Secret Santa for the office, the family and friends far apart

The same game, three very different groups. What changes in each, and what to watch out for.

At the office

Keep it optional. People who don't want to take part shouldn't have to explain why.
Set a modest budget and keep gifts neutral: nothing too personal, nothing that would embarrass anyone in front of colleagues.
Hold the reveal during work hours, for example at a team lunch, so everyone can be there.
Remote colleagues can join in too: agree a delivery date a few days before the reveal and open the gifts on camera.
A twist such as one colour works well when people don't know each other's tastes.

Decide whether children take part as Santas. Older children love it; younger ones can shop with a parent, as long as their person stays a secret from their brothers and sisters.
Make sure couples and people who live together don't draw each other. Otherwise they buy a gift for their own household.
Avoid last year's pairs, so everyone gets someone new each Christmas.
Agree whether the Secret Santa replaces the usual gifts between adults. It is a common way to cut down on presents and spending.

Post early: set the delivery date a week or more before the call, and more if gifts cross borders.
Agree on a currency and a range that make sense in every country, and remember postage.
Santas need addresses. Share everyone's in the group chat before the draw, so asking for one doesn't give anything away.
Open the gifts together on a video call, one at a time, and guess the Santas before the reveal.

Classic with a wishlist: families, and groups where people don't know each other well.
Santa by Colour: offices and mixed groups. Easy to shop for, and the gifts look great together.
Your Challenge: friends who like a bit of creativity, and anyone tired of the usual gifts.

It's free. Sign in with Google, create a group and share one link. The app does the draw and keeps it secret until the party.