Virtual White Elephant Game
Our virtual White Elephant game runs a live gift exchange on any video call. Everyone joins from a link, adds a gift privately, and takes turns opening or stealing while the app tracks steals, frozen gifts and the final swap. It's free for up to 8 players, and bigger groups pay once per event.
Try a turn right here
This is the whole game in miniature: open a gift, or steal one. The real thing does this live for everyone on the call, with sound, a big-screen view and a host who can pause, skip and undo.
No sign-up for you or your players. Free for up to 8.
Your turn. Open a wrapped gift, or steal Maya’s.
You opened a mini waffle maker. Nice. Theo is up next.
Theo stole your waffle maker! You go again, right away.
You stole the heated blanket. Maya picks again. One more steal and it freezes.
Try a demo game against bots (one click, no sign-up) or start a free game.
What it does
- Live turns for everyone. Each player sees whose turn it is and plays from their own device. The app enforces every rule: no instant steal-backs, freeze after N steals, steals per turn, final swap.
- Big-screen view. Share one screen on Zoom, Teams or Meet so the whole call sees the gift pile and the steals.
- Gift links with previews. Players add their gift before the game. It stays hidden until opened, then everyone sees the title, picture and link.
- Host controls. Pause, skip, pick for someone, undo the last move, remove a player, end early.
- Turn timer. Keeps a 30-person call moving, and auto-picks for anyone who drops off.
- Rule presets. Classic, Yankee Swap, Dirty Santa, Cozy, Speed, or custom.
- Shipping sorted. Winners enter addresses privately afterwards. Team and Company plans export a “who ships what to whom” list.
- No ads and no accounts. Players join from a link with a name.
How a game runs
- Create a room and choose the rules.
- Share the join link in the invite or the call chat. Players add their name and their gift.
- Share the big-screen view on the call and press Start. The turn order is drawn for you.
- Play. Each player taps Open or Steal on their own device. Every steal, freeze and final swap appears on screen.
- Ship. Winners enter addresses; givers ship. Done.
Most 15-person games take 25–40 minutes.
Pricing
Free for up to 8 players. For bigger groups, pay once per event:
- Party: up to 30 players, $12
- Team: up to 75 players, $39, adds your branding, CSV player import, shipping export, and lets the host add gifts for players
- Company: up to 200 players, $89, everything in Team plus priority email support
See pricing for the details.
Tips for remote White Elephant
- Set a clear budget and a shipping cutoff. Remind people to pick gifts that ship easily. The coworker ideas list is a good start.
- Use cozy rules if people don’t know each other well.
- Read the short Zoom section of the host script to open the game.
- Use a turn timer above about 15 players.
Playing in the same room instead? The free tools and the rules are all you need.
Versus a spreadsheet and a video call
| The job | Spreadsheet + video call | This game |
|---|---|---|
| Collecting gifts | A form, a spreadsheet and a chase in chat | Players paste a link when they join. A preview card appears. |
| Turn order | Someone reads numbers off a list | Drawn for you when you press Start |
| Whose turn is it? | The host says it out loud, every time | Spotlight and name on every screen |
| Steal counts and frozen gifts | Tally marks, and arguments | Counted and enforced. Frozen gifts lock. |
| Someone drops off the call | Everybody waits | Timer picks for them, or the host skips |
| A wrong click | Hard to unwind | Undo, up to 30 moves back |
| After the game | Collecting addresses in DMs | Private address form. Export of who ships what to whom. |
Frequently asked questions
How do you play White Elephant virtually?
Each person submits a gift in advance (a link, or a description), then everyone joins a video call. On your turn you open a gift from the pile or steal one, using the app. After the game, givers ship their gift to whoever ended up with it.
Does it work with Zoom
Yes. The game runs in a web browser, so it works alongside any video call. The host shares the big-screen view; players use their own phone or laptop.
How are gifts shipped?
Each giver ships their own gift. When the game ends, winners enter their address privately, and on the Team plan and above the host can download a list of who ships what to whom.
Do players need an account?
No. Players join from a link with just a name. The host doesn't need an account either.
Can we play with digital gifts or gift cards?
Yes. Paste the gift card or link as the gift. It's revealed to everyone when opened, and the giver sends it to the winner after the game.
What if someone drops off the call?
Set a turn timer and the app picks a random gift for them when time runs out, or the host can skip, pick for them, or remove them.
Is stealing awkward on a work call?
It can be. Cozy mode uses 'swap' instead of 'steal', asks for a confirmation, and limits swaps, which keeps things friendly.