How does Rafflecopter work?

Paste a link to your social media post (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, etc.), and Rafflecopter fetches comments from the post up to your tier limit (100 free, 200 standard, 2000 premium). Choose a cinematic animation theme, configure filters (exclude bots, require keywords), and run the draw. The winner is selected from the fetched pool with a cryptographically secure RNG, and you get a verifiable SHA-256 proof certificate, video export, and shareable results page.

Is Rafflecopter really free?

Yes. Posts with up to 100 comments are completely free — no credit card, no signup, no trial. We monetize via pay-per-draw pricing for larger posts ($4.99 standard, $7.99 premium). The free tier is permanent, not a trial.

How is the draw fair and verifiable?

Every draw uses a cryptographically secure random number generator (CSPRNG) seeded from crypto.getRandomValues. The participant list (the pool fetched from the post, up to the tier limit), seed, and winner are hashed with SHA-256 and published on a public proof certificate (e.g., rafflecopter.app/proof/[code]). Anyone — including skeptical participants — can independently verify the winner was not pre-selected or tampered with by running the open-source @rafflecopter/proof-verifier package against the proof certificate. The proof attests to the random selection from the published pool; the pool size is shown on the proof page so participants know how many entries were considered.

Do I need 1,000 followers to go live?

No. Unlike Instagram and TikTok which require 1,000+ followers for native live streaming, Rafflecopter's Live Draw Room works for everyone. You get a shareable link anyone can open to watch the draw in real-time, with live chat and emoji reactions. No follower minimum, no app download.

What platforms are supported?

Rafflecopter supports 8 social networks: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, X (Twitter), Reddit, Threads, and Bluesky. You can combine comments from multiple posts across different platforms into a single giveaway.

Can I customize the giveaway animation?

Yes. With Standard ($4.99/draw) and Premium ($7.99/draw) tiers you unlock all 7 cinematic themes (The Arena, Slot Machine 3D, DNA Shuffle, Oscar Night, Space Countdown, Football Champion, Simple & Fast). Premium adds custom logos, brand colors, and live draw rooms.

Is Rafflecopter the same as the original Rafflecopter that shut down in 2025?

Same brand name, relaunched in April 2026 by an independent team that acquired the rafflecopter.app domain after the original was discontinued in October 2025. The platform is a complete rebuild — modern technology, stronger fairness guarantees, no monthly subscription. Same mission: fair, verifiable, cinematic giveaways.

How do I run a giveaway on Instagram step-by-step?

(1) Create your Instagram post with clear entry rules (e.g., 'comment your favorite color to enter'). (2) Wait for entries to come in. (3) Open rafflecopter.app/giveaway/new and paste the post URL. (4) Pick an animation theme. (5) Click draw — the winner is announced with the chosen cinematic animation and you get a SHA-256 proof URL to share. Total time from paste to winner: under 60 seconds.

What if the chosen winner does not respond or is ineligible?

Use the multi-winner feature: draw 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place at the same time. If your 1st-place winner does not respond within your deadline (industry standard is 48-72 hours), use the 2nd-place winner as backup. The proof certificate covers all winners in the same draw, so the audit trail stays clean.

Is Rafflecopter GDPR, CCPA, and LGPD compliant?

Yes. Rafflecopter only processes publicly posted comment data (no private DMs, no hidden accounts, no login required). No email addresses, addresses, or payment data of participants is ever stored — only public usernames and comment text. Hosts pay anonymously per draw; no account creation required. Complies with GDPR, CCPA, and LGPD data-minimization principles.

Can I run a giveaway across multiple posts or platforms at once?

Yes. You can paste multiple post URLs (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, etc.) into the same draw. Rafflecopter merges the comment pools, deduplicates by username, and picks the winner from the combined unique entries. Useful for cross-platform campaigns.

Does Rafflecopter have a mobile app?

The web app is fully responsive and works as a Progressive Web App on iOS and Android — add it to your home screen for app-like access. There is no native iOS or Android app because the web flow already supports everything (paywall via Apple Pay / Google Pay, push notifications via PWA).

Can I export the participant list and winner data?

