Where we list / Listing guides
How to sell digital downloads on Etsy
Open an Etsy shop at etsy.com/sell from a desktop browser, then create a listing, choose Digital files as the item type and upload up to five files of 20MB each. Expect a one-time shop set-up fee that varies by country, $0.20 per listing, a 6.5% transaction fee and a payment processing fee (3% + $0.25 in the US). A first listing takes about an hour, and Etsy says it can take up to 48 hours to show in search.
Checked on Etsy (digital downloads)'s own pages on 2026-11-12.
| Cost | One-time, non-refundable set-up fee that varies by location (shown during shop set-up). $0.20 per listing, renewed every 4 months. 6.5% transaction fee on the order total. Payment processing fee that depends on your bank country (US: 3% + $0.25). Offsite Ads fee of 15% (12% if you made $10,000+ in the past 365 days) on orders from those ads, capped at $100 per order. 2.5% if currency conversion is needed. |
|---|---|
| Who can submit | Anyone with an Etsy account in a country where Etsy Payments is available, with a bank account (or Payoneer in some countries) and a debit or credit card for Etsy bills. Digital items must be made or designed by you. No business license is required by Etsy itself. |
| Review | No manual pre-approval of listings. A listing goes live when you publish it and can take up to 48 hours to appear in Etsy search and categories. Etsy may review and remove listings later if they break its policies. |
| Fits | Printables, planners, templates you designed, digital art and clip art you made, fonts, ebooks, patterns you wrote yourself, STL files for 3D printing, audio and other instant downloads. Software, SaaS and services that do not produce a file are a poor fit. |
| Time needed | About 1 hour to open the shop and publish a first listing if your files and mockup images are ready; 20 to 30 minutes per extra listing. |
Before you start
- A desktop web browser: Etsy says the shop must be set up on desktop, then you can manage it in the Etsy Seller app.
- Your bank details (US sellers verify through Plaid; some countries use a Payoneer account) plus a debit or credit card for Etsy fees.
- A shop name of 4 to 20 characters with no spaces, special characters or someone else's trademark.
- Your product files in a supported format (PDF, JPG, PNG, ZIP, MP3, STL, ePUB and others), each under 20MB, at most five per listing.
- File names chosen with care: they are limited to 70 characters and cannot be renamed after upload.
- Several listing images or mockups (up to 20 photos and 2 videos of 5 to 15 seconds).
- A note on whether AI was used, because Etsy requires you to disclose AI use in the listing description.
How to list on Etsy (digital downloads), step by step
Check that your product is allowed
Etsy only accepts digital items that you made or designed. Reselling bought templates, PLR content or clip art you did not create is not allowed. AI prompt bundles, bot-generated content and AI-written instructions such as patterns or recipes are also banned.
Open your shop
Sign in or create an Etsy account, go to etsy.com/sell and choose Get started. Pick your shop language (you cannot change it later), country and currency, then choose a shop name.
Connect payments and billing
Choose where your bank is located and whether you sell as an individual or a company, then add your bank details. Add a card for paying Etsy bills. The set-up fee, if it applies to you, is shown and charged in this flow.
Start a digital listing
In Shop Manager go to Listings and select Add a listing. Upload your images first, confirm the category, and under What type of item is it? choose Digital files. Pick Made To Order only if you will create a custom file for each buyer.
Upload the files
For an instant download, add up to five files of up to 20MB each. You cannot publish an instant digital listing without at least one file. ZIP is a supported file type, so you can bundle more files into one ZIP as long as it stays under 20MB.
Write the title, description and tags
Use the 140-character title to say plainly what the file is and its key details. Explain in the description exactly what the buyer receives, the file formats, sizes and how to use them, and add your AI disclosure if relevant. Fill all 13 tags with phrases buyers would type.
Set price and settings, then publish
Enter the price and quantity, pick a shop section and choose automatic or manual renewal. Select Publish. Digital listings cannot have variations, so sell different sizes or bundles as separate listings.
Add a buyer note and test
Add a shop-wide note for buyers that appears on their Downloads page, for example how to unzip or print. Check the listing in search after 48 hours and refine tags and the first photo based on views.
