Reddit's primary typeface is Reddit Sans, a custom open-source font family created for the platform's 2023 rebrand. It replaced the mix of system fonts and Noto Sans that powered the interface before, and it's now the default across the website, mobile apps, and marketing materials. But "what font does Reddit use" has a few different answers depending on whether you mean new Reddit, old Reddit, or the text you type into posts and comments.
Let's break it down.
What is Reddit Sans?
Reddit Sans is a custom sans-serif typeface designed by the Reddit design team and released as an open-source font family. It was introduced alongside Reddit's visual rebrand in 2023 — the same refresh that updated the logo, color palette, and overall look of the platform.
Unlike many tech companies that commission a proprietary font and lock it down, Reddit made a different choice: Reddit Sans is available on Google Fonts for anyone to download and use. That's worth noting because it means you can actually install and work with the exact same typeface Reddit uses, which is unusual for a major platform.
The family includes multiple weights (from Light to ExtraBold), plus two companion families:
- Reddit Sans Condensed — a narrower version for space-constrained layouts
- Reddit Mono — a monospace variant used for code blocks and technical content
All three are available under the SIL Open Font License, meaning you can use them in personal and commercial projects at no cost.
Where does Reddit Sans appear?
Reddit Sans handles most of the visible text on the platform today:
| Element | Font used |
|---|
| Post titles | Reddit Sans (Bold / SemiBold) |
| Comment text | Reddit Sans (Regular) |
| Subreddit names | Reddit Sans |
| Usernames | Reddit Sans |
| Navigation and UI buttons | Reddit Sans |
| Code blocks | Reddit Mono |
| Reddit logo/wordmark | Custom logotype (not Reddit Sans) |
One thing to be clear about: the Reddit logo itself — the wordmark and the Snoo mascot — uses a custom logotype, not Reddit Sans. The logotype was designed separately and doesn't correspond to any downloadable font. So if you're trying to recreate the Reddit logo for a design project, Reddit Sans won't get you there.
What about old Reddit?
If you use old.reddit.com (and many people still do), you're seeing a completely different set of fonts. Old Reddit predates the redesign and the rebrand, so it relies on a traditional web font stack:
- Verdana — the primary body font on old Reddit
- Arial — used as a fallback
- Helvetica and generic sans-serif as further fallbacks
Verdana was an extremely common choice for early web design because it was specifically designed for legibility on low-resolution screens. If you've been on Reddit since the early days, that Verdana look is probably what "Reddit" looks like in your head — wide letter spacing, round shapes, slightly oversized for its point size.
The new Reddit interface (sometimes called "new Reddit" or "sh.reddit.com") is the one running Reddit Sans. If you haven't switched to old Reddit in your preferences, you're on the new design.
What font does the Reddit mobile app use?
The official Reddit apps for iOS and Android use Reddit Sans as their primary typeface. This is a change from earlier versions of the app, which leaned more heavily on system fonts (SF Pro on iPhone, Roboto on Android) the way many apps do.
With the 2023 rebrand, Reddit pushed Reddit Sans into the mobile apps as well, so the experience is now more consistent between web and mobile than it used to be. You'll still see your phone's system font in certain places — like the keyboard, system dialogs, and notification banners — but the in-app text itself is Reddit Sans.
This is similar to the approach Instagram and X (Twitter) take with their own custom typefaces, though Reddit's is the only one of the three that's actually open-source and downloadable.
How does text formatting work on Reddit?
Reddit supports Markdown formatting in posts and comments, which gives you more control over how your text looks than most social platforms offer. You can use:
**bold** for bold text*italic* for italic text# Heading for headers (multiple levels)- item for bullet lists`code` for inline code> quote for block quotes~~strikethrough~~ for strikethrough
This is actual formatting, not a visual trick — Reddit's Markdown parser processes these characters and renders them as styled HTML. The bold and italic text you see in Reddit comments is Reddit Sans Bold and Reddit Sans Italic, not Unicode look-alikes.
That makes Reddit different from platforms like Instagram or TikTok, where there's no native formatting at all and the only way to get bold or stylized text is through Unicode character substitution. For a deeper look at how Reddit's formatting works, see our guide on how to format bold text.
Can you use custom or fancy fonts on Reddit?
Reddit's text fields accept plain text and Markdown — you can't pick a font from a menu or upload a custom typeface. But there are a couple of edge cases:
Display names and user profiles: Reddit lets you set a display name separate from your username. This field accepts Unicode characters, which means you can paste in styled text from a generator like our text generator or bold text generator to make your display name stand out. The usual caveats apply: Unicode "fonts" are really just alternate character sets, they're Latin-letters-only, and they can cause issues with screen readers and search. For the full picture, see are Unicode fonts accessible.
Post titles: Post titles on Reddit are plain text with no Markdown support. Unicode characters do render in titles, so technically you could paste styled text there, but it's generally frowned upon in most subreddit communities and may get your post removed.
Comments and post bodies: These support Markdown. Use **bold** and *italic* instead of Unicode look-alikes — it's more accessible, more readable, and it's what Reddit is built for.
Reddit also has character limits on different fields. If you're running into length restrictions, our breakdown of Reddit's character limits covers what you can fit where.
Can you download Reddit Sans?
Yes. Reddit Sans, Reddit Sans Condensed, and Reddit Mono are all available for free on Google Fonts under the SIL Open Font License. You can use them in websites, apps, print materials, and personal projects without any licensing fees.
This sets Reddit apart from most major platforms. Instagram's font (Instagram Sans) is proprietary and not available to the public. X's font (Chirp) is proprietary and exclusively licensed. Reddit Sans is the rare case where a big tech company's brand typeface is genuinely free and open.
To install it, search for "Reddit Sans" on Google Fonts, download the font files, and install them on your computer or include them via a web font embed. The Google Fonts page includes all available weights and the condensed and mono variants.
Frequently asked questions
What font does Reddit use?
Reddit uses a custom typeface called Reddit Sans, an open-source sans-serif font family introduced during the platform's 2023 rebrand. It's used across the website, mobile apps, and marketing materials. Old Reddit (old.reddit.com) still uses Verdana and Arial.
Can I download the Reddit font?
Yes. Reddit Sans is available for free on Google Fonts under the SIL Open Font License. You can download and use it in your own projects, including websites and apps, without any licensing fees.
What font did Reddit use before Reddit Sans?
Before the 2023 rebrand, the new Reddit interface used a mix of system fonts and Noto Sans. Old Reddit (which is still accessible) uses Verdana as its primary font, with Arial as a fallback.
Does Reddit support bold and italic text?
Yes. Reddit uses Markdown formatting, so you can type **bold** for bold and *italic* for italic in comments and post bodies. This is native formatting rendered in Reddit Sans Bold and Italic, not Unicode character substitution.
Can I use fancy or custom fonts in Reddit posts?
Reddit doesn't offer a font picker. Comments and post bodies support Markdown for bold, italic, headers, and more. Display names accept Unicode characters, so you can paste styled text from a generator, but it's Latin-letters-only and comes with accessibility trade-offs.
What font does the Reddit logo use?
The Reddit logo and wordmark use a custom logotype that was designed separately from Reddit Sans. It's not available as a downloadable font. Reddit Sans is the interface and body text font, not the logo font.
Is Reddit Sans the same as Noto Sans?
No. Reddit Sans is a distinct typeface designed specifically for Reddit. Before the rebrand, Reddit's interface used Noto Sans (among other fonts), but Reddit Sans replaced it as the primary typeface in 2023.
