Gift exchanges are one of the best parts of the holidays, but trying to organize one when your family or coworkers live in different places can be incredibly frustrating. Drawing names when everyone is scattered across states or cities usually ends with someone getting left out or someone else accidentally revealing their pick.
That challenge is exactly what led to the creation of the Elfster app. The idea started when a family spread across three states struggled for years to run their own gift exchange. They realized many other families were likely dealing with the same thing. From that simple problem, Elfster grew into an app used by more than forty million people around the world.
Elfster takes what used to be the hardest part of Secret Santa and makes it effortless. The app handles the entire drawing process. It pulls names from a virtual hat so no one needs to be in the same room. It prevents anyone from drawing their own name. You can even set rules that keep spouses from drawing each other or parents from drawing their kids. It keeps everything fair and keeps the surprise intact.
Once the exchange is set, Elfster helps with the gift giving too. Every person can build a wishlist, which takes the guesswork out of shopping for people who never know what they want. If someone needs ideas, the app provides recommendations based on popular items and categories. Adding something to a wishlist takes only a tap.
One of the best features is direct shipping. Elfster connects to hundreds of retailers so you can buy a gift and have it delivered straight to the person you drew. That is incredibly helpful for long distance families and office groups where people travel for the holidays.
The entire service is free. Elfster earns money through affiliate links, which means using the app or purchasing a gift through it does not cost you anything extra. And for anyone who prefers not to download another app, everything can also be done on the Elfster website.
Elfster works on both iPhone and Android devices and can be used from any computer. If you are planning a Secret Santa, Yankee Swap, or Dirty Santa this year, this is one of the easiest ways to make the exchange run smoothly.
Happy gifting.
