How Do ProfitTree Metrics Differ From Etsy Metrics?
ProfitTree and Etsy may display different numbers for the same shop because they use different reporting logic and definitions. These differences are expected and do not indicate missing or incorrect data.
Why the Numbers Aren’t Always the Same
Etsy’s dashboards are designed to show activity and performance, while ProfitTree is designed to show true financial performance.
Because of this, each platform groups and reports data differently.
Revenue Differences
ProfitTree Net Sales Includes
Gross sales before discounts
Shipping collected from customers
Refunds applied back to the original sale
Sales tax or VAT credits
Gift wrapping (if applicable)
This provides a complete view of money collected and returned for each sale.
Etsy Revenue (Shop Stats)
Calculated as total sales minus discounts
Does not include:
Shipping collected
Fully refunded or canceled orders
This makes Etsy’s revenue useful for marketing performance, but less useful for profit analysis.
Refund Timing Differences
Etsy shows refunds based on the date the refund was issued
ProfitTree associates refunds with the original sale date
This ensures historical accuracy in ProfitTree’s profit reporting but can cause totals to differ when comparing the same date range.
Advertising Spend Differences
On Etsy
Ad spend is shown when clicks occur
Spend appears in near real time
In ProfitTree
Ad spend is shown when charges are billed to your Etsy ledger
This reflects the actual amount charged to your account
Because billing can lag behind ad clicks, totals may not match exactly at any given moment.
How to Compare Accurately
To compare ProfitTree and Etsy fairly:
Use Etsy’s Payment Account ledger
Compare data using the same time frame and logic
Avoid comparing real-time dashboards to ledger-based reports
Summary
ProfitTree metrics differ from Etsy metrics because each platform serves a different purpose. Etsy focuses on activity and performance, while ProfitTree focuses on financial accuracy and profitability. Differences are expected and reflect reporting methodology—not data accuracy.