Can someone join late?

Before the draw, anyone can join with the invite link. After it, the organizer can cancel and redraw, which gives everyone a new person.

What if I forget who I got?

Open the group page; your card is still there. Switched phones? Open your personal link.

Can the organizer see who drew whom?

No. Results are encrypted with a key on each person's phone. The organizer only sees who has scratched their card.

How to do Secret Santa online

Secret Santa is a gift exchange where a group draws names and everyone buys a gift for exactly one person. You know who you're buying for; who's buying for you stays a surprise until the exchange.

The rules

Everyone gives exactly one gift and receives exactly one gift, and nobody draws themselves. That way no one is left out.

Who drew whom is secret. Everyone only knows their own person. That's where the fun comes from.

Two people drawing each other isn't against the rules, but most groups don't love it. Snowdraw places everyone on one loop: Ayşe gives to Burak, Burak to Cem, Cem back to Ayşe. No swaps.

The trouble with paper slips

Everyone has to be in the same room. Someone draws their own name and you start over. The last person can guess pairings from the leftover slip. And someone always loses theirs.

An online draw fixes all of that: everyone joins from a link on their own phone, nobody draws themselves, and only you see your result.

Step by step with Snowdraw

Create the group: add a name and, if you like, a budget and exchange day. No sign-up.
Save your personal link: it's your key if you switch phones.
Share the invite link in your group chat. Everyone taps it and types their name.
Start the draw: when everyone's in, the organizer draws with one tap.
Scratch your card: everyone scratches their own card and sees only their own person. Not even the organizer can see the pairs.

Setting a budget

Pick a level everyone is comfortable with. A modest budget makes office exchanges easy to join; friends and family can go a little higher.

Writing the budget down up front means nobody is embarrassed by a gift that's far too pricey or too cheap.

Questions

Can someone join late?: Before the draw, anyone can join with the invite link. After it, the organizer can cancel and redraw, which gives everyone a new person.
What if I forget who I got?: Open the group page; your card is still there. Switched phones? Open your personal link.
Can the organizer see who drew whom?: No. Results are encrypted with a key on each person's phone. The organizer only sees who has scratched their card.
How many people do we need?: At least 3, up to 100.