Your complete guide to organizing Secret Santa
Holiday Draw Names is a free, easy-to-use platform for organizing Secret Santa gift exchanges. Whether it's for family, friends, coworkers, or any group, we handle all the details so you can focus on the fun!
Our smart matching system ensures everyone gets a fair pairing, automatically avoiding spouses and blocked pairings. Plus, everyone receives email notifications with their assignments – no more paper slips or awkward reveals!
There are two roles when using Holiday Draw Names:
The Organizer! You create the group, invite participants, and click the magic "Draw Names" button when everyone has joined.
The Participant! You receive an invitation, join the group, and wait to find out who you're buying a gift for.
If you're organizing a Secret Santa, here's exactly what you need to do:
Sign up with your name, email, and password. Add your spouse's name if applicable (so you don't get matched with them!).
Click "Join a Group" and then "Create New Group". Choose a unique group code (like "FAMILY2024") and create a password. NEW: Set your gift budget range ($20-$50) and exchange date so everyone knows the plan!
Multiple ways to invite: (1) Send email invites with personal messages, (2) Share the QR code for instant joining, or (3) Use the copy buttons to share the code and password. Tip: QR codes are perfect for in-person gatherings!
Watch as participants join in real-time! You can edit names, remove people, set up "blocklist" rules to prevent certain pairings, and add items to YOUR wishlist so your Secret Santa knows what you'd like!
When everyone has joined, click "Draw Names". Our smart algorithm creates fair pairings while respecting all your blocklist rules and spouse exclusions. Emails are sent automatically with delays to avoid rate limits.
Important! You'll receive TWO emails: your personal assignment (like everyone else) AND a master list showing all pairings. Keep this safe in case anyone forgets! Plus: You can view your recipient's wishlist to see exactly what they want!
If you received an invitation to join a Secret Santa, here's what to do:
You'll receive either an email invitation OR a QR code to scan. With QR: Just scan and you're halfway there! With email: Save the group code and password.
Visit the website (or click the link from the QR scan) and sign up with your name, email, and password. Add your spouse's name if you have one (so you don't get matched with them!).
QR users: You're automatically joined! Email users: Click "Join a Group" and enter the code and password. Either way, you're in!
While waiting for the draw, click "My Wishlist" and add gift ideas! Include details, links, and priorities so your Secret Santa knows exactly what you'd love to receive.
You'll see a message that says "Waiting for Draw". The organizer will click "Draw Names" when everyone has joined. Check out the group's budget and exchange date while you wait!
🎉 You'll receive an email with your Secret Santa assignment! You'll also see it on your dashboard. Best part: Click to view your recipient's wishlist and see exactly what they want! Remember – keep it secret!
Every group requires a password – only invited people can join
Automatic invitations and assignment emails to everyone
Add gift ideas with priorities, URLs, and price hints
Set spending limits and exchange dates per group
Scan a QR code to join instantly - no typing needed!
One-click copy for codes and passwords - easy sharing
Prevent specific pairings (spouses, family, roommates, etc.)
Organizers receive a complete list of all pairings
See participants join live as they sign up
Join unlimited groups – perfect for multiple exchanges
Made a mistake? Easily undo and redraw names anytime
Keyboard navigation, screen reader support, and more
When the organizer clicks "Draw Names", our algorithm creates Secret Santa pairings that are:
Made a mistake? No problem! Organizers can click "Undo & Redraw Names" to reset everything and draw again. This is helpful if someone joined late or you need to change the blocklist rules.
Yes! 100% free, no credit card required, no hidden fees, ever. We just love making Secret Santa easy!
As many as you want! We've tested with groups of 2 to 100+ participants. The algorithm handles any size.
Absolutely! Join as many groups as you want – one for family, one for work, one for friends, etc. Your dashboard shows all of them.
They can log back into their dashboard anytime to see it. Or the group organizer can check the master list email they received.
No! Each person only sees their own assignment. Only the group organizer receives the master list (for troubleshooting purposes).
Organizers can prevent specific people from being matched together. Perfect for couples, family members living together, or anyone who already exchanges gifts. Just select who can't be matched with whom!
Check your spam/junk folder first. Then make sure your email is correct in your profile. You can always log in to see your assignment on your dashboard!
No – that would ruin the fairness! But the organizer can "Undo & Redraw" to reset everything and draw again if needed.
Yes! We use industry-standard security, encrypted passwords, and secure databases. Your data is never shared with anyone.
Click "My Wishlist" in any group to add gift ideas. You can include descriptions, links to products, price ranges, and priority levels (high/medium/low). After names are drawn, your Secret Santa can view your wishlist to see what you'd like!
Group creators can generate a QR code that contains the group code and password. Share it via text, print it, or display it at gatherings. When someone scans it, they're taken to the sign-up page and automatically joined to the group after creating an account!
Yes! When creating a group, you can set a minimum and maximum budget (e.g., $20-$50), an exchange date, and even a location. This information is displayed to all participants so everyone knows the plan!
No problem! Group organizers can click "Undo & Redraw Names" to clear all assignments and draw again. This is perfect if someone joined late, you want to adjust the blocklist, or you just want a different pairing.
It only takes 2 minutes to create a group and send invitations!
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