Elfster: The Secret Santa App - Secret Santa Generator & Wish Lists

Create wish lists & easily pair up for Secret Santa exchanges, ensuring perfect gifts every holiday season!

2024.1218.23 Version
3.2 Score
590K+ Downloads
Free License
3+ Content Rating

Download Android APK (75.14 MB)

Old Versions

PROS

Great way to share preferences with loved ones.

Easy to use and navigate.

Ability to add links, pictures, and descriptions for items.

Makes organizing Secret Santa and gift exchanges simple.

Allows customization of exchanges with rules.

Helps avoid duplicate gifts through wishlist management.

Capable of connecting families across distances.

Fun and engaging way to celebrate gift-giving events.

CONS

Recent updates have hindered functionality, causing frustration.

Search feature often fails to find desired items.

Manually adding wishes is time-consuming and inconsistent.

Links and images frequently fail to upload or appear.

User interface is buggy and confusing at times.

Limited options for non-Amazon items in wishlists.

Frequent loading issues on mobile, making the app hard to use.

Lack of clarity regarding who purchased specific gifts can spoil surprises.

About the app

Elfster is the premier platform for Secret Santa gift exchanges. This complimentary and user-friendly Secret Santa Generator is ideal for Christmas, Hanukkah, Eid Al-Fitr, and various other celebrations. You can effortlessly create shareable wish lists, set exclusions and restrictions, and draw names.

KEY FEATURES OF ELFSTER:

WISH LIST CREATION

- Organize holiday shopping and gift registries

- Share your wish lists with family and friends, regardless of whether they use Elfster

- Keep track of your loved ones' preferences to ensure you choose the right gifts

SECRET SANTA GIFT EXCHANGE

- Save and distribute wish lists for Christmas, other holidays, special events, or gatherings

- Elfster assists in generating names to determine who will be gifting whom

- The Secret Santa name generator ensures proper pairing—eliminating “from me, to me” gifts

PRESENTS FOR EVERY OCCASION

- Gifts for Christmas or birthdays

- Secret Santa exchanges

- Holiday shopping and wedding registries

- Anniversary presents and baby shower gifts

- Or simply to express your thoughtfulness

EXPLORE POPULAR GIFTS

- Discover trending gifts this festive season

- See what items are currently on people’s wish lists

- Find the ideal present for any occasion

GIFT SUGGESTIONS & RESOURCES

- Handpicked gift guides

- Receive recommendations to help you choose the perfect gift

From Secret Santa exchanges to wedding registries, Elfster serves as your companion for gift-giving. Get started with Elfster today.

If you experience any issues with the app, assistance is available! Feel free to reach out for help directly through the app.

FAQs

How do I invite a child or pet to an Elfster Gift Exchange?

Everyone needs to have their own Elfster account, but you can use the same email address for more than one person. If you don't know what their email address is, but have another way to send the invitation, you can use that method.

✨ Elf Tip: If you don't know someone's email address, you can text invitations using the mobile website or our iOS or Android apps. Other options for sending invitations include copying the invitation link and sharing via any social media platform.✨

Inviting Someone Without an Email Address

If you’re inviting a child, pet, or another account without an email address, you’ll need to use a bit of Elf Magic! 🪄✨ Make sure the main Elfster account holder adds them to their Family Manager account first. Then, they’ll be ready to join in all the fun without needing their own email!

Instructions for adding a new Elfster account for someone else that you will be able to manage while logged into your own account.

Creating a new family manager account is quick and easy. Follow the steps below for a less than two minute setup:

Select the Family Manager on your Elfster homepage or in your Profile Settings

Select the add a new account

Enter the information in the First Name, Last Name, Elfster Username, and Elfster Password fields. These are all required fields.

Your email address will be used as the email address for the new linked account.

It’s important to choose a unique username, which is not your email address, for each new linked account.

4. Select the Save button.

5. The next screen will allow you the option to:

Manage the new linked account.

Add another family member.

6. View all family members that you've previously added and linked to your account

How do I find my friends on Elfster?

Find your friends who have Elfster accounts and invite those that don't through sharing a Wishlist!

Finding Friends

You can add friends that are already using Elfster, even if they are not in your Gift Exchange!

Log into your Elfster account.

Select Friends on your Elfster homepage.

Enter the email address or first and last name of the friend you are searching for in the text box (it will be the box under the title Following)

Under Suggested Friends, select the Follow button to the right of their profile picture on the website. Swipe left in the iOS and Android apps to reveal the Follow button or tap the 3 vertical dots to go to their profile. You're all set!

Invite Friends By Sharing Your Wishlist

You may also share your public Wishlist with anyone by clicking on share wishlist on the top of your Wishlist. You will be given the option to share it via Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or there will be a link to copy so you can share via email, text, or your favorite social media platform. On mobile, your native share feature will open for you to choose an app to share the link to.

Once someone accepts your invitation to follow your Wishlist, they will be listed on your Friends list.

This is a great way to invite your friends to sign up for Elfster, so they can create their own Wishlist and you can get them the gifts they're wishing for!

If you're in an Elfster Gift Exchange together, we don't reveal who is following whom from the time names are drawn until after the Gift Exchange date.

📝 Note:

You won't be able to mark an item from someone's Wishlist as purchased unless you are following them. If you are in an Elfster Gift Exchange and you drew their name, you won't need to follow them to mark as purchased. This remains in effect from the time names are drawn until the Gift Exchange date. 📝

How do I add wishes to my Wishlist?

When you add your most hoped for wishes to your Wishlist, your friends can present you with the perfect gift. Best of all, the magic of wishes is visible year-round, even when you aren't in a Gift Exchange!

✨Elf Tip: The Add a Wish button on your Elfster homepage is a shortcut to wishing

Add a Wish From a Link

Do you have the URL to a webpage for something specific? Our techie elves have made it easy-peasy, and your gifters will love you for it!

To add a wish from any store link:

Copy the full URL for the item.

Go to Elfster and click on in the Shop menu.

On a tablet/mobile, tap + Wish from your homepage

Click the write a custom wish text, next to the magical wish machine.

Paste the full URL (including the www. at the front) into the line that reads Add your link from any store.

Wait for a few shakes of a snow globe for your wish to load. ❄️❄️❄️

Don't forget to click Save!

To customize your new wish:

Click on the three vertical dots to the right of your wish

Click edit

Upload or take a new image for your wish

Edit the name of your wish

Toggle Most Wanted if you want this wish at the top of your list

Choose which Elfster Wishlist to move the new wish to.

Leave a note (size, color, style, etc.)

Adjust the quantity you desire

Don't forget to click Save

✨Elf Tip: Lost in the snow? If you can’t find your Elf It! Extension button, click the puzzle piece icon in the upper-right of your Chrome browser (near your profile image) to view them all! Highlight the pin icon to the right of the Elf It! Extension logo to pin the helpful elf to your browser.