Fair, reproducible draws
Paste a list (names, entries, tasks, prompts) one per line, and choose how many to pick. The list is shuffled with the Fisher–Yates algorithm and the first entries are taken, so every entry has an equal chance and nobody can be picked twice.
The shuffle is seeded from the list itself and the draw number. That means:
- the same list with the same draw number always produces the same result, so you can share the list and draw number and anyone can verify the outcome;
- changing the draw number (2, 3, 4…) gives a fresh, independent draw.
Remove duplicate entries first stops someone who entered twice from having double the chance; turn it off if multiple entries are allowed.
Running a giveaway
Publish the list of entries and the draw number you’ll use before the draw, then pick. Because the draw is reproducible from public information, entrants can check it themselves. Nothing is uploaded, so participant lists stay private.
Worked example
Here is what the Random Line Picker returns for its built-in example. Settings used: Remove duplicate entries first: on. Click Try an example in the tool above to load it, then change it as you like.
Ana
Ben
Chloé
Dmitri
Emeka
Fatima
George
HiroshiDmitriQuestions
Is the random name picker fair?
Yes. It uses an unbiased Fisher–Yates shuffle, so every entry has the same chance. Duplicate entries are removed by default.
Can I pick several winners at once?
Yes. Set “How many”; the winners are all different entries.
Why does the same list give the same winner?
The draw is seeded by the list and the draw number so results can be verified. Change the draw number to draw again.
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