# Pickster — Picking made easy

> Randomly selects names from a list, simulating a digital "draw from a hat". (iPhone/iPad app by Tom Soderling.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pickster/id1055947478 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Tom Soderling](https://appshunter.io/developer/955364124)
- Category: Utilities, Productivity
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 3.30/5 from 62 App Store ratings · 32 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 9.0 · 95 MB
- Released: 2015-11-30
- Data updated: 2026-08-20
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pickster/id1055947478/reviews.md

## What is Pickster?

Pickster is a simple little app to help you pick names randomly from a collection - just like drawing names out of a hat, but with less paper... and hats.

New in version 2.5:
• New screen-shot friendly winner page! Now you can show everyone the result of the drawing with some fanfare, and without displaying everyone else's name in the list. Switch it on per list in the Settings page

Other Features:
• Easily increment the number of entries for each name just by tapping on it
• Chose how many unique names are picked
• Auto-alphabetize the names list, or do your own custom ordering
• Handy swipe actions to copy a list, and clear or delete an entry
• Choose from two drawing modes:
   • Natural Drawing Mode (default). When a name is picked, remove one of its entries from the hat
   • Original Drawing Mode. When a name is picked, its number of entries stays the same
• Multiple Lists - Enable this feature through a one time in-app purchase and you'll be able to create as many lists as you want
• Paste in text as a new list! Copy names to your phone's clipboard with commas, tabs, or newline characters separating each name. Tap the Add button, name the list, and tap the Paste button to import all the copied names into the list. Each name will receive 1 entry.
• Make copies of existing lists just by swiping to the left and tapping the Copy button
• Quick Add Widget makes entering names fast and easy. It automatically checks for duplicate names in the list as you type
• iPad support
• Still ad-free as always!

Need more help? Visit our How To guides at https://picksterapp.weebly.com/help.html

## Key features

- Random name selection
- Customizable drawing modes
- Screenshot-friendly winner page
- Multiple list creation (in-app purchase)
- Paste text to create lists
- Quick Add Widget
- Auto-alphabetize or custom ordering

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Multi-List Feature | $2.99 | one-time |


## Recent user reviews (10 of 32)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pickster/id1055947478/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Great VFM

*2026-08-02, version 2.5.6*

Very fundamental but works a treat. Once you get the hang of it, it is a godsend. I use it for picking groups in golf tournaments to demonstrate the randomness of the draw, in front of the players. Simple, but aren’t they the best things? I would recommend using the paid version to help the designer and get the multiple groups. Excellent app.

### 1/5 — Can’t use on multiple devices

*2022-12-23, version 2.5.6*

There is no way to use the app across more then one device as far as I am aware.

### 2/5 — Could be a better app

*2022-11-22, version 2.5.6*

The purchases price listed in app is wrong, once you create a list you can’t delete the list title or change or edit it. One you create a list it’s there forever.

### 4/5 — Efficient

*2022-10-14*

Simple and easy to use. Not the flashiest display, but certainly works well.

### 2/5 — $2.99 to paste BUT

*2021-06-25, version 2.5.6*

Nice that you can paste in the names but how about being able to also paste in the number of entries.    Does one really have to manually click the entry column say 25 times?  If so, it’s not worth the $2.99

### 2/5 — Only one list?

*2020-12-02, version 2.5.6*

What is this nonsense, only a single list? Has great opportunity to be a useful app for teachers but a single list is just useless

### 1/5 — Not user friendly

*2020-11-02, version 2.5.4*

Not user friendly have to pay to add names?

### 1/5 — Always deletes names I’ve added

*2020-08-22, version 2.5.3*

I’ve spent a good amount of time adding 20-50 names before, and they end up not being saved for some reason. Also when I hit add it saves as a blank a lot and not w the actual name I’ve just added. Super annoying and frustrating especially bc I upgraded so I could use multiple list feature and that’s when I started having this issue

### 1/5 — Paid 3.99 for nothing

*2020-06-04, version 2.5.3*

When you open and use the app it lets you enter over 50 names and when you go pic a name it erases all of them except the first three, even lets you edit. Paid 3.99 and again I enter over 50 names and when I go pick a name it show the first 15 names. Are you kidding me? Won’t let me edit delete a name. Don’t waste your money.

### 1/5 — Inconsistent

*2020-05-29, version 2.5.3*

I paid $2.99 to have the special feature that would allow me to enter a list and have it automatically separate the names for me. I was able to use it once. Since then, I have tried to use this few to re I paid for and it is not an option. I have clicked on “restore purchase” multiple times, only for it to tell me that my purchase has been restored and then not have the feature. Extremely frustrating and a waste of money.

## Frequently asked questions about Pickster

### What does Pickster do?

Pickster is a digital tool designed to randomly select names from a list, much like drawing names from a hat. It simplifies the process of choosing winners for raffles, giveaways, or assigning tasks randomly.

### How can I create multiple lists?

The ability to create multiple lists is an advanced feature that requires a one-time in-app purchase. Once purchased, you can create and manage as many distinct lists as you need for different purposes.

### What are the drawing modes?

Pickster offers two drawing modes: 'Natural Drawing Mode' (default), where a name's entries are reduced when picked, and 'Original Drawing Mode', where a name's entry count remains constant regardless of how many times it's selected.

### Is Pickster compatible with my device?

Pickster is available for mobile devices and also supports iPad. The app is designed to be user-friendly across these platforms.

### How do I add names to a list?

You can manually add names one by one, or use the 'Paste in text' feature to import names separated by commas, tabs, or newlines. The Quick Add Widget also provides a fast way to enter names, automatically checking for duplicates.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.5.6 — 2020-11-23

Fix for intermittent crash

### 2.5.5 — 2020-11-15

Fix for crash when the device memory is low

### 2.5.4 — 2020-10-20

- Fix for issue when pasting in a list after one was just copied
- New link to How To help section on the Settings tab
- Better descriptions for what each setting does
- On the names list page, tapping the Add button a second time now saves any entered name

### 2.5.3 — 2020-04-29

Small bug fixes and updates

### 2.5.2 — 2020-04-02

Small UI tweaks and bug fixes

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## More apps by Tom Soderling

- [How Deep Is It?](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/how-deep-is-it/id955364125)

All apps by Tom Soderling: https://appshunter.io/developer/955364124

## Related topics

[pickster](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/pickster) · [picker gorgia](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/picker-gorgia) · [random name picker free](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/random-name-picker-free)

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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 2026-08-20.*