Reddit API Access Moves From Cost Dispute to Developer Obstacle

The 2023 Reddit API controversy centered on a number: the new pricing that would make Apollo's operating costs unsustainable. That fight was public, organized, and produced a measurable outcome — Reddit adjusted pricing for accessibility-focused apps and kept the core structure. The 2026 reality is different because the obstacle is procedural, not financial. A developer creating an iOS app for personal use with their partner describes being rejected at the API access application stage, with no clear reason given ^[2]. The cost never became a factor because the permission gate…