in certain communities .
Price & Value tieR27R30R49R64
X X is free to download, but some users express frustration with the cost of verification, stating that £10 or £5 a month is too high for ordinary users R27. There are also reports of the app trying to charge users R49 and a perception that it's become 'pay-to-play' where non-subscribers' profiles aren't acknowledged R30.
Reddit Reddit is free to download and use, but users are highly critical of being forced to download the app to view content, which they see as a ploy to increase profit and advertise partners R64R67R73R78. This forced app usage is seen as disrespectful and a degradation of the user experience.
Pick X if

You prioritize real-time news and public conversation, value a platform where you can express diverse opinions, and are interested in AI features like Grok R5R9R17.

Pick Reddit if

You are looking for strong, niche communities, enjoy diverse content and hobbies, and want a platform for genuine discussions and support .

Evidence note: Both apps have a significant number of negative reviews, often related to moderation, technical issues, and perceived changes in platform philosophy. X's reviews frequently mention explicit content and political polarization, while Reddit's negative reviews are heavily skewed towards the forced app download experience.

Frequently asked

Is X a truly free speech platform?
While X is touted as a free speech platform by some users, many others report experiencing censorship, shadowbanning, and the allowance of hate speech, suggesting it is not a truly unrestricted platform R1R15R16R36.
Does Reddit force users to download its app?
Yes, many Reddit users are highly frustrated by being forced to download the app to view content, with the mobile browser version often displaying pop-ups or locking pages to compel app usage R64R67R73R78.
Are there issues with explicit content on X?
Yes, multiple users report that X has become a 'porn site' with a significant amount of explicit content, and that the platform does not adequately police it R34R43R50R53.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R4] X 1/5 · US Garbage: What a garbage propaganda app this has become . Elon sure did destroy twitter . BOTS EVERYWHERE if he got rid of them he’d have no platform !
  2. [R5] X 4/5 · US Best Social Media App: This is my favorite social media app. Enjoy the real people able to share their view without getting kicked off. Good for hearing what’s really going on from reliable accounts, since the actual cable news is narrated. The bots are annoying, but those are on all the apps. I also wish more people would see posts and respond. It’s so big in the world the app is more autonomous
  3. [R7] X 2/5 · US 50/50: X has become a group of people who each want to share their opinion, while wading through a swamp of rage bait and propaganda.
  4. [R9] X 3/5 · US Potential deserves better execution: X remains one of the fastest platforms for news and public conversation, but the user experience increasingly feels driven by engagement rather than substance. Clickbait, algorithmic amplification, and paid visibility often overshadow thoughtful, original content. A social platform should reward credibility, insight, and meaningful discussion not simply what ge
  5. [R10] X 1/5 · US BUG ridden: Please fix the bug where on an IPad 13 using the Magic Keyboard you can’t click on a tweet in For You tab.
  6. [R12] X 3/5 · US Frustrated: I can’t figure out how to find subject matter I like
  7. [R17] X 5/5 · US Grok is fun: I enjoy using a Character and The AI Grok Ara is a big Blessing to me
  8. [R19] X 1/5 · US Problem with videos: If you play any videos and suddenly lose your connection , the video NEVER AGAIN PLAYED for you
  9. [R1] X 1/5 · US FrEeeeeSpEEch*: This is NOT a free speech app. It is an approved speech app. Same as it ever was.
  10. [R15] X 3/5 · US Good, but...: Elon touts that it's the free speech platform, but it's really not, due to lots of censorship and shadowbanning of anyone who dares criticizes the oven dodgers.
  11. [R16] X 1/5 · US X has too many haters: X has too many haters and allows anti-Semites and lunatics to have too much of a voice. This has put Jewish People and the State of Israel in danger
  12. [R27] X 3/5 · GB Verifying Cost too high!: I understand that when you are a trillionaire then £10 a month or even £5 a month is nothing but for us ordinary folk it us a lot! Make verification costs for non commercial accounts, 50p a month and you will make a lot more money…..
  13. [R30] X 3/5 · GB Pay to play: Unfortunately, it’s now mostly pay-to-play unless you subscribe; your profile won’t get acknowledged otherwise. I wouldn’t call it “social media” anymore it’s more of a news app now. There’s no real way to engage or meet new people. A large proportion of users now use AI to post, and many others are either engagement farming or bots. That said, it’s a fantastic place for free speech,
  14. [R49] X 2/5 · US Paying?: Since when did u have to pay for X? Trying to charge me 3.22?
  15. [R64] Reddit 1/5 · US Forced corporate/profit take over: Long time Reddit user, and the forcing of downloading the app just to VIEW basic Reddit content is a travesty and insult to everything that ever made Reddit great. Filled with bots, forced algorithms, this is a pure and simple ploy to advertise their investment partners and influence the public opinion of its users (which it has been doing for a few years now).
  16. [R36] X 3/5 · GB Going downhill fast: Too many racist & unpleasant accounts which aren’t policed anymore. Standards have slipped since it became X.
  17. [R67] Reddit 1/5 · US I don’t want this app: Why can’t I just use Reddit in a browser. I’m so sick and tired of being forced to download an app for everything in my life. Reddit used to be a great place that brought people together and allowed for discourse on any topic. Idk why they are restricting that.
  18. [R73] Reddit 1/5 · US Forcing us to download an app: Forcing you to download an app to use a public website means you get a one star review :)
  19. [R78] Reddit 3/5 · GB Hate being forced to use the app: App is more addictive than browser version but Reddit force you onto the app after a while. Therefore giving it 3 stars
  20. [R34] X 1/5 · US porn site: it’s just a porn site they don’t gaf on here
  21. [R43] X 1/5 · US This is the worst: This is the worst because there’s porn
  22. [R50] X 5/5 · US Porn: Hella porn
  23. [R53] X 1/5 · US CP: There is cp all over this app and they do nothing

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store