Giftful vs This Is What They Want
An honest, balanced 2026 comparison — what each app does well, where they differ, and which one fits your family.
Last reviewed: April 28, 2026
Giftful is a clean, web-first wishlist app with a minimalist look that's easy to share with friends. If you mainly want a single, well-designed personal wishlist, it gets out of the way and works.
This page compares Giftful and This Is What They Want fairly so you can pick the right tool for your situation.
Where Giftful wins
Giftful has been around long enough to earn loyal users for real reasons. Here's where it genuinely shines:
- Minimalist, very clean visual design that's pleasant to share.
- Fast individual list setup with very little friction.
- No app required — works in any browser, just like ours.
- Strong fit when one person just wants one wishlist.
Where This Is What They Want wins
This Is What They Want was designed family-first and shipped some features Giftful doesn't currently document. The biggest differences:
- Designed for whole families and ongoing groups, not a single user. Child profiles, family groups, friend groups, and a shared family hub are first-class features.
- Group gifting — pool money for bigger gifts with a progress bar.
- COPPA compliance with verifiable parental consent and a Parent Data Dashboard.
- AI item capture: barcode, photo, paste-any-URL, or just a description.
- Shared family calendar with birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and email reminders.
- Browser extension and PWA install for fast everyday use.
- Push notifications and price-drop alerts on tracked URLs.
Best for…
Giftful is best for: Giftful is a strong fit if you only need a clean, single-person wishlist that's easy to share and you don't need family-wide coordination, child profiles, group gifting, or COPPA-grade data controls.
This Is What They Want is best for: This Is What They Want is a stronger fit if you want one app to manage everyone's lists in your family year-round, you want documented COPPA compliance for kids, you want group gifting, or you want event reminders and a shared calendar.
Feature-by-feature: Giftful vs This Is What They Want
A side-by-side look at the features families ask about most. "Not documented" means the feature isn't publicly described on giftful.app or its app store listings — it may exist; we're just not making claims we can't verify.
| Feature | This Is What They Want | Giftful | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Add items from any retailer | Yes (URL, barcode, photo, description) | Yes (URL) | Both cross-store; we add barcode/photo/AI. |
| Surprise-safe claiming | Yes | Yes | Both hide claim status from the recipient. |
| Group gifting / pooled contributions | Yes (premium) | Not documented | Pool money toward one item. |
| Shared family calendar with reminders | Yes (premium) | Not documented | Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, exportable. |
| Browser extension | Yes | Not documented | One-click add from any product page. |
| PWA install | Yes | Web app | Install to home screen on any device. |
| Push notifications | Yes | Not documented | For event reminders and gift activity. |
| Price-drop alerts | Yes | Not documented | Auto-watch URLs for 5%+ drops. |
| Dark mode | Yes | Yes | Both support dark mode. |
| No-account viewing for relatives | Yes (family passcode) | Public link sharing | We use a family passcode model; Giftful uses public link sharing. |
| Dedicated child profiles (no kid logins) | Yes | Not documented | Designed for kids without giving them an account. |
| COPPA-compliant data controls | Yes (Parent Data Dashboard, consent, deletion) | Not documented | Required for US under-13 data. |
| Pricing | Free forever core, premium from $4.99/mo | Free | Both have free tiers. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Giftful free?
Giftful is free to use as a personal wishlist app. This Is What They Want is also free to start, with premium plans from $4.99/month for collaborative features like group gifting and the shared family calendar.
What's the best alternative to Giftful for families?
This Is What They Want is the closest like-for-like alternative for families. It keeps the "any browser, no app required for viewers" feel of Giftful while adding child profiles, group gifting, a shared family calendar, and COPPA-compliant data controls.
Can I import my Giftful wishlist?
There's no automatic importer today. Paste each item URL into This Is What They Want and the parser will fetch the name, photo, and price — most lists move over in a few minutes.
Do I have to make every recipient sign up?
No. Only the organizer creates an account. Relatives view and claim gifts using a family passcode in any browser — no account, no app.
Is This Is What They Want safe for kids?
Yes. We're COPPA compliant, never give children their own login, never sell data, never run third-party ads, and provide a Parent Data Dashboard to view, export, or delete your family's data at any time.
Try This Is What They Want free
Set up your family or group in under two minutes. Free forever core. No credit card required.
Related
- Best family gift list app for 2026 — What to look for in a modern family gift list app.
- Amazon wish list alternative — A universal alternative that works with every store.
- COPPA-compliant gift list for kids — How we keep children's wish lists safe and parent-controlled.