Etsy’s Help Center puts the deal in plain numbers: when a buyer orders within 30 days of clicking your Share & Save link, you get an instant refund of 4% of the eligible order total. On a $100 order before taxes, that is $4 back.
Get More Etsy Seller Tips Like This
New seller guides and marketplace tips, straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Why Most Sellers Leave This Money on the Table
- How Share & Save Works: The 4% Refund and the Last Click
- Step-by-Step: Setting Up and Using Share & Save
- The 2026 Holiday Promotion: 6.5% Back
- Common Mistakes and Advanced Nuances
- Tools and Resources
- Worked Example: A Candle Shop’s Holiday Month
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Key Takeaways
- The Bottom Line
Introduction
Every Etsy sale carries a 6.5% transaction fee. Share & Save is the one Etsy program that hands part of that fee back, and the only condition is that the buyer arrives through a link you shared.
In this guide I’m going to show you how to join Share & Save, which links earn the refund, which ones quietly don’t, and how the program interacts with Offsite Ads. Everything here comes from Etsy’s Share & Save Help Center article, Etsy’s Share & Save program terms, and the holiday promotion Etsy announced on October 20, 2026.
Here’s how it works.
Why Most Sellers Leave This Money on the Table
Most sellers already share their shop. They post a listing on Instagram, add a link to a Pinterest pin, or drop the shop address into a newsletter.
The problem is how they share it.
A link copied from the browser’s address bar, a custom domain that isn’t forwarded the right way, or a link pasted into Etsy Messages may never get credited. Etsy’s Help Center says links sent to buyers through Etsy Messages or placed in listing descriptions will not count toward Share & Save benefits. So a seller can do all the promotion work and still pay the full 6.5% on every order it produces.
The refund depends on the link format and the buyer’s last click, not on how much you promote.
There’s a second reason sellers miss it: the refund is small per order. Four percent of a $30 order is $1.20. Spread across a year of social traffic, though, it adds up, and it costs nothing to collect.
How Share & Save Works: The 4% Refund and the Last Click
Share & Save launched in September 2023. Etsy’s terms describe it as a refund of 4% of the qualifying transaction total, taken from your transaction fees.
The Help Center spells out the mechanics in a few rules:
- The rate: you get an instant refund of 4% off the eligible order total, credited to your Etsy Payments account balance.
- The base: the refund is calculated the same way as Etsy’s transaction fee, so it includes shipping and gift wrapping. It does not include sales tax.
- The window: the buyer has to order within 30 days of clicking your link.
- The attribution: credit follows the buyer’s last click. If the last link the buyer clicked before ordering was an Etsy Offsite Ad, the order does not qualify.
Since the standard transaction fee is 6.5%, a 4% refund means you pay an effective 2.5% transaction fee on qualifying orders. Payment processing fees and the $0.20 listing fee still apply in full.
On a qualifying order, Share & Save cuts the transaction fee from 6.5% to an effective 2.5%. Nothing else on the fee stack changes.
Here’s the deal: the program rewards you for bringing buyers Etsy didn’t have to find. Etsy’s own search traffic and Etsy Ads traffic don’t qualify, because Etsy did that work.
| Traffic source | Share & Save refund? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Your shop link in an Instagram bio | Yes | Trackable shop link shared off Etsy |
| Listing link from the Share button, posted on Pinterest | Yes | Trackable listing link |
| Promo code link from Sales and Discounts, sent in your newsletter | Yes | Trackable promo link |
| Link pasted into Etsy Messages | No | Etsy excludes links sent in Messages |
| Link inside a listing description | No | Etsy excludes links in listing descriptions |
| Buyer’s last click was an Offsite Ad | No | Last click goes to Offsite Ads |
| Buyer found you through Etsy search | No | Not driven by your link |
Step-by-Step: Setting Up and Using Share & Save
Six steps cover joining, sharing, and tracking the refund.
Step 1: Join the program in Shop Manager
What: enroll your shop in Share & Save.
Why: clicks and orders only count while you are enrolled. The Help Center says clicks made while Share & Save was deactivated don’t earn credit, even if the order comes later.
