YAML. Hermes reads MCP servers from ~/.hermes/config.yaml under the mcp_servers key, so indentation defines the structure rather than braces. Each server takes command, args, and env fields, the same concepts other clients use, expressed in YAML instead of JSON.
Connect the Reddit MCP to Hermes
Hermes Agent configures MCP servers in YAML, not JSON. Add the redditapis-mcp server under mcp_servers in config.yaml, run reload-mcp in a session, and Hermes registers 11 live Reddit tools it can call by name.
Written by Emma, developer relations at Redditapis. The server is the published redditapis-mcp package, so every field below is verified against the live package and Hermes's own docs.
How do you add the Reddit MCP to Hermes?
Add a reddit entry under the mcp_servers key in ~/.hermes/config.yaml, with command npx, an args list, and an env map holding your REDDITAPIS_KEY. Because Hermes uses YAML here, indentation defines the structure. In a running session run reload-mcp to pick up the change without a restart. Hermes registers the 11 read-only tools as mcp_reddit_<tool>, for example mcp_reddit_search.
Set up the Reddit MCP in Hermes
Hermes Agent has a built-in MCP client and configures servers in YAML. The key is mcp_servers, and because it is YAML, indentation is what defines the structure, not braces.
Method: Config file (YAML)Config:
~/.hermes/config.yamlKey: mcp_serversThe server (same for every client)
$ npx -y redditapis-mcp@latest~/.hermes/config.yaml
# ~/.hermes/config.yaml
mcp_servers:
reddit:
command: "npx"
args: ["-y", "redditapis-mcp@latest"]
env:
REDDITAPIS_KEY: "YOUR_KEY"1
Edit config.yaml
Add a reddit entry under the mcp_servers key in ~/.hermes/config.yaml. Hermes uses YAML here, so the indentation under each key is what defines the structure.
2
Set the launch fields
Give it command npx, an args list of -y and redditapis-mcp@latest, and an env map with REDDITAPIS_KEY set to your key.
3
Reload without a restart
In a running Hermes session, run reload-mcp to re-read the config and reconnect servers. It is faster than restarting and keeps your session context.
4
Call the tools by name
Hermes registers the tools as mcp_reddit_<tool>, for example mcp_reddit_search, so the agent can call them directly.
Confirm it connected
On connect, Hermes logs a line like registered 11 tools from reddit. If the count is 0 or the line is missing, the server is not answering the tool list; check the YAML indentation and the key. reload-mcp re-reads the config in place.
The 11 Reddit tools Hermes gets
The published server is read-only, so these tools read Reddit and never write. Votes, comments, and DMs stay REST write endpoints your agent calls directly, kept off the tool surface so a model cannot trigger a write by picking a tool. Your key, REDDITAPIS_KEY, authenticates every call.
reddit_searchreddit_subreddit_postsreddit_subreddit_topreddit_postreddit_post_commentsreddit_search_commentsreddit_search_communitiesreddit_search_mediareddit_search_usersreddit_user_profilereddit_user_commentsSame server, a different client?
The redditapis-mcp server runs the same way everywhere; only the config file and key differ per client. Setup for the others:
- Reddit MCP for Claude Desktop , mcpServers in JSON
- Reddit MCP for Claude Code , mcpServers in JSON
- Reddit MCP for Cursor , mcpServers in JSON
- Reddit MCP for VS Code , servers in JSON
- Reddit MCP for Windsurf , mcpServers in JSON
- Reddit MCP for Kilo Code , mcp in JSONC
- Reddit MCP for OpenClaw , mcp.servers in JSON
- Reddit MCP server overview , the server, tools, and pricing
- Reddit API for AI agents , tool use, MCP, and RAG on Reddit
By the numbers
Reddit MCP access, by the numbers
Every Redditapis figure resolves to our published per-call rates; every external figure is a primary US source.
Redditapis bills reads at $0.002 per call, votes at $0.005, writes at $0.012, and DMs at $0.025, one flat rate for every account with no minimum spend. (Redditapis pricing, 2026)
The published redditapis-mcp server exposes 11 read tools behind one Bearer key, and every new account starts with $0.50 in free credits, enough for roughly 250 reads before any charge. (Redditapis, 2026)
Reddit's own commercial Data API is priced at $0.24 per 1,000 API calls, the rate that ended third-party apps like Apollo in 2023. (The Verge, 2023)
Reddit's free Data API tier is capped at 100 queries per minute per OAuth client, and 10 queries per minute without OAuth, so an MCP client polling at volume needs a managed layer. (Reddit Data API Wiki, 2026)
Reddit signed a reported $60 million-a-year deal to license its data for AI training, a sign of how valuable structured Reddit context has become for models. (Reuters, 2024)
Frequently asked questions
Run reload-mcp in a running session. Hermes re-reads config.yaml and reconnects the servers, which is faster than a full restart and preserves your session context. Use it whenever you change the mcp_servers block, for example after adding the reddit entry.
Hermes registers each MCP tool as mcp_<server>_<tool>, converting hyphens and dots to underscores. With the server named reddit, reddit_search becomes mcp_reddit_search. The agent calls the tools by those prefixed names once the server connects.
Yes. Hermes has included a built-in MCP client that discovers and calls tools from external servers at startup, so it can connect to the redditapis-mcp server directly. It can also run as an MCP server itself, exposing its own session data to other clients.
The redditapis-mcp server exposes 11 read-only tools, surfaced in Hermes as mcp_reddit_search, mcp_reddit_subreddit_posts, mcp_reddit_subreddit_top, mcp_reddit_post, mcp_reddit_post_comments, and the rest of the read set. Votes, comments, and DMs are REST write actions, not tools.
Keep reading.
Continue exploring related pages.
Reddit API documentation
The complete 2026 reference: auth, all 28 endpoints, and code.
Get a Reddit API key
Instant bearer token, no waitlist and no enterprise contract.
Reddit Responsible Builder Policy
Why Reddit denies API applications, and the managed REST bypass.
Reddit API use cases
14 use cases from AI training to brand monitoring and DMs.
Reddit Search API
Search posts, comments, users, and communities over one REST endpoint.
Reddit MCP server
Wrap the REST API as MCP tools for Claude, Cursor, and any MCP client.
Reddit API for AI agents
Live Reddit context for tool calls, MCP servers, and RAG pipelines.
Redditapis pricing
Endpoint-level costs and quick monthly totals - reads from $0.002 / call.
Reddit API cost calculator
Estimate monthly spend using your request volume.
Reddit API guides and tutorials
Tutorials, walkthroughs, and API deep-dives for developers.
Reddit API alternatives
Evaluate alternatives by cost model, limits, and integration fit.
Official Reddit API vs Redditapis
Access, setup, rate limits, and pricing, side by side.
Affiliate program
Earn 20% lifetime commissions - capped at $5,000/yr.
Reddit Vote API tutorial
Upvote and downvote a post programmatically via the REST API.
Reddit Data API: REST, no PRAW
REST endpoints for Reddit data with no PRAW and no OAuth dance.
Reddit scraping benchmarks
Real throughput, error rates, and cost benchmarks for Reddit scraping.
Reddit API answers
Direct answers on cost, access, rate limits, endpoints, and auth.
How much the Reddit API costs
Per-call pricing from $0.002 a read, with $0.50 in free credits.
Reddit API in Python
One requests call with a bearer token, no PRAW and no OAuth flow.
Reddit shadowban checker
Check if a Reddit account is shadowbanned in seconds, free and no login.
Give Hermes live Reddit tools.
$0.50 in free credits at signup, no card required. Copy your bearer token, paste it into the config above, and the reddit tools are live the same session.