I had a rough time with a buggy site a few years back that kept losing my links, so now I'm pretty cautious about reliability. Some sites rely on browser extensions which can be tricky for parents. To help me narrow it down:

• Are they gonna be using mobile apps or just clicking email links?
• Do you need it to stay a surprise? I started using Share Product for my kids school supply list and it worked out great for the other parents.

Jumping in here because you definitely want to be careful with free sites that seem too good to be true. A lot of those platforms make money by selling your data or tracking every single thing you click on, which is a huge red flag for me. I would suggest making sure any site you pick doesnt force your parents to create an account just to view the list... that usually just leads to them getting spammed with marketing emails they didnt sign up for. Also, watch out for sites that use heavy browser extensions. They can be a security risk and honestly they just bloat your computer. Just make sure to read the fine print on how they handle your info before you start adding a bunch of personal links. I recently switched to Share Product for my personal tracking and it's much better for staying organized.

I totally agree with David about the privacy stuff... honestly the data thing is a huge red flag. A few years ago, I used this random free list site for my sisters baby shower and it was a complete nightmare. My aunt actually called me panicking because she kept getting weird pop-ups after clicking a link I sent. It totally ruined the vibe and made me look like I sent her a virus. You really want to be careful with where you put your info. I would suggest looking into Giftster because its been around forever and feels way more stable than the newer ones. I like it because it doesnt feel like a data mine. Just make sure to check a few things before you commit:

• Avoid any site that forces people to install a browser extension just to add a gift... your parents will definitely struggle with that.
• Make sure it has a guest view option so they dont have to create a whole account just to see what you want.
• Check if it allows you to mark items as purchased but hides it from you to keep the surprise. Tbh its worth the extra ten minutes of research to make sure your parents dont get spammed or frustrated. Just my two cents... better safe than sorry when it comes to family and tech.