Best Secret Santa generators (honest comparison)
There are lots of ways to draw Secret Santa names online. We compared popular options on what actually matters: whether everyone has to give an email or create an account, how results are shared, whether the organiser can play, and whether you can stop couples drawing each other.
Transparency: this comparison is written by the team behind Draw My Secret Santa, one of the tools compared. We have tried to be fair and to include what others do better. Reviewed on 9 November 2026 using each site’s own descriptions; features may change.
Quick comparison
Swipe the table to see every column →
| Site or app | Participants’ emails | Account | How results are shared | Exclusions (e.g. couples) | Wish lists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Draw My Secret Santa | Not needed | No | One link for the whole group | ✅ Yes (optional) | ❌ No (gift ideas by budget) |
| DrawNames | Optional (email, WhatsApp or link) | Not for the basic draw | Email, WhatsApp or link | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Elfster | Yes | Yes, each participant | In the account / app | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| GiftList | Not needed for the draw | No | A link | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| MiniWebtool | Not needed | No | A private link per person | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Sneaky Santa | Check the site | Check the site | Organiser can see and adjust picks | Check the site | Check the site |
Want it simple? Draw names in a minute
🎁 Draw names for freeDraw My Secret Santa (this site)
Best for: speed. You type the names, share one link in the group chat and each person taps their name to see who they got. Nobody gives an email or creates an account, nothing to install, and the names are drawn on the server, so the organiser can play without knowing anything. Each name can only be revealed once. The budget shows in your currency and you get gift ideas for that amount.
You can optionally keep couples or housemates apart: the option is tucked under the draw details so it never gets in the way.
What it lacks: for now there are no wish lists, and results aren’t sent by email.
DrawNames
One of the most complete and best known. You can organise by email, WhatsApp or link, include the organiser, set exclusions, build wish lists and use its gift finder, and it has mobile apps. A good choice if you need exclusions or want everyone to write a wish list; in exchange there are more steps than a one-link tool.
Elfster
Very popular in the US, with wish lists, exclusions and event planning. Each participant needs to create an account, which in a family group is often where things stall.
GiftList
A free generator with no sign-up for the draw, with exclusions and a single shareable link, plus wish lists and gift hints in its app. It’s written by a company that also sells its own app, so its own comparison favours it, as ours does.
MiniWebtool
A no-sign-up generator that keeps couples apart and gives you a private link for each person, which the organiser then sends one by one by WhatsApp, text or email. Practical for exclusions; a bit more work to hand out.
Sneaky Santa
Suits organisers who want to see and fix every pairing. That control means the organiser knows the results, so it’s less suited if they want to play.
What about asking ChatGPT or another AI?
You can ask an AI assistant to draw names, but someone has to see the full list to pass on each result, so the organiser can’t play and nothing stops a reroll. A dedicated tool keeps each result private.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best Secret Santa generator?
It depends on what you need. For the quickest draw with no emails or accounts, one shared link works best. If you need exclusions or wish lists, DrawNames or GiftList cover them; Elfster suits groups happy to create accounts.
Is there a Secret Santa generator without email?
Yes. Draw My Secret Santa, GiftList and MiniWebtool let you draw names without collecting emails.