How can we help?
Guides and answers for organizers, participants and wishlist makers. Can’t find it? Send us a note.
Running an exchange
For the organizer: set it up, draw names, send matches.
Start an exchange
From your overview, choose New exchange. Give it a name and, if you like, a budget, a gift day and a note for everyone. You’re added as a participant automatically.
Add your people
On the exchange page, use Add one, or Paste a list with one person per line (“Name, email”, or just an email).
Set who can’t match (optional)
Under Who can’t match, choose + Add rule, name it (like “Couples”) and pick two or more people. People in the same rule never draw each other.
Invite people to add wishlists (optional)
Once you have enough people, the next-step card offers to email everyone a link to add gift ideas before the draw.
Draw names
With at least 3 people, choose Draw names and confirm. The list locks while names are drawn; unlock it to make changes, then draw again.
Send matches
Choose Send matches. Everyone gets a private email with their match. After that, the dashboard shows who has opened theirs, and you can remind anyone who hasn’t.
Common questions
At least 3. The Free plan fits up to 10 people per exchange, including you. Pro removes the limit.
Yes. You’re added as a participant automatically and get a match like everyone else. Because matches are hidden from you too, you won’t spoil your own surprise.
No. Nobody can, including you. Your dashboard only shows whether each person has opened their match.
Yes, until you send matches. Unlock the list, add, edit or remove people, then draw again. You can also re-draw without changes. Once matches are sent, they’re final.
Your “who can’t match” rules leave no way to pair everyone. This usually happens in small groups with big rules. Remove someone from a rule or add more people, then draw again.
Ask them to check spam and promotions. If an email bounced, their row says “Email bounced” with a Resend button. Double-check addresses before sending matches, because the list can’t be edited after that.
After matches are sent, the next-step card offers to remind everyone who hasn’t opened their match. It re-sends their match email.
Use the pencil next to the exchange name to rename it, and Edit details to change the budget, gift day or location.
Use the trash icon on the exchange’s card in your overview, or open the exchange and choose Edit details, then Delete exchange. This permanently deletes its people, wishlists and matches, and nobody is emailed.
For participants
Got an email from Shneaky Santa? Here’s what it means.
No. Everything works from the links in your emails. No password, no app.
Open the link and add gift ideas: a product link, size, color or any notes that help. Three or more gives your Secret Santa good options. You can keep editing your list until gift day, even after names are drawn.
In your match email. Its button opens a private page with your person’s wishlist and links to the items.
No, that’s the fun part. You’ll find out on gift day.
Wishlists lock when the organizer draws names, so your Secret Santa shops from a list that won’t change under them.
Check spam and promotions, and search your inbox for “Shneaky Santa”. If it’s not there, ask your organizer to check your email address and resend.
Please don’t. Your match link is only for you, and anyone who has it can see who you’re buying for.
Personal wishlists
A list of things you’d love, for birthdays, holidays or anytime.
Create a list
From your overview, choose New wishlist and give it a name.
Add ideas
Tap the + button and paste a link from almost any shop. We fill in the name, plus a photo and price where the shop allows it (Amazon items show just the name and a “View on Amazon” button). You can also type details yourself and add a size (like M, 32x30 or 10.5) so gift-givers get it right.
Share it
Choose Share list. That turns on the link, so anyone who has it can view your list.
Common questions
Exchange wishlists live inside a Secret Santa and are added from an invite link. Personal wishlists belong to your account and you can share them any time.
People viewing your shared list can reserve an idea so nobody buys the same thing twice. They need to be signed in to reserve.
Yes. New lists are private until you choose Share list.
Open the item’s menu (the three dots) and choose Mark as Purchased.
Open the item’s menu (the three dots) and choose Edit or Delete.
Open the list and use Rename or Delete at the top. You can also delete it with the trash icon on its card in your overview. Deleting removes every idea on it, and the shared link stops working.
Plans & billing
What’s free, what Pro adds, and how paying works.
Up to 10 people per exchange and 5 exchanges, with wishlists, “who can’t match” rules, invite emails and match emails included. No card needed.
Unlimited people and unlimited exchanges for 12 months. It’s a one-time $12 payment, not a subscription, so nothing renews automatically.
Use Go Pro in the sidebar or visit the pricing page. Checkout is handled securely by Stripe, and Pro switches on as soon as payment goes through.
Up to 10 people is free. For a bigger team, one organizer’s Season Pass covers every exchange they run. Need an invoice or a hand getting set up? Use the form on the office page and I’ll get back to you.
Privacy & safety
Who sees what, and which emails we send.
Names, email addresses, how many wishlist ideas each person has, and whether they’ve opened their match. Never who drew whom.
Only the ones the organizer sends from the exchange: a wishlist invite (optional), the match email, and reminders if the organizer sends them.
Some are. We may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, such as through Amazon. It costs you nothing extra and helps keep Shneaky Santa free and ad-free.
Deleting an exchange removes its people, wishlists and matches. To delete your account, send us a note from this page.
Still stuck? Ask us.
Questions, bugs and ideas all welcome.