data tool
Random name picker
Paste the entries one per line and draw one or more winners, picked with the browser's cryptographic random number source and a Fisher Yates shuffle, so every entry has the same chance. The draw shows the time and a fingerprint of the list, so you can quote exactly what was drawn from.
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- Runs on your device, nothing is uploaded
- Free, no sign in
- No watermark, no file limit
How it works
- 1
Paste the entries
One name, email or entry number per line. A column copied from a spreadsheet pastes as one entry per line.
- 2
Set the number of winners
Draw one winner, or several in order for a first, second and third prize or reserve winners.
- 3
Decide on duplicates
Keep the remove duplicates option on if each person may only win once, however many times they entered.
- 4
Draw and record
Press Draw, then copy the record with the winners, the time and the list fingerprint.
How the draw is random
The browser provides a cryptographically secure random source, the same kind used to create encryption keys, through the Web Cryptography API. The tool takes random numbers from it and shuffles the list with the Fisher Yates method, swapping each position with a randomly chosen later one. It also discards the rare random values that would make some positions slightly more likely, a step called rejection sampling, so every entry has exactly the same chance. Math.random, which many simple pickers use, is not designed for this and should not decide a prize.
Running a fair giveaway from form responses
Collect entries with a form so each one is timestamped, then export the responses as CSV and paste the column with names or entry numbers here. Decide the rules before the draw: one entry per person or several, how winners are notified, how long they have to claim, and what happens if they do not. Remove test entries and entries that arrived after the closing time. Then draw, ideally with someone watching or with the screen recorded, and keep the draw record with the export.
Why the list fingerprint matters
The record includes a SHA-256 hash of the entry list as it was drawn from. Anyone who has the same list in the same order can hash it and get the same 64 characters, which shows the draw used that list and no other. If an entrant asks whether they were in the draw, you can show the exported list and the matching fingerprint. Changing a single character in the list changes the fingerprint completely, so it is a quick check that nothing was edited.
Cleaning the list before the draw
Most unfair draws come from a messy list rather than a bad random number. Remove test entries, staff and anyone the rules exclude before you paste the list. Check for the same person under two email addresses, and decide in advance whether that counts as two entries. The summary under the box shows how many entries remain and how many duplicates were removed, which is worth writing down with the draw record.
Drawing reserves
Draw more winners than prizes and keep the extras as reserves in the order drawn. If the first winner does not respond within the time your rules set, the next one in the list is offered the prize. This avoids running a second draw, which looks less fair, and the original record already shows who was next.
Trade promotion rules
Many places regulate giveaways and prize draws. Some require a permit for games of chance above a prize value, published terms and conditions, and records kept for a period. Skill based competitions are often treated differently from random draws. The rules vary by country and, in Australia, by state, so check with the regulator where your entrants live before you promote a giveaway. This tool handles the draw itself, not the paperwork.
Other uses
Random picking is useful well beyond prizes: choosing who presents first, assigning reviewers, selecting customers for a survey sample, or deciding the order of a debate. For a survey, draw the sample here from your full customer list, then use the sample size calculator to check you are inviting enough people.
Limits
- No weighting: every remaining entry has an equal chance.
- Duplicates are matched ignoring capitals and extra spaces. Entries spelled differently are treated as different people.
- Nothing is saved, so closing the tab ends the draw. Copy the record before you leave.
- Whether a giveaway needs a permit, terms or a supervised draw depends on where it runs; check your local trade promotion rules.
What it does not do
- It does not collect entries or contact winners.
- It does not store the list.
- It does not let you re-run a draw to a chosen result.
Questions people ask
How do I pick a random winner from a list?
Paste the list here, one entry per line, set the number of winners to one, and press Draw. The tool shuffles the list with a secure random source and takes the first name. Copy the draw record so you have the winner, the time and the list fingerprint.
Is this random enough for a giveaway?
It uses the browser's cryptographically secure random generator, the same source used for encryption keys, with an unbiased shuffle. That is stronger than the Math.random function most simple pickers use. Some regulated draws require an independent scrutineer or a certified system, so check what your local rules require.
Can I draw more than one winner?
Yes. Set the number of winners and they are drawn in order with no repeats, so the first is the first prize winner and later names are further prizes or reserves. If you ask for more winners than entries, every entry is drawn.
What if someone entered more than once?
With remove duplicates on, each distinct entry counts once, matched ignoring capitals and extra spaces. If your rules allow multiple entries, switch it off so each line counts. Entries spelled differently, such as a name with and without a middle initial, are seen as different people.
Can I prove the draw was not rigged?
Copy the draw record and keep it with the exported entry list. The fingerprint shows the list drawn from, and the time shows when. For stronger proof, record the screen while drawing or have an independent person press the button. The tool cannot be told to produce a particular result.
Collect entries with a form
Take what you made here into forms.
Create a form with OneCraftMore tools like this
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Written and checked by the OneCraft team. Last checked .