Paid LinkedIn Ads vs Reddit Ads: What’s Best for B2B SaaS in 2025?

If you're running paid acquisition for a SaaS company in 2025, there's a decision you’ve probably wrestled with more than once: Paid LinkedIn Ads vs Reddit Ads.

It used to be an easy choice. LinkedIn was the channel for B2B, and Reddit? A bit of a wild card. But that’s changed. Fast.

Now, Reddit’s offering real traction with tech audiences - especially early in the funnel - while LinkedIn continues to dominate for higher-ticket deals and bottom-funnel conversion.

We’ve run dozens of campaigns on both. Here’s what’s working this year, and what to keep in mind as you build a multichannel strategy that actually makes sense for your stage and goals.

LinkedIn Ads vs Reddit Ads: How to Sequence Them in B2B SaaS

Let’s get one thing out of the way: this isn’t about picking a winner. It’s about what each channel is good at, and where they fit inside a B2B funnel that isn’t linear anymore.

Reddit has matured. Targeting is more flexible, engagement is up, and CPCs are still absurdly low. We’re seeing early-stage teams use it for idea validation and message testing without burning through cash.

Meanwhile, LinkedIn hasn’t stood still. With its Audience Network quietly expanding ad placements across trusted B2B publishers, you’re getting more scale at lower cost, but still using the same title, skill, company size, and industry filters you’re used to.

💡 If you're new to the LinkedIn Audience Network, this quick explainer breaks down how we use it to scale up spend without tanking efficiency. 

Best Use Cases for B2B SaaS: Reddit Ads and LinkedIn Ads

Reddit Ads

✅ Ideal for early-stage exploration.
Perfect for top- or mid-funnel campaigns where you're still refining message-market fit. You’ll get signal fast: what resonates, what flops, and what needs work.

✅ Built-in tech communities.
Communities like r/datascience or r/startups are full of engineers, founders, and data people. If that’s your ICP, you’ll find them here.

✅ Real feedback loop.
Reddit’s comments and upvotes act as a live validation engine. You'll find out fast if your copy feels off, your product isn’t clear, or your offer is irrelevant.

✅ Cost-effective learning.
With CPCs typically $0.60–$1.80, you can pressure-test 10 angles for the price of 1 polished LinkedIn campaign. This makes it the perfect place to experiment before scaling. We took a closer look at how those numbers actually hold up - and spoiler: it depends more on your creative than you’d think.

🚫 Not for every vertical.
B2B fintech, regtech, or martech tools targeting CMOs may struggle here. If your ICP doesn’t hang out on Reddit, the best targeting in the world won’t fix that.

LinkedIn Ads

✅ Precision targeting for high-stakes SaaS.
No other platform gives you filters like job title + seniority + company size + industry, which means you can go straight for the decision-makers that actually sign the check.

✅ Strong performance at the bottom of the funnel.
LinkedIn excels when you’re ready to convert high-intent leads, push trials, or activate outbound retargeting. Especially with tools like Lead Gen Forms, which can bypass clunky landing pages and improve CR.

✅ Trust and legitimacy.
For enterprise deals, being on LinkedIn signals credibility. Ads don’t feel intrusive, they feel expected. Which matters when you're selling compliance-heavy software or high-ticket annual contracts.

✅ Always-on retargeting.
Because of its Audience Network, you can now follow users off-platform with the same targeting logic, lowering eCPMs while keeping them warm across the funnel.

And if you’re navigating SaaS growth specifically, this deep dive on LinkedIn Ads for SaaS covers what’s working now: from targeting setups to funnel timing.

🚫 Higher stakes.
At $7–$12 per click, testing without a clear angle can get expensive fast. This is why we often validate ideas on Reddit before scaling to LinkedIn.

If you're trying to warm up a technical audience fast, start with Reddit. If you're trying to close pipeline with decision-makers, you want LinkedIn in the mix.

2025 Benchmarks: Reddit Ads vs LinkedIn Ads in B2B SaaS

So what do we do with this?

• Reddit gives you volume and learning. Great if you’re testing angles, need early traction, or want community exposure without huge spend.
  
• LinkedIn gives you precision and close rate. It costs more, but gets you in front of the exact titles that convert, especially when you use Lead Gen Forms and retargeting properly.
  
• Burnout is real. Reddit’s content style keeps creative fresh longer. LinkedIn? You’ll need to refresh every 2-3 weeks or performance tanks.

Want more detail on what each metric really means? We break it down in our paid media structure for B2B SaaS.

Best Performing Ad Formats on Reddit Ads and LinkedIn Ads

Reddit

Think: informal, real, a bit scrappy - in a good way. High-performing creatives often feel like part of the thread, not ads dropped into it. You’re writing for skeptical engineers, not boardroom buyers.

