Reddit's native poll tool is fine for simple community votes. But the 6-option cap, hidden results, and single-subreddit limitation make it inadequate for anything more complex. Here is what external tools do better and how to use them on Reddit.
Reddit's Built-In Poll Limitations
Reddit polls are embedded in posts and require a Reddit account to vote — which is the main convenience. But the constraints are significant:
Maximum 6 Options
You can only add up to 6 voting choices. If you want your community to vote on 10 game titles, 8 rule proposals, or a long list of anything, you're forced into workarounds or multiple posts.
Results Hidden Until You Vote
Reddit hides current poll results until after you cast your vote. Voters cannot see the distribution before choosing — which makes it harder to understand community consensus in the moment.
No Ranked Choice Voting
Reddit polls only support basic multiple choice. You cannot ask voters to rank options by preference — which is the gold standard for finding true community consensus when multiple options are popular.
One Subreddit, One Post
Reddit polls are tied to a single post. If you want input from multiple related communities, you need to create separate polls and aggregate results manually. External polls use one link, everywhere.
Reddit Account Required
Only logged-in Reddit users can vote in native polls. This excludes lurkers, visitors, and community members who participate through Discord or other platforms.
No Data Export
You cannot export Reddit poll results to a spreadsheet or analyse them outside Reddit. Screenshots are the only way to archive results.
What External Polls Do Better
- Unlimited options — add 6, 12, or 20 choices with no cap
- Real-time results visible before voting — see where the community stands as you choose
- Ranked choice voting — find true consensus when there are multiple strong preferences
- Cross-subreddit sharing — one link works across every subreddit, Discord, and Twitter
- Rating scales — "Rate this proposal 1–5" gives nuanced feedback beyond yes/no
- Visual polls — vote on images, not just text descriptions
- No account needed — anyone with the link can vote, including non-Reddit users
- PNG export of results — screenshot-ready chart export, free on all plans
- Flexible duration — leave polls open for days, not just the duration of a post's activity
Honest note: Reddit native polls have one advantage external tools cannot match — they are embedded in the feed. Voters see them without clicking a link. For simple votes where maximum in-Reddit participation matters, native polls still work. External tools are better when you need more flexibility.
How to Create a Reddit-Ready Poll
1
Go to VoteGenerator — no signup needed
Visit votegenerator.com/create. Start immediately with no account.
2
Choose your poll type
Multiple Choice for straightforward votes. Ranked Choice for finding consensus across many options. Rating Scale for feedback. This or That for A vs B decisions. Visual Poll for image-based voting.
3
Write your question and add options
Reddit communities appreciate direct, neutral questions. Add as many options as needed — no 6-option limit. Use clear, non-leading language for authentic results.
4
Set duration (optional)
Leave the poll open indefinitely for ongoing community input, or set it to close after a few days when a decision needs to be made.
5
Share across your community
Post the link in your subreddit, pin it in a top comment, share to your Discord, and post to related subreddits. One link, maximum input.
Reddit Polls vs VoteGenerator
| Feature | Reddit Native | VoteGenerator |
|---|---|---|
| Max options | 6 | Unlimited |
| Results before voting | Hidden until vote | Real-time, always visible |
| Ranked choice voting | No | Yes — instant runoff, free |
| Cross-subreddit sharing | One post only | One link, any community |
| Rating scales | No | Yes |
| Visual / image polls | No | Yes |
| Account required to vote | Reddit account | No account needed |
| Total poll types | 1 (multiple choice) | 8 types |
| Poll duration | Post lifetime | Any / indefinite |
| PNG export | No | Free — all plans |
| CSV data export | No | Paid plan ($19/mo)PNG is free on all plans |
| Creator account required | Reddit account | No — create instantly |
Poll Ideas That Work on Reddit
Ranked Choice
Community Rankings
"Rank these films by quality" — find true consensus, not just the plurality pick.
Multiple Choice
Community Decisions
"What should we feature next month?" — unlimited options, cross-posted to related subs.
Rating Scale
Rule / Policy Feedback
"Rate the new subreddit rule 1–5" — nuanced feedback beyond a binary approve/reject.
Multiple Choice
Moderation Decisions
"Should we allow low-effort posts?" — legitimise mod decisions with community input.
Ranked Choice
Best-Of Lists
"Rank the best games of the decade" — instant runoff produces a ranked community list.
This or That
Classic Debates
"Tabs vs Spaces" "Vim vs Emacs" — quick pairwise votes for subreddit culture polls.
Best Practices for Reddit Polls
Use neutral, specific questions
Reddit communities are sceptical of leading questions. Neutral wording gets authentic results. "Which is better?" works. "Don't you think A is clearly superior?" does not.
Explain why the poll matters
Context drives participation. "This decides next month's book club pick" gets more votes than a decontextualised link. State the stakes in your post body.
Pin the link in a top comment
Reddit comments can bury links. Post the poll link prominently in a top-level comment and ask the community to upvote it for visibility.
Act on the results
Reddit users remember when community polls are ignored. If you ask for input, use it. Update the thread with results and what you decided — this builds trust for future polls.
Check subreddit rules first
Most subreddits allow external poll links if they are relevant and not spam. Posting the same link across many subreddits rapidly looks like spam. One thoughtful post per community is fine.
Create a Better Reddit Poll
Unlimited options, ranked choice, real-time results. No Reddit account needed to vote.
Create Your Poll Free →Frequently Asked Questions
How many options can Reddit polls have?
Reddit's native polls allow a maximum of 6 options. If your community vote needs more than 6 choices, use VoteGenerator which has no option limit. One poll with all the options is always better than splitting votes across multiple posts.
Can you see Reddit poll results before voting?
No — Reddit hides poll results until after you cast your vote. VoteGenerator shows results in real time before and after voting, so communities can see the current distribution as they decide.
Is it against Reddit rules to post external poll links?
Most subreddits allow relevant external links that are not spam. Check your specific subreddit's rules first. Sharing the same link across multiple related communities is acceptable when done thoughtfully — rapidly posting to many subreddits looks like spam and will get removed.
Can Reddit communities do ranked choice voting?
Reddit's native polls do not support ranked choice. VoteGenerator includes ranked choice (instant runoff) as a free poll type — voters rank options by preference and the algorithm finds the true consensus winner, not just the plurality. This is especially useful for community decisions where multiple options are popular.
Will external polls get less participation than Reddit polls?
Sometimes — Reddit native polls are embedded and visible without clicking. External polls require a click to a new tab, which adds friction. In practice, engaged communities click; passive lurkers often do not. The trade-off is usually worth it for the flexibility: more options, ranked choice, cross-subreddit sharing, and real-time results.
Can I export my Reddit poll results?
Reddit native polls offer no data export — you can only screenshot. VoteGenerator provides PNG export of results charts free on all plans. CSV export of raw vote data requires a paid plan ($19/month).