How to Pick a YouTube Giveaway Winner From Comments

How do you pick a YouTube giveaway winner?

To pick a YouTube giveaway winner, paste the video link into a YouTube comment picker, set the number of winners, and draw once from the top- level comments.

1. Close entries. Pin a comment saying entries are closed once the deadline passes.
2. Copy the video link. Click Share under the video and copy the link.
3. Paste it into the picker. Open the YouTube comment picker and paste the link.
4. Set the number of winners. Prizes plus backups, up to five in one draw.
5. Draw once and record it. The recording makes a natural segment in your next video.
6. Verify and announce. Check the winner against your rules, then reply to their comment and name them in the next upload or a community post.

Which YouTube links work?

Any link to a public YouTube video, Short or live stream replay works, whether it is a full URL or a youtu.be short link.

Why don't replies count as entries?

On a busy giveaway video, most replies are conversation: people answering each other, not entering. Counting them would let anyone enter repeatedly by replying in threads. GiveawayPicker draws only from top-level comments and enters each channel once. Say “leave a comment on the video, not a reply” in your rules so nobody is surprised.

What do YouTube's contest policies ask for?

YouTube lets creators run contests but puts the responsibility on them. In summary, its Contest Policies and Guidelines ask creators to:

• Take full responsibility for the contest and follow the laws where it runs.
• Publish official rules, including entry terms, eligibility and prize details.
• Make clear that YouTube is not a sponsor and release YouTube from liability.
• Keep the contest within YouTube's Community Guidelines and Terms of Service.

This is a summary, not legal advice. Check YouTube's current policy and your local promotion law before a high-value prize.

Where do you put the rules on YouTube?

Put the short version of the rules in the video and the full version in the description, where viewers and YouTube's policies expect to find them.

Can you run one giveaway across several videos?

Yes, but a comment draw reads one video at a time. For a giveaway series, either give each video its own prize and draw each one, or collect the entrants from every video into one list and draw once with the random name picker. Say in the rules whether commenting on several videos gives several entries.

Can you pick a winner from a Community post?

Not with the YouTube comment picker, which reads comments on videos, Shorts and live stream replays. If you announce a giveaway in a Community post, ask people to enter by commenting on a video, or copy the names from the post into a list for the name picker.

Do you need to disclose a sponsored giveaway?

If a brand gave you the prize or paid for the giveaway, yes. YouTube asks creators to tick the paid promotion setting on videos that include paid product placements or endorsements, and advertising rules in many countries also require a clear disclosure. The contest disclaimer that YouTube isn't a sponsor is a separate requirement.

Frequently asked questions