The easiest fair method: a random gift chain
Instead of pulling names from a hat (and starting over when someone draws themselves), let the wheel put everyone in a random order. Then each person gives a gift to the next person in the order, and the last person gives to the first.
- Open the wheel and add everyone’s name, one per line.
- Leave the Prizes tab empty and keep Remove winners on.
- Spin until the wheel is empty. Press C after each name to move on.
- Download the Results CSV. The draw order is your chain: #1 gives to #2, #2 gives to #3, and the last person gives to #1.
Because it’s one big loop, nobody can end up with their own name, and there are never leftover pairs.
Keeping it secret
If the pairs should stay secret, the organiser runs the draw alone and then messages each person privately with the name they’re buying for. Click Finish & create verify link and keep the link: if anyone questions the draw later, it shows the order came from the locked list and wasn’t arranged.
White elephant and Yankee swap
For a white elephant, Yankee swap or “steal” game, the only thing you need is a fair turn order. Spin through everyone on a shared screen or video call, and the draw order is the order people pick gifts.
What it’s called around the world
- Secret Santa: the US, the UK, Canada, Australia and beyond
- Kris Kringle: Ireland and Australia
- Wichteln: Germany and Austria
- Amigo Secreto / Amigo Invisible: Brazil, Portugal, Spain and Latin America
- Monito-Monita: the Philippines
Whatever you call it, the method above works the same way.
What SpinDraw doesn’t do
There are no exclusion rules, such as keeping partners apart, and no automatic private emails to each person. If you need those, use a dedicated Secret Santa app. For a quick, fair draw that anyone can check, the gift chain is the simplest option.
Questions
Can someone end up with their own name?
Not with the gift chain method. Everyone gives to the next person in a random order, and the last gives to the first, so nobody can get themselves.
Can I keep the pairs secret?
Yes. Run the draw on your own, then message each person their match privately. The names stay in your browser and aren’t uploaded.
Can I keep couples apart?
There are no exclusion rules. If a pair you’d rather avoid ends up next to each other, start a new raffle and draw again before you share any results.
Does it work for a remote team or a family spread across countries?
Yes. Share your screen on a video call so everyone can watch, or run it privately and send the results.