How to pick an Instagram giveaway winner from comments

To pick a giveaway winner from the comments on your post, you need two things: the list of names and a draw nobody can rig. The random name picker handles the second part. The first part is up to you: the site doesn’t log in to Instagram or read the comments. You copy the names and paste them, and the draw happens in your browser, with no password or login from anyone.

Before you post: the giveaway rules

Write the rules in the post caption before it starts. They save you arguments later:

• The prize, what’s included and whether you pay for shipping.
• Who can enter: minimum age, shipping area, whether past winners can enter.
• How to enter: comment, tag friends, follow the account. Say whether several comments count more than once.
• The deadline: the date and time the giveaway closes.
• How the draw works: “with an online name picker, screen recorded”.
• What happens next: when the winner is announced, how long they have to reply, and what happens if they don’t.

Giveaways run by businesses can have legal requirements depending on the country, and Instagram has its own rules for promotions on accounts, which change from time to time. If in doubt, read Instagram’s help center and check your local rules before announcing.

Each person enters once

The picker always removes duplicates: “@maria”, “Maria” and “maria “ count as the same person, and each person enters once, even with several comments. That keeps the draw fair to people who commented only once.

If your rule gave one entry per comment, the picker isn’t the right tool for it. The simplest fix is to say from the start that each person enters once.

How to collect the names from the comments

It depends on how many comments the post has.

A few comments (a few dozen): open the post and copy each person’s name into your phone’s notes, one per line. Or type them straight into the picker. It takes a while, but it’s the safest way: you see every comment and check that it follows the rules.

Lots of comments: use a computer. Open the post in the browser, load all the comments to the end and copy the whole block into a spreadsheet. There, delete the lines that aren’t names, like the comment text, the dates and the “Reply” lines, and copy only the column with the names. Paste it into the picker.

Who followed the rules: if the rule asked people to follow the account or tag friends, check that before pasting. Another option, if your rules say so, is to check only the winner and draw again if they didn’t qualify.

Keep the list. The picker doesn’t store anything. Save the list in a file or your notes before drawing, so you can show it if someone asks.

Step by step in the name picker

1. Paste the names. Open the random name picker, keep Names selected and paste the list, one name per line or separated by commas.
2. Check the count. Below the list you’ll see how many names went in and how many duplicates were removed. The number should match your list.
3. Choose how many winners. From 1 to 100, with nobody picked twice. For runners-up, draw more names and say beforehand that #2 and #3 are backups, in that order.
4. Tap Draw. The result shows the date, the time and how many names were in the draw.
5. Keep the proof. Take a screenshot or tap Copy result to paste the text anywhere.

Every tap on Draw again makes a brand-new draw with a different result. Only draw again in the case your rules covered, like a winner who didn’t reply in time.

Show the result

What earns trust is letting people see the draw happen:

• Record your phone screen from the moment you paste the list until the result appears. Your phone’s built-in screen recorder is enough.
• Post the video or the screenshot in Stories or a post, with the date, the time and the number of names visible.
• Tag the winner and say how long they have to reply.
• Keep the list handy in case someone asks whether their name was on it.

Transparency tips

• Don’t change the list after seeing the result. If you need to fix it, fix it and draw again, explaining why.
• The number of names in the screenshot should match the list you saved.
• Answer questions in the comments, and don’t delete people who ask.
• Say that the prize is delivered at no cost and that your official account never asks for payment, passwords or codes. There are scams with look-alike accounts that message people saying they won.
• Deliver the prize and show the delivery, if the winner agrees.

Frequently asked questions

Does the site access my Instagram account?

No. It doesn’t log in to Instagram, doesn’t read comments and doesn’t ask for a password. You copy the names and paste them.

Do people who commented several times get more chances?

No. Duplicates are removed before the draw, and each person enters once.

How many names fit?

Up to 10,000 names, up to 100 characters each.

Can I draw numbers instead of names?

Yes. Tap Numbers and choose the range, like 1 to 300. It’s handy, for example, when you numbered the entries in a list.

Is the draw fair?

Yes. The picker uses the browser’s random number generator, built for cryptography, and every name has the same chance. Nobody, not even us, can choose the result.

Ready? Open the random name picker. Running a gift exchange instead? Use the Secret Santa generator; and try the Instagram fonts for your giveaway post.