Is Etsy Safe?

If you use or plan to use Etsy, you need to know: Is Etsy safe? 

Below, we explain whether Etsy is: 

• Safe to use. 
• Good for privacy. 

We also give some steps you can take to improve both your safety and privacy when using this online service. 

What Is Etsy?

Etsy is an online marketplace founded in 2005 that specializes in handmade, vintage, and unique factory-manufactured items. 

Etsy allows sellers to create personal storefronts to display their products, set their own prices, and handle their own shipping in exchange for listing fees and a percentage of each sale. Buyers can search Etsy for items using various filters and categories and purchase directly through the site.

The platform is known for fostering a sense of community among its users, with forums and support features that help sellers connect and share tips. Etsy also emphasizes sustainability and ethical practices, encouraging the sale of eco-friendly and socially responsible products.

In addition to its marketplace, Etsy offers tools and services to help sellers manage their businesses, including advertising options, analytics, and integration with other sales channels. 

Over the years, Etsy has grown significantly, attracting millions of buyers and sellers from around the world.

Is Etsy Safe?

Etsy is generally considered a safe platform for both buyers and sellers, but like any online marketplace, there are risks of counterfeit items and scams. 

That said, Etsy does its best to ensure a safe experience on both ends of the transaction, including providing a secure payment system (Etsy Payments), buyer and seller protection, a review and rating system, and direct communication between buyer and seller.

In addition, Etsy is constantly working to foster a safe marketplace environment by aggressively removing counterfeit items and streamlining the process for sellers to file appeals if their listing is inappropriately removed.

Some Reddit users with Etsy accounts have recently reported an unusual uptick in phishing emails that appear to have originated from Etsy. If you use Etsy, you should watch out for these scams by verifying that emails are indeed from legitimate users or the site itself and not a hacked account. 

Is Etsy Private?

Depends on your definition of “private,” though, in general, Etsy has a positive privacy reputation. 

While Etsy collects a significant amount of information from both buyers and sellers, the amount of information visible to the public is adjustable in your account settings. 

You can toggle whether or not your name, birthday, gender, location, and a host of other details appear on your profile. For maximum privacy as a buyer, you can also create a guest account and omit the profile creation process altogether.

In 2024, Etsy announced that it would limit forum access to only visitors who are signed in (with a buyer or seller account). This measure was introduced to prevent the general public from viewing forum posts and potentially infringing on the privacy of registered users. It also announced it would limit how much buyer information is shared with third parties when a purchase is made using Etsy’s API.

Etsy’s privacy policy is comprehensive and easy to read. It details exactly the kind of information the platform collects, how it is used, how it is shared, and more. 

How to Improve Your Safety and Privacy on Etsy

Follow the below steps for a safer and more private experience on Etsy. 

• Adjust your profile visibility. Go to your Account Settings and adjust your Public Profile settings. You can limit what information is visible to others, such as your purchase history and location.
• Don’t use your real name. Use a nickname or pseudonym for your public profile if you’re a buyer, and use a business name if you’re a seller.
• Limit personal information. Avoid including unnecessary personal details in your profile, reviews, or messages. If you’re a seller, you can change your shop location to a region rather than a specific city.
• Keep purchases private. When leaving reviews, you can make your feedback private, meaning other users won’t see your purchase history.
• Control social connections. Adjust your settings to prevent Etsy from linking your profile to your social media accounts or suggesting connections.
• Use a separate email. Use a dedicated email address for your Etsy account. This can help keep your personal email separate and reduce spam and phishing attempts.
• Enable two-factor authentication. Enable two-factor authentication for your Etsy account to add an extra layer of security and make it harder for hackers to get into your account.