Online Secret Santa with no sign-up: set up your draw in minutes
· 4 min read
You can run an online Secret Santa with no sign-up: no account, no app, just a link in the group chat. Here are the steps and what to sort out first.
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Yes, you can run an online Secret Santa without anyone creating an account. On Santamigo the organiser fills in three short sections, gets an invite link and drops it into the WhatsApp group. Everyone then joins with just their first name, with no password and no app to download. If you already know the date and the budget, the whole thing takes a few minutes.
What does "no sign-up" actually mean?
No sign-up means no account to create, no password to come up with and no app to install. You still need a little information: a first name for each person, and the link they use to see who they've drawn.
Behind that promise there are two ways of doing things. Some tools run the draw in the organiser's browser and hide each result inside a link. Nothing is stored, but the organiser holds every link, and there are no wish lists and no way to handle changes later. Others keep the group online: each person has their own page, with a wish list and a result nobody else can see. Santamigo is in the second camp, still without any accounts.
How do you set up the draw in a few minutes?
The create page has three sections. Here's what goes in each one.
- The group. A name and the exchange date. If it isn't fixed yet, a rough date will do and you can change it later. Optional extras: a budget per gift, the currency, the language of the invitations and a short note for everyone.
- You, the organiser. Your email is recommended but not required. It's only used to get the group back if you lose the link, and participants never see it. Tick "I'm taking part too" if you want to be in the draw: you'll get your own page and never see who drew whom.
- The participants. Type in the names straight away, or just share the invite link and let everyone add themselves. In a big group that's usually quicker.
Once the group exists, paste the link into the chat. Everyone signs up with their first name, can pick their own language and can fill in their wish list. When the draw runs, each person opens their page to see who they're buying for.
Frequently asked questions
›Can you do Secret Santa online without signing up?
Yes. On Santamigo nobody creates an account. The organiser shares an invite link and everyone joins with their first name, with no password and no app.
›How long does it take to set up?
Creating the group takes three short sections and a few minutes. The longest part is usually waiting for everyone to join through the link.
›Do participants need to download an app?
No. Everything runs in the browser on a phone or computer. The link opens straight from WhatsApp, a text or an email.
›Can the organiser take part in the draw?
Yes. They tick the option when creating the group and get their own page. They can see who has joined, but never who is buying for whom.
Ready to organise your Secret Santa?
Draw names in a minute, free and with no account. Everyone finds out who they’re giving to, in secret.
