The Top 3 Free Raffle Generator Tools for Events [2025]

Running a raffle should be exciting, not stressful. But with so many tools out there, it’s hard to know which one is actually reliable. Whether you're organizing a nonprofit fundraiser or a fun giveaway, you need a raffle generator that’s easy to use and guarantees a fair, seamless drawing.

That’s where this guide comes in! We’ve eliminated the guesswork by comparing the best online raffle generator options to pick a random name or number (that are totally free). We’ll break down their key features, real-world use cases, and actual user feedback. 

We’ve also packed in best practices for running smooth, compliant raffles and highlighted the pros and cons of each platform so you don’t have to sift through endless reviews. This way, you can confidently choose the right raffle drawing generator tool for your needs.

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Jump ahead to evaluate the best free online raffle generators:

• Wheel of Names: Random Name Picker
• Comment Picker
• Spin the Wheel (Picker Wheel)

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How to draw a random winner for your raffle

Raffles draw people in to purchase entries based on a fair chance of winning attractive prizes. Many organizations use a random name picker or random winner generator to draw winners for a quick and accurate outcome. 

Random picker tools pull from a list of participant names or raffle ticket numbers. The best way to manage your list of potential winners is to run your raffle through a raffle tool that automatically captures information from each ticket purchase and keeps your list organized.

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Raffle laws and regulations to consider before picking a tool

Raffle laws vary by state, but knowing your local legislation will help you keep your raffle draw compliant. As you assess free raffle generators, you can confirm they align with any rules you must follow.

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Example laws include:

• A requirement that the drawing happens in person

• Requirements that winners are present at the drawing

• Requirements on where drawings can happen

• Specific rules on how to run 50/50 raffles 

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Full review: The best online raffle generator tools

Wheel of Names: Random Name Picker

Wheel of Names is an interactive and visually engaging random name picker tool that allows you to create customizable spinning wheels to pick winners for your raffle randomly. The tool is popular among classrooms, businesses, and event organizers because of its simple interface.

To use Wheel of Names, you’ll input names, tasks, or choices and spin the wheel online to select a winner. If you’re in the market for something more custom, features that modify colors, sounds, and spin duration can personalize the raffle draw to your organization’s vision.

We also love that Wheel of Names is committed to privacy and data protection, attracting over 207 million spins as of 2025.

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The wheel spinning experience can be customized with your choice of:

• A custom background image

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• Images associated with different entries on your wheel

• A center image or logo for the wheel 

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Pros:

• Highly customizable: Color, sound, and spin duration modifications make it easy to enhance your user experience.

• Visually engaging: The spinning wheel adds excitement and engagement to the raffle process, especially if you plan to livestream the raffle draw.

• Privacy and security: GDPR, CCPA, and industry-best encryption compliance practices set you up for success and protect supporter information to boost trust.

• Sustainable operations: Your raffle spin will remain sustainable, using 100% renewable and 93% carbon-free energy sources.

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Cons:

• Manual entry for large lists: Inputting many names manually can be time-consuming, depending on your raffle's size.

• Basic free version: Advanced features may require a paid upgrade.

• Internet dependence: Wheel functionality and customization require an internet connection, which may limit raffles in locations where Wi-Fi is unreliable.

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User feedback:

“Do you need to make random selections of names, items, places, or other items? This tool is for you! Customize the slices on the wheel to include names and/or images. Because Google hosts this wheel, it allows you to save customized wheels onto Google Drive for easy access anywhere. Another handy option offers you the ability to import names from a spreadsheet. Although the Wheel of Names allows you to add as many names as you like, the maximum number of names showing at any time will be 48. If there are more, the names change each second until starting to spin the wheel.” -TeachersFirst reviewer

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Comment Picker

Comment Picker is an easy-to-use online tool to select winners for giveaways and raffles with an option or requirement to comment on a social media post for opportunities to win. It automates your drawing results by analyzing comments from platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and other social media channels. 

Comment Picker uses a certified random algorithm to ensure a fair and transparent selection process for your raffle winner. You can customize filters to exclude duplicates, add multiple winners, and even apply advanced conditions for entry qualifications. 

Once the drawing is complete, the Comment Picker displays the winner instantly. It allows you to download or share the results, making it a seamless choice for running compliant and trustworthy raffles. 

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This one’s slightly more in-depth with functionality, so we broke it down further for you:

For example, you might host a raffle with a price per ticket and an option for additional bonus entries when someone comments "Can't wait" and tags a friend on your post to advertise the event.

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The Instagram comment picker allows you to:

• Filter comments by specific keywords or hashtags (ex. "can't wait")

• Filter duplicate users to remain fair

• Add comment replies (ex. "Thank you for your entry! Best of luck")

• Choose several winners

• Animate the winner's drawing to share on stories or a big screen at an in-person event

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Comment Picker offers various ways to choose winners, including:

• Random comment pickers for all social media channels

• Random number and name generators

• Number and name picker wheels

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Pros:

• Automated random drawing: You can count on an unbiased selection with a random algorithm to choose your raffle winner.

