Class & teams · Free
Random pair generator
Pair students for partner work and give them someone new next time. Two people per group is ready to go; an odd class makes one trio. Save the rounds you use, with names kept in your browser.
- No account
- Runs on your device
- Phone & desktop
Find a new partner for everyone
Names stay in your browser
Paste up to 300 names. Add a label with a tab or “ | ”, for example Mia | A. Tap a name below to mark someone absent today.
Settings
Only rounds you confirm with “Use this round” count.
Pair rules
Your pairs
Add names and press Make pairs
Drag a name into another group; on a phone, press and hold it first. Or tap a name, then another name to swap them, or a group heading to move it there.
Ready when your class is.
Classes & memory
History
A class you can come back to Save names, rules and up to 40 confirmed rounds on this device. Export a class file to carry them to another browser.
Rules can conflict The shuffle looks for a good fit within a short search. If a rule cannot be kept, the result names it so you can adjust the groups.
Partner work with one draw
Paste the class list and press “Make pairs”. Two people per group is selected. With an odd number, the default puts the extra person in one trio rather than leaving someone alone. You can choose one smaller group if a solo task is suitable.
Mark absences before the draw and keep repeat avoidance on. Check the cards, adjust a pairing if needed and press “Use this round” when students start working.
What the fair shuffle considers
Without rules or saved history, a Fisher–Yates shuffle gives each person the same chance of landing in each group. With conditions, the generator tries several arrangements and improves them by swapping people. It keeps the requested sizes first, then favors pair rules, new partners and even label mixing.
This is a short search, not a proof that the best possible arrangement has been found. Check any named rule warnings before using the round.
New partners across lessons
Leave “Avoid repeat partners” on and confirm a result with “Use this round”. Only confirmed rounds count; shuffling through previews does not fill the history. Recent partners carry more weight than older ones.
After several lessons, some repeats become unavoidable, especially with large groups. The result shows how many pairs are new and how many have already worked together in the last 40 saved rounds.
Keep people apart, together or evenly mixed
Add a keep-apart rule for people who need separate working spaces, or a keep-together rule for a support partner. Together rules link into clusters, so A with B and B with C also links A with C. A cluster bigger than a group produces a warning.
Labels are yours to choose: A/B/C for experience, girl/boy if useful for your activity, or leader/member to spread leaders. Add a label after a tab, “ | ” or “ ; ” and turn on label mixing. Labels guide the balance; they are not fixed quotas.
Rotate partners without losing the class list
For speaking practice, peer feedback or lab work, save each completed pairing before the next draw. The next search favors people who have not worked together and penalizes recent partners more. A support pair can stay together with a rule, though that deliberately limits rotation.
Show the pairs on a projector or copy them into your lesson notes. Export the class file for a substitute teacher so the saved pairings travel with the names. Once everyone has met, repeats are expected; the tool keeps trying to reduce them.
More ways to split your list
Frequently asked questions
What happens with an odd number of students?
By default, one group contains three people and the rest contain two. For a class of one, the only possible group contains that one person.
Can I rotate partners every lesson?
Yes. Keep repeat avoidance on and confirm each pairing with “Use this round”. The next draw uses the last 40 saved rounds to favor new partners.
Can I keep a support pair together?
Yes. Add a keep-together rule for those two people. If the rules conflict or a linked cluster will not fit, the result shows a warning for you to review.
Is the group generator free without an account?
Yes. You can create groups, save classes in this browser and export files without signing up. There is no daily limit.
Are names uploaded anywhere?
No. Names are processed in your browser and never sent by the tool. When device saving is on, classes remain in this browser’s local storage until you delete them.
Will my class still be here next week?
Yes, if device saving stays on and your browser keeps its local storage. Private browsing, clearing site data or using another browser can remove or hide it; export a class file as a copy.
Take a break
