# Elfster: The Secret Santa App — Wishlists & Gift Exchange

> Free secret santa and gift exchange organizer with wishlists and name drawing. (iPhone/iPad app by Elfster, Inc..)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elfster-the-secret-santa-app/id751594890 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Elfster, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/461111106)
- Category: Lifestyle, Shopping
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.90/5 from 330,922 App Store ratings · 815 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15.1 · 69 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2013-11-21
- Data updated: 2026-08-28
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elfster-the-secret-santa-app/id751594890/reviews.md

## What is Elfster?

The #1 Secret Santa App for Gift Exchanges, Wishlists & Holiday Planning

Elfster is the premier Secret Santa app that makes organizing gift exchanges effortless, fast, and completely free. Whether you're planning Christmas, Hanukkah, Eid Al-Fitr, birthdays, weddings, or any other special occasion, our Secret Santa generator and gift registry app features ensure perfect gift-giving every time.

Why Choose Elfster? Free, Easy & Fast Gift Exchanges
- 100% FREE: No hidden fees, subscriptions, or premium upgrades
- LIGHTNING FAST SETUP: Create your Secret Santa in under two minutes
- INCREDIBLY EASY: Simple interface that anyone can use
- WISHLISTS: Curate your own Wishlists with the products that you would love to receive

PERFECT FOR ANY OCCASION

Christmas & Holidays

Our Christmas gift list app helps you organize Secret Santa exchanges for family, friends, coworkers, and groups of any size. Also perfect for Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Eid, and other holiday celebrations.

Birthdays & Special Events

Use our name drawing app for birthday gift exchanges, milestone celebrations, graduations, and "just because" moments throughout the year.

Weddings & Life Events

Create gift registries for weddings, baby showers, housewarmings, anniversaries, and other major life celebrations.

Office & Group Events

Organize workplace Secret Santa exchanges, team building events, and group celebrations with colleagues.

ELFSTER FEATURES:

Secret Santa Generator with Smart Exclusions

Our advanced secret santa generator ensures fair pairing while allowing you to:
- Set exclusions so couples don't draw each other
- Prevent kids from being paired with adults
- Exclude last year's matches for variety
- Handle groups of any size (from 3 to 300+ people)

Shareable Wishlists from Any Store

Create and share gift registry wishlists with products from:
- Millions of products across hundreds of retailers
- Any online store — just paste the link and we'll fetch item details automatically
- Custom gift ideas and experiences
- Gift cards

Easy Invitations & Management
- Send invitations via text, email, or social media
- Cross-device compatibility (iPhone, Android, desktop)
- Real-time updates and notifications

Gift Discovery & Trending Items
- Browse trending gifts and popular items
- Curated gift guides for every occasion
- Price tracking and deal alerts
- Gift suggestions based on age, interests, and budget

HOW ELFSTER WORKS:

Step 1: Create Your Exchange 
- Set up your Secret Santa or gift exchange in minutes. Add participant names, set your budget, choose your event date, and configure any exclusions.

Step 2: Send Invitations 
- Invite friends and family via text, email, or your favorite messaging app.

Step 3: Draw Names & Create Wishlists 
- Our name drawing app automatically pairs everyone fairly. Participants create shareable wishlists with items from any retailer.

Step 4: Shop & Exchange Gifts 
- Browse wishlists, purchase gifts directly through retailer links, and mark items as purchased to avoid duplicates. Then… enjoy your gift exchange!

GIFT IDEAS & TRENDING ITEMS

Discover what's hot this gifting season with our curated collections:
- Tech Gifts: Latest gadgets, smart home devices, wireless accessories
- Fashion & Beauty: Trending apparel, skincare, jewelry, and accessories
- Home & Kitchen: Cookware, decor, organization, and smart appliances
- Books & Entertainment: Bestsellers, streaming subscriptions, games
- Kids & Family: Educational toys, family games, outdoor activities
- Personalized Gifts: Custom items, photo gifts, and unique experiences

Start your free Secret Santa gift exchange today with Elfster—the ultimate secret santa app that makes gift-giving easy, fast, and fun!

If you have any trouble at all with the app, we are here to help! Visit our Help center for answers to the most common questions at https://help.elfster.com/knowledge.

## Key features

- Secret Santa generator with smart exclusions
- Shareable wishlists from top retailers
- Easy invitations and management
- Gift discovery and trending items
- Lightning-fast setup
- Cross-device compatibility

## What do users think of Elfster?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient for gift exchanges
- 💡 Helpful wishlist feature
- 🎁 Great for coordinating gift exchanges
- 🎄 Useful for Christmas and other occasions

**Cons**

- 🐛 Buggy app with crashes and glitches
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find specific features
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with visibility of wishlists
- 🌍 Limited to certain countries/regions
- 📧 Excessive email notifications

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Inability to redraw names in gift exchanges
- Issues with adding and editing wishlist items
- Frequent log-outs and re-login requirements
- Problems with syncing purchased items across devices

**Most requested features**

- Ability to separate wishlists for different exchanges
- Option to hide purchased items on wishlists
- Easier way to manage child/family member accounts
- Anonymous Q&A between gift givers and receivers
- Improved integration with online shopping platforms

## Recent user reviews (10 of 815)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elfster-the-secret-santa-app/id751594890/reviews.md

### 1/5 — 403 forbidden

*2026-08-21, version 2026.730.32*

Can’t use the site or app. Keep getting a 403 forbidden message and I’ve cleared cache and everything. Downloaded and redownloaded the app as well.

