Secret Santa Generator
Put the names in the hat, keep couples apart, set a budget and a date. Everyone gets a private link that shows only who they're buying for. No sign-ups, and even you won't know the matches.
Names drawn. Now send the links.
Don't open these links yourself unless it's your own: each one reveals a match. The draw lives inside the links, so keep this page until everyone has theirs.
How the draw works
- Add everyoneType each name, or paste a list from your group chat. Add hints if you know someone's size or a hobby.
- Set the rulesKeep partners and housemates apart, set the spending limit and the date you'll swap gifts.
- Send the linksEach person gets one link. Opening it shows a gift tag with the name they drew, the budget, the date and your note.
Why private links work better than pulling names from a hat
Paper draws need everyone in one room, and someone always draws their own name. Email-based generators ask for everyone's address and send messages that land in spam. Here, the matches are scrambled into a link for each person, and you send it through whatever app your group already uses. Nobody has to install anything, and the organizer can join the exchange without being spoiled.
If your group still prefers the paper ritual, use Print paper slips after the draw. Each slip folds in half with the giver's name on the outside and their match on the inside, so nobody can draw themselves.
Tips for organizers
Pick a spending limit everyone is comfortable with
$20 to $25 is the most common range for offices and friend groups; families often go to $50. Say whether the limit is a ceiling or a target. Each person's reveal page shows gift ideas inside the limit you set.
Set the date before you draw
Draw names three to four weeks before the exchange so people can order online without rush shipping. The reveal page counts down to your date.
Collect hints first
Ask in the group chat for one thing each person likes and one thing they don't want. Paste it next to their name. It is the simplest way to cut down on candles nobody wanted.
Secret Santa gift ideas by budget
Ideas that work for coworkers, in-laws and the person who says they want nothing.
Counting the days? Our Christmas countdown shows exactly how long you have left to shop.
More for your party
- White elephant generatorRandom turn order for the TV, then a tracker for steals and frozen gifts.
- White elephant rulesSteal limits, the final swap and the variations worth trying.
- White elephant dice gameAn on-screen die, a timer and a printable rules card.
- Letter from SantaA personalized, printable letter for the kids, with a Nice List certificate.
Questions
Is this Secret Santa generator free?
Yes. There is no sign-up, no limit on the number of people and no premium version. The site is paid for by ads and by commissions on gift ideas, which never change what you pay.
Will I, the organizer, see who got whom?
Not unless you open someone else's link. Each person's match is scrambled inside their own link, so the list you share looks like a row of random characters. If you want to take part in your own draw, just open only your link.
Do participants need an email address or an account?
No. You send each link however your group already talks: WhatsApp, text message, email, Slack or Teams. Nobody signs up for anything.
What happens if someone loses their link?
Nothing is stored on a server, so the link is the draw. Your browser keeps the last draw on this device, so you can come back to this page and copy the link again. If you cleared it, you will need to draw again and resend every link.
How do exclusions work?
Add a rule for any two people who should not draw each other, such as couples, roommates or last year's pairs. Rules work in both directions. If you add so many rules that no fair draw exists, the generator tells you which change to make instead of quietly breaking a rule.
How many people can join?
Three is the minimum (with two, each person would simply get the other). There is no fixed maximum; office groups of 50 or more work fine.
Can we add wish lists?
Yes, two ways. Before the draw, type hints next to each name; only that person's Secret Santa sees them. After the draw, anyone can make a wishlist link and post it in the group chat.
Is my data stored anywhere?
No. The draw happens in your browser and each match travels inside the part of the link after the # sign, which browsers never send to a server. Your browser remembers your last draw on this device so you can resend links; Start over erases it.