How: in Shop Manager, go to Marketing, select Share & Save, then choose Join now. Joining is free. Once you’re in, your shop link keeps counting until you opt out.
Example: a seller who joins on a Monday and posts on Instagram the same afternoon is covered for any order placed through that post in the next 30 days.
Step 2: Use the yourshopname.etsy.com link format
What: share your shop with the trackable shop link, not a copied browser address.
Why: Etsy tracks the shop link in the yourshopname.etsy.com format. The Help Center notes that custom domains must be forwarded to this format through Hover to earn credit.
How: find your trackable shop link in Shop Manager under Share & Save. Put it in your Instagram bio, TikTok profile, Linktree page, email signature, and website.
Example: a shop called “PineAndWickCo” would share pineandwickco.etsy.com rather than an etsy.com/shop address copied from a desktop browser.
Step 3: Share listings with the Share button
What: use Etsy’s own Share option when you link to a single product.
Why: a listing link created through the Share option is trackable. A link copied from the address bar may carry the wrong tracking, or none.
How: on the web, open the listing’s menu and choose Share. In the Etsy Seller app, choose Share listing. The Seller app also lets you share reviews and shop section links.
Example: a jewelry seller pinning a new necklace to Pinterest taps Share listing in the Seller app, copies the link, and pastes that into the pin. Our guide to using Pinterest to drive traffic to your Etsy shop covers what to pin.
Step 4: Share promo code links from Sales and Discounts
What: when you run a coupon, share the trackable promo link instead of only the code.
Why: the Help Center lists promo code links as eligible Share & Save links. The buyer gets the discount applied automatically, and you get the refund on top.
How: in Shop Manager, go to Marketing, then Sales and Discounts, open the promotion, and copy the trackable link. Send it in your newsletter or post it in Stories.
Example: a 15% off code shared as a link both applies the discount and qualifies the order for the 4% refund. Run the margin math first with our guide to running Etsy sales and coupons without losing margin.
Step 5: Put links where buyers start their shopping
What: place your links in channels you control.
Why: the program pays for traffic you bring. The Help Center names social media, bios, email lists, and newsletters as the intended places.
How: start with the channels you already use. A newsletter goes to people who asked to hear from you, and our guide to building an email list before leaving Etsy shows how to start one. Scheduling tools help you post links on a steady rhythm; see our list of social media scheduling tools for Etsy sellers.
Example: a seller who sends one product email a week with three listing links gets a steady stream of qualifying clicks without any ad spend.
Step 6: Track the refunds in Stats and your Payment account
What: check that the refund is showing up.
Why: if the numbers stay at zero while you post links, something in your link setup is wrong.
How: in Stats, look for “Traffic from your Share & Save links,” which shows clicks, orders, revenue, and savings. Qualifying orders carry a Share & Save badge in your Orders page. In your Payment account, the refund shows under Fees and as a line item under Recent activities. Our guide to reading Etsy shop stats explains the rest of that dashboard.
Example: a seller who sees 300 Share & Save clicks and no orders over a month has a conversion problem on the landing listing, not a link problem.
The 2026 Holiday Promotion: 6.5% Back
On October 20, 2026, Etsy announced a holiday boost to the program. According to Value Added Resource’s report on the promotion, enrolled sellers get the full 6.5% transaction fee refunded on eligible orders from October 20, 2026 through January 4, 2027.
For the holiday season, orders you drive through your own links carry no Etsy transaction fee.
The conditions, per the same report and Etsy’s Help Center:
- Both the click and the order have to fall inside the promotion window.
- Existing Share & Save members get the higher rate automatically. Sellers who haven’t joined can enroll for free.
- Payment processing fees, listing fees, and other charges still apply.
- The regular 4% refund returns on January 4, 2027.
Now: the timing lines up with the busiest buying weeks of the year. Our Etsy seasonal selling calendar shows where holiday demand peaks, and that is when your shared links get the most clicks.
Fee rates and promotion terms can change. Check the current Share & Save terms in Shop Manager before you plan pricing around them. This article is general information, not financial or tax advice.
Common Mistakes and Advanced Nuances
These are the details that decide whether the refund shows up.