### 5/5 — I love this app

*2026-08-11, version 2026.730.32*

I love this app so much my mom my sister and I enjoy looking at this app for our birthdays and Christmas hope this helps!

### 5/5 — Love it

*2026-08-09, version 2026.730.32*

I love elfster

### 4/5 — Elfster

*2026-08-05, version 2026.730.32*

I really like Elfster. You do have to worry about your kids putting things on your amazon account, (as me speaking as a kid!) The only thing I wish is for this can be casted at the whole screen.

### 5/5 — Giftgiving

*2026-08-03, version 2026.730.32*

This app makes it very easy to pick out my loved ones gifts without giving it away and knowing what they are really hoping for and wishing for and I really like I like that and I like that they cannot see that I’m the one they purchased it, but others can see that that item was already purchased. I think it’s fun and you won’t make you know any mistakes and you can always go at the last minute and see what’s left on the list and you can begin in July if you want I love that.

### 5/5 — I actually love this!

*2026-07-31, version 2026.716.27*

I was using GoWish but then it got confusing somehow probs a new version but I was looking google said this app honestly has been working ✨amazing✨ haven’t used it for secret Santa yet but I’m exited to!🍓😚💅🏻

### 5/5 — So fun!10/10

*2026-07-28, version 2026.716.27*

It’s so fun I can save stuff to my wish list

### 5/5 — The best app

*2026-07-23, version 2026.716.27*

Www

### 5/5 — Luv it 💘💘💘💘

*2026-06-23, version 2026.605.21*

I luv this app soooo much it helps me know what to get my loved ones and what other can get for me and they have so many thing I didn’t even know existed that I added to my list.

### 5/5 — Love it!

*2026-06-23, version 2026.605.21*

I’m using this for my upcoming b day and it’s so easy just to put the link in or search it up!

## Frequently asked questions about Elfster

### What is Elfster used for?

Elfster is a free app designed to simplify the organization of gift exchanges for any occasion. It allows users to set up Secret Santa events, create and share wishlists, and manage invitations for groups of any size.

### How does the Secret Santa generator work?

The app's Secret Santa generator automatically pairs participants fairly. It includes smart exclusion features, such as preventing couples from drawing each other, excluding children from adult pairings, and avoiding last year's matches.

### Is Elfster free to use?

Yes, Elfster is 100% free to use. There are no hidden fees, subscriptions, or premium upgrades required to access its features for organizing gift exchanges and creating wishlists.

### What devices is Elfster compatible with?

Elfster offers cross-device compatibility, meaning you can use it on your iPhone, Android device, or desktop computer. This ensures that all participants can easily join and manage their gift exchange activities regardless of their preferred device.

### Can I create wishlists for different types of events?

Absolutely. You can create shareable wishlists for a wide range of events, including Christmas, birthdays, weddings, baby showers, housewarmings, and office parties. You can add products from major retailers like Amazon and Target, as well as custom gift ideas.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2026.730.32 — 2026-08-01

Hey Elfsters!
All the elves have completed their E.L.F.S (Every Little Fix Squad) training! This ensures Elfster will continue to run at tip-top gift-giving conditions. See what’s new:
- Bug fixes and other minor visual improvements to improve the stability and performance of the app

### 2026.716.27 — 2026-07-19

Hey Elfsters!
All the elves have completed their E.L.F.S (Every Little Fix Squad) training! This ensures Elfster will continue to run at tip-top gift-giving conditions. See what’s new:
- Bug fixes and other minor visual improvements to improve the stability and performance of the app

### 2026.709.25 — 2026-07-10

Hey Elfsters!
All the elves have completed their E.L.F.S (Every Little Fix Squad) training! This ensures Elfster will continue to run at tip-top gift-giving conditions. See what’s new:
- Bug fixes and other minor visual improvements to improve the stability and performance of the app

### 2026.619.23 — 2026-06-25

Hey Elfsters!
All the elves have completed their E.L.F.S (Every Little Fix Squad) training! This ensures Elfster will continue to run at tip-top gift-giving conditions. See what’s new:
- Bug fixes and other minor visual improvements to improve the stability and performance of the app

### 2026.605.21 — 2026-06-09

Hey Elfsters!
All the elves have completed their E.L.F.S (Every Little Fix Squad) training! This ensures Elfster will continue to run at tip-top gift-giving conditions. See what’s new:
- Bug fixes and other minor visual improvements to improve the stability and performance of the app

## Apps similar to Elfster

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
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| [Giftster - Wish List Registry](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/giftster-wish-list-registry/id478126039) | 4.8 (18,252) | Free | Lifestyle |

## More apps by Elfster, Inc.

- [Our Wishes](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/our-wishes/id6448957783)

All apps by Elfster, Inc.: https://appshunter.io/developer/461111106

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-28.*