It’s 2025, and the Etsy landscape looks drastically different than it did just a year ago. From revamped seller policies to fresh marketing tools, the sweeping changes of 2024 on Etsy continue to shape how we run our shops in 2025.
In this article, I’ll show you a roundup of all the biggest changes on Etsy in 2024, so that you can stay informed, adapt your strategies, and continue to grow your shop in 2025.
Let’s get started.
Etsy now prioritises listings with U.S. domestic shipping fees of $6 or less. This shift can impact sellers’ visibility, as items that exceed this shipping threshold may be pushed lower in search results. According to Etsy’s data, buyers in the U.S. are far more likely to complete a purchase if the shipping cost doesn’t exceed $6. If you rely on standard shipping rates that go above $6, it’s worth reconsidering your pricing structure by shifting some shipping costs to your product price to adapt to this Etsy change.
To help sellers adapt, Etsy has introduced a bulk editing tool that allows you to move part of your shipping cost into the item’s price. For instance, if you currently charge $10 for shipping, you could raise your item price by $4 and reduce shipping to $6. You can read all the details of this update in my article here.
Opening a new Etsy shop may not be free anymore. Etsy has started introducing a setup fee for newly created shops in February. The one-time fee is reported to be $15, and it seems that this fee is not charged to all new shops consistently. Etsy says this move aims to offset the cost of new enhanced security checks and allows for better seller support. While existing sellers will not be affected by these fees, it’s still important to be aware of this new fee if you want to open a new shop.
New shop owners must now verify their identities before they can start selling, a step intended to improve trust and transparency. Additionally, newly opened shops may experience delayed payouts, with funds being held for up to 180 days until Etsy confirms the reliability of the transactions.
Etsy has rolled out new Creativity Standards to classify items into four groups: Made by a seller, Designed by a seller, Handpicked by a seller, and Sourced by a seller. This categorisation allows buyers to see at a glance how a product came to life. It’s a step for Etsy to differentiate itself from other large marketplaces that primarily feature mass-produced goods, but its effectiveness remains to be seen.
Etsy’s new Search Visibility page in Shop Manager offers personalised insights into how well your shop performs in key areas affecting search ranking. These areas include listing quality, shop completeness, and customer service metrics like on-time shipping and prompt communication. If your listings don’t meet certain standards - such as having a clear primary image or offering shipping under $6 - you may see reduced visibility on Etsy search.
The Etsy Share & Save program rewards you for driving external traffic to your own Etsy listings. When someone clicks on your unique link and makes a purchase, you receive a 4% discount on your transaction fees, effectively lowering them from 6.5% to 2.5%.
Although you won’t earn extra payments like in a traditional affiliate system, the savings can add up over time by sharing your unique link. You can get the link simply by clicking the settings of the listing you want to share, and find the “Share” button that has the Share & Save badge next to it.
Etsy has introduced a small new feature in Etsy Messages. On the desktop version of Etsy, you may see a badge next to the message if it’s the buyer’s first message or whether it’s an order help request. It’s a small but positive feature to streamline the communication with shoppers and customers.
In June 2024, Etsy phased out the old listing editor in favour of an updated version that streamlines how you create and revise listings. With navigation tabs, you can now jump between sections - like pricing, photos, and inventory - more easily. One notable addition is the built-in profit calculator, which could help you get a quick estimate of your profit margins. There’s also a performance dashboard showing how each listing is doing, including stats like views, revenue and reviews.
Etsy has banned the sale of sex toys and related products in July 2024, which sparked debate and backlash among affected sellers. Sellers in the affected product space have had to remove or discontinue such listings, prompting many to pivot and branch outside of Etsy.
Etsy no longer allows sellers to offer gift cards that can be used only in their own shops. This standardisation means that any gift card purchased on the platform must be redeemable across Etsy as a whole. The decision has been met with mixed reactions - some sellers appreciated offering store-specific cards, while others see the benefit in a more unified gifting system.
Etsy Insider is a membership program rolling out to select U.S. buyers. Members pay for either an annual or seasonal subscription and receive perks like free U.S. domestic shipping, a special birthday bonus, and exclusive deals or product drops. Etsy covers these membership perks, so sellers don’t have to alter their shipping prices or policies to accommodate Insider benefits. As of writing this article, Etsy Insider remains to be in beta and can only be joined via invitation by Etsy.
Etsy introduced a new feature for sellers to create product bundles and offer them at a reduced price, which makes the process easier without having to create new listings for the bundles. Under “Marketing” > “Sales and discounts”, you can find the “Offer listings together for less” feature to create your product bundles. Read more about product bundles and this new feature here.
In 2024, Etsy has increased its effort in making the platform the go-to place for buying gifts. “Gift Mode” helps shoppers find products suited for birthdays, holidays, or special events, while “Gift Teaser” includes features like sneak peek where the recipient can get a glimpse of the gift before receiving it. And the registry option lets shoppers create wish lists for weddings, baby showers, and other occasions. More about that on the "Made For You" Etsy page.
Now that you’re caught up with all the big changes affecting sellers on Etsy in 2024, it's time to look forward to what 2025 has in store. At Growing Your Craft, I’m committed to keeping you informed with the latest updates, insights, and strategies to help your Etsy shop thrive.
