What a generator actually has to get right
A Secret Santa generator is a random matching of N people to N other people, with no one assigned to themselves. That part is easy. The part that fails is everything around it: someone drops out, two spouses get each other, the result arrives in a spam folder, and two people buy the same gift because there was no list.
How the GIFTO draw works
1. Create a group and set the budget and the reveal date. Invite with a link or a code — you do not have to collect everyone’s email first.
2. Set draw restrictions if you need them (partners, roommates, manager and report). Add the rule in both directions and the draw respects it, instead of making you reshuffle a hat.
3. Optional wish lists. Each person adds a few ideas in budget, with links and photos. The person who drew them sees the list — and since only one person buys for you, nothing can be doubled. See how to write a list that works.
4. Launch the draw. Each participant sees only the name they drew, never who drew them. The admin draws like everyone else and sees their own match; if something breaks, they can check one assignment at a time without it showing to the group.
5. Anonymous messaging, when the organizer turns it on, so you can ask for a size or a colour without blowing your cover.
Generator vs hat vs email-only tools
Slips of paper fail as soon as someone is remote, late, or wants a restriction. Email-only generators fail when the message is filtered, or when you have to nag people for addresses before you can even start. GIFTO keeps the assignment in the app (and the browser), so the person who never checks Outlook still sees who they drew.
Secret Santa, not white elephant
This page is for paired draws: you buy for one person. If your group wants a steal-from-the-pile game, that is a white elephant / Yankee Swap, and a name generator is the wrong tool.
Start the draw
GIFTO is free on Android and at www.gifto.world in any browser. Create the group, send the link, launch when everyone has joined. iPhone is on the way; the web app works on iPhone today.
Common questions
Do participants need an account?
They need to open the invite and sign in (email, Google, or the other options in the app). They do not need to hand you a list of work emails in a spreadsheet first.
Can I stop two people from drawing each other?
Yes. Turn on draw restrictions in the group settings and add the rule in both directions, before you launch. That is the usual reason people stop using a hat.
What if someone leaves after the draw?
An admin cancels the draw — the assignments are erased — removes the person, then launches again. There is no half-fix where two people keep a stale name.
Is it only for Christmas?
No. Same generator for birthdays, office parties, and any group that wants a one-to-one gift draw.