If you got an email from Etsy (via Awin) this week, you're not alone — and it's not as bad as the subject line makes it sound.
The short version: Etsy is shutting down its affiliate program on the Awin network by June 30, 2026, but the affiliate program itself isn't going away. It's moving to Rakuten.
What's Actually Happening
Etsy has been running two programs through Awin:
● The Affiliate Program — for publishers, bloggers, and content sites linking to Etsy products
● The Creator Collective — for social media creators who earn commission from content-driven traffic
Both programs are migrating to the Rakuten network. If you have active Etsy affiliate links built through Awin, those tracking links stop working after June 30th. You'll need to re-join through Rakuten and rebuild your links before then.
What You Need to Do Before June 30
● Apply to Etsy's program on Rakuten — head to etsy.com/affiliates for the current join link
● Audit your Etsy affiliate links — any link with an Awin tracking parameter (
?awc=, etc.) will stop converting after the deadline● Swap them out before the cutoff — don't lose out on commissions on traffic you've already built
● Questions? Contact [email protected] directly
Commission Rates (What to Expect on Rakuten)
● Affiliates / Publishers: ~4% commission
● Creator Collective (social media UGC): ~2% commission
● Cookie window: 30 days from last click
Commission is calculated on order price, excluding shipping and VAT. These rates are the same as on Awin — the migration is a platform change, not a commission cut.
Why Does This Matter for Makers?
If you've built gear lists, tool roundups, or supply recommendations that include Etsy sellers — handmade tools, custom parts, craft supplies — your affiliate revenue from those links goes to zero on July 1st if you don't act.
This is exactly the kind of thing MakerManifest helps with: keeping your affiliate links organized, up to date, and working. If you've got Etsy links scattered across multiple lists, now's the time to audit them. Your MakerManifest dashboard shows every list and item in one place — making a sweep like this much faster than hunting through old posts one by one.
Bottom Line
Don't panic, but don't ignore this either. June 30 is the hard deadline. Re-join on Rakuten, swap your links, and you'll be right back where you were.