A Secret Santa generator where everyone's wishlist is one tap away
Wantalot draws the names, keeps partners apart if you ask, and shows each person who they're giving to, along with that person's wishlist. No hat, no spreadsheet, and no one guessing what to buy.
Invite everyone with one link
Create the exchange, then send the invitation link by text or email. Each person taps it and joins with their own wishlist, or makes one in a minute.
Set a budget and a date
Add a budget per gift and a date if you like. If some of you will mail your gifts, you can add a shipping allowance on top. Everyone sees the same numbers on the invitation.
Keep partners apart
Under People who shouldn't get each other, pick two people and they won't draw one another. Both ways is ticked for couples, and you can add a one-way rule instead.
A fair draw that explains itself
The draw is random and follows your rules. If the rules leave no way to give everyone someone, Wantalot says who is stuck and doesn't draw, so you can change a rule and try again.
Draw now, or on a day you pick
Tap Draw names when everyone is in, or set a day and time and the names are drawn on their own. In a secret exchange you can also pick a reveal day, when everyone finds out who had whom.
Include someone without an account
For a grandparent who won't sign up, type their name. They get a private link that shows only who they're giving to and that person's list. If you'd like them to have something to shop from, you can keep a wishlist for them.
Everyone's wishlist, one tap away
After the draw, each person sees who they're giving to and can open that person's wishlist right there. With a budget set, gifts within it come first.
Swaps, dropouts and late additions
Someone can't make it? Use Correct the draw to take them out or swap two people's recipients. Wantalot makes the smallest change that works and never redraws the whole group. Someone arrives late? They ask to join from the link and you decide.
In a secret exchange these steps can show who drew whom, so you confirm a spoiler warning first.
Run last year's again
After the draw, Run it again next year copies the people, budget and rules with the date moved on. Give everyone someone new is on by default, and where the rules make that impossible, the draw repeats as few matches as it can.
White Elephant for game night
Choose White Elephant as the kind of exchange. Everyone brings one wrapped gift. Wantalot keeps the turn order and the rules, the host records each turn, and everyone follows along on their own screen. It needs at least three players.
How to run one
- Sign in, tap Friends & Family, then Create an exchange. Name it, add a budget and date if you like, and tap Create exchange.
- Tap Send message (or Copy link) and send the invitation to the adults taking part.
- To keep couples apart, add them under People who shouldn't get each other.
- When everyone has joined, tick that you're ready and tap Draw names, or pick a day for it to happen on its own.
Questions
Is it free?
Yes. Wantalot is free to use, and nobody pays to join an exchange.
Does everyone need an account?
Most people join from the invitation link and sign in with Apple, Google or a code we email them, so there's no password to remember. If someone won't sign up, you can add them by name and send them a private link.
Can I keep couples from drawing each other?
Yes. Pick the two people under People who shouldn't get each other and keep Both ways ticked.
What if the rules make a draw impossible?
Wantalot tells you who can't give to anyone and doesn't draw. Remove a rule or add a person, and try again.
Can kids take part?
Exchanges are for adults. A child's wishlist, run by a grown-up, can be linked in so the people drawing can shop from it.
Ready when you are
It’s free, and there’s no password to remember.
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