Looking for an Elfster alternative?
Elfster is a solid Secret Santa organizer — but if you want a wishlist that lives all year, works in 12 languages, and never shows you an ad, WishlyBox was built for exactly that.
- No ads, no sponsored products — on the free plan too
- Real-time Gift Rooms: the group votes, chips in, and avoids duplicates
- Smart calendar reminds you before every birthday and holiday
- Guests reserve gifts from one link — no app, no account
First, when Elfster is the right choice
Elfster has organized gift exchanges since 2004 and is one of the most popular Secret Santa tools in the world. If your only goal is an automated name draw for a large office or extended-family exchange — with exclusion rules and anonymous Q&A — Elfster does that job well, and you may not need an alternative at all.
People usually start looking elsewhere for three reasons: the ads on the free tier, the seasonal exchange-first design when what they actually want is a year-round wishlist, and limited language support for international families. That’s the gap WishlyBox fills.
Elfster vs WishlyBox at a glance
| Elfster | WishlyBox | |
|---|---|---|
| Ads | Ad-supported free tier | No ads on any plan |
| Built around | Secret Santa & seasonal gift exchanges | Year-round wishlists & gift coordination |
| Group gifts | Exchange-style (one-to-one draws) | Real-time Gift Rooms: vote, chip in, no duplicates |
| Languages | Primarily English | 12 languages incl. RTL (Hebrew, Arabic) |
| Family features | Groups within exchanges | Dedicated Family plan with shared management |
| Occasion reminders | Exchange dates | Smart calendar for birthdays & recurring events |
| Price | Free (with ads) | Free / Premium $5.99 / Family $14.99 |
Comparison based on publicly available information, July 2026. Elfster is a trademark of its owner; WishlyBox is not affiliated with Elfster.
Three situations where switching pays off
Your family gifts all year, not just in December
Elfster shines during exchange season. If birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays keep coming all year, WishlyBox keeps one living wishlist per person, with reminders before every occasion — nothing to re-create each season.
Your family is international
Grandparents in one country, cousins in another? Each person uses WishlyBox in their own language — including Hebrew and Arabic with proper right-to-left layouts. No more translating gift lists over chat.
You’re pooling money for one big gift
A name draw won’t buy a single big present together. In a WishlyBox Gift Room the group discusses ideas, votes, chips in, and tracks who gives what — while the recipient sees nothing.
See also: Best wishlist apps 2026 · Giftster comparison
Celebrations as they should be
A vault of secret ideas
Listen and remember. Jot down your loved ones' fleeting wishes throughout the year, even if they're not on the app. Add notes, photos, and links — a smart calendar will remind you at the right moment to pull off the perfect surprise.
Secret Rooms
The biggest dreams come true together. Create hidden chats with friends to discuss ideas and easily chip in for a grand gift. The system completely hides the process from the birthday person — zero spoilers.
Total comfort for your guests
We deeply respect your loved ones' time. They won't need to download the app, go through registration hoops, or fill out profiles just to make you happy. You send one secure link — they open it in any browser and reserve a gift in one click.
Simple, honest pricing
Start free. Upgrade when you need more.
Free
Perfect for getting started
- Unlimited wishlists
- Up to 5 events
- Up to 3 activities
- Wishlist sharing
- 1 gift room
- Gift history
- 2 reminders per event
- 1 free birthday quest
Premium
Most popular choice
- Unlimited wishlists
- Unlimited events & activities
- Unlimited invitations
- Gift Rooms
- Unlimited reminders
- Unlimited birthday quests
- Priority support
- See reserved gifts
Family
The gift hub for the whole family
- Wishlists for kids — no account needed
- Gift coordination — no duplicate presents
- Family birthdays & events in one place
- Up to 6 members including you
- Premium for every member
- Extra member slots available
All paid plans include a 7-day free trial. No credit card required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WishlyBox really free?
Yes. The Free plan includes wishlists, gift reservations, and sharing — with no ads, ever. Premium ($5.99/mo) and Family ($14.99/mo) add unlimited Gift Rooms, smart reminders, and family management, with a free 7-day trial.
Can I run a Secret Santa exchange on WishlyBox?
WishlyBox is built for year-round gifting rather than one-off name draws. You can coordinate any group gift in a real-time Gift Room — participants see what’s reserved, chip in together, and the recipient never finds out. If you specifically need an automated name-draw, Elfster does that well.
Do my friends and family need to install anything?
No. You share one link, and guests open it in any browser — no app, no account required to view and reserve gifts. Reservations are hidden from you, so surprises stay intact.
Does WishlyBox work in my language?
WishlyBox works in 12 languages — English, Spanish, German, French, Portuguese, Ukrainian, Russian, Hebrew, Arabic, Chinese, Turkish, and Korean — including full right-to-left support. Everyone in an international family sees the app in their own language.
How do I move my wishlists from Elfster?
There’s no automated import, but re-adding wishes is fast: paste a product link from any store and WishlyBox fills in the title, photo, and price automatically. The Chrome extension adds items to your list in one click while you browse.