Sellers are prohibited from soliciting or accepting payment from buyers outside the platform's payment processing system, and must notify Whatnot of any circumvention attempts, with violations subject to the platform's enforcement provisions.
This analysis describes what Whatnot's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
This provision restricts sellers from conducting off-platform transactions with buyers encountered through Whatnot, which directly limits seller flexibility to operate across channels and creates a reporting obligation for circumvention solicitations that, if not fulfilled, could itself constitute a terms violation.
The updated terms establish mandatory arbitration as the exclusive dispute resolution mechanism for influencers, replacing direct court access in California and Australia. Under the revised language, any dispute with Whatnot must proceed through arbitration under the main Terms of Service, which includes a class action waiver. This means influencers cannot bring class or collective claims and cannot access court proceedings except where the main Terms of Service explicitly permits. The practical effect is that individual influencers seeking to resolve disagreements with Whatnot over payments, account suspension, content disputes, or contractual interpretation must use arbitration rather than litigation.
View change record →The updated terms establish a formal Creator Program for Australian users that defines how creators can submit content for potential monetary or credit rewards. Creators grant Whatnot a one-year, non-exclusive, worldwide license to use submitted videos across paid and organic social media, television, and other platforms, while retaining ownership of the original content. The terms require creators to clearly disclose any material connection to Whatnot, including consideration or free products received, in a form specified by Whatnot and compliant with Australian advertising standards and the AANA Code of Ethics.
View change record →Australian sellers using Whatnot are now required to resolve all disputes through arbitration rather than through Australian courts. The updated terms state that disputes will be resolved exclusively under the main Terms of Service arbitration provisions, removing the previous option to bring legal action in Los Angeles courts or pursue jury trials. The terms no longer include language allowing court proceedings, except where the main Terms of Service expressly permit.
View change record →Under this clause, sellers must process all transaction payments through Whatnot's designated payment processors and may not solicit or accept off-platform payments from buyers. Sellers who receive off-platform payment solicitations are required to report these to Whatnot.
Cross-platform context
See how other platforms handle No Circumvention of Platform Payment Obligations and similar clauses.
Compare across platforms →"You agree to receive payments from Buyers for Transaction only in the manner determined by us through the App. This includes using the Payment Processor we choose, and following any other rules we specify. You may not circumvent your payment obligations to us for Transactions by soliciting payment from a Buyer outside of our App. You agree to notify us immediately if you receive any such offer or solicitation to circumvent your payment processing obligations by contacting us at our help page.Excerpt from Whatnot's Terms of Service
REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: Payment exclusivity provisions in marketplace operator agreements may engage antitrust and competition law scrutiny depending on the platform's market position and the practical effect of the restriction on seller ability to compete or …
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This provision restricts sellers from conducting off-platform transactions with buyers encountered through Whatnot, which directly limits seller flexibility to operate across channels and creates a reporting obligation for circumvention solicitations that, if not fulfilled, could itself constitute a terms violation.
Under this clause, sellers must process all transaction payments through Whatnot's designated payment processors and may not solicit or accept off-platform payments from buyers. Sellers who receive off-platform payment solicitations are required to report these to Whatnot.
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