Short answers about the wheel, fairness, your data and the app. If something is missing, write to [email protected]: we read every message, and common questions end up here.
Randomness and fairness
Is the wheel really random?
Yes. The winner is picked with your browser’s cryptographic generator (crypto.getRandomValues) before the animation starts. You can test it yourself: the home page has a button that spins the wheel 10,000 times and shows the distribution, all in your browser.
Why did one name come up twice in a row?
Spins are independent. With 10 names and 5 spins, at least one repeat happens in about 70% of cases. If you want no repeats, turn on "Remove winner after spin" or use the Order method.
Can someone rig the wheel?
No. The result does not depend on when Start or Stop is pressed. The only way to change the odds is a weight, and weights are visible in the list and in a draw proof.
Does Stop change the result?
No. Stop only cuts the slowdown short; the wheel lands on the segment that was picked when the spin began.
How does a draw with proof work?
Before the spin the site publishes a fingerprint of your list and of a secret number. The spin picks the winner from that secret. Afterwards the secret is revealed, and anyone can recompute the result in their own browser.
Using the wheel
How do I paste a list from a spreadsheet?
Select a column in Google Sheets or Excel, copy it and paste it into the entries field. Every cell becomes one line, and empty cells are skipped. CSV and TXT files open with Import.
How do I make one entry more likely?
Open Weights & colours and raise its weight. An entry with weight 2 is twice as likely as one with weight 1. Weights are shown to everyone who sees the wheel.
How do I split people into teams?
Choose Teams as the method and set how many teams you need. One spin shares everyone out; team sizes differ by one person at most.
What does Shuffle do?
It mixes the order of the entries on the wheel. It does not affect the odds: every entry keeps the same chance wherever it sits.
How many entries can a wheel hold?
Up to 10,000. The wheel draws up to 1,000 segments; with more entries it shows a sample, but every entry keeps its chance.
Saving and sharing
Where is my wheel saved?
In this browser, on this device. It stays there until you delete it or clear the site data. Nothing is sent to us unless you share the wheel, open a live room or run a draw with proof.
Does a shared link update when I change the wheel?
Yes, on the device you shared it from: your later edits are saved to the same link. People who open it always see the current version.
How do I open my wheel on another device?
Share it and open the link there, or create an account: your saved wheels open on any device where you sign in.
How long does a shared link work?
As long as people use it. A link that nobody has opened for 365 days is deleted, and so is a draw proof.
Live rooms and presenting
What is a live room?
A shared wheel for a group. The host opens a room on a laptop or a projector; people join from their phones by scanning the QR code or typing the room code, add their own names and watch the same spin live. Nobody needs an account or an app. Start one from the menu: Live room, then Create a live room.
How do people join a live room?
They scan the QR code or open the join page and type the room code. Then they add their own name from their phone and watch the spin live.
Can I remove a name or stop new people joining?
Yes. The host can remove any name, lock the room, or approve names before they reach the wheel.
How do I show the wheel on a projector?
Use Present: a dark full-screen view with just the wheel, the title and Start. It works on phones and tablets too.
How do I add the wheel to OBS?
Copy the spin link from Share and add it as a Browser source in OBS. There is a guide for streamers in the Guides section.
App and offline
How do I install the wheel on a phone or computer?
In Chrome or Edge, use the install button in the address bar or the menu. On iPhone and iPad, tap Share, then Add to Home Screen. The wheel then opens in its own window.
What works without an internet connection?
Once the wheel has been opened, spinning with every method, sounds, history and CSV export work offline. Live rooms, sharing and publishing a draw with proof need a connection.
How do I remove the app?
Remove it like any other app: long-press the icon on a phone, or use the app’s window menu on a computer. Your wheel stays in the browser until you clear the site data.
About the service
Who makes this service?
Wheel Spinner Online is an independent, free online tool. There is no sales team and nothing to buy. You can reach the people who build it at [email protected].
Why is everything free?
The wheel runs in your browser, so it costs little to run. We want it to stay free, without a paid plan.
Will there be ads?
Not at the moment. If we ever add a few, they will never appear in Present, in live rooms, in embedded wheels or on draw proofs, and we will ask for your consent first.
Which languages are available?
English, Español, Português, Français, Deutsch, Italiano, Polski, Türkçe, Bahasa Indonesia and Русский. Pick one in the header.