Best Elfster Alternatives? 5 Apps Compared (2026)
Overview
Looking for an Elfster alternative? We compared 5 apps for wishlists and Secret Santa, from simple name draws to lists you can share anywhere.
Elfster is great at one thing: running a Secret Santa. But a lot of people end up there just to make a wishlist, and that's where it can feel like more app than you need. Here's what else is out there, depending on what you actually want.
What are the best apps like Elfster?
Best for | Wishlists from any store | Secret Santa draw | Free | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Listful | Wishlists you share anywhere | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
Giftster | Family groups | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Santa's Secret Keeper | A simple name draw | ❌ No wishlists | ✅ | ✅ |
Amazon Wishlist | Amazon-only shoppers | ❌ Amazon only | ❌ | ✅ |
GoWish | Browsing gift ideas | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
Why look for an Elfster alternative?
Elfster is built around gift exchanges. Your wishlist lives inside that system, alongside name draws, exclusions, and anonymous messages. That's all useful for a big office swap. If you just want a clean Christmas list your family can shop from, it's a lot of extra.
1. Listful
Listful is made for the list itself. Save gifts from any store, keep separate lists for Christmas and your birthday, and share each one with a single link. People can mark what they're buying so nobody doubles up, and Listful accepts cash contributions if someone would rather chip in.
Listful doesn't draw names. If your group needs a draw, pair a quick name picker (or the next option) with your Listful link, and everyone gets the easy part of both. Our Listful vs Elfster comparison goes deeper.
Best for: a wishlist you can send to anyone, for any occasion.
2. Giftster
Giftster keeps everyone in a private family group, where each person has a list and claims gifts on everyone else's. It saves from any store, hides claimed gifts from the list maker, and includes a Secret Santa draw. The tradeoff is that everyone needs to join the group to see your list.
Best for: families who all want to be in one app.
3. Santa's Secret Keeper
If all you need is names out of a hat, Santa's Secret Keeper is about as simple as it gets. It's free and ad-free, according to WhistleOut, but it doesn't include wishlists or links to stores, so you'll need somewhere else for the actual gift ideas.
Best for: a quick draw with no extras.
4. Amazon Wishlist
Amazon's list is easy if everything you want is on Amazon. It won't hold items from other stores, and it has no Secret Santa features. More on the limits in Listful vs Amazon Wishlist.
Best for: people who only shop on Amazon.
5. GoWish
GoWish saves from any store and adds a feed of gift ideas to browse. When we tested it, we ran into duplicate Amazon prices and a currency switch mid-page, which you can read about in our GoWish review.
Best for: browsing ideas while you build a list.
Do you need a Secret Santa app or a wishlist app?
Ask yourself what's actually stressful:
Figuring out who buys for whom: you need a name draw.
Figuring out what to buy: you need a wishlist.
Both: use a simple draw, then have everyone share a wishlist link.
The wishlist part matters more than it seems. Americans returned an average of two holiday gifts after last Christmas, worth around $143, per a CouponFollow survey covered by Chain Store Age. A $25 Secret Santa gift that someone actually wanted beats a $50 guess every time.
Shopping on a budget? Here's whether you should buy off someone's wishlist or surprise them.
FAQ
What's the best Elfster alternative for wishlists? Listful. It's free, works with any store, and shares your wishlist with one link.
Can I use a wishlist for Secret Santa without Elfster? Yes. Make a Listful wishlist and send the link to whoever drew your name.
Is there a wishlist app that works for every occasion? Yes. On Listful, you can keep separate lists for Christmas, birthdays, and everyday wishes, all in one place.
Is Listful free? Yes. Every Listful feature is free.
Make the gift part easy this year. Start your wishlist on Listful.
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