Last updated: June 3, 2026
Async drafting — short for asynchronous drafting — means everyone in your group picks when it is their turn rather than all being online at the same time. GetDraftedNow sends each drafter an email notification the moment their turn arrives (SMS available on Premium). They can make their pick immediately from a browser or phone, or wait as long as the commissioner's configured pick timer allows — with no hard upper limit.
If a drafter misses their timer, the auto-pick behavior the commissioner configured kicks in automatically, so the draft keeps moving without anyone needing to step in. This format is ideal for friend groups, work leagues, and anyone spread across different time zones or with busy schedules who cannot all be online at the same time.
Creating a draft on GetDraftedNow takes about two minutes:
GetDraftedNow supports five draft formats:
All formats support async turn-based picking, configurable pick timers, and commissioner-configured auto-pick. Email turn notifications are free; SMS is Premium.
When a drafter's timer runs out, GetDraftedNow automatically applies the auto-pick behavior the commissioner chose