How Secret Santa works
Running a gift exchange online takes about a minute to set up. Here's the whole process.
- Start a celebration. Open the Secret Santa generator, enter your name and the names of everyone taking part. Three people or more.
- Add exclusions. Stop couples, siblings or housemates from drawing each other. The generator checks that a fair draw is still possible.
- Pick the occasion, date and budget. Christmas, Secret Santa, an office party or any holiday. Everyone will see the date and the spending limit.
- Share one invitation link. Copy the invitation into WhatsApp, a text or an email. It's the same link for the whole group.
- Everyone picks their name and draws. Each person opens the link, taps their own name, and reveals who they're buying for. Nobody else can see it, not even the organizer.
- Make wish lists and reserve gifts. People add gift ideas with links and prices. Whoever drew them can reserve a gift secretly so nothing gets bought twice.
- Exchange gifts. On the day, swap presents. After the date, the organizer can see who drew whom and reuse the group next year.
Secret Santa rules that keep it fun
- Agree on a budget and stick to it.
- Set a date and give people at least two weeks.
- Fill in your wish list early so your Secret Santa isn't guessing.
- Keep it secret until the exchange. Anonymous questions help.