Comparison

Names in a Hat vs Raffle Pro

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
Currently charting
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

Raffle Pro

Easily create stylish raffles with unlimited lists and participants. Add coupons, choose themes, and record videos to share on social media. This app offers a fast, simple, and beautiful way to manage your giveaways.

Highlights
  • Create unlimited lists
  • Add unlimited names
  • Add coupons per participant
  • Select favorite themes
  • Record raffle videos
  • Share videos on social media
Features
Read full description

A simple and amazing way to create your own raffles with style. With Raffle Pro you can: - Create unlimited lists. - Add unlimited names. - Add coupons for each participant. - Select your favorite theme. - Record a Raffle video. - Share the video on all social networks. Raffle Pro is Fast, Simple and Beautiful. To access all features, content, and functionality you can subscribe to an annual auto-renewable subscription. This is a recurring transaction that will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase and will automatically renew unless you cancel it at least 24 hours before the end of your subscription. Renewals will be charged the same cost within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage your subscriptions and auto-renewal can be turned off by going to your iTunes Account Settings after purchase. Privacy Policy: https://appcano.io/privacypolicy Terms of Use: https://appcano.io/termsofuse

Screenshots

Names in a Hat4 screens
Raffle Pro3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Raffle Pro at Free against Names in a Hat's $0.99. Raffle Pro also leads on review sentiment (80% vs 51%) and ratings volume (3.9K vs 133). Names in a Hat's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On device support 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

Raffle Pro is free to download; Names in a Hat costs $0.99 up front. Raffle Pro sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $19.99 per year. Names in a Hat asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Raffle Pro holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Raffle Pro has 3.9K ratings behind it against 133, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 51% of Names in a Hat's written reviews are positive against 80% of Raffle Pro's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Names in a Hat ships an update monthly, Raffle Pro every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard10 real differences · 1 level
Names in a Hat versus Raffle Pro: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNames in a HatRaffle Pro
Price$0.99Free — better
Rating4.6 (133 ratings)4.8 (3.9K ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.9% of reviews80.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1333.9K — better
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#166 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB86 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThomas PetersAppcano LLC

Customer experience

Names in a Hat

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

Raffle Pro

All ratings3,874 ratings
Positive97.0%
Neutral1.4%
Negative1.6%
Written reviews255 reviews
Positive80.4%
Neutral3.5%
Negative16.1%

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

Raffle Pro

From 3.9K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Helpful for raffles and giveaways
  • 💡 Ability to record drawings
  • 🎨 Customizable themes

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Issues with saving/recording videos
  • 🔒 Concerns about transparency and randomness
  • 💰 Subscription model and pricing complaints
  • 📱 Compatibility and accessibility issues

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

Raffle Pro

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Entries disappearing or not showing up correctly
  • Repeated winners due to algorithm issues
  • App crashing or not functioning as expected

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add option to remove winners from the pool
  • Improve ability to edit and manage entries
  • Implement more advanced randomization options
  • Provide ability to import/export participant data
  • Add support for number-based raffles

In-app purchases

None

Names in a Hat

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Raffle Pro

Subscriptions1
  • Unlock All Features3 Days trial$19.991 Year

Questions

Is Names in a Hat free?
Names in a Hat costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Raffle Pro free?
Raffle Pro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Names in a Hat or Raffle Pro?
Raffle Pro is rated higher. Names in a Hat averages 4.6 out of 5 from 133 ratings, while Raffle Pro averages 4.8 from 3.9K ratings.
Do Names in a Hat or Raffle Pro have ads?
Raffle Pro shows ads; Names in a Hat does not.
Which is updated more often, Names in a Hat or Raffle Pro?
Names in a Hat ships an update monthly, and Raffle Pro every 2 months. Most recently, Names in a Hat was updated on November 10, 2026 and Raffle Pro on November 7, 2026.

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