Free · no ads

Online Secret Santa generator

No more names in a hat: WishTribe draws who gives to whom, tells everyone privately and shows them the wish list of the person they drew. Free, and participants don't need an account.

🎅 Start my Secret Santa

2 minutes · a first name is all participants need

How it works

  1. 1

    Create your group

    Give it a name and tick “Secret Santa”. This is the only step that needs a sign-in (email or Google).

  2. 2

    Invite everyone

    Send the link on WhatsApp, by text or by email. Everyone joins with their first name and adds their gift ideas.

  3. 3

    Run the draw

    One click: everyone gets a random person, never themselves. They're notified by email and only see the list of the person they drew.

Everything a hat can't do

Exclusions

A couple shouldn't draw each other? Say who mustn't get whom and the draw takes care of it.

Truly secret

Everyone only sees the person they drew. Only the organiser can show all assignments, in case someone forgets.

Everyone's wish list

Each participant lists what they'd like, with or without links: no more guessing, and the surprise stays intact.

Latecomers

Someone joins after the draw? Add them without starting over: only one person gets a new recipient.

Remote-friendly

Family spread out, team working from home: everything happens online, from everyone's phone.

No account for participants

A first name is enough to take part. No password, no app to install.

Frequently asked questions

How do I draw names for Secret Santa online?
Create a Secret Santa group on WishTribe, send the invite link (WhatsApp, text, email), then run the draw once everyone has joined. Everyone finds out on their phone who they're buying for, without anyone else knowing.
Can I stop two people from drawing each other, like a couple?
Yes. The organiser adds exclusions: “Anne ✕ Bob” means Anne won't draw Bob and vice versa. The draw respects every exclusion and warns you if they can't all be respected.
Can the organiser take part in the draw?
Yes, like everyone else. They can also show all assignments, which helps if someone forgets: to keep the surprise, they just don't open them.
What if someone joins after the draw?
The organiser adds them to the draw in one click: only one person gets a new recipient, everyone else keeps theirs. The people concerned are notified by email.
Do participants need an account?
No. Participants join with their first name, no password. They can sign in later (email or Google) to find their list on another device.
Is it really free?
Yes, with no ads or subscription. WishTribe is funded by Amazon affiliate links: when an Amazon link leads to a purchase, Amazon pays us a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

No draw? A shared Christmas list for the whole family →