Frequently Asked Questions - Giveaway Help

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know about running transparent giveaways with PickSafely.

What is PickSafely?: PickSafely is a third-party platform that helps businesses, agencies, and creators run transparent, verifiable giveaways. We use cryptographic randomization to ensure fair winner selection and create permanent public verification pages that prove your giveaway was conducted honestly.
How does PickSafely prevent giveaway rigging?: We use industry-standard cryptographic hash functions to randomly select winners. This process is mathematically verifiable and cannot be manipulated. Each giveaway generates a unique ID and public verification page that serves as permanent proof of fair selection.
Do I need technical knowledge to use PickSafely?: Not at all! Our platform is designed to be user-friendly. Simply paste your participant emails, click to run the giveaway, and we handle all the technical aspects. The entire process takes just minutes.
How do I get started?: Sign up for an account and choose either our Starter plan ($29/mo) or Pro plan ($59/mo). Once subscribed, you can immediately start running transparent giveaways. You must have an active subscription to run giveaways.

What plans do you offer?: We have three main options: Starter ($29/mo) for up to 5 giveaways with 1,000 entrants each, Pro ($59/mo) for up to 20 giveaways with 20,000 entrants each, and Enterprise (custom pricing) for unlimited needs. We also offer one-off giveaway pricing.
Do you offer a free trial?: We do not offer a free trial, but we do offer a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. If PickSafely is not performing to your satisfaction, contact us within 30 days of your subscription for a refund.
Can I change plans anytime?: Absolutely! You can upgrade or downgrade your plan at any time through your dashboard settings. Simply go to Settings and use the Manage Subscription & Billing option to be redirected to your Stripe customer portal.
How do I cancel my subscription?: You can cancel anytime by logging into your account, going to Settings (or visiting /settings), and using the Manage Subscription & Billing option. You will be redirected to your Stripe customer portal where you can cancel your subscription.
What payment methods do you accept?: We accept all major credit cards, debit cards, and ACH bank transfers for Enterprise customers. All payments are processed securely through Stripe.

How do I run a giveaway?: It is simple: 1) Log into your dashboard, 2) Paste or upload participant email addresses, 3) Click the Run Giveaway button, 4) Receive the winner and unique verification URL instantly. The whole process takes less than a minute.
Can I upload participant data in bulk?: Yes! Pro and Enterprise plans include bulk upload tools. You can upload CSV files or paste lists of emails directly. Our system automatically validates and deduplicates entries.
What happens if I have duplicate entries?: Our system automatically detects and removes duplicate email addresses before running the giveaway. Each unique email has only one chance to win, ensuring fairness.
Can I run multiple giveaways simultaneously?: Yes! As long as you stay within the monthly limits of your plan, you can run as many simultaneous giveaways as needed. Each generates its own unique verification page.

What is a verification page?: Each giveaway creates a permanent public page (e.g., PickSafely.com/yxuYDp9437pHpwvOCUSZ) showing the anonymized winner, total entries, draw date, and cryptographic proof. This page cannot be modified or deleted.
How is winner information displayed publicly?: We protect privacy by anonymizing email addresses on public pages. For example, an email like test@gmail.com appears as **st@gm**l.com. Only authorized users in your account can see full winner details.
Can verification pages be edited or deleted?: No. Verification pages are immutable once created. This permanence is crucial for maintaining trust and providing indisputable proof that your giveaway was conducted fairly.
How long are verification pages available?: Forever. We maintain all verification pages permanently as part of our commitment to transparency. This allows anyone to verify past giveaways at any time.

How do you protect participant data?: All data is encrypted both in transit (using TLS) and at rest (using AES-256 encryption). We follow industry best practices for data security and undergo regular security audits.
Who can access my giveaway data?: Only authorized users on your account can access full participant lists and winner information. Public verification pages show only anonymized data. Our staff cannot access your data without your explicit permission.
Are you GDPR compliant?: Yes. We are fully GDPR compliant. You can export or delete your data at any time, and we provide data processing agreements for European customers upon request.
What happens to my data if I cancel?: Personal account data is deleted 90 days after cancellation. However, public verification pages remain permanent for transparency. You can export all your data before cancelling.

How does your randomization work?: We use cryptographically secure random number generation based on SHA-256 hashing. Each participant is assigned a unique hash, and the winner is selected using a verifiable random seed that ensures true randomness.
Can I integrate PickSafely with other tools?: Pro and Enterprise plans include API access for integrations. You can programmatically create giveaways, retrieve results, and embed verification data into your own systems.
What file formats do you support for uploads?: We support CSV, TXT, and Excel files for bulk uploads. You can also paste data directly or use our API for programmatic entry submission.
Is there a limit on how many participants per giveaway?: Yes, limits depend on your plan: Starter supports up to 1,000 entrants, Pro up to 20,000, and Enterprise has no limits. For one-off giveaways, we can accommodate any size.

Can PickSafely help with giveaway rules and regulations?: While we provide the technical platform for fair selection, you are responsible for ensuring your giveaway complies with local laws and regulations. We recommend consulting legal counsel for official rules.
Do you provide winner notification services?: No, we provide the selection mechanism and verification. You are responsible for contacting winners and fulfilling prizes according to your giveaway rules.
Can I use PickSafely for sweepstakes, contests, and raffles?: PickSafely can be used for any random selection where you need transparent, verifiable results. However, ensure your use case complies with local laws regarding sweepstakes, contests, and raffles.
What jurisdictions do you support?: PickSafely is available globally. However, you are responsible for ensuring your giveaways comply with laws in your jurisdiction and where your participants are located.

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