Reddit’s official Android app is pivoting hard toward a TikTok-style vertical video feed. The change makes short-form clips scroll better and gives creators a dedicated surface, but it also buries the classic Reddit experience that a lot of long-time users came for: threaded comments, subreddit-first navigation, and text-heavy discussions. If you want the new video feed done properly — clean autoplay, saved videos, no double-taps to hearts — or a way back to the classic Reddit reader on Android, the third-party ecosystem has options.
We tested seven Android apps for Reddit, ranked by how well they handle short-form video specifically. Every pick still shows text posts, comments, and moderator tools, but the vertical video experience is the axis we weighed the hardest.
What to look for in a Reddit video-feed app on Android
- Vertical autoplay feed. Swipe-up feed dedicated to video posts, without breaking the classic subreddit view.
- Save video locally. Real downloads for offline viewing, not just bookmarks.
- Ad handling. Ad-free by design or a paid tier that removes them cleanly.
- NSFW toggle. Adult content behind a real switch, not always on or always off.
- Sync with Reddit accounts. Log in, save, comment, upvote — all the account features.
- Custom feed builder. Combine subreddits into a video-only or text-only feed.
- Battery. Video-first apps drain phones; the good ones give you a quality selector.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | Starting price | Rating (Play Store) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reddit (official) | Native video feed | Yes (ads) | $5.99/mo Premium | 4.4 |
| Infinity for Reddit | Open-source video reader | Yes, full | Free | 4.6 |
| Boost for Reddit | Deep customization | Yes (ads) | $2.49 Pro | 4.5 |
| RedReader | Minimalist, offline-first | Yes, full | Free (donation) | 4.5 |
| Sync for Reddit | Video-friendly power user | Yes | $2.99 Pro | 4.5 |
| Relay for Reddit | Card-first video layout | Yes (ads) | $3.99 Pro | 4.4 |
| Joey for Reddit | Themed and quick | Yes (ads) | $1.99 Pro | 4.5 |
The 7 best Reddit video-feed apps for Android
1. Reddit (official) — Native vertical video, worst customization
Reddit on Android is where the TikTok-style pivot lives. Vertical autoplay is native, likes and shares land in familiar spots, and the algorithm surfaces trending video across subreddits. If you want the pivot as intended, this is the source.
Where it falls short: Ads land inside the video feed. Some layouts hide the comment thread behind an extra tap. Customization is minimal.
Pricing:
- Free: full app with ads
- Reddit Premium: $5.99/month or $49.99/year removes ads and unlocks avatar perks
Download: Reddit on Google Play
Bottom line: The default if the new video feed is the whole point of Reddit for you.
2. Infinity for Reddit — Best open-source Reddit video reader
Infinity for Reddit is fully open-source under the AGPL, ad-free by design, and has kept pace with Reddit’s format changes. The video player has proper controls, downloads to device storage in one tap, and the classic card feed lives alongside a slide-view mode that mirrors the vertical video experience without forcing it on you.
Where it falls short: Community-maintained pace means some Reddit API-limited features (chat, some polls) are basic. Signing in requires each user to obtain their own Reddit API credentials because of Reddit’s 2023 pricing changes — Infinity’s docs walk you through it.
Pricing:
- Free: every feature. No ads, no premium tier.
- Available via F-Droid, GitHub releases, and Google Play
Download: Infinity for Reddit on F-Droid
Bottom line: The default pick for privacy-minded readers who also want a real video download.
3. Boost for Reddit — Best for deep customization
Boost exposes more sliders and toggles than any other Reddit reader on Android — font selection, card size, thumbnail placement, gesture bindings. The video player is capable, with quality selection and swipe-to-close, and Boost’s compact “video first” filter lets you dedicate a feed to short-form content.
Where it falls short: Free tier shows ads. Some settings require reading a menu tree to find. Reddit API credential setup for full sign-in.
Pricing:
- Free: full feature set with ads
- Pro: $2.49 one-time removes ads and unlocks premium themes
- Available on Google Play
Download: Boost for Reddit on Google Play
Bottom line: The pick for readers who want to tune every corner of the feed to their preference.
