Organized people are great at giving gifts during the holidays. They keep carefully curated lists of what their loved ones like and pick stuff up here and there over the course of the year so that when the holidays come around, they’re all set. Or they are so totally prepared for Black Friday and Cyber Monday that they’re done shopping by the first week of December. But if you’re here reading this, chances are you’re staring down the end of November with a hint of panic. But don’t worry: There are gift finder apps and sites to help.
We’ve rounded up the best gift finder apps and suggestion sites that will help you find the perfect gift for everyone on your list.
Unique gift finders
Amazon (Android, iOS)
The internet’s go-to one-stop-shop has a nifty little gift guide that promises to cater to every type of wish list imaginable, from electronics and toys to beauty products and home goods. This year, they even have lists curated by the likes of Oprah and Mariah Carey. If you’re looking for something quirky, check out Amazon’s Interesting Finds or the site’s suggestion for White Elephant gifts.
Uncommon Goods
As its name implies, Uncommon Goods lets you shop for unique items. It has a gift finder that lets you identify what the gift recipient is into, and even lets you add interests in case it isn’t on the list yet. And the site improves the more you use it — if you see a gift that you think the recipient might like, click on the star so more relevant items get added to your suggestions.
Gift finders for when money is no object
Giftagram (Android, iOS)
Giftagram is a great resource for all kinds of gift boxes, in case you wanted to get your loved one a little something more than a tiny trinket. And if you happen to be a business owner, you can use the site’s corporate gifting tool to shop for your clients so they receive something impressive and elegant. Giftagram also has an app for both Android and iOS devices to make holiday shopping even more convenient.
Or when money is an object
Zappos (Android, iOS)
Shopping on a budget? Zappos has a great gift guide geared towards thriftier online shoppers, with suggestions organized $50 and under or $100 and under if you’re feeling more generous. The site also has interesting gift ideas organized by collections, with titles like Self-Care Musts and Brands With A Cause.
Quiz-generated gift guides
Gifts.com
If you’re a fan of online personality quizzes, the gift finder by Gifts.com is right up your alley. The site has a “personality type finder” to help you shop for gifts, fine-tuning suggestions based on who and what occasion you’re shopping for. They also have great suggestions for stocking stuffers and gifts for the office.
Shopstyle
Shopping specifically for fashion? Shopstyle has a pretty fun holiday gift guide that lets you curate suggestions, Mad Libs style. Pick a person, an article of clothing, and an adjective from the choices provided and generate ideas.
For kids
Wicked Uncle
Shopping for kids can be a daunting task. Wicked Uncle is geared towards kids of all ages, a site that lets you sort through gift ideas by age and lets you refine it further with choice category options like “adventurer,” “creativity,” or even just “wicked fun.” Even though some items are organized by “boys” or “girls,” check out both categories (as well as “all”) to find something little ones will like.
For Secret Santas, White Elephants, and other gift exchanges
Conspiracy Santa
If you’re involved in a gift exchange at the office, Conspiracy Santa is a great tool to use. Using purely email threads, it lets you communicate with other members of your team — with the exception of the person you are shopping for — to share what you know about the recipient. The hope is you eventually decide as a group what would make great gifts for the specific person and have those items be relevant and meaningful.
Giftster (Android, iOS)
Another great Secret Santa tool, Giftster is a wish list registry that lets you add items you would like to receive to a wish list, include preferences like clothing size and color, and most importantly for the upcoming holidays, invite and approve members to participate in a private Secret Santa group. Giftster will draw names and everyone in the group can check out each other’s wish list and mark things as purchased to avoid duplicate gifts. Giftster also has Android and iOS apps.
Looking for something totally random
Fancy (Android, iOS)
Even though it doesn’t have an outright holiday gift finder function, Fancy has a lot of great items that you could spend a lot of time just clicking through its pages for gift ideas and inspiration. They also have a few Collections that’ll make it easier for you to browse, in case you’re shopping with a specific budget or gift theme in mind.
GeneratorLand’s Gift Ideas Generator
While it doesn’t really let you shop online for the gift itself, the Gifts Idea Generator is at least a good resource for the most random gift ideas. Simply keep clicking “Random Gift” until you find something that floats your boat.
