Play the White Elephant Game Online!
Bring the holiday cheer online! Whether it’s with coworkers, family, or friends, our White Elephant Game makes virtual gift-giving fun, easy, and full of laughs. No stress – we take care of all the heavy lifting.
Played and loved annually by teams at:
3 Simple Steps to Play White Elephant Online
Invite Your Guests
Send a link and invite your coworkers, friends, or family to join the fun. Our platform supports custom rules to match your group size—so everyone stays engaged and the game runs smoothly.
✔️ Edit game settings
✔️ Invite guests via code or link
✔️ Add video conferencing details
Add Your Gift
Add gifts by pasting a link to the item from any online store—or uploading a photo of something you already have! Hosts can also manage the gift submissions and payments if needed. Set a budget to keep things fair and easy for everyone.
✔️ Paste a link from any major online retailer
✔️ Platform grabs gift title and image
✔️ Custom wrap gift with a variety of box shapes and colors
Game Day Magic
Hop on a video call and let the fun begin! A Game Lead shares their screen and guides the game—clicking to unwrap and steal gifts as the platform walks you through each turn. Guests swap and steal until every gift has a home.
✔️ Upload your own game background
✔️ Optional turn timers to keep the game moving
✔️ See gift and turn history
After the Game
We’ll show each guest which gift they ended up with and how to buy and send it. Hosts can optionally buy and send gifts for everyone as well.
How to Play
White Elephant Online
Game Day
Getting set up is easy! First, send everyone the invite link. Then, hop on your favorite video meeting platform. Finally, check everyone in and start the game!
Running the Game
One person acts as the Game Lead—sharing their screen, managing the clicks, and guiding the fun. You can customize the rules based on your group size, number of steals, and more.
✨ Want the full scoop? Read more about How to play White Elephant Online.
White Elephant Rules
1. Everyone Pick a Gift
Browse gifts within the budget set by the host. With our platform, submitting a gift is easy: simply paste a product link from any online retailer and we'll grab the gift image and title. Alternatively, you can upload a photo and title of something you already have.
2. Pick or Steal
When it’s your turn, you’ve got a choice—unwrap a new gift or steal one from someone else! To keep the fun from turning into chaos, our platform lets you set limits:
✔️ Number of steals per turn
✔️ Max times a gift can be stolen
✔️ Max times a player can be stolen from
It's perfect for keeping big groups engaged and making sure the game runs smoothly.
3. No Takebacks!
Hop on a video call and let the fun begin! A Game Lead shares their screen and guides the game—clicking to unwrap and steal gifts as the platform walks you through each turn. Guests swap and steal until every gift has a home.
Hosting the Game Virtually at WhiteElephantGame.com
Pick a Date and Time
Decide on a date and time that works for your group and put it on the calendar with a video conferencing link. Make sure you've planned far enough in advance to send your invites.
Buy a Game
Purchase a game based on the size of your group. Once you purchase, our platform makes it easy to invite players, add gifts, and adjust game rules if desired. Check out our pricing page here for more info.
Game Day
On game day, the admin controls the game. When it's their turn, players tell the admin whether they want to unwrap or steal a gift. Once everyone has a gift, the game is over!
Purchase and Ship Gifts
Once the game is over, our platform notifies each player what gift they received and who received their gift. Players can optionally add their shipping information to our platform prior to the game, making it easy for other players to know where to send their gift. Alternatively, the game admin can purchase and ship all gifts if desired.
Frequently Asked Questions
Getting Started
1. Why do I need an online platform to play White Elephant when I can just do it over a Zoom call?
Our platform automates turns, keeps track of steals, and keeps gifts a surprise. It takes the heavy lifting off your shoulders.
2. I want to host a White Elephant exchange for my coworkers. How do I do it online?
Simply pick a game day, purchase a game, invite your team members, and start playing!
3. I want to host the White Elephant game for my friends and family. How do I do it online?
Invite your crew, set a gift budget, and let the game handle the chaos! Everyone plays from their phone or laptop, no tech skills needed.
4. Can I create a game where I manage the gifts for everyone?
Yes! You can upload all the gifts yourself and let others play without needing to add their own.
5. Is there a limit to how many people can join the game?
Our platform supports up to 100 players at the highest tier. If you'd like to play with more than 100, we can accommodate you – just send us an email at hello@whiteelephantgame.com and we'll get you set up.
6. Can I host multiple games for different groups?
Absolutely. Feel free to create separate games for your office team, friend group, and family.
7. Can I host a virtual gift exchange for remote employees in different time zones?
Yes! Players can add gifts and join from anywhere. Your game stays open until everyone’s had a turn.
8. I want to plan a fun family event—can kids join too?
Definitely! Because the admin runs the game, kids of all ages can join in!
Gift Submission and Rules
9. How do participants submit gifts online?
Each player adds their gift by pasting a link from any online retailer or uploading a photo of something they already own.
10. Can guests upload photos of real items instead of buying online?
Yes! Our platform lets players upload photos of their own items.
11. What if someone forgets to add a gift before game day?
Players won't be able to join unless they've added a gift or the game admin has added one on their behalf.
12. Can I set a gift budget?
Yep! Set a clear budget in the invite so everyone stays on the same page.
13. Can I control how many times a gift can be stolen?
Yes, you can control the max number of steals per gift, along with many other rules, in the game settings panel.
14. How many steals are allowed per turn or per player?
You decide! The default is one steal per turn, but you can adjust it in the game settings.
Privacy and Safety
15. Do players have to share their addresses?
Nope! Addresses are only shared between the buyer and recipient when it’s time to ship.
16. What if I don’t want participants to see each other’s contact info?
We keep everything private. Emails, addresses, and names stay hidden unless you choose to share.
17. Is it possible to keep gifts anonymous?
Yes! Players may anonymously purchase and ship gifts to their designated recipient once the game is over.
Game Management and Support
18. Do players need to create accounts to join?
No account needed—just click the link and play.
19. Can I play without screen sharing?
Yep! The platform runs everything in-browser, so screen sharing is not absolutely necessary, though we recommend it!
20. What happens if someone leaves the game midway?
They’ll be auto-skipped, and they can rejoin anytime to pick up where they left off.
21. Can I play the game more than once?
Yes! Each new game will require a new purchase, but feel free to play as many times as you want.
22. Do you offer support during the event if something goes wrong?
We’ve got you covered with email support during peak holiday season.
Pricing and Access
23. Is it really free to play with family and friends?
Yes! You can host a game with up to 10 family members for free with all the core features included.
24. What’s included in the free version?
Everything that comes with the paid versions! You get full gameplay, gift submissions, and unlimited fun for small groups—no strings attached.
26. Can I upgrade later if my group gets bigger?
Of course! If you'd like to upgrade the size of your game, send us an email at hello@whiteelephantgame.com and we'll get it sorted out for you.