What the Etsy (digital downloads) form asks for
| Field | Limit | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Photos and video | Up to 20 photos and 2 videos (5 to 15 seconds) | Show the finished product in use (a printed planner, a styled template) rather than a plain file icon. |
| Category | – | Pick the most specific category; it decides where the item appears and which attributes you can set. |
| What type of item is it? | – | Choose Digital files, or the listing will be treated as a physical item that needs shipping. |
| When was it made? | – | Select Made To Order only for custom files you deliver after purchase. |
| Title | 140 characters | Etsy suggests under 15 words; lead with what the item is and avoid words like 'perfect'. |
| Digital files | 5 files, 20MB each, file names up to 70 characters | Name files exactly as you want buyers to see them, since names cannot be edited after upload. |
| Description | – | List what is included, file types, dimensions and any AI use, so buyers do not message you before buying. |
| Personalization | Character limit you set | Use it for made-to-order files such as names on a printable. |
| Attributes | – | Fill every attribute your category offers; they act as extra search filters. |
| Tags | Up to 13 tags | Use multi-word phrases buyers search for and do not repeat words already in your category. |
| Price | – | Check the profit estimate Etsy shows after fees before you publish. |
| Quantity | – | Each extra unit sold in one order costs another $0.20, so keep that in mind for bundles. |
| SKU | – | Optional, but useful if you sell the same file on other sites. |
| Shop section | – | Group related files (planners, wall art) so buyers can browse your shop. |
| Renewal options | – | Automatic renewal keeps listings live past 4 months but charges $0.20 each time. |
Why submissions get rejected
- The digital item was not made or designed by you (resold templates, PLR or purchased clip art).
- Reselling mass-produced items or exact items found on another site not linked to your shop.
- AI-generated content without disclosure in the listing description.
- AI prompt bundles, bot-generated content, or AI-generated functional instructions such as craft patterns and recipes.
- Prohibited items, including mature content, hate or violent items, and illegal items.
- Intellectual property complaints: Etsy removes material after a proper infringement notice.
- Services that do not produce a new item, and metaphysical services such as spell casting.
Tips that make a difference
- Your listing URL is built from the title when you first publish and never changes, so get the title right before you publish.
- Zip large bundles but keep each ZIP under 20MB; split a big bundle into two files rather than leaving buyers short.
- Because digital listings cannot use variations, create one listing per size or format and link them in each description.
- Watch the Offsite Ads fee: on small digital orders, 15% on top of other fees can eat most of your margin.
- Selling only digital items still makes you eligible for Star Seller; there is just no shipping score.
- Canceling an order is the only way to remove a buyer's access to a file, so test your files before publishing.
Example: what JustLaunched prepared
These are the texts Pushify prepared for JustLaunched, a real brand, before listing it on sites like Etsy (digital downloads). See the full sample report ›
| Name | JustLaunched |
|---|---|
| Tagline | Launch board for founders and early adopters |
| Short description | JustLaunched is a free launch board where founders introduce new products and early adopters try them first, ask questions and share feedback. |
| Tags | product launch, launch platform, startup discovery, indie makers, early adopters, beta testers, launch deals, product hunt alternative, saas, startups |
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to sell digital downloads on Etsy?
You pay a one-time shop set-up fee that varies by country, $0.20 per listing, a 6.5% transaction fee and a payment processing fee (3% + $0.25 for US bank accounts). Offsite Ads fees apply only to sales that come from those ads.
What is the file size limit for Etsy digital downloads?
Each listing can hold up to five files, and each file can be up to 20MB. Supported types include PDF, JPG, PNG, ZIP, MP3, MOV, STL and ePUB.
Can I sell AI-generated digital art on Etsy?
Yes, if you add your own creative input and disclose the use of AI in the listing description. Etsy does not allow AI prompt bundles, bot-generated content or AI-generated functional instructions such as patterns or recipes.
Can I sell templates or clip art I bought with a resale license?
No. Etsy requires digital items to be made or designed by you, so a resale license does not make someone else's design yours to list.
How long until my listing shows in Etsy search?
Etsy says it may take up to 48 hours after you publish for a listing to appear in search results and categories.
Do I need a business license to sell on Etsy?
Etsy does not require one, but you must follow the laws that apply to small online sellers where you live.
Sources
The Etsy (digital downloads) pages this guide was checked against.
- etsy.com/sell
- help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/115015672808-How-to-Open-an-Etsy-Shop
- help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/115015628347-How-to-Manage-Your-Digital-Listings
- help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/115015628707
- help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/115014483627
- help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/115015628847
- help.etsy.com/hc/articles/360024112614