Most Christmas wishlist tools want everyone to install the same app. That works for you, but your grandmother, your uncle, and your coworkers in the gift exchange will not all download it.
A wishlist that opens in any browser fixes this. You send one link, and anyone with a phone or a laptop can see what you want.
This guide compares the best online Christmas wishlist makers in 2026. Each one works on the web, so the people who buy your gifts do not need the app.
What to look for in an online wishlist maker
- Guests can open the list without an account. This matters most. Each signup step loses some of your family.
- Items from any store. Your list should hold a sweater from one shop and a book from another.
- Reservations. A guest marks a gift as taken, so two people do not buy the same thing.
- Privacy controls. You decide if a list is private, for friends only, or public.
- A full web version for you too. You can build the list on a laptop, not only on a phone.
The best online Christmas wishlist makers
1. WishGrid
WishGrid works in the browser and on iOS and Android, with the same account on all three. You add items from any website with a link, a photo, a price, and notes. You then drag the items into the order you want them most.
You share a list with a link. Guests open it in the browser with no app and no account. To reserve a gift, a guest makes a free account, so the reservation is tied to a real person and nobody buys the same thing twice.
- Lists can be private, for friends only, or public
- Friends can collaborate on a shared list, for example one list for the whole family
- Items can be marked as received after Christmas
- Themes change the look of each list
Price: Free, with a Pro plan for unlimited wishlists and extra themes.
Best for: Wishlists from many stores that you share with a link and build with friends.
2. Giftster
Giftster is built around family groups. Each member keeps a list, and the group sees everyone’s lists in one place. It has a website and phone apps.
Lists are shared with your groups by default. To send a list to someone outside the group, you set it to public and share the link or a QR code. A guest who reserves an item enters a name and email and does not need an account.
Price: Free.
Best for: Extended families who use the same group every year.
3. GiftList
GiftList is a universal wishlist on the web. You add items from any store with a link, a browser extension, or its built in browser. According to GiftList, guests can view a list and claim a gift without signing up, and claimed items stay hidden from the list owner.
Price: Free, according to GiftList.
Best for: People who shop on a laptop and want a browser extension.
4. Elfster
Elfster is best known for Secret Santa. It draws names, blocks pairs that you exclude, and sets a spending limit for the group. Each member can keep a wishlist. To share a wishlist outside Elfster, you set it to public and copy the link.
Price: Free for Secret Santa.
Best for: Office and friend group gift exchanges.
5. Amazon Wish List
An Amazon list is the simple option if all your gifts come from Amazon. You share it with a view only link, and Amazon tracks the items that people buy from the list. It is built for Amazon products, so it is a poor fit for gifts from other stores.
Price: Free with an Amazon account.
Best for: People who buy almost everything on Amazon.
Comparison
| Tool | Build on the web | Guests view with no account | Standout features | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WishGrid | Yes | Yes | Shared lists with friends, drag to rank, themes, web and phone apps | Any store lists, shared with friends |
| Giftster | Yes | Yes, public lists | Family groups, QR code sharing | Family groups |
| GiftList | Yes | Yes | Browser extension | Shopping on a laptop |
| Elfster | Yes | Yes, public lists | Secret Santa draws | Office gift exchanges |
| Amazon | Yes | Not confirmed | Purchase tracking | Amazon only shopping |
How to make a Christmas wishlist online
- Open WishGrid in your browser and sign in.
- Make a new wishlist and call it “Christmas 2026”.
- Paste a product link from any store. Add a price and a note with the size or color.
- Drag the items you want most to the top.
- Set the list to friends only or public, then copy the link.
- Send the link to your family in a message or an email.
Your family opens the link in the browser. When they reserve a gift, the rest of the family sees that it is taken.
Apps or websites?
A phone app is good for the person who makes the list. You can save an item the moment you see it. A website is better for the people who buy from the list, because they only need a link. The best choice gives you both. For a ranking of phone apps, see the best Christmas wishlist apps.