Comparison

Names in a Hat vs Random

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Names in a Hat

Easily pick random names from a virtual hat for various scenarios. Save lists, draw names in order, divide into teams, or assign Secret Santa roles. View drawing history and share results.

Highlights
  • Save multiple lists of names
  • Tap to pull a name
  • Standard random order draw
  • Divide names into teams
  • Secret Santa assignment
  • View drawing history
  • Share results
Features
Read full description

Have you ever needed to randomly pick names out of a hat and not have the necessary materials to do so? I've heard the scenario all too many times. You have the names, but what about a hat? There's not a fedora in sight. Your sleepless nights are about to end! Introducing the "Names in a Hat" application - just the tool you need to pick random names out of a hat. Features: * Save multiple lists of names and teams. * Tap to pull a name out of the hat. * Standard Draw - quickly draw a random order. * Team Draw - divide the names into teams. * Secret Santa - randomly assign people as gift givers and gift receivers. * Infinity Draw - continually draw from the same hat. * History - view your recent drawings. * Share your results in your favorite apps.

About

Random

This app provides a versatile tool for generating random selections, from shuffling names for giveaways to picking dice rolls for games. It offers multiple random features to assist with various tasks, ensuring unbiased outcomes.

Highlights
  • Random name generator
  • Coin flipper
  • Dice roller
  • List randomizer
  • Decision wheels
  • Card shuffler
Features
Read full description

Can’t decide what to eat, who goes first, or which name to pick? Let Random choose. Explore 30+ generators for everyday decisions, games, creative ideas, and more. From a quick coin flip to a wheel filled with your own choices, there’s a tool for whatever you’re deciding. TURN YOUR OPTIONS INTO AN ANSWER Add names, meals, activities, or ideas to a list and pick a random result. Spin Lucky Wheel, build a custom Super Wheel, or make your choices visual with Photo Wheel. Save your lists to use them again whenever you need them. MAKE GAME NIGHT EASY Keep dice ready in your pocket, flip a coin to settle who starts, or divide players into random teams without picking favorites. Bring everyone into the conversation with Questions, Would You Rather, and Truth or Dare. GENERATE SOMETHING NEW Choose a range for random numbers and decimals, discover a color, find a word, generate a name, or create a password. Whether you need a result for a task or a starting point for an idea, Random gives you plenty of possibilities. DO MORE IN ONE TAP Use Simultaneous to run multiple generators together. Combine the tools you need and generate their results at once. KEEP YOUR FAVORITES CLOSE Put your most used generators on your home screen for quick access. Reuse saved lists, revisit results in supported generators, and explore statistics to see how your results add up. EXPLORE MORE WITH PREMIUM Premium unlocks additional generators, more customization, and app themes. Make Random your own with more ways to create, choose, and play. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Premium is available through weekly and yearly subscriptions. Prices and any available trial are displayed in the app before purchase. Payment will be charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel your subscription in your App Store account settings. Privacy Policy https://apptonishing.cc/apps/com.apptonish.Random/privacy/ Terms and Conditions https://apptonishing.cc/apps/com.apptonish.Random/terms/

Screenshots

Names in a Hat4 screens
Random4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Random at Free against Names in a Hat's $0.99. Random also leads on ratings volume (2.8K vs 133). Names in a Hat's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 14) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 18.0). On rating, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Random is free to download; Names in a Hat costs $0.99 up front. Random sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Names in a Hat asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Names in a Hat against 4.5 for Random. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Random has 2.8K ratings behind it against 133, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 51% of Names in a Hat's written reviews are positive against 56% of Random's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Names in a Hat ships an update monthly, Random every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Names in a Hat versus Random: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNames in a HatRandom
Price$0.99Free — better
Rating4.6 (133 ratings) — better4.5 (2.8K ratings)
Positive reviews50.9% of reviews55.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1332.8K — better
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS11.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB57 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperThomas PetersCharaka Karawita

Customer experience

Names in a Hat

All ratings131 ratings
Positive90.8%
Neutral2.3%
Negative6.9%
Written reviews55 reviews
Positive50.9%
Neutral12.7%
Negative36.4%

Random

All ratings2,814 ratings
Positive87.0%
Neutral4.3%
Negative8.7%
Written reviews97 reviews
Positive55.7%
Neutral10.3%
Negative34.0%

User reviews

Names in a Hat

From 133 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 💡 Great for random draws
  • 👍 Useful for teachers
  • 👍 Handy for fantasy sports
  • 👍 Good for giveaways

Room to improve

  • 🐛 App crashes frequently
  • 🐛 Doesn't work on newer OS versions
  • 🐛 Poor UI/UX (outdated)
  • 🐛 Difficulty editing/deleting names
  • 🐛 No clear instructions/directions

Random

From 2.8K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Fun and entertaining
  • 🚀 Highly customizable
  • 💡 Great for social activities
  • 🎉 Engaging game modes

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Bugs and crashes after recent updates
  • 💰 Excessive premium features and subscription requirements
  • 🔍 Difficulty in managing and naming lists
  • 📢 Intrusive ads

Bugs and requests

Names in a Hat

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • App crashes on startup/randomizing
  • App closes unexpectedly
  • Team names not saved between launches
  • Support link leads to a blank website
  • Email function not working
Show 5 more
  • Phone auto-corrects spelling of names with no edit option
  • Cannot delete lists once created
  • Cannot edit past names
  • Cannot delete names from current lists
  • People getting their own names (Secret Santa issue)

Requested features

10 requests
  • Ability to edit names
  • Ability to delete lists
  • Ability to shuffle order of names
  • Full-size iPad version
  • Ability to import names from a file
Show 5 more
  • Option to continuously recycle names
  • Ability to pick pairs from main screen
  • Save multiple lists/rosters
  • Option to turn on/off draw all names before repeat
  • Better keywords for searchability

Random

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App not opening after recent update
  • Keyboard blocks 'Done' button in list creation
  • Inconsistent behavior in saving and restoring purchases

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add ability to name and edit lists
  • Improve randomization algorithm
  • Introduce dark mode option
  • Provide more free game modes

In-app purchases

None

Names in a Hat

No in-app purchases

14 purchases

Random

Subscriptions8
  • Weekly3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Weekly Plan No Trial$4.997 Days
  • Yearly Subscription3 Days trial$9.991 Year
Show 5 more
  • Premium Subscription3 Days trial$14.991 Month
  • Yearly Subscription3 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Premium Subscription$24.991 Year
  • Premium Subscription3 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • Premium Subscription3 Days trial$39.991 Year
One-time6
  • REMOVE ADS$0.99
  • 300 COINS$0.99
  • 700 COINS$1.99
Show 3 more
  • 1900 COINS$4.99
  • Premium$9.99
  • 8200 COINS$19.99

Questions

Is Names in a Hat free?
Names in a Hat costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Random free?
Random is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Names in a Hat or Random?
Names in a Hat is rated higher. Names in a Hat averages 4.6 out of 5 from 133 ratings, while Random averages 4.5 from 2.8K ratings.
Do Names in a Hat or Random have ads?
Neither Names in a Hat nor Random shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Names in a Hat or Random?
Names in a Hat ships an update monthly, and Random every 5 weeks. Most recently, Names in a Hat was updated on October 23, 2026 and Random on October 22, 2026.

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