How to Run a TikTok Giveaway: A Guide and Tool for Picking Winners
Running contests on TikTok is trickier than on Instagram. Why? Because TikTok hides comments. If your video has 500+ comments, the app will only show you a fraction of them. Manually scrolling through and “pointing a finger” at a winner is virtually impossible.
Today, we’ll show you how to bypass this limitation and run a fair draw in just 2 minutes using a specialized comment downloader.
The Tool: To select the winner, we will use the Ukrainian service SOM. It can “extract” all comments via the official API, even if there are thousands of them. 👉 Open TikTok Randomizer
Step 1. Preparation and Rules (Avoiding the Ban)
TikTok algorithms are very strict regarding “artificial engagement.” To prevent your video from being deleted or your account from getting a shadowban, follow these rules:
Avoid writing the word “Giveaway” directly on the video. TikTok might throttle your reach. Instead, use words like “Gift,” “Surprise,” or “Contest.”
Keep requirements simple. The best mechanics for TikTok are:
Following the account.
Commenting on a specific topic (e.g., “What is your favorite color?”). This helps protect against bots that only spam generic “I’m in” comments.
Set a clear deadline. State exactly when the results will be announced in both the video and the description.
Step 2. How to Pick a Winner (The Technical Part)
When the time comes to pick a winner, don’t try to count manually.
Instructions:
Copy the link to your TikTok contest video (Share -> Copy Link).
Go to it-som.net.
Paste the link and click “Start.”
What happens next?
The SOM service will connect to TikTok and download the list of everyone who left a comment.
It will filter out duplicates (if one participant commented 10 times, they will be counted as 1, provided you select that setting).
The system will show you the total number of unique participants.
Step 3. Verifying the Follow (Crucial Step!)
This is where many people make a mistake. The randomizer will pick a comment at random and show you the winner’s username.
But are they following you? SOM (like any other secure service) does not have access to your private follower list. This is for your account’s security, so you don’t have to provide your password.
Your Actions:
Note the winner’s handle on the SOM screen.
Click on their handle (or find them manually on TikTok).
Verify manually: Is this person following you?
✅ Yes: Congratulations, you have a winner!
❌ No: Go back to SOM and click the “Reselect” button.
This takes only about 10 seconds but ensures the prize goes to a legitimate participant.
Why shouldn’t you use phone “Screen Recording” to scroll?
Some creators simply scroll through comments with their finger while recording the screen. On TikTok, this is unfair because:
The comment feed is not chronological. TikTok shows “relevant” comments first, not all of them.
You physically cannot scroll through 2,000+ comments to the very end.
Participants do not trust this method.
Using a professional service like SOM shows respect for your audience. You give everyone an equal chance—whether they commented first or last.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to enter my TikTok password? No! To download comments, a password is not required. You just paste the link. It is 100% safe.
How many comments can be downloaded? SOM can handle any volume, even for accounts with millions of followers.
How do I record the results? We recommend using Screen Recording while using the site. Then, post that video to your Stories or as a new TikTok video as your official report.
