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The short answer
- No Instagram login. Gifty works from the link to a public post or reel. It never asks for your username, password or a login code.
- Public data only. It reads the public comments on the post you choose: usernames, profile photos and comment text.
- The draw runs on your phone. Winners are picked on your iPhone with Apple's secure system random number generator.
- Apple handles payment. Credits are bought through Apple's in-app purchase system. Gifty never sees your card, and there's no subscription.
- No sign-up. The app doesn't ask for your name or email.
No Instagram password, no login
Gifty doesn't connect to your Instagram account. You copy the link to a public post or reel and paste it into the app, and that's all it needs. Because it never logs in as you, it can't post, comment, like, follow or send messages from your account.
The same rule protects you everywhere: if a giveaway tool, a website or a "you won" message asks for your Instagram password or a login code, don't share it.
What the app sends to our server, and why
To run a draw, the app talks to Gifty's server. This is everything it sends or creates, and what each item is for.
- The post link
- When you paste a link, our server looks up that public post and its public comments through a third-party data provider: username, profile photo link, comment text, like count and date. That's the list your draw picks from. We keep the post link and basic post details, such as the caption, counts and thumbnail link, with the time of the request.
- A random device ID
- The app creates a random ID for your iPhone and an anonymous account linked to it. It's used to run the service, match purchases to your device and prevent abuse. It isn't your name, your email or your Apple Account.
- Your device language
- Your iPhone's language code, sent with the device ID to run the service.
- A notification ID
- Only if you allow notifications, so we can send optional messages. You can turn them off in iOS Settings at any time.
- Usage and crash data
- App events, crash reports and performance data (Firebase), plus install attribution (Adjust). The advertising identifier is used only if you allow tracking in the iOS prompt.
- What it never asks for
- Your Instagram password, your name, your email or your card details.
Purchases are handled by Apple
Gifty is free to download, and each draw uses one giveaway credit. Credits are sold in packs through Apple's in-app purchase system, at the price shown in the App Store. Apple processes the payment. Gifty receives the purchase status and transaction details through RevenueCat and never sees your card. There's no subscription, so nothing renews and nothing is charged later.
Refunds for App Store purchases are handled by Apple at reportaproblem.apple.com.
How winners are picked
Before the draw, Gifty removes duplicate accounts, so each account has one entry, and leaves out comments that don't have the minimum number of @mentions you set. Then it picks the winners and alternates on your iPhone with Apple's secure system random number generator. Every eligible account has the same chance, and the app has no option to choose a winner by hand.
The free browser tools on this site, such as the random name picker and the wheel spinner, use your browser's cryptographic random generator (crypto.getRandomValues). They run entirely in your browser. Lists you type are saved only in your browser's local storage and are never sent to us.
What Gifty can't do
Knowing the limits helps you write honest giveaway rules. Gifty can't:
- Check whether someone follows you, liked the post or shared it to their story. Check those on each winner yourself.
- Read private accounts, stories, highlights or profiles. Only public posts and reels work.
- See comments that are hidden, deleted or restricted, or that Instagram doesn't make publicly available.
- Include more than 1,000 different accounts in one draw.
- Tell whether tagged accounts are real people. It counts the @mentions in each comment.
- Log in, post or send messages on your Instagram account.
- Make a giveaway legal. Following local law and Instagram's promotion guidelines is up to the host.
Fake giveaways that copy brands
Some scammers copy a real brand's or creator's account, change one character in the username and message people who entered the real giveaway: "You won! Pay the shipping fee to claim your prize." A real host never asks a winner for money, card details, a password or a login code.
Gifty doesn't contact entrants or winners, and it never asks for payment outside the App Store. Hosts announce and message their winners from their own account. If a prize message comes from any other account, treat it as a scam. Our guide to fake Instagram giveaways shows how to check a win, and how hosts can prove their draw is real.
Your data and our privacy policy
We don't sell personal data. We share it only with the providers that help run Gifty, such as Apple, Google Firebase, RevenueCat, Adjust, OneSignal and the data provider we use for public Instagram posts. The full list, how long data is kept and your rights are in our privacy policy.
To see or delete the data linked to your device, email info@giffty.app. The contact option in the app prepares an email that includes your device ID, which helps us find your records. We answer requests within 30 days.
Gifty safety FAQ
Is Gifty safe to use?
Gifty doesn't ask for your Instagram login or password, reads only the public comments on the post you choose, picks winners on your iPhone and leaves payment to Apple. Everything it collects is listed in our privacy policy.
Does Gifty need my Instagram password?
No. You paste the link to a public post or reel, and that's all. Gifty can't post, comment, like, follow or send messages from your account, because it never logs in.
Can the host choose who wins?
Not inside a draw. Gifty has no option to pick a winner by hand. Winners come from Apple's secure system random number generator. A host could start another draw, which uses another credit, so the strongest proof is a screen recording of the whole draw, with alternates picked in the same draw.
Is it safe to buy credits in Gifty?
Purchases go through Apple's in-app purchase system, so Gifty never sees your card details. There's no subscription. Refunds are handled by Apple at reportaproblem.apple.com.
Does Gifty sell my data?
No. We don't sell personal data. We share it only with the service providers that help run Gifty, listed in our privacy policy.
I got a message saying I won. Is it from Gifty?
No. Gifty never messages entrants or winners. Only the giveaway host can tell you that you won, from their own account. If the message asks for a fee, card details or a password, it's a scam. See how to spot fake giveaways.
Are the free web tools private?
Yes. The name picker, wheel spinner and number picker run in your browser and need no sign-up. Your lists stay in your browser's local storage and are never sent to our servers.
Is Gifty connected to Instagram or Meta?
No. Gifty is not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by Instagram or Meta.