4. RedReader — Best minimalist and offline-first
RedReader is deliberately lean: fast text rendering, low battery drain, and an accessible-first UI. Video plays through the OS media stack, so downloads go into the standard downloads folder ready for offline. It is not aimed at the TikTok-style feed but at classic Reddit reading, and does that better than anything else.
Where it falls short: No native vertical autoplay video feed. Best treated as the escape hatch if the pivot is not for you.
Pricing:
- Free: every feature, donation-supported
- Open source, available on F-Droid
Download: RedReader on F-Droid
Bottom line: The pick if you already skipped short-form video and want the classic reader back.
5. Sync for Reddit — Best video-friendly power user reader
Sync for Reddit rebuilt on Reddit’s post-API-change model and keeps its polished feel. The video player supports gesture seek, picture-in-picture, and background audio, and Sync’s custom feed builder lets you mix multiple subreddits into a video-only feed with a single tap.
Where it falls short: Requires per-user API credentials since the Sync classic era ended. Pro version is a one-time payment, but the setup takes ten minutes.
Pricing:
- Free: base app
- Pro: $2.99 one-time removes ads and unlocks features
- Available on Google Play
Download: Sync for Reddit on Google Play
Bottom line: The polished pick for readers who want the video experience without the official app’s ad load.
6. Relay for Reddit — Best card-first video layout
Relay for Reddit presents posts in a card layout that scales media well; video posts get a large inline player without the swipe-first feed. If you want the video experience woven into a familiar card view rather than a dedicated vertical scroll, Relay is the natural pick.
Where it falls short: Free version shows ads. Development pace is slower than Infinity’s. Reddit API credential setup applies.
Pricing:
- Free: full feature set with ads
- Pro: $3.99 one-time removes ads
- Available on Google Play
Download: Relay for Reddit on Google Play
Bottom line: The pick when you want video posts big but not the full TikTok-style takeover.
7. Joey for Reddit — Best themed and quick
Joey for Reddit ships with a broad theme collection and quick-access shortcuts; the video player is capable rather than headline-grabbing. Reddit’s short-form format renders cleanly in Joey’s compact card layout, and switching between vertical and horizontal videos happens without loading spinners.
Where it falls short: Free version has ads. Fewer configuration knobs than Boost.
Pricing:
- Free: full features with ads
- Pro: $1.99 one-time removes ads
- Available on Google Play
Download: Joey for Reddit on Google Play
Bottom line: The pick when you value looks and speed over deep customization.
How to pick the right one
- If you want the new TikTok-style feed done well: the official Reddit app is where the pivot lives. Add Premium if the ads bother you.
- If you want an ad-free open-source alternative: Infinity for Reddit.
- If you want to tune every setting: Boost for Reddit.
- If you want the classic Reddit back: RedReader.
- If you want the polish with a one-time payment: Sync for Reddit.
- If you want video-first but not vertical-only: Relay for Reddit.
- If quick, themed, and cheap wins: Joey for Reddit.
FAQ
What is the best free Reddit app for Android without ads? Infinity for Reddit and RedReader are both fully free and ad-free. Both are open source and available on F-Droid.
Can these apps play Reddit’s new short-form video feed? Yes, all seven play Reddit video posts. Only the official app has the dedicated vertical swipe feed baked into the home screen; third-party apps present video in a card feed and let you filter to video-only posts through custom feeds.
Do third-party Reddit apps still work after the 2023 API changes? Yes, but many require each user to generate their own Reddit API credentials (a five- to ten-minute setup). The apps in this list either walk you through it in-app or work in read-only mode without it.
Are Reddit third-party apps safe? The open-source picks (Infinity, RedReader) publish source on GitHub or GitLab and are audited by their communities. Paid apps distributed on Google Play go through Play’s review. Avoid sideloading from unofficial mirrors.
Which app downloads Reddit videos to my phone? Infinity, Boost, Sync, and Relay all support saving Reddit videos to device storage in one tap. RedReader relies on the OS media stack. The official Reddit app does not offer permanent download; only save-to-collection.
