Make Secret Santa Easy with Shared Wishlists
No more stressful guessing or generic gift cards. ShareWants lets every Secret Santa participant share a wishlist so their match knows exactly what to buy. Better gifts, less stress, more fun.
Why Secret Santa Needs Wishlists
Secret Santa is one of the most popular gift exchange traditions for workplaces, friend groups, and families. The concept is simple: everyone draws a name and buys a gift for that person. But the execution often falls flat. Without knowing what the other person wants, gift-givers are left guessing, and the result is frequently a gift that sits in a drawer unused.
The most common complaints about Secret Santa exchanges are predictable: "I had no idea what to get them," "I got a candle again," or "They clearly just grabbed something last minute." These problems all stem from the same root cause: lack of information. When you do not know what someone wants, you default to safe, generic choices that rarely excite anyone.
Wishlists solve this completely. When every participant in a Secret Santa exchange maintains a wishlist, the person assigned to buy their gift has a curated list of items that person actually wants. The gift-giver gets to choose from real options, the recipient gets something they love, and the entire exchange becomes genuinely enjoyable instead of obligatory.
How ShareWants Makes Secret Santa Better
Gifts They Actually Want
Browse your match's wishlist and pick a gift you know they will love. No more guessing, no more generic fallback gifts, no more wasted money.
Budget-Friendly Options
Participants can add items at various price points. Easy to find something that fits the group's agreed-upon budget without sacrificing quality.
Any Store, One List
Add items from 24+ retailers. Whether someone wants something from Amazon, Etsy, Sephora, or a specialty store, it all goes on one wishlist.
Works for Remote Groups
Perfect for virtual Secret Santa exchanges. Create and share wishlists from anywhere, and shop online to ship gifts directly to your match.
How to Run a Secret Santa Exchange with ShareWants
Setting up a Secret Santa exchange with wishlists is straightforward. Here is a step-by-step approach that works for any group size:
Step 1: Everyone Downloads ShareWants. Have all participants download the free ShareWants app on their iPhone or Android device. Each person creates an account and sets up their profile.
Step 2: Build Your Wishlists. Give participants a deadline to add items to their wishlists. Encourage everyone to include at least 8 to 10 items at various price points so their Secret Santa has plenty of options within the budget. Items can come from any store, so people should feel free to add exactly what they want.
Step 3: Follow Each Other. Have all participants follow each other on ShareWants using profile links or QR codes. This way, once names are drawn, every gift-giver can immediately browse their assigned person's wishlist.
Step 4: Draw Names. Use your preferred method to assign Secret Santa matches. This can be done with traditional name drawing, an online randomizer, or by having the organizer assign pairs.
Step 5: Shop and Enjoy. Each Secret Santa opens ShareWants, finds their match's wishlist, and picks a gift they know will be appreciated. The exchange itself becomes the highlight it was always meant to be, with every person receiving something they actually wanted.
Tips for a Great Secret Santa Exchange
A few simple practices can make your Secret Santa exchange even more successful:
Set a clear budget. Agree on a spending limit upfront, and encourage participants to add items at or below that price point to their wishlists. This keeps things fair and takes the pressure off both the giver and the receiver.
Encourage variety. Ask participants to add items across different categories and price ranges. A wishlist with 10 diverse items gives the Secret Santa more flexibility than one with only 3 expensive options.
Set a wishlist deadline. Give everyone enough time to build their wishlists before names are drawn. A week is usually sufficient for people to browse their favorite stores and save items they genuinely want.
Keep it fun. The whole point of Secret Santa is to enjoy giving and receiving. With wishlists taking the stress out of gift selection, participants can focus on the fun parts: choosing a great gift, wrapping it creatively, and watching someone's face light up when they open it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I use a wishlist for Secret Santa?
Each participant in the Secret Santa exchange creates a wishlist on ShareWants with items they would like to receive. Once everyone has shared their wishlists, the person assigned to buy your gift can browse your list and pick something they know you will love. This eliminates the guessing game and ensures every gift is a hit.
Does ShareWants assign Secret Santa matches?
No, ShareWants does not assign Secret Santa matches. You can use any name-drawing method you prefer, such as drawing names from a hat, using a separate randomizer, or having an organizer assign pairs. ShareWants focuses on the wishlist side of the exchange, making sure everyone knows what their assigned person actually wants.
What if my Secret Santa budget is limited?
ShareWants lets you add items at any price point to your wishlist. When setting up a Secret Santa exchange, encourage participants to include a range of items, including some within the agreed-upon budget. This makes it easy for the gift-giver to find something appropriate without overspending.
Can I use ShareWants for a virtual or remote Secret Santa?
Absolutely. ShareWants works great for virtual and remote Secret Santa exchanges because everything happens digitally. Participants can create and share wishlists from anywhere, and the gift-giver can shop online and ship directly to their match. It is perfect for remote teams, long-distance friend groups, and distributed families.