Yes. Every draw generates a public proof page (rafflecopter.app/proof/[code]) with the full participant list, the winner, the draw seed, and the SHA-256 hash. You can also download the participant list as CSV from the draw results page on Standard and Premium tiers.

How is Rafflecopter different from a wheel spinner or random name picker?

Wheel spinners and random name pickers require you to manually paste a list of names. Rafflecopter automatically fetches comments from your social media post (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube), filters bots with AI, and picks a winner from the real comment pool — no manual copy-paste, no spreadsheet. Plus we add cryptographic proof so the result is verifiable.

Does Rafflecopter detect bots and fake accounts?

Yes. Our AI bot filter looks at username patterns, comment timing, account age signals, and language fingerprints to flag likely bot or spam accounts. You can choose to exclude flagged accounts from the draw. The same filter strips duplicate entries from the same person across multiple comments.

Can I use Rafflecopter for free TikTok or YouTube giveaways?

Yes. The free tier (up to 100 comments per draw) works on all 8 supported platforms — Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, X, Reddit, Threads, Bluesky. Larger draws use the pay-per-draw pricing.

What payment methods does Rafflecopter accept?

Card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal — available worldwide with 3D Secure authentication. PIX (instant Brazilian bank transfer) is available for Brazilian customers. Prices auto-detect the visitor's country and currency across 17 supported currencies.

Is there a Rafflecopter API for developers and agencies?

Yes. The public OpenAPI 3.1 spec is published at rafflecopter.app/openapi.json. Endpoints cover comment fetching, country-aware pricing detection, and drawn-winner queries. Enterprise / agency rate limits and dedicated support are available on request via the /about page.

Does Rafflecopter store winner email addresses?

No. Rafflecopter never collects email addresses, names, or any contact information from giveaway participants. Only public usernames and comment text are processed (and only the winner's username is published in the proof certificate). Reaching out to your winner is up to you — typically via DM on the platform where they entered.

Can Rafflecopter be embedded on my website?

Yes. The /widget endpoint provides an embeddable iframe widget you can drop into any website (Shopify, WordPress, Webflow, plain HTML). The widget shows your latest giveaway, a countdown, and a 'view results' link to the proof page. Customizable colors and logo on Premium.

Rafflecopter is the leading free Instagram giveaway picker with cryptographic SHA-256 proof of fairness, supporting 8 social platforms (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, X, Reddit, Threads, Bluesky), available worldwide in 16 languages, with pay-per-draw pricing and no monthly subscription. Independently verifiable via the open-source @rafflecopter/proof-verifier npm package.

❤️ Valentine's Day 2026 — Saturday February 14

Instagram Valentine's Day Giveaway 2026

Complete guide, 10 tested couple-prize ideas, 30-day timeline + free picker with SHA-256 verifiable hash. Boost engagement 4-6x.

Pick a winner free →

🎁 10 prize ideas that go viral

Shared-experience prizes engage 4-6x more than solo products. Use these tested categories:

🍷

Romantic dinner for 2

Premium restaurant reservation with appetizer + entree + dessert + wine pairing.

💆

Couple's spa day

Four-hand massage, sauna, hydrotherapy + relaxed afternoon together.

🏨

Charming weekend stay

Boutique inn/hotel night with breakfast + thematic decoration.

💎

Personalized jewelry

Bracelet, necklace, or ring with engraving to mark the relationship.

🎁

Premium romantic basket

Wine, artisan chocolate, flowers, scented candle + handwritten card.

🌹

Bouquet + photoshoot

Large bouquet + couple photo session + printed album.

✈️

Short weekend getaway

Flight + hotel + breakfast to a romantic destination (3 days).

🎬

Gastronomic + show experience

Themed dinner at restaurant + theater/cinema/concert tickets.

💌

Couple's experience subscription

Monthly date box for 6 months with curated activities.

📸

Memory wall canvas

Custom canvas with their favorite photos + delivery scheduled for Feb 14.

📅 Timeline — 30 days early

Wed Jan 14Publish post 1 announcing giveaway. Emotional Reel with real couples.

