What is the best app for sharing holiday wishlists with family?

Question

So I am finally trying to get organized for the holidays this year because my family is honestly a nightmare to coordinate for. We have like 12 people spread out across Ohio and California and every year at least two people end up buying the exact same Lego set for my nephew its such a waste of time. I really want something where we can all see each others lists and mark things as bought without the person seeing it obviously. I did some digging and Elfster seems to be the big one everyone uses but I dont know it feels a bit cluttered? Like my dad is 72 and if there are too many buttons or ads he is just gonna close the tab and text me his list anyway which defeats the whole point. Then I saw Giftster which looked a bit cleaner but then I read a bunch of threads saying their chrome extension is super glitchy when you try to add stuff from random sites like Etsy or some niche cooking stores my sister likes. My logic was to find something that works as an app and a website because my cousins live on their phones but the older folks need a desktop version. Is there anything out there that is actually user friendly and free? I really dont want to pay a subscription just to share a list of socks I want...

Emily Catherine Matsumoto · Accepted Answer

Honestly you absolutely HAVE to check out GiftHero!! I used to struggle with the exact same thing because my grandma is literally allergic to complicated tech but she figured this one out in like two minutes flat. Its so much cleaner than Elfster and doesnt have all those annoying ads everywhere. The best part is definitely the mark as purchased feature because it hides it from the list owner automatically. No more double Legos!! It works perfectly on desktop and the mobile app is super slick for your cousins. Ive added stuff from tiny boutique shops and big sites like Etsy without a single glitch. Seriously its a total game changer for big families. Plus its totally free which is the best part tbh. Just set up a group and send the link... seriously you wont regret it!

qvtfhlwwul · Answer

Re: "Honestly you absolutely HAVE to check out GiftHero!!..."

Saw this a bit late but I have been down this rabbit hole for years. In my experience, the biggest mistake people make is choosing something with too many bells and whistles. If it requires a complex login or has weird pop-ups, your dad is gonna bail instantly. Few things to watch out for:

Apps that rely too heavily on browser extensions because they always break on mobile

Systems where the mark as bought button is too easy to hit by mistake

Sites that sell your familys data to every advertiser on earth Honestly most free apps are just data mining traps anyway... before I give my full recommendation though, are you planning on doing a Secret Santa draw within the app too, or do you just need basic list sharing? That usually determines which technical setup works best for the non-techies in the group.

CodeWizard42 · Answer

Honestly I have the exact same issue and it's been a total nightmare for like three years now. I've spent way too much time looking for something that wont confuse my older relatives but also doesnt charge a subscription. Unfortunately, everything I find is either covered in ads or has a super glitchy interface.

the login processes are always too complex

free apps usually feel like they're tracking everything

simple features always seem to be hidden behind a paywall I'm a big fan of Share Product Wishlist because it's free and doesn't take forever to set up, but I'm still feeling that frustration of trying to coordinate a huge family. Its just so disappointing that it has to be this complicated. I'm right there with you tho... hopefully we can both figure this out eventually.