WantThis vs Giftster: the UK gift-list comparison
Giftster is a well-established, US-focused app for family and group gift lists, built around shared groups and gift exchanges.
Giftster is a popular choice for families coordinating gifts, especially in the US. If you are shopping in the UK, though, the things that matter most — buying from UK shops, seeing UK prices, and catching price drops — are exactly where a UK-built tool pulls ahead.
WantThis is a free, UK-focused gift-list platform. You add items from any UK shop by pasting a link, it tracks prices across UK retailers, and friends and family can reserve gifts without an account — while you never see who bought what, so the surprise stays intact.
WantThis vs Giftster: side by side
| Feature | WantThis | Giftster |
|---|---|---|
| Add from any shop | Add items from any UK shop by pasting a link | Yes, via a browser add-on / link |
| UK focus | UK-focused — UK retailers, £ prices | US-focused; works globally |
| Price tracking & drop alerts | Tracks prices across UK retailers and alerts you on drops | Not a core feature |
| Surprise-safe reservations | Surprise-safe: owners never see who reserved or bought what | Gift-status hidden from the list owner |
| Buying without an account | No account needed for the people buying gifts | Group members typically sign up |
| Two people editing one list | Invite anyone by email to co-own and edit the list with you | Group members each keep their own list |
| Secret Santa draw | Built-in Secret Santa with a random draw | Yes |
| Price | Free | Free |
Features change — check Giftster's current site for the latest. Last reviewed 2026.
Choose WantThis when…
- You shop mainly at UK retailers and want prices in £.
- You want price-drop alerts so you (or your gifters) buy at the right moment.
- You want friends to reserve a gift in one tap, with no sign-up.
- You and your partner want to build one shared list together, not two.
Giftster might suit you if…
- Your whole family already uses Giftster and is based in the US.
- You want long-running family group archives spanning many years.
The verdict
For UK shoppers, WantThis matches Giftster on the essentials — shared lists, reservations, Secret Santa — and adds UK price tracking and a no-signup gifter experience on top. If your family is US-based and already on Giftster, there is little reason to switch; if you are in the UK, WantThis is the more natural fit.
Try WantThis free
Create a gift list from any UK shop, share one link, and track prices — free.
Create your free listWantThis vs Giftster: FAQs
Is WantThis a free alternative to Giftster?
Yes. WantThis is free to use — create gift lists, add items from any UK shop, share a link, and track prices without paying anything.
Does WantThis work with UK shops?
Yes. WantThis is built for the UK: paste a link from almost any UK retailer and it pulls in the title, image and price, then tracks that price over time.
Can people reserve gifts without an account?
Yes. Anyone with your share link can reserve or mark a gift as bought without signing up, and you never see who did — so the surprise is safe.
Can two people edit the same list?
Yes. Invite someone by email and, once they accept, they can add and change items exactly as you can — useful for couples building one list rather than two. They still cannot see what has been reserved or bought, and neither can you, so the surprise survives.