• Multiple platform compatibility: Supports YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and other social media for raffle entries.

• Customizable entry filters: Options to remove duplicate entries, set required hashtags, and apply entry conditions to keep things organized and fair.

• Downloadable winner reports: Provides a report for record-keeping or sharing on social media.

• User-friendly interface: The tool is intuitive and straightforward to draw winners quickly.

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Cons:

• Limited free features: Some advanced options, like multiple winners and filtering, are only available with a paid plan.

• Platform restrictions: Entry sources are primarily limited to social media comments, which may not be suitable for all types of raffles.

• Potential ads on the free version: The free version may display ads, which can slow down the user experience.

• No offline mode: Requires an internet connection, which can be a limitation in low-connectivity environments.

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User feedback:

Comment Picker has a 4.5/5 rating on Trustpilot

"We have been using Comment Picker for years and are very satisfied with it. They really think of everything and develop new and practical functions all the time. Love it and 100% recommend!" - Comment Picker user

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Spin the Wheel (Picker Wheel)

Spin the Wheel by AppSorteos (the Lucky Wheel or Picker Wheel) is a free online tool that allows users to effortlessly make random selections for raffle winners. The intuitive platform helps you spin a virtual wheel to pick a winner with fair practices.

This tool can also support social media raffles and give you a customized wheel that matches your event, nonprofit branding, or preferences to engage more supporters online. You can even save and access your customized wheels later by logging into your AppSorteos account. 

With the ability to generate shareable links and options to use the wheel for Instagram, YouTube, or giveaways, Spin the Wheel is a versatile solution for enhancing engagement and simplifying decision-making.

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Pros:

• Simple and intuitive interface: Creating and customizing wheels for different use cases and branded raffles is easy and keeps things fresh for participants.

• Remove after selection: Option to delete selected entries after being chosen to ensure fairness.

• Save and access wheels: Users can save and retrieve wheels later through their AppSorteos account (a huge time saver when hosting multiple raffles).

• Embeddable on websites: You can easily embed your wheel in a WordPress and Shopify website to boost interaction.

• Multiple applications: AppSorteos includes several applications (Random Name Winner, Instagram Giveaway, Roll Dice, etc.)

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Cons:

• Limited advanced features: Lacks the advanced filtering options that other tools offer for more complex contests.

• No automatic winner announcement: You won’t be able to generate downloadable images or videos to announce winners.

• Requires login for saving wheels: Users need to create an account to save and retrieve custom wheels.

• Ad-supported free version: The free version includes ads, which can distract some users.

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User feedback:

"Impressive analytics" - Vidnoz

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“Highly recommend” - Jackie L.

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Best practices to choose your raffle generator

Now that we’ve covered the options, it’s normal to feel still like making your choice is tough. If that’s the case, these best practices can guide you to the best decision for your raffle.

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1. Think about where your audience engages most

Start by asking where your supporters are most active. If you rely on social media to connect with your audience, a tool that specializes in selecting comments from the platforms you engage donors on most is the best choice.

But if you’re running an event or want a fun, interactive way to engage attendees, you might not need the bells and whistles of a social-integrated tool. Creating a customized wheel that you can embed on your website or use live at an event may be best to generate excitement and capture leads.

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2. Consider how much customization you need

Do you need a raffle tool that matches your branding or event theme? If so, a random name picker tool that offers the most customization (that’s easy to do without a design degree) will be the direction that best serves you.

Think about what personalized design elements matter most, such as wheel colors, logos, and custom backgrounds, to create a visually engaging experience. This is especially helpful if you’re hosting an event and want to make a cohesive, branded look that reflects your mission.

You can also think about how the random picker or tool will randomly select and draw names from the initial process of inputting names to the result page that confirms your winner. Be sure as free users you have an unlimited number of spins.

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3. Evaluate whether you need advanced entry filters

If you’re running complex raffles that might require multiple winners for various prize categories or specific entry criteria, advanced filtering options will really help to keep things organized. 

You might also want to consider how many winners you’ll have, and look at random generators that give an equal chance for one or more winners at a time. Think about the time-savings of a tool that can filter entries by hashtags, remove duplicates, and even add conditions to ensure only qualified entries are considered.

If your raffle is simpler or focused on engaging attendees at an event, basic filtering options can work well and potentially save you the cost of upgrades on specific tools.

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4. Decide how you want to track results

Many states have laws requiring you to keep records of raffle draws, winners, and prizes. If you need to (or just want to) keep track of key raffle data as you choose random winners, consider a tool that saves it automatically or gives you a download to save after your draw.

Downloadable winner reports can be helpful for transparency and tracking. Some name randomizer or number picker tools allow you to save results right to Google Drive.

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Consider user-friendliness 

Your team’s comfort level with technology should also factor into your decision. A more intuitive option might be best if you’re looking for a tool that’s easy to set up and requires minimal technical knowledge. 

Don’t be afraid to try a few out and see what aligns with your current raffle drawing process. Your team and supporters can offer valuable feedback that informs you of your choice of which generator you’ll stick with.

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Frequently asked questions: Free raffle generators

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