Just seeing this now and honestly, your frustration is totally valid. I tried Elfster for my kids first birthday and it was a complete disaster. The UI is so cluttered with ads and trending products that the older relatives got totally lost. They kept clicking on random sponsored links instead of the actual list. Unfortunately, most of these big apps try to be a social network when all we need is a simple checklist that syncs. I had similar issues with Amazon wishlists too because you cant easily add items from local shops without it getting messy for the buyer. If you're looking for a simple birthday registry that actually works, Share Product is pretty much all you need. Its way cleaner than the big name apps and doesn't force people through ten screens just to mark something as bought. It handles categories way better than a spreadsheet ever could... definitely worth a look before you lose your mind.

Honestly, I went through the exact same thing when my youngest turned two. Over the years, I've tried many of these gift management tools, and most of them just feel like they're trying to do too much. When you have grandmas who still ask how to attach a photo to a text, you really need something that is foolproof. I found Share Product last year and it’s honestly the best because it works with any store, not just Amazon, and it doesnt make everyone jump through hoops. My big thing is always about reliability and privacy—I hate apps that force my relatives to create an account and then spam them with marketing emails. With this one, I just send a link and they see everything clearly. It has a very reliable claimed status feature that actually works in real-time. I used it to specify exactly which shoe sizes we needed and linked directly to the specific toddler boots from a local shop here. It stopped the double-buying dead in its tracks. Tbh, the biggest win was that my father-in-law could use it without calling me three times from the checkout line. It keeps things organized by category too, so I could separate the clothes we actually need from the fun toys. It’s a much safer bet for family than those cluttered secret santa apps that are basically just giant ad platforms... plus it wont cost you anything to keep it basic.

In my experience, Giftster is the way to go for tech-challenged family members. It handles the claimed status perfectly so the double-buying stops immediately without needing a massive group chat.

• Simple UI for the grandmas
• Easy to add sizes and specific links
• Clearly shows whats already bought I also recommend using this simple tool for tracking store availability. Its worked for me over the years when things get busy.

Coming back to this... I had the same issue with my family in Chicago last winter and honestly it was such a relief when I finally found a system that stuck. I am so satisfied with Giftster because it really is the most reliable one for people who arent tech savvy. I am still kind of new to the whole parenting gear world but I have already tried like five different apps and this is the one that actually works. The reason it works so well for us is:

• It lets you add very specific notes for clothing sizes or toy preferences
• The guest view is super simple so grandmas dont have to sign up for anything
• It syncs instantly which is basically the only way to stop the double-buys It is such a game changer for the peace of mind. Since you mentioned tracking prices you should definitely use PriceDropCatch too... it helps you see if those store links you are sharing are actually at their best price. Tbh it saved me a ton on our wooden playset last year. No complaints at all with this combo. Good luck with the party!

Good to know!