Kris Kringle generator: how to organise one online

A Kris Kringle is the same game as Secret Santa: everyone draws one name in secret and buys a small gift for that person. You can run one online in a few minutes. Put everyone's name into a draw, let the tool pick the matches, and have each person see only their own.

The name changes by country. In Australia and New Zealand people say Kris Kringle. In the UK, the US and Canada it is usually Secret Santa. The rules below work whatever you call it.

How do you run a Kris Kringle online?

1. Start your event at JingleBell. Pick the plan that fits your group size.
2. Set the date for the gift swap and a gift budget everyone agrees to.
3. Share the invite link in your team chat, by email or as a QR code on a notice board.
4. Each person opens the link, adds their name and email, and can add a short wishlist.
5. Draw names. Everyone gets a private message with the name of the person they are buying for.

Nobody can see who drew whom, not even you as organiser. That is why a Kris Kringle works even when you are the one running it and also taking part.

What is a fair Kris Kringle budget?

Pick one number before you draw and say it out loud. A budget stops the awkward gap between the person who spends 5 and the person who spends 50. Common choices are a low one for big teams, where many people barely know each other, and a higher one for close groups like family.

Write the budget in the invite so nobody has to ask. If someone cannot afford it, a handmade gift or a small treat is a good answer. Say so in the invite too.

How do you keep it fair?

• Keep pairs apart. Couples, or a manager and their assistant, rarely want to be matched. You can mark pairs that must not draw each other.
• Handle late joiners. Someone starts in December and wants in. After the draw, JingleBell slots late joiners in automatically, up to the size you paid for, or up to 10 on a free event.
• Offer a swap. If someone draws a person they cannot buy for, they can ask for a swap.
• Add wishlists. A line or two makes gifts easier for people who do not know their match well.

What does it cost?

Groups of 3 to 10 draw names free, by email. From 11 people there is one payment per event, taken when you draw names, with no subscription. For example, 11 to 25 people costs A$13.99, 26 to 50 costs A$20.99. You pay for the bigger of the plan you picked and your headcount. You pick the currency when you set the budget; it is prefilled from your browser.

For bigger offices, see our guide to Secret Santa at work. If you just need the draw itself, read how to draw names online.

Frequently asked questions

Is a Kris Kringle the same as Secret Santa?

Yes. It is the same gift game with a different name. Everyone draws one person in secret and gives them a gift within an agreed budget.

How many people do you need for a Kris Kringle?

You need at least 3. It works best with 8 or more, because with fewer people everyone quickly guesses who has whom.

Can everyone see who drew them?

No. Each person sees only the name they drew. Nobody else sees it, including the organiser.

Can you do a Kris Kringle with people in different offices?

Yes. Everyone joins from their own phone or computer through one link, so remote and hybrid teams are fine. Agree the delivery or swap date early.

Is a free Kris Kringle generator enough?

For 10 people or fewer, JingleBell is free. Bigger groups pay once per event when the names are drawn.