Secret Santa online — free draw
Organize a gift exchange for friends, family or coworkers: create an exchange, send everyone the link and run the draw. The organizer can't see who gives to whom, and each participant only learns their own match.
Participants don't need an account: they join through the link.
How it works
Four steps from an empty list to finished pairs.
- 1
Create an exchange
Sign in (only the organizer needs an account), give the exchange a name and pick a type: “by wishlist”, “classic” or “with a budget”. Optionally set a budget range and currency. The organizer can take part too or just run the exchange.
- 2
Send the invite link
Copy the link on the exchange page and drop it in your group chat. Everyone joins on their own: they enter a name (email is optional) and are added to the list right away. If someone has a Wishlistme profile, they can sign in with it.
- 3
Set the no-gift rules
If needed, say who can't give to whom: for example spouses or members of one family. There are three kinds of rules: a mutual ban for a pair, a one-way ban and a “group”. Rules become available once the exchange has at least 4 participants.
Why it's handy
The organizer can't see who gives to whom
The organizer page doesn't show the pairs, and participants' personal links are hidden from the organizer. If you play too, you only see your own match. After the draw, the roster and rules are frozen so pairs can't be worked out by changing the rules.
Participants join by link, no account needed
A guest enters just a name. After joining, a personal link appears on their page: save it to open your match from another device. On the same device the browser remembers the participant.
Rules for couples and families
Spouses, relatives, coworkers who already give to each other: set a mutual ban, a one-way ban or a group of several people (up to 12). The draw takes all rules into account at once.
A gift from the wishlist
After the draw, the giver sees the recipient's public wishlists if they're registered on Wishlistme. If there is no list, gift idea guides are close at hand.
Rules and limits
What to know in advance so the draw goes without surprises.
- Run the draw. One button, and every participant sees on their own page who they're giving to. Before the start, the algorithm checks that a valid draw exists: nobody draws themselves, and everyone gets exactly one giver and one recipient.
- A draw needs at least 2 participants; one exchange can have up to 10,000.
- Rules can only be set once the exchange has at least 4 participants. One exchange allows up to 60 rules, and a group can have up to 12 people.
- After any rules, each participant must still have at least three options for who to give to, and at least three options for who can give to them. In an exchange of four people two are enough. Because of this, a family of four needs at least 7 participants in the exchange.
- Participants don't see the organizer's rules. If it were possible to cross out almost all candidates for one person, the organizer could work out their match. The minimum-choice rule limits this: the choice can be narrowed, but never to a single person.
- After the draw, the roster and rules are frozen; there is no second draw.
Tips for organizers
Agree on a budget
Set a range when creating the exchange: invitees and the giver will see it next to their match. It's best to agree on the gift-giving date in the group chat.
Let everyone say what they want
Participants can create a wishlist and make it public: the giver will see it after the draw.
No idea what to give?
Take a look at the gift idea guides: curated picks with real products and prices for any budget.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free?
Yes. Creating an exchange, inviting participants and running the draw are free; Secret Santa on Wishlistme has no paid plans.
Do I need an account?
The organizer does: an exchange is created from an account. Participants don't: they join through the invite link and only enter a name. Email can be left blank.
Can the organizer see who gives to whom?
No. The organizer page doesn't show the pairs, and participants' personal links are hidden from the organizer. If the organizer plays, they only see their own match. They set the rules, so in theory they can narrow someone's options, but not down to one person: everyone keeps at least three candidates (two in an exchange of four people). That is how the minimum-choice rule works (see the “Rules and limits” section).
How do I stop spouses from drawing each other?
Add a mutual ban for that pair. For a family use the “group” rule: inside a group nobody gives to anybody else. Rules can be set once the exchange has at least 4 participants, and everyone must keep enough options: for example, a group of four needs at least 7 participants in the exchange.
How many people can take part?
A draw needs at least 2 participants, and one exchange can have up to 10,000. Rules can be added from 4 participants; up to 60 rules are allowed per exchange.
What if someone drops out or the draw needs to be redone?
Before the draw, the organizer can remove a participant and change the rules. After the draw, the roster and rules are locked, and the service has no re-draw. So before starting, make sure everyone you need has joined.
How does a participant find out who to give to? Will there be an email?
We don't send emails: the organizer tells participants the draw is done, for example in the group chat. A registered participant finds the exchange in the “I'm taking part” list on the Secret Santa page after signing in; a guest opens their page via the personal link they received when joining.
What data is stored?
The exchange name, participant names and email if you gave one (the organizer sees it), and the draw result, which is shown only to the giver. A cookie is set on a guest's device so they can return to their page; it is kept for 120 days.
Ready to organize a gift exchange?
Create an exchange, send the link and run the draw: it's free.
Create an exchange