Online Secret Santa
Secret Santa games & variants – rules, process & gift ideas
The organizer sets up the group, shares private links, and keeps the draw fair with exclusions where needed. That gives you a clean base for classic Secret Santa, White Elephant, and other gift-round formats.
- Each person draws one person (anonymously until handover)
- Budget, for example 10-15 EUR
- Optional wish lists
At a glance
What awaits you on this page
- 1Classic Secret Santa
- 2Secret Santa
- 3White Elephant
- 4Engerl‑Bengerl (AT)
- 5Secret Santa with wish lists
- 6Remote/hybrid Secret Santa
Practical Guide
Classic Secret Santa
The organizer sets up the group, shares private links, and keeps the draw fair with exclusions where needed. That gives you a reliable basis for classic Secret Santa, White Elephant, and similar formats.
Create a group, set a budget/date, choose a variant.
Secret Santa
Enter name (email optional). Participants use their private link or their own account.
Send individual links, for example via WhatsApp or email.
White Elephant
Automatic draw; Result can be viewed via the personal link.
Wichtlify organizes the fair first draw with exclusions. Swap/Steal rounds are event rules and are played on site; simply state it in the invitation.
Engerl‑Bengerl (AT)
No. Only the admin registers. Members use their private link (optionally also via email).
Set exclusions. The draw takes this into account automatically. More under exclusions.
Practical tips for private groups, teams and community rounds
Each person draws one person (anonymously until handover)
Funny, used or curious gifts
Concrete implementation with Wichtlify
Wichtlify combines content and implementation: You get ideas plus a technical process for fair, transparent draws.
From invitations to wish lists to the draw, all core elements come together in one process. Advanced features such as Smart Draw, Auto-Reminder and Insights are optionally available with Wichtlify Pro.
Wichtlify Pro
If you need more control: Wichtlify Pro
For larger or recurring rounds, Wichtlify Pro expands the standard process to include Smart Draw, emergency assistant, auto-reminder, admin broadcasts as well as insights and event status.
This allows you to reduce manual effort, react more quickly to changes and keep the group stable despite high dynamics.
FAQ
Does Wichtlify support swapping/stealing like White Elephant?
Wichtlify handles the fair draw and private participant links. Swapping or stealing rules belong to the event format itself and should be agreed within the group.
Do participants need an account?
No. Usually only the organizer needs one. Everyone else can open their private link directly.
How do we avoid couples/teams pulling each other?
Exclusions are maintained in the group before the drawing and taken into account in the calculation. This means that conflict constellations are ruled out.
Ready for the next step?
Start directly on your preferred platform and lead the group to the result without any detours.