What works:

• Screenshots, side-by-side comparisons, product jokes, memes

• Posts that start with a question or opinion (“Is anyone else tired of dashboards that look like they’re from 2012?”)

• Community lingo and platform-native phrasing (“we shipped this last night, still debugging”)

• We also pulled together a full gallery of Reddit ad examples that actually worked: real formats, real results.

What doesn’t:

• Polish for polish’s sake. People scroll past anything that feels like an ad.
• Overly professional tone or jargon

And remember, comment sections matter. Engagement there boosts visibility and doubles as async user research.

LinkedIn

Here, clarity and authority win. You’re usually speaking to decision-makers balancing five priorities, so your message needs to cut through fast.

What works:

• Short, benefit-first hooks (e.g. “Cut your data processing costs in half without hiring another engineer”)

• Creative that mirrors your actual product UI (especially in carousel format)

• Personal POV from a founder or head of growth, tied to measurable impact
  

What doesn’t:

• Stock visuals, vague “scale your business” copy, or CTAs with zero friction context
• Talking like a marketer. The more your ad reads like a helpful insight or tactical play, the better

If you’re stuck on how to make paid ads feel less like... paid ads, this guide might help. We built it for exactly this challenge.

How to Combine Paid LinkedIn Ads and Reddit Ads in One B2B Strategy

Treat them as parts of the same funnel, not isolated channels.

Reddit is often the better entry point: lower costs, faster feedback, and a more forgiving space for testing early ideas. It’s where you figure out what resonates before you scale.

LinkedIn, on the other hand, is where those ideas mature. Once you’ve identified a clear hook or value prop that lands, LinkedIn lets you target the right roles with higher intent and higher stakes.

Here’s a simple structure that aligns well with most SaaS growth stages:

1. Test on Reddit → Use it for early signal. What hooks get engagement? What language feels native? What drives comments?
2. Refine the message → Double down on what works. Drop what doesn’t.
3. Scale through LinkedIn → Bring the message to decision-makers. Use Lead Gen Forms, retargeting, and audience lookalikes to go deeper, not just wider.
4. Split spend by funnel stage → TOFU → Reddit. MOFU/BOFU → LinkedIn. Retarget between the two.

No single channel carries a full funnel. But used together - sequenced, not stacked - Reddit and LinkedIn can support both learning and scale.

🔍 FAQ

Are Reddit Ads worth it for B2B SaaS?

Yes, if you're early-stage or need fast signal without high spend. Reddit Ads are ideal for testing hooks, refining messaging, and reaching tech-native audiences at the top or middle of the funnel. 

How much do Reddit Ads cost in 2025?

We're seeing average CPCs between $0.60 and $1.80. That makes Reddit a low-risk platform for testing multiple creative angles before investing heavily elsewhere.

How much do LinkedIn Ads cost in 2025?

Expect $7 to $12 per click, on average. That’s higher than most platforms, but the targeting precision- by title, company size, industry - makes it worth it if you're after decision-makers with real buying power.

Why LinkedIn Ads for B2B SaaS?

LinkedIn gives you job-level targeting, enterprise credibility, and strong performance at the bottom of the funnel. If you're selling high-ticket software or converting warm leads, it’s still the platform that closes best.

How to see competitor ads on LinkedIn?

LinkedIn now has a public Ad Library. Just search the company name to view their currently active sponsored posts. You’ll see ad creatives, copy, and sometimes even targeting insights—great for competitive research or inspiration.

Takeaways

• Reddit = fast signal, low spend.
  Perfect for early-stage learning and quick feedback on what resonates (or doesn't).
• LinkedIn = conversion and credibility.
  When you're ready to scale pipeline and speak to buyers, LinkedIn delivers.
• CPC gap is strategic.
  Reddit’s $0.60–$1.80 lets you test 10 ideas for the price of one LinkedIn campaign.
• Creative fit is everything.
  Reddit wants scrappy and native. LinkedIn wants clear value and structure.
• Reddit teaches, LinkedIn sells.
  Use Reddit to validate. Use LinkedIn to convert.
• Burnout hits faster on LinkedIn.
  Expect 2–3 weeks before performance drops. Reddit content stays relevant longer.
• Comment sections are research gold.
  Reddit’s engagement loop tells you what your ICP actually thinks—no survey needed.
• One doesn’t replace the other.
  They work best when sequenced, not stacked.
• Lead quality reflects intent.
  Reddit brings curiosity. LinkedIn brings readiness to act.
• Funnel-first strategy wins.
  TOFU and MOFU? Start with Reddit.
  BOFU? Bring in LinkedIn.

You’ve got the product. We’ll make sure people care.

Paid channels don’t convert because you “launched a campaign.” They convert when message, format, and audience all line up.
That’s where we come in.
Let’s chat!