Compare
Pack to Dorm vs GiftList for care packages
Both help a student tell family what they want. With GiftList, a free wishlist, the giver buys and ships from the retailer. With Pack to Dorm, your student picks, family buys, and the box ships with a Pack to Dorm prepaid label.
What GiftList says about itself
Quoted word for word from GiftList's public pages, read on October 23, 2026. GiftList may have changed since then.
“The free wishlist & registry maker.”
“GiftList lets you create and share a dorm checklist for free.”
“Friends and family can reserve gifts — no account needed”
“GiftList is free to use.”
“Enter the correct address at the retailer; GiftList does not place the order for you.”
Side by side
| GiftList | Pack to Dorm | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (their words: “GiftList is free to use.”) | Free. |
| Who makes the list | The list owner adds gifts and shares one link. | Your student adds what they need from their phone. Family sees it on a shared list. |
| Who buys | Friends and family reserve and buy from the retailer. | Family buys from the store they like and marks it so nobody doubles up. |
| Getting it to campus | The giver enters the address at the retailer. GiftList says it “does not place the order for you.” | Pack the box and print a Pack to Dorm prepaid USPS or UPS label from your account. |
| When to send | Occasion reminders (their words: “Yes. In your profile’s Notifications & email card, under Occasion reminders, add dates in Your dates and choose each reminder’s times.”) | A shared family calendar for finals, birthdays and send dates. |
Prepaid labels are carrier postage plus a Pack to Dorm fee of $0.99 under $7.00 postage, or 15% of postage at $7.00 and up. The fee is shown before you pay. See Pricing.
Which one fits
If you only want a free list that friends can buy from, GiftList does that for free. If you want your student to pick what goes in the box and want the box to actually reach their dorm, with a label you print from the same account, that is what Pack to Dorm is for.