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Reddit vs Lemmy: Is Lemmy the Privacy Alternative?

Explore how Lemmy from the Netherlands prioritizes data security over Reddit. Discover which platform truly safeguards your social interactions.

Last updated: February 18, 2026Reviewed by Built in EU Team

Should You Switch to Lemmy?

What You Gain

Gain privacy, data control, and federated interactions

Privacy advantage
Trade-offs

Potential loss of Reddit's extensive features and user base

Reddit has more features
Bottom Line

Switch if privacy and data control are priorities; stay for features

At a Glance

Data Location
🇺🇸US

US data laws

🇳🇱NL

GDPR protected

Pricing

Reddit

Contact

Lemmy

Contact

Migration
Medium difficulty~1-2 hours

Privacy & Compliance Comparison

Critical data sovereignty factors at a glance

CriteriaRedditLemmy
Server Location
USEU
GDPR Compliance
Partial (SCCs)Full
Open Source
E2E Encryption
OptionalOptional
Data Portability
PartialFull export

CLOUD Act Notice

Reddit is a US company and must comply with CLOUD Act data requests, even for data stored in EU data centers. Lemmy is not subject to US jurisdiction.

Switching from
Reddit logo

Reddit

🇺🇸

Reddit Inc.

VS
Switching to
Lemmy logo

Lemmy

🇳🇱

Lemmy

US Data Storage

Data subject to US CLOUD Act and may be accessed by US authorities

EU Data Protection

Data protected under GDPR with EU-only data residency

Certifications & Compliance

No certifications listed

EU-Based
Open Source

Reasons to Switch

  • Federated network allows cross-instance interaction
  • Full GDPR compliance ensures data protection
  • Open-source for tailored customization options
  • Self-hosting offers complete data control

Things to Consider

  • !Migration requires technical setup and learning
  • !Fewer users may limit community engagement
  • !Optional E2E encryption may not be default
Migration difficulty:
Medium
~1-2 hours

Migration Overview

Full guide
Difficulty
Medium
Time Estimate
~1-2 hours

Depends on data size and complexity

Quick Steps

1

Create Lemmy account and configure settings

2

Export and prepare data from Reddit

3

Import data, test integrations, and migrate users

Other alternatives to Reddit

Ready to make the switch?

Start using Lemmy today and take control of your data privacy.