Mistake 1: Sending links through Etsy Messages
A buyer asks for a link to a matching earring, and you paste it into the conversation. It feels like the obvious move. Etsy’s Help Center says links sent through Etsy Messages don’t count toward Share & Save, so that order pays the full fee. The same rule covers links inside your listing descriptions.
Mistake 2: Forgetting about Offsite Ads
Etsy’s Offsite Ads help page explains that Etsy promotes listings on sites like Google and Facebook and charges a fee on sales attributed to those ads. The fee is 15% of the order total, or 12% for sellers who made $10,000 or more in sales in the past 12 months, capped at $100 per order.
Share & Save follows the last click. If a buyer clicks your Instagram link, then later clicks an Offsite Ad for the same listing and orders, the order goes to Offsite Ads. You lose the 4% refund and pay the ad fee instead. You can’t control which ads a buyer sees, but you can weigh it when deciding whether to opt out of Offsite Ads. Our guide to Etsy Offsite Ads walks through that decision.
Mistake 3: Opting out and back in
Sellers sometimes pause programs while they sort out a problem. Etsy’s Help Center says purchases made through your links while you were opted out won’t earn the refund, even after you rejoin. If you plan to stay on Etsy through the holidays, leave it on.
Mistake 4: Using an unforwarded custom domain
A custom web address looks more professional in a bio. Unless it forwards to the yourshopname.etsy.com format, Etsy may not credit the orders it sends. Test the link from a private browser window and check that it lands on your Etsy shop address.
Nuance: These Buyers Could Also Buy From Your Own Store
The refund lowers your Etsy fees, but buyers who come from your newsletter or Instagram already know you. Those are the same buyers who could order from your own store. Our complete guide to leaving Etsy for your own store covers when moving them makes sense. Until then, Share & Save is the cheapest way to send them to Etsy.
Tools and Resources
You don’t need paid software for Share & Save. These help:
- Etsy Shop Manager (free): the Share & Save page under Marketing holds your trackable shop link and the opt-out setting. See the Share & Save Help Center article.
- Etsy Seller app (free): the Share listing option creates trackable listing, review, and shop section links on mobile.
- Email marketing tools (free and paid tiers): most can store your trackable links in templates. See our list of email marketing tools for Etsy sellers.
- Etsy fee calculator (free): check what each order nets with and without the refund using our Etsy fee calculator.
- Etsy’s fee policy (free): the current transaction, listing, and processing rates are on Etsy’s fees and payments policy.
Worked Example: A Candle Shop’s Holiday Month
Take an illustrative US candle shop. It sells a $40 candle with $6 shipping, so the order total before tax is $46. The figures below are an example, not data from a specific shop.
Before Share & Save. On each order, Etsy charges a 6.5% transaction fee of $2.99. Payment processing in the US is 3% plus $0.25, which comes to $1.63. Add the $0.20 listing fee and the fees total $4.82.
With the standard 4% refund. The shop shares its trackable links in Instagram Stories and a weekly email. On orders that come through those links, Etsy refunds 4% of $46, which is $1.84. Total fees drop to $2.98 per order.
During the holiday promotion. Between October 20, 2026 and January 4, 2027, the refund is the full $2.99. Total fees on a qualifying order drop to $1.83.
If an Offsite Ad gets the last click. The same $46 order attributed to Offsite Ads pays the 15% ad fee of $6.90 on top of the $4.82, for $11.72 in fees.
| Scenario | Fees on a $46 order | Seller keeps (before costs) |
|---|---|---|
| No Share & Save link | $4.82 | $41.18 |
| Share & Save, standard 4% | $2.98 | $43.02 |
| Share & Save, holiday 6.5% | $1.83 | $44.17 |
| Last click was an Offsite Ad (15%) | $11.72 | $34.28 |
Say the shop sells 60 candles through its own links in the holiday window. At the standard rate the refunds come to about $110. At the holiday rate they come to about $179. That is money the shop collects for traffic it was already sending.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Etsy Share & Save?
Share & Save is an Etsy program that refunds part of your transaction fee when a buyer orders through a link you shared. The standard refund is 4% of the eligible order total.
