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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, 2026โ€ขReviewed 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
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธUS

US data laws

๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฑNL

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

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ

Reddit Inc.

VS
Switching to
Lemmy logo

Lemmy

๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฑ

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

  • โœ“Federated network allows cross-instance interaction
  • โœ“Full GDPR compliance ensures data protection
  • โœ“Open-source for tailored customization options
  • โœ“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.