How do most customers find Etsy listings in 2026 (app, Etsy search, or Google)?

Hi! In 2026, most “real customers” for an Etsy listing still tend to come from inside Etsy (people using the Etsy app or Etsy.com and searching/browsing), with external sources like Google being a helpful secondary channel—especially for very specific, long‑tail searches and gift-y queries. Etsy has also been pushing shoppers toward the Etsy buyer app for years, and they’ve reported that a large chunk of purchases are completed in the app (around the low‑40% range in 2024), which tells you the app is absolutely a major place where shopping happens.

A practical way to think about it for your SEO/marketing focus:

• Etsy Search + Etsy browsing (app + site) = usually the most consistent sales volume because shoppers are already in “buy mode.”
• Google (organic + paid/Offsite Ads) = great for reaching new people who don’t start on Etsy, but it’s more competitive/volatile and depends heavily on your niche and how well your listing matches a very specific search.

If you want the most actionable answer for your shop, don’t guess—check Shop Stats → Traffic sources and then click into listing stats. Etsy will show you how many visits come from Etsy search, Etsy app, direct, social, and “search engine/Google,” and you can tie that back to which listings actually convert (visits are nice; orders are the goal).

If you’re deciding where to spend your time this week, I’d prioritize like this:

1. Etsy SEO + conversion (titles/tags/categories/attributes + great photos + competitive shipping/processing)
2. Etsy-friendly external traffic (Pinterest, Instagram, email) that sends ready-to-buy people
3. Google optimization as a bonus (use natural, specific phrases in titles/tags; make sure your listing/category/attributes clearly match what the item is—Google traffic usually rewards clarity over cleverness)

If you tell me your product category (e.g., jewelry, digital downloads, wedding, home decor) and whether you run Etsy Ads or Offsite Ads, I can tell you which source typically dominates in that niche and what to optimize first.