Secret Santa generator
Draw names for a gift exchange in seconds, keep couples apart, and give everyone a private link that reveals only who they're buying for.
- 100% free
- Runs in your browser
- No uploads
The draw
Add at least 3 names and press Draw names. You'll get one private link per person.
- Runs on your deviceEvery tool works directly in your browser. No files are uploaded.
- Your privacy mattersYour files never leave your device, so there's nothing for us to store.
- No limitsUse any tool as much as you need. No daily caps, no waiting.
- Completely freeNo signup and no trial to cancel. Ads keep the tools free.
How to run a Secret Santa online
- Type everyone's names, one per line. Paste a list from a group chat if you like. Names typed twice are counted once.
- Add any pairs to keep apart. Couples, flatmates or anyone who'd rather not draw each other. Leave the box ticked so no two people draw each other back.
- Add the budget and date, then press Draw names. They appear on every reveal page, so nobody has to ask.
- Send each person their own link. Copy each link, or use Send on a phone to share it straight to a chat. Each person opens theirs and taps to see their match.
How the private links work
The draw happens on your device. Each person's match is stored in their link, after the # sign. Browsers never send that part of a link to a website, so the matches don't reach our server or our visitor statistics. The text is also scrambled, so a glance at a link doesn't spoil the surprise.
Scrambling isn't encryption: a link is like a sealed envelope, and anyone who opens it can read it. So send each link only to its owner. Don't post all the links in one group chat.
Keep-apart rules, and when a draw is impossible
Every rule removes some possible matches. With a few people and many rules, there may be no draw left that keeps all of them. With three people, for example, keeping Alex apart from both others leaves Alex nobody to buy for. The tool checks every option and tells you when that happens, so you can remove a rule or invite someone else.
“Don't let two people draw each other” stops pairs like Alex buying for Sam while Sam buys for Alex, which can feel like a simple swap. It works for any group of three or more.
Tips for a smooth gift exchange
Set a clear budget. A fixed amount, like $20 or £15, stops anyone feeling out of place. Agree on whether it's a limit or a target.
Share wish lists. Ask everyone to post a few ideas or sizes in the group chat before the draw. Givers can then pick something wanted without asking and giving themselves away.
Remote team? Add the exchange date and a delivery address deadline, and agree whether gifts are posted or opened together on a video call.
Frequently asked questions
Do people need an email address or an account?
No. You type the names, press Draw names, and get one link per person. Send each link however you like: WhatsApp, a text message, Slack, Teams or email. Nobody signs up, and nothing is sent to us.
Can the organiser see who got whom?
Not unless they choose to. The matches stay hidden, and each link only reveals one person's match when it's opened. If you're the organiser and taking part, just don't open the other links. You can tick Show me all the matches if you'd rather run the draw without playing.
How do I stop couples drawing each other?
Add them under Keep apart. Neither person can then draw the other. Add one pair for each couple or household. If the rules leave no possible draw (for example, three people where two pairs are kept apart), the tool says so instead of breaking a rule.
Someone lost their link. Can I send it again?
Yes. The list and the draw are saved in your browser, so open this page again on the same device and copy that person's link. Drawing again changes everyone's match, so only do that before the links have gone out.
Is the draw really random?
Yes. It uses your browser's secure random number generator, and every draw that fits your rules is equally likely. Nobody can draw themselves, and with the default setting no two people draw each other.
Can we draw names in person instead?
Use Print slips. Each slip has a person's name on the outside and their match on the inside: cut them apart, fold them along the line and hand them out.