Create GiftLysts, share them with the people you love, and let friends chip in together — no more duplicate gifts or guessing games.
Download GiftLyst FreeGiftLyst is a free mobile app that takes the stress out of gift-giving. Whether you are building a birthday GiftLyst, planning a wedding registry, or coordinating a group gift for a coworker, GiftLyst makes the whole process simple, organized, and fun.
Instead of sending a screenshot of something you want or hoping people remember your GiftLyst, GiftLyst gives you a permanent, shareable list that friends and family can browse anytime. They can see what you actually want, contribute money toward expensive items, or mark something as purchased — so you never end up with three of the same thing.
The app is available on both iOS and Android and is completely free to download. You can also access it in your web browser on a desktop computer. It works for everyone — kids, adults, families, and friend groups of all sizes.
Add any item from any website to your list with a single tap. Include a photo, price, link, and notes so people know exactly what you want.
Pool money with friends and family for expensive items. Everyone chips in whatever they can, and the total gets tracked automatically.
Never forget a friend's birthday again. GiftLyst sends you a reminder the day before so you have time to pick something special.
Connect with friends and family inside the app. Browse their GiftLysts anytime throughout the year — not just around the holidays.
Contributions go straight into a Gift Balance. Use the funds to buy the item yourself or withdraw to your bank account whenever you want.
Control who sees your list. Share publicly, with friends only, or keep items private so surprises stay surprises until you're ready.
Getting started takes less than two minutes. Here is the full process from signing up to receiving your first contribution.
Download the app and sign up with your email address, phone number, or Google account. Your profile is private until you choose to share it.
Add items you want by pasting a product link, searching by name, or typing in a custom item. Set a price, add a photo, and write a note to help people understand exactly what you are looking for. You can add items from any store — Amazon, Target, Etsy, a local boutique, or anywhere else online.
Send your GiftLyst link by text, email, or social media. People do not need to download the app to view your list, but if they do have the app they can connect with you directly and see updates in real time.
The people you share with can contribute money toward expensive items, mark an item as purchased so nobody buys a duplicate, or add a personal note. Contributions are processed securely through Stripe.
When someone contributes, the money goes directly into your GiftLyst Gift Balance. You can use it to purchase the item yourself through the app, or withdraw the balance to your linked bank account at any time.
GiftLyst works for any occasion where people exchange gifts. Here are some of the most popular ways people use it.
Create a birthday GiftLyst and share it with friends and family weeks in advance so everyone has time to plan.
Replace the annual "what do you want for Christmas?" text thread with a real GiftLyst everyone can browse year-round.
An easy alternative to a traditional registry that lets guests contribute to big-ticket items or buy individual gifts.
Parents-to-be can list everything they need and friends can coordinate to make sure all the essentials are covered.
Graduates can share a GiftLyst of things they need for college, a first apartment, or starting a new chapter.
Let kids create their own GiftLysts so parents can share them with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and family friends.
Not sure where to start? Here are some ideas and strategies for making gift-giving easier for everyone involved.
Include a mix of price points so there is something for every budget. Add at least one or two items under $25, a few in the $25–$75 range, and one or two bigger items that friends can contribute to together. Write a short note on each item explaining why you want it — this personal touch helps people feel more connected to the gift they are giving.
Group gifting solves one of the biggest problems in gift giving: nobody wants to be the person who spends $200 alone, but collectively a group of five people can easily chip in $40 each for something truly meaningful. GiftLyst makes this automatic — just add an item and your friends can contribute any amount. No spreadsheets, no Venmo requests, no awkward follow-ups.
If someone in your life is hard to shop for, GiftLyst still helps. Ask them to add a few items to their GiftLyst — even small things like a book they've been meaning to read, a candle they like, or an experience they want to try. A GiftLyst does not have to be full of expensive products. Anything someone would genuinely appreciate works.
When time is short, a gift contribution through GiftLyst is one of the most thoughtful things you can do. Rather than buying something generic from a store, you contribute directly to something the person has told you they actually want. It is instant, personal, and appreciated more than a gift card.
Large families often end up buying duplicate gifts or spending money on things nobody needs. GiftLyst solves this by letting family members see each other's GiftLysts and mark items as purchased. Once something is marked, no one else will accidentally buy the same thing. It takes two minutes to set up and saves everyone hours of coordination.
Having kids create their own GiftLyst teaches them to think carefully about what they really want versus what they just see advertised. When they add an item, ask them to write a sentence about why it matters to them. This small practice builds gratitude and helps family members give gifts that genuinely light kids up on their birthday or holiday morning.
"I shared my birthday list with my whole family for the first time ever and actually got things I wanted. No more duplicate candles."
— Sarah M., GiftLyst user
"Our friend group pooled money for a coworker's baby shower through GiftLyst. It was so much easier than coordinating with Venmo."
— James T., GiftLyst user
"I love that my kids can make their own GiftLysts now. My parents used to call me every year asking what to get them. Now they just check the app."
— Maria L., GiftLyst user
Yes. GiftLyst is completely free to download and use. There are no subscription fees. When someone contributes to your GiftLyst, the contributor always pays the amount they enter — fees are deducted from what you receive in your Gift Balance. Card payments deduct Stripe's fee (2.9% + $0.30) plus a 0.8% platform fee. Bank transfers (ACH) deduct Stripe's ACH fee (0.8%, capped at $5) plus a 0.8% platform fee — for example, a $5.00 bank transfer credits $4.92 to your Gift Balance. All fees are shown clearly in the app before confirming.
No. Anyone can view a shared GiftLyst through a link in their browser without downloading the app. However, to contribute money, connect as a friend, or create their own list, they will need to create a free account.
When a friend contributes toward an item on your GiftLyst, the funds are deposited into your GiftLyst Gift Balance. You can use this balance to purchase items directly through the app, or withdraw it to your linked bank account. Withdrawals typically arrive within two to three business days.
Yes. You can add items from any website by pasting the product link, or you can manually enter any item you want even if it does not have a link — a concert ticket, a restaurant experience, or a custom service all work just as well as a product from an online store.
Yes. All payments are processed by Stripe, one of the most trusted payment platforms in the world. GiftLyst never stores your card number or bank account details directly.
Yes. You have full control over the visibility of your GiftLyst and individual items. You can share your list publicly, share it only with connected friends, or keep specific items hidden until you are ready to reveal them.
When a friend purchases something from your list or marks it as bought, GiftLyst notifies you and hides the item from other people's view. This prevents duplicate gifts without spoiling the surprise for you before the occasion.
Yes. GiftLyst is available on both iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Android. You can also use it in any desktop web browser without downloading the app.
Join thousands of people who have already stopped the guessing game. Create your first GiftLyst in under two minutes — it is completely free.