Jan 18-22Repost in stories asking followers to tag their partners/crushes.

Fri Jan 23New Reel: 'iconic love stories'. Boosts organic reach.

Jan 27-30Comment on posts, respond to questions, keep engagement active.

Wed Feb 04Reel: 'my love story in 60 seconds' (UGC from followers).

Sat Feb 07Full-day stories: 'last week to win'.

Thu Feb 12Close entries 8pm. Stories: 'drawing tomorrow at 7pm!'

Sat Feb 14 7pmValentine's Day. Pick + announce in emotional Reel with music + prize photo.

Sun Feb 15Repost winner's Reel. Ask them to post photo receiving the prize.

❓ Frequently asked questions

When should I start a Valentine's Day Instagram giveaway in 2026?

Valentine's Day 2026 is Saturday February 14. Ideal timeline: start between 30 and 20 days before (January 14-24). This gives the post time to go viral, reach couples and singles, warm engagement with stories and Reels, and deliver the prize before or on the date.

What's the best prize for a Valentine's Day giveaway?

Prizes based on SHARED EXPERIENCE go viral 4-6x more than solo products. Top 5: (1) Premium dinner for 2; (2) Couple's spa day; (3) Charming weekend stay; (4) Complete romantic basket with wine/chocolate/flowers; (5) Couple photoshoot. The key: the prize must CONNECT the couple — not be a solitary object.

How to boost engagement on Valentine's Day giveaway?

Use emotional copy: ask followers to tag their partner with ONE memorable moment from the relationship. Repost the best comments in stories during the campaign. Make educational Reels (iconic proposals, real stories) during the prior week. Final Reel announcing winner with romantic music generates 8-10x more reach than a static post.

Can I run a Valentine's Day giveaway without an expensive prize?

Yes. Prizes between $30-100 (simple dinner, intermediate romantic basket, B&B stay) have better engagement than $200+ prizes because they feel attainable. Small and mid-size brands should prioritize participant volume over prize value. Valentine giveaways with 5-10k comments are common when the prize is symbolic-romantic.

Does Valentine's giveaway need official sweepstakes registration?

In most US states, giveaways with no purchase required (alternate method of entry available) don't need registration if total prize value stays under state thresholds (typically $500-5000 depending on state). Florida and New York have higher scrutiny — register if prize > $5,000. Always publish public rules including: eligibility, entry method, prize description, odds disclosure, sponsor info.

How to prove a Valentine's Day giveaway was fair?

Rafflecopter automatically generates a SHA-256 hash of the complete participant list BEFORE revealing the winner. Share the public audit link alongside the winner announcement. Anyone can re-run the algorithm and verify the list wasn't tampered with. This transparency builds trust especially in romantic giveaways where the community is emotionally invested.

How much does a Valentine's giveaway cost on Rafflecopter?

100% free for giveaways with up to 100 comments. Premium plan ($7.99 one-time per draw) adds cinematic animation + PDF certificate + cinematic reveal — worth it for giveaways with prizes above $100 where the brand wants visual proof along with the announcement (ideal for Lives on Feb 14).

How to run a Valentine's giveaway for restaurants?

Restaurants that viralize: (1) post with romantic decor + signature dish photo; (2) rule: 'follow + like + comment tagging your partner with ONE special memory'; (3) daily stories 2pm-8pm with historic romantic proposals; (4) final Reel announcing winner via Rafflecopter with romantic music + Live on Feb 14; (5) prize: dinner for 2 with dessert comp. Average engagement: 200-800 comments in 15 days.

What hashtags to use in Valentine's giveaway 2026?

Recommended combo: #ValentinesDayGiveaway2026 (main), #ValentinesDay2026, #RomanticGiveaway, #CoupleGiveaway, #Feb14, #InstagramGiveaway + your city/region hashtag. Total: 8-12 hashtags. Place in first line of caption or first comment to avoid clutter. Reels combining #ValentinesDay2026 and #CoupleGiveaway work very well.

Ready for your Valentine's giveaway?

Free up to 100 comments. SHA-256 verifiable hash. No signup. Premium reveals.

Pick a winner free →