An Elfster alternative that doesn't need an account

Elfster does more, and for some groups that matters. If your exchange has more than 100 people, if you want your match to be able to ask you questions anonymously, or if your group would rather use a phone app than a link, Elfster covers those and we don't.

It also suits groups that run the same exchange every year and want an account to keep their history, such as avoiding last year's matches automatically.

When getting everyone signed up is the hard part. Many groups lose a week chasing the last few people to create an account; with a link there's nothing to chase. People tap their name, set a PIN and they're in.

It's also the better fit when privacy matters, such as an office exchange where you'd rather not gather personal email addresses, or a family with members who won't install another app. There are no ads, and each exchange deletes itself after it goes quiet.

In GiftMyCrew, the organizer sends one link to the group. Each person opens it, taps their name and sets a 4-digit PIN, and sees who they're buying for straight away. Then they can add up to 30 gift ideas for their own Secret Santa. The whole thing takes about a minute, and nothing is asked of them beyond picking a PIN.

In Elfster, according to its own help center, people join from an email invitation or an invitation link. Anyone without an Elfster account creates one to RSVP. If the organizer chose to have gifts shipped to each person, the RSVP also asks for a delivery address, so whoever draws them knows where to send the gift.

Neither approach is wrong. Accounts make it easy to keep a gift history, and shipping addresses help groups that live far apart. A link is faster to get everyone through, and it means nobody hands over contact details to take part.

Going account-free has real trade-offs, and it's worth knowing them before you choose.

• No anonymous messaging: item notes carry sizes and colors, but your match can't message you.
• Your links are your access. The browser you used remembers them, but on a new device you'll need the link again.
• Wishlists hold up to 30 ideas each, and a draw holds up to 100 people.
• Exchanges are deleted after 90 days without activity (or 30 days after the event date, if that's later), so there's no history from year to year.

There's no import, but there's little to move. Copy your group's names into a new draw, add the same exclusions, and share the new link. Wishlists are added by each person when they reveal their match.