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How to do Secret Santa by text, without email

Most Secret Santa sites want everyone's email address. Many groups don't have them, or would rather not hand them over. You can run the whole exchange over text, WhatsApp, iMessage, Signal or any chat app instead. Here's how, step by step.

Start a free draw Free Secret Santa generator. No sign-up, no emails, about a minute.

Why text works better than email

• People actually read texts. Secret Santa emails often end up in spam or promotions folders.
• No one has to share an address. You only need names.
• It fits how your group already talks, whether that's a family WhatsApp, a friends' group chat or work Slack.
• Links work on any phone. No app to install and no account to create.

Step by step

1. Go to the draw page. Enter an event name, everyone's names (one per line), and optionally a budget, an exchange date and any pairs who shouldn't draw each other.
2. Press "Draw names". You'll land on your organizer page. Bookmark it right away; it's the only way back in, because we don't have your email.
3. Send each link privately. Tap "Copy" next to each person and paste the link into a one-to-one text or DM. Each link shows that person's giftee, so never post links in the group chat.
4. Everyone opens their link. They tap "see who you're buying for", then add a wishlist that only their Secret Santa can see.
5. Check who has opened. The organizer page shows "Opened" or "Not yet" for each person, but never the pairings, so you can take part too.

A message you can copy

Post this in the group chat first, so everyone knows a private link is coming:

Then send each person their own link with a short note:

Tips for a smooth exchange

• Send links one by one. Copy all links is handy for keeping a private backup, but each person should only receive their own.
• Link previews don't count as opened. When a chat app builds a preview of the link, it isn't marked as opened. Only a real visit counts.
• Lost link? Copy it again from the organizer page and resend it.
• Late joiner? Start a new draw with the full list and send the new links, then delete the old exchange. Ideally do this before people start shopping.
• Two people with the same name? Add a last initial, like "Sam K" and "Sam T".

Works with any chat app

Text messages, iMessage, WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, Facebook Messenger, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Discord and Google Chat all work. If someone prefers email, you can email them their link too. It's just a link.

What about relatives without a smartphone?

The link opens in any web browser, including on a computer or tablet. If someone doesn't have one, another person can open their link with them, or the organizer can let them know their giftee privately. For more family tips, see family Secret Santa.

Privacy, in short

We store only what's needed to run your exchange: names, the draw, wishlists and whether each link has been opened. No email addresses, no phone numbers, no cookies. Everything is deleted automatically around February 1, 2027, and the organizer can delete the exchange sooner. Details are on our privacy page.

Frequently asked questions

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