How RaffleSelect Picks a Random Winner, Explained Simply
If you've ever used RaffleSelect, you've seen the end result: a name appears, perhaps after a countdown, and you have your winner. But what happens before that? Which comments count, how do filters change the pool, and what does "random" mean here?
This post walks through the process in plain language, from your post to your winner.
Step 1: You choose the post
Everything starts with a social media post that people have commented on. RaffleSelect works with posts on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok. You pick the platform and the post you want to draw from.
On the Platinum plan, you can choose more than one post, even across different platforms. This is the multi-network option, and it combines all those comments into a single draw.
Step 2: The comments are loaded
RaffleSelect loads the comments from your post. How many it loads depends on your plan:
| Plan | Comments loaded |
|---|---|
| Free | Up to 600 |
| Silver | Up to 2,000 |
| Gold | Up to 5,000 |
| Platinum | Unlimited |
If your post has more comments than your plan covers, it's worth upgrading for that draw so every entry is included. You can compare plans on the pricing page.
Step 3: Filters decide which comments are eligible
At this point you have a list of comments. Filters turn that list into a list of eligible entries, matching the rules you set for your giveaway. You choose which ones to use.
Duplicate filter
If one person commented ten times, should they have ten chances? Usually not. The duplicate filter keeps one entry per person, so everyone is on equal footing. Available on all plans.
Hashtag filter
If your rules said "include #MyGiveaway in your comment", the hashtag filter counts only comments that contain it. Comments without it are left out. Available on all plans.
Block list
The block list removes named accounts from the draw entirely. It's useful for staff, family, partners and previous winners. Available on Silver and above.
Bonus entries
The opposite of the block list: bonus entries give named users extra chances. If your rules say, for example, that existing customers get an extra entry, this is how you apply it. Available on Silver and above.
Step 4: You choose how many winners and substitutes
Before the draw, you set:
- Number of winners: how many people will get a prize.
- Substitutes: backup winners, picked in the same draw. If a winner doesn't respond or turns out to be ineligible, you go to the next substitute instead of running the draw again.
Picking substitutes up front is a good habit. It saves time and shows everyone the backup order was decided at the same moment as the winner.
Step 5: The random pick
Now the actual draw happens. Here's the key point: after your filters are applied, every eligible entry has an equal chance of being picked. Nobody's comment is favored because of when they posted, how long their comment is, or how many followers they have.
The one exception is bonus entries, and only because you chose to add them. A person with a bonus entry has more entries in the pool, so they have more chances, exactly as your rules said they would.
Step 6: The reveal
On Gold and Platinum plans, you can switch on a countdown, a short animation before the winner appears. It's handy when you're recording the draw or showing it live, because it builds a moment of suspense.
You can also add your own branding to the result (Gold and Platinum), so the announcement looks like yours.
Step 7: The winner certificate
Once the winner is picked, you get a winner certificate: a shareable image of the result. Post it in a story, pin it to the giveaway post or send it to the winner. It's a clear, simple record that the draw happened.
What RaffleSelect doesn't decide
RaffleSelect picks from the entries you give it, using the filters you choose. It doesn't decide your rules for you. You're still responsible for:
- Writing clear rules and following the platform's promotion guidelines.
- Choosing filters that match those rules.
- Checking that the winner meets your eligibility criteria.
- Contacting the winner and delivering the prize.
Need a quick decision instead?
Not every choice needs a full giveaway draw. For settling a tie or a small decision, RaffleSelect also has Flip a Coin and Roll Dice.
If you have questions about a specific draw, the support page is the place to start. Ready to try it? Start your giveaway.