Free Secret Santa generator

Add everyone's name and email, set a budget and a date, and press draw. HintDrop pairs everyone at random, so nobody gets themselves, and emails each person a private link to see who they got.

No. Matches are private to each person, so the organiser can take part too without spoiling anything. The organiser can see who has opened their match and resend an email.

Yes. Under 'Keep people apart' you can choose pairs who shouldn't get each other, such as partners or housemates. The draw still stays random for everyone else.

Completely free. Nobody needs an account to run the draw or take part: the organiser confirms their email with one click before invites go out, and everyone else just opens their email. To see the wishlist of the person you are buying for, make a free HintDrop account.

Yes, this one. Every player can add things they'd love to a free list for the draw, and with a free account each person sees the list of the person they're buying for, with a link to every item. Their Santa stays secret. Family wishlists, the default, also puts everyone in each other's Circle on HintDrop, so birthdays are sorted all year. No more guessing.

It depends on the group. Offices and friends who don't know each other well usually go lower, and close families can spend a little more. Our free Secret Santa budget calculator suggests a range per person from your group type and size, and you set the budget when you start the draw so everyone sees it in their email.

Yes. Everyone gets their match by email and opens a private link, so it works for remote teams, long distance families and friends in different countries. Gifts can be posted, and each person's wishlist links to shops that deliver to them.

As soon as you have everyone's name and email. Set the date of the swap when you start, and the emails and reminders count down to it. Drawing early gives people time to order and post gifts.

Yes. From your private match page, type a question to the person you are buying for. They get an email from "your Secret Santa", answer it on their own page, and we email you the answer. They never see who asked. Up to 5 questions a day.

At least 3, including you if you are taking part. There is no need for a big group: a small family or a team of five works just as well, and exclusions keep couples or housemates from drawing each other.

Yes. HintDrop is free on iPhone and Android, and the draw also works in any web browser on this page, so players don't need to download anything to take part. The app adds the wishlists, birthday reminders and gift ideas all year.

Everyone is given one person to buy for and keeps it secret, there is a set budget so gifts feel fair, and gifts are swapped on an agreed date. Most groups also keep couples apart and ask everyone to add a few ideas to a wishlist. HintDrop handles the draw, the budget, the date, exclusions and the wishlists.

No. HintDrop writes and sends a private email to each person with their match, the budget, the date and a link to their match's wishlist, then sends reminders as the swap gets closer.

They can ask for it again. On this page, under the questions, enter the email address used in the draw and HintDrop sends the private links again. The organiser can also resend an email from their manage page.

Yes. Ask everyone in the chat for the email they want their match sent to, add the names and emails here, and draw. Each person gets a private link, so nobody has to post names in the chat and the surprise stays safe.

Yes. Collect each member's email, add the names here, set a budget that suits everyone and draw. It works for parent groups, sports clubs, uni societies and choirs alike, and exclusions keep siblings or friends from drawing each other. Nobody needs an account to take part.

Stick to the budget and buy for the person, not for yourself. If they have added things they would love to their free list, pick from that. If not, ask them an anonymous question from your private match page, or go for a safe choice like a nice treat, a candle or something for their hobby.

Secret Santa is a gift exchange where everyone is secretly given one person to buy a present for, usually with a set budget, and gifts are opened on the day of the swap. Kris Kringle is the same game under another name, used in Australia and New Zealand. HintDrop's free generator handles the draw, so nobody has to pull names from a hat.

In Secret Santa you are secretly given one person to buy for and the gift is chosen just for them. In White Elephant (also called Yankee Swap or Dirty Santa) everyone brings a wrapped gift and players take turns picking or stealing from the pile, so nobody is buying for a particular person. If you want gifts that suit the person, use Secret Santa: HintDrop draws the names and lets each person share a few ideas.

In the UK, Ireland, the US and Canada it is simply Secret Santa. In Australia and New Zealand it is usually Kris Kringle, and German speaking countries call it Wichteln. It is the same game everywhere: names are drawn at random, everyone buys for one person, and HintDrop's free generator works the same way wherever your group is.

Yes. Children without an email address can use a parent's or carer's email, and that adult opens the private link and tells them who they got. Set a lower budget that suits the age group, and use exclusions to keep siblings from drawing each other.

Tell the group straight away, then run the draw again with the updated list of names so nobody is left buying for someone who is no longer taking part. Players who already added ideas to their list keep them when you redo the draw. If the swap is only days away, a small group can simply agree who covers the missing gift instead.

Yes. Use exclusions when you add the names: pick the people who must not be matched together, such as couples, housemates or siblings, and the draw will never pair them. Add exclusions before you draw, and keep enough other players so everyone still has someone to buy for.

Open your private match page: it shows who you got, the budget and the gift ideas for them, including a wishlist if they have added one. If they have not, ask the organiser for a hint, or browse HintDrop's gift guides by budget, such as under £10, £20 or £50, and pick something that fits their interests.

The organiser sets one budget when they start the draw, and every player sees it in their email and on their private match page, so nobody has to guess. If the group is split, ask for a quick vote in the chat before you draw, then go with the middle option. A lower budget keeps things fair when incomes differ, and a small extra like a homemade card or a treat is always welcome. Our free budget calculator suggests a range for your group.

Share a sign up link or collect each colleague's work email, add the names here, set a budget that suits every pay grade (most offices pick £10 to £20) and choose a swap date. Press draw and everyone gets a private email with their match, so the office stays surprised. Use exclusions to keep managers and direct reports apart if you prefer, and nobody needs an account to take part.

Aim for three to six ideas across the budget, so your Secret Santa has real choices. Mix a few small things (a candle, a good pen, a treat) with one or two bigger ones that fit the limit, and say why you like them, such as the colour, size or flavour. Skip anything that costs more than the budget. A short, specific list beats a long vague one, and your Santa never has to guess.

The organiser can see who has opened their match from the manage page and resend the email to anyone who has not. Ask them to check their spam or promotions folder first. If they still cannot find it, they can request their private links again with the email address used in the draw, using the form on this page.

Yes. Add everyone's work email, set the budget and the date of the swap, and draw. Nobody has to share a spreadsheet or pull names from a hat over video call.