Some words can get a listing flagged or removed — medical claims, 'organic', brand and character names, guaranteed results. Paste your listing and the free audit flags the risky language before Etsy does.
These are the categories of language that most often get Etsy listings flagged. The audit scans your copy for all of them.
'Heals', 'cures', 'treats eczema', 'anti-inflammatory', 'relieves anxiety' — claiming a product treats a condition is one of the fastest ways to get flagged, especially for soap, candles, and skincare.
'Organic', 'hypoallergenic', 'non-toxic', 'FDA approved', 'all-natural' — these imply certifications or testing. If you can't substantiate them, they're a risk.
'Disney inspired', 'Stanley dupe', team logos, character names — using trademarks you aren't licensed for is a common cause of takedowns and IP complaints.
'Guaranteed to sell', 'will make your skin glow', 'best on Etsy' — promises you can't back up read as misleading and invite disputes.
Calling a mass-produced item 'handmade', or claiming a material or origin you can't verify, conflicts with Etsy's handmade and accuracy policies.
A size, weight, or feature you can't confirm isn't a policy term, but it's a return and a bad review waiting to happen. The audit flags claims that don't match the rest of your listing.
Organic healing soap that cures eczema and is 100% hypoallergenic
Cold-process soap with shea butter and a lavender scent
Disney inspired mug · Taylor Swift eras tumbler · NFL team coasters
Cartoon mouse mug · concert-era tumbler · football fan coasters (no brand names)
Guaranteed to make your skin glow and the best candle on Etsy
Hand-poured soy candle with a warm vanilla scent
A weak title costs you a little visibility. A risky claim can cost you the whole listing — or, for repeated violations, your shop. Etsy’s policies prohibit medical claims, misuse of trademarks, and misleading statements, and enforcement is often automated and unforgiving. The frustrating part is that most violations are accidental: a soap maker writes “helps with eczema” to be helpful, a printable seller adds “Disney” to be findable.
You rarely have to delete the whole sentence — you describe the product instead of promising an outcome. “Cures eczema” becomes the actual ingredients and scent. “Disney mug” becomes “cartoon mouse mug.” “Organic” comes out unless you can substantiate it. The product stays the same; the liability disappears.
This is the rule the whole product is built around. When you generate a listing, it will not add medical claims, certifications, or brand names you did not write. And when you paste an existing listing into the free audit, it flags the risky language and shows you a safer way to say it. For the full pre-publish pass, see the Etsy SEO checklist.
This tool offers guidance only and is not legal advice. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by Etsy, Inc. Always review Etsy’s current policies for your category.
Medical claims ('heals', 'cures', 'treats eczema'), unverifiable certifications ('organic', 'hypoallergenic', 'FDA approved'), trademarks and character names you aren't licensed for, and guaranteed-results language are common reasons listings get flagged.
Only if you can substantiate it. 'Organic' implies a certification, and 'hypoallergenic' or 'non-toxic' imply testing. Without proof, these claims are a policy risk. Describe the actual ingredients instead.
Using brand or character names you aren't licensed for — including 'inspired by' and 'dupe' framing — risks trademark complaints and takedowns. Describe the design generically (for example, 'cartoon mouse') instead.
Replace the promise with a description of the product. 'Cures eczema' becomes the ingredients and scent; 'Disney mug' becomes 'cartoon mouse mug'; 'organic' comes out unless you can prove it. The product is unchanged — only the claim is removed.
No. The checker offers guidance only and is not affiliated with Etsy. Always review Etsy's current policies for your product category before publishing.
Paste your listing into the free audit and it flags medical claims, unverifiable certifications, brand names, and guaranteed-results language — with safer wording to use instead.
Check my listing freeGuidance only — please review every draft before using it in your shop. CraftProof is not affiliated with Etsy, Inc.