How much do I get back with Share & Save?
You get 4% of the eligible order total, which includes shipping and gift wrapping but not sales tax. Etsy’s Help Center gives the example of $4 back on a $100 order before taxes.
Is there a holiday Share & Save promotion in 2026?
Yes. From October 20, 2026 through January 4, 2027, enrolled sellers get 6.5% back on eligible orders, which covers the full transaction fee. Both the click and the order have to fall inside that window.
How long does a buyer have to order after clicking my link?
The buyer has 30 days from clicking your Share & Save link. Your link also has to be the last one they clicked, so a later Offsite Ad click takes the credit.
Does Share & Save cost anything to join?
No. Joining is free from the Marketing section of Shop Manager. You can opt out at any time.
Do links in Etsy Messages count for Share & Save?
No. Etsy’s Help Center says links sent through Etsy Messages or placed in listing descriptions don’t count toward Share & Save benefits.
Can I use my custom domain with Share & Save?
Only if it forwards to the yourshopname.etsy.com format. Etsy’s Help Center says custom domains have to be forwarded through Hover to earn credit.
What happens if a buyer also clicks an Offsite Ad?
Attribution follows the last click. If the buyer’s last click before ordering was an Offsite Ad, the order goes to Offsite Ads, so you pay that fee and get no Share & Save refund.
Where do I see my Share & Save refunds?
Stats shows “Traffic from your Share & Save links” with clicks, orders, revenue, and savings. Qualifying orders carry a badge, and the refund appears under Fees in your Payment account.
Does Share & Save reduce payment processing fees?
No. The refund only applies against the 6.5% transaction fee. Payment processing and listing fees stay the same.
Do I need technical skills to use Share & Save?
No. You join with one click and share links Etsy generates for you. The only technical step is checking that any custom domain forwards to your Etsy shop address.
Can I share listing links from the Etsy app?
Yes. In the Etsy Seller app, choose Share listing to get a trackable link. The app also lets you share review and shop section links.
Key Takeaways
- Share & Save refunds 4% of eligible orders, which cuts the 6.5% transaction fee to an effective 2.5%.
- From October 20, 2026 to January 4, 2027, the refund rises to the full 6.5%.
- Buyers have 30 days to order after clicking, and the last click decides attribution.
- Use the yourshopname.etsy.com shop link and Etsy’s Share button for listings.
- Links in Etsy Messages or listing descriptions don’t count.
- An Offsite Ad click after yours takes the order and adds a 12% or 15% fee.
- Check Stats and your Payment account to confirm the refunds arrive.
The Bottom Line
Join Share & Save today, swap every shop link in your bios and email templates for the trackable version, and start sharing listings through Etsy’s Share button. With the holiday promotion running from October 20, the next ten weeks are when each shared link is worth the most.
After a month, open Stats and compare Share & Save clicks with orders. If clicks come in but orders don’t, work on the listing pages your links point to; our guide to improving your Etsy conversion rate is a good place to start.
Related Articles
- Etsy Offsite Ads: Opt Out or Pay the Fee?: how the 12% and 15% ad fees compare with what the ads bring in.
- Etsy Fee Calculator: How Much You Really Pay Per Sale: the full fee stack on a single order.
- How to Use Pinterest to Drive Traffic to Your Etsy Shop: one of the best places to post trackable listing links.
About This Research
Chloe Cruz writes Marketplace Hackers’ guides on Etsy fees, SEO, and store growth, and has spent four years writing about eCommerce.
This guide is based on Etsy’s Share & Save Help Center article and program terms, Etsy’s Offsite Ads help page and fee policy, and trade press reporting on Etsy’s October 20, 2026 holiday promotion, read in October 2026. The candle shop is an illustrative example, not data from a specific shop.
Content reviewed and updated: 2026-10-20
Connect With Us
Marketplace Hackers’ newsletter covers Etsy fee changes, policy updates, and selling tactics as they happen. Get Started with the free newsletter to hear when Etsy changes its fee programs.
Want More Marketplace Tips?
Join the newsletter — new guides drop regularly.