Giveaway caption templates, from launch post to winner announcement
A giveaway caption has one job: make entering obvious in the first line. Below are copy-ready captions for every stage of an Instagram giveaway, from the launch post to the winner announcement and the message you send the winner.
A giveaway caption is the text under your giveaway post or reel that says what you're giving away, how to enter and when entries close. Instagram shows only the first line or two before "more", so the prize and the closing time go there.
A good giveaway caption has five parts, in this order:
Hook: the prize and the deadline. "GIVEAWAY: our new linen set. Closes Sunday at 8 pm ET."
How to enter: numbered steps, three at most.
Key rules: who can enter, how many winners, one entry per account.
Contact line: which account will message winners, and that you'll never ask for payment or passwords.
Instagram statement: a release of Instagram and a line saying Instagram isn't involved. Instagram's promotion guidelines require both.
GIVEAWAY: win [prize]. Closes [day] at [time, time zone].
We're giving away [prize] to [3] of you. Ends [day].
[10K] of you! To say thanks, we're giving away [prize].
Our new [product] isn't in stores yet. Three of you can have it first.
Win [prize] for you and a friend. Entries close [day].
Last giveaway of the year: [prize], delivered before [holiday].
Comment to win [prize]. That's it. Ends [day].
[@brandA] x [@brandB] GIVEAWAY: [prize] from both of us.
This or that? Pick one in the comments and you could win both.
Flash giveaway: [prize]. Open until [time] today.
Giveaway caption templates to copy
Replace everything in [brackets]. Use the same account name, closing time and number of winners in every post, so nothing contradicts your rules.
1. Launch post
GIVEAWAY: win [prize, worth about $X]. Closes [day, date] at [time, time zone].
How to enter:
1. Follow [@youraccount]
2. Comment and tag [2] friends who'd love it
[1] winner and [2] alternates, picked at random from the comments on this post. One entry per account. Open to [country] residents aged [18]+.
We'll only message the winner from [@youraccount], and we'll never ask for payment, card details or passwords.
This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram. By entering, you release Instagram from all responsibility.
2. Short caption, full rules in bio
Win [prize]!
To enter: comment [your answer to the question] and tag a friend. Closes [date] at [time, time zone]. One entry per account.
Full rules at the link in our bio. This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram. By entering, you release Instagram from all responsibility.
3. Collab post
[@brandA] x [@brandB] GIVEAWAY
We teamed up to give away [prize].
How to enter:
1. Follow us both
2. Comment [your answer] and tag a friend
Closes [date] at [time, time zone]. [1] winner, picked at random from the comments on this post. Each account counts once.
[@brandA] announces the winner and [@brandB] ships the prize. Neither of us will ever ask you to pay to claim it.
This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram. By entering, you release Instagram from all responsibility.
4. Last-chance reminder
Last chance! Our [prize] giveaway closes tonight at [time, time zone].
To enter, comment on the giveaway post pinned to our profile. Comments after [time] don't count.
5. Entries closed
Entries are closed. Thank you for every comment!
We'll pick the winner at random [today at time / live in our stories at time]. Comments posted from now on don't count.
6. Caption update after the draw
UPDATE: Entries closed on [date]. Winner: [@username], congratulations! We've sent you a message from [@youraccount]. Please reply by [date, time, time zone].
7. Winner announcement post or story
And the winner is... [@username]!
Congratulations! You've won [prize]. Check your messages from [@youraccount] and reply by [date, time].
We picked the winner at random from the comments, one entry per account. The recording of the draw is in our stories.
Thank you to everyone who entered. [Optional: a code for everyone who didn't win, or a hint about the next giveaway.]
8. Message to the winner
Hi [@username], congratulations! You won our [prize] giveaway. This message comes from [@youraccount], the account that ran the giveaway.
To claim your prize, reply here by [date, time, time zone] with:
- Your full name
- Your shipping address [or: when you'd like to collect it]
We'll never ask you to pay a fee, share a password or click a link to claim. If we don't hear from you by then, the prize goes to the first alternate.
9. Alternate winner
Update on our [prize] giveaway: the winner didn't reply by the deadline, so the prize goes to our first alternate, [@alternate], picked in the same draw. Congratulations! Check your messages from [@youraccount].
10. Pinned comment against impostors
Heads up: we'll only contact winners from this account, [@youraccount]. We'll never ask for payment, card details or passwords, or ask you to click a link. If another account says you've won, it's a scam. Please report it.
How to announce a giveaway winner on Instagram
Announce the winner on the account that ran the giveaway, where your followers can check it. A complete announcement has four parts:
Edit the giveaway caption with the winner's username (template 6), so anyone who finds the post later sees the result.
Post a story with the draw recording or a screenshot of the result list (template 7). Gifty saves the screen recording to your Photos.
Reply on the giveaway post to congratulate the winner, and pin the reply.
Message the winner from the same account, with a reply deadline (template 8).
Use the winner's username, never their full name or address. If you switch to an alternate, say so in public with template 9. Silent swaps are what make followers call a giveaway rigged. Our guide to picking a giveaway winner covers the draw itself.
Giveaway captions FAQ
What should a giveaway caption say?
The prize, the closing date and time, how to enter in three steps or fewer, who can enter, how winners are picked and contacted, and the statement that Instagram isn't involved, with a release of Instagram.
How do you write a giveaway post on Instagram?
Show the actual prize in the photo or reel, start the caption with the prize and the deadline, list the entry steps, then add the rules. Pin the post to your profile while it runs. Our step-by-step giveaway guide covers the rest.
How do you announce a giveaway winner on Instagram?
Edit the giveaway caption with the winner's username, share the draw recording or a screenshot of the result in your stories, reply on the post, and message the winner from the same account with a deadline to reply.
What do you message a giveaway winner?
Congratulate them, confirm the message comes from the account that ran the giveaway, ask only for what you need to deliver the prize, and give a reply deadline. Add that you'll never ask for a fee, a password or a link click.
What if the giveaway winner doesn't reply?
Wait until the deadline in your rules, then give the prize to the first alternate and say so publicly. In Gifty, you set the number of alternates before the draw, so they're picked at the same time as the winners.
How long should a giveaway caption be?
As long as the rules need, but the first line has to work on its own, because Instagram cuts the caption off after a line or two. If the rules are long, keep the entry steps, closing time and Instagram statement in the caption and link the full rules from your bio.
Should I add hashtags to a giveaway caption?
A few. Instagram now allows five hashtags per caption, and they help people understand what a post is about more than they add reach. Our giveaway hashtags guide explains which to use.
