Draw Secret Santa names online for 3 to 40 people. Enter your group, add any exclusions, and send each person a private link to reveal their match. It’s free to use, with no email addresses or accounts required.
How the Secret Santa generator works
Everyone draws one person to shop for, and everyone receives a gift. The generator creates a separate link for each player. The link opens a page where they can reveal their own match.
The draw works for holiday gift swaps, remote teams, family gatherings and friends who live in different places.
How to draw Secret Santa names online
- Name your exchange. Add an optional gift date, budget and note so everyone knows the plan.
- Enter each participant’s name. Add an initial or nickname when two people share a first name.
- Set exclusions if needed. Add couples or other pairs who should not draw each other. If the exclusions make a draw impossible, remove a pair and try again.
- Draw names and send the links. Copy or share each person’s link before leaving the organizer page.
How to share Secret Santa links without email
Click Copy link next to each name and paste it into a private text or direct message. Use Send via WhatsApp if your group already uses it. Send one link per player and use the group chat for logistics.
Each person opens their link and taps Reveal my match. They can use the same link to check again. Anyone who has that link can reveal the same match, so ask players to keep their links in their own chats.
Secret Santa rules for a smooth gift exchange
- Confirm the group before you draw. A late addition means drawing again and replacing everyone’s link.
- Agree on a comfortable budget. Decide whether shipping counts toward the total if you’re mailing gifts.
- Set a gift date and delivery plan. For remote groups, share a mailing deadline and pick a time to open gifts on a call.
- Keep the matches secret until the exchange. If you want gift suggestions, ask everyone to share a few ideas with the group.
Gift exchange ideas for work, family and friends
- Office Secret Santa. Invite people to opt in and give remote teammates enough time to mail their gifts.
- Family gift swap. Pick a theme everyone can use, such as favorite snacks or something homemade.
- Friends across different cities. Exchange digital gifts or mail packages and open them together on a video call.
Make the gift reveal part of the fun
Have each giver write a clue and let the recipient guess who picked them. You can also draw a gift theme first, like a local treat, a used book or a hobby accessory. If your group is meeting in person and wants to play afterward, pick a co-op classic from the Cowabunga Collection game list.
Secret Santa generator FAQs
Can I draw Secret Santa names without email or sign-up?
Yes. Enter the exchange name and the participants’ names. You send the individual links by text, WhatsApp or another private channel.
Can an odd number of people play Secret Santa?
Yes. The generator works with any group of 3 to 40 people. Everyone gives once and receives once.
Can I stop couples from drawing each other?
Yes. Add each couple as an exclusion before drawing. With three players, excluding a pair makes a valid draw impossible.
What if someone loses their link?
Resend the original link from the chat where you shared it. The links remain available until the date shown on the organizer’s results page.
Can I add someone after drawing?
Start a new draw with the complete group. If you already shared the first links, tell everyone to use the replacement links.
