The Etsy affiliate commission rate isn’t published as a single number. Etsy’s Affiliates Policy says commission rates are determined on a case-by-case basis, so the rate you see depends on your program and region once you’re approved. What Etsy does publish: the program now runs through Rakuten Advertising, affiliates get a 30-day cookie (7 days for creators and app sales), and commission is paid on qualifying sales excluding tax, shipping, returns and cancellations. For Etsy sellers, there’s a separate program, Share & Save, that refunds 4% of eligible orders when buyers come through links you share.
I’ve laid out how each program works, who can join, the rules that catch people out, and how I’d decide whether it’s worth it.
Etsy affiliate program at a glance
From Etsy’s help center and affiliate pages, checked October 10, 2026:
| Feature | What Etsy says |
|---|---|
| Commission rate | Determined on a case-by-case basis (not published) |
| Network | Rakuten Advertising, Etsy’s third-party partner |
| Cookie window | 30 days for affiliates; 7 days for creators; 7 days for sales through the Etsy app |
| What earns commission | Qualifying sales, excluding tax, shipping, returns and cancellations |
| Commission timing | Shows in your account within 24 to 48 hours; paid after the return window closes |
| Payment methods | Direct deposit, PayPal or check, set in your Rakuten account |
| Who it’s for | Bloggers, media and editorial publications (Affiliates); social creators (Creator Collective) |
| Not eligible | Cashback sites and voucher sites |
One note on timing. Etsy’s help article says payout waits until the return window closes, which it puts at 7 to 14 days, while its affiliate landing page says commissions are typically validated 30 days after the sale. Plan for the longer figure.
Why there’s no published commission rate
Many guides quote a fixed percentage. Etsy’s own policy doesn’t. It says rates are set case by case, and you’ll see your actual terms in the affiliate platform after you’re approved.
That’s not unusual for large retailers, and it isn’t a sign of a bad program. Rates can differ by region, traffic type and partner. Honestly, I’d treat any fixed figure you read elsewhere as a guess until you see your own terms.
The network changed: Rakuten, not Awin
Older guides say Etsy’s affiliate program runs on Awin. Etsy’s current help page tells applicants they agree to the terms of Rakuten, Etsy’s third-party partner, and the signup portal signs in through Rakuten Advertising. There are separate regional programs, including the US, UK and Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and several European regions.
If you joined under the old network, check your status in Rakuten. I’d do it soon, before commissions quietly stop tracking. If you’re new, apply through Etsy’s affiliate page.
Affiliates vs Creator Collective
Etsy runs two programs for partners:
| Etsy Affiliates | Creator Collective | |
|---|---|---|
| For | Bloggers, media and editorial publications | Social media creators |
| Requirement | A qualifying site | At least 500 followers on one authorized channel |
| Cookie | 30 days | 7 days |
Etsy’s policy also says that if 51% or more of your sales come from social media, you should apply to Creator Collective instead of Affiliates.
The rules that catch affiliates out
From Etsy’s Affiliates Policy:
- You must be 18 or older, or the age of majority where you live.
- No bidding on search keywords containing Etsy trademarks, and no appearing on searches containing “Etsy”.
- No Etsy trademarks in ad text or display URLs, and no direct-linking pay-per-click ads.
- If the last click before a sale was a paid ad, the sale doesn’t qualify.
- No paid social ads using affiliate links, and no SMS or telemarketing promotion.
- No AI-generated images, and no sub-affiliates.
- Only Etsy-issued coupon codes.
- You must disclose your affiliate relationship, in line with FTC and similar rules.
Attribution is last click. Simple, but unforgiving. That means a later click from another affiliate, or a paid ad, takes the credit.
In my view, the paid-search restriction is the one that matters most. If your plan is to buy ads and send them to Etsy, this program isn’t built for that.
Share & Save: the seller version
If you sell on Etsy, Share & Save pays you for bringing buyers to your own shop. From Etsy’s help:
- When a buyer orders within 30 days of clicking your link, you get an instant refund of 4% of the eligible order total.
- It’s calculated like the transaction fee, including shipping and gift wrap but excluding tax. Etsy’s example: a $100 order earns a $4 refund.
- New members have received a promotional 6.5% for their first two weeks, subject to promotion terms.
- Join through Shop Manager, then Marketing, then Share & Save.
Links that count include your shop link and links to listings, promo codes, reviews and sections. Links sent in Etsy Messages or placed in listing descriptions don’t count. Last click wins, so an Offsite Ads click as the last click removes eligibility, and you must be enrolled when the click happens.
Etsy’s policy also notes that sellers can earn affiliate commission on sales from any shop, including their own, through the affiliate programs. Share & Save is the simpler route for most sellers promoting their own shop.
How to apply, step by step
- Go to Etsy’s affiliate page and choose join. You’ll be sent to the partner hub, which signs in through Rakuten Advertising.
- Pick the regional program that matches your audience.
- Describe your site or channels honestly: what you publish, who reads it and how you’ll promote Etsy.
- If you sell on Etsy too, declare your shop names, as Etsy asks approved sellers to do.
- Wait for approval, then review your commission terms in the platform before you build content around them.
I’d prepare two or three sample posts before applying. A site with real, relevant content is far easier to approve than an empty one.
A worked example (illustrative)
These numbers are made up to show how the programs work, because Etsy doesn’t publish a fixed affiliate rate.
As an affiliate: a reader clicks your gift guide link and, within the 30-day window, buys a $60 item with $6 shipping. Commission is calculated on the $60 item only, because shipping and tax are excluded. Whatever your approved rate is, it applies to $60, not $66. If the buyer returns the item, the commission is reversed.
As a seller with Share & Save: a customer clicks your shop link from your Instagram bio and orders a $100 item. Etsy’s own example shows you’d get $4 back instantly, because the refund is 4% of the eligible order total.
The difference is worth noticing. Share & Save reduces your selling fees on your own sales. The affiliate program pays you for sales of other shops’ products. Many sellers only need the first.
Is the Etsy affiliate program worth it?
It depends on what you publish.
| Your situation | Worth it? |
|---|---|
| Gift guides, craft blogs, home decor content | Usually yes: Etsy’s catalog suits these audiences |
| Social media creator with 500+ followers | Consider Creator Collective, with its shorter cookie |
| Plan to run paid search ads | No: the rules prohibit trademark bidding and paid last clicks |
| Etsy seller promoting your own shop | Join Share & Save first |
| Cashback or voucher site | Not eligible |
Here’s how I’d decide. If your audience already buys handmade, vintage or unique gifts, Etsy converts well, and a 30-day cookie gives buyers time to decide. If your traffic depends on paid ads or coupons, look elsewhere.
One honest caveat: affiliate income from any single retailer is fragile. Programs change networks, rates and rules, as Etsy’s move to Rakuten shows. I’d treat Etsy as one income stream among several, not the foundation of a business.
Mistakes I see affiliates make with Etsy
Quoting a rate that isn’t yours. It happens constantly. Bloggers copy a percentage from another site, then plan income around it. Wait for your real terms.
Building on paid ads. The policy blocks most of it. Don’t fight it.
Linking to sold-out items. Handmade and vintage stock moves fast. A link to a listing that no longer exists earns nothing and frustrates readers, so I’d check older posts every few months.
Hiding the disclosure. Readers trust you more when you’re upfront. Regulators expect it too.
Ignoring the app. Etsy’s cookie for app sales is 7 days, much shorter than the 30-day web window. In my view, that’s a reason to send readers to listings they’ll want quickly, not ones they’ll mull over for weeks.
How to get the most from Etsy affiliate links
- Link to specific, well-reviewed listings, not just the homepage.
- Write genuine guides. Gift guides and “best of” roundups suit Etsy’s catalog.
- Disclose clearly. Put the disclosure near the link, not hidden at the bottom.
- Update links. Etsy listings sell out or expire; refresh old posts regularly.
- Track by placement. Use different links for different posts to learn what converts. Over a few months, the winners become obvious and worth expanding.
For Etsy sellers, see our guides to how much Etsy takes from sellers and how to set up an Etsy seller account. If you’re comparing affiliate marketing with selling, our guide to affiliate marketing vs Amazon FBA covers the trade-offs.
FAQ
What is the Etsy affiliate commission rate?
Etsy doesn’t publish a single rate. Its Affiliates Policy says commission rates are determined on a case-by-case basis; you’ll see your terms after approval.
Is the Etsy affiliate program on Awin or Rakuten?
Etsy’s current help page and signup portal use Rakuten Advertising. Older guides that mention Awin are out of date.
How long is the Etsy affiliate cookie?
30 days for affiliates, 7 days for creators, and 7 days for sales through the Etsy app.
Does Etsy pay commission on shipping?
No. Etsy says commission is on qualifying sales excluding tax, shipping, returns and cancellations.
What is Etsy Share & Save?
A program for Etsy sellers: when a buyer orders within 30 days of clicking a link you shared to your shop, you get an instant refund of 4% of the eligible order total.
Can Etsy sellers join the affiliate program?
Yes. Etsy’s policy says sellers can earn commission on sales from any shops, including their own, and approved sellers must declare their shop names. Share & Save is the simpler option for promoting your own shop.
Can I run Google ads to Etsy with affiliate links?
Etsy’s policy prohibits bidding on Etsy trademark keywords and direct-linking pay-per-click ads, and sales with a paid ad as the last click don’t qualify.
Last updated: October 10, 2026. Program terms change; check Etsy’s current affiliate pages before applying. Sources: Etsy Help, Etsy Affiliates Program and Creator Collective; Etsy affiliates; Etsy, join the affiliate program; Etsy, Affiliates Policy; Etsy Help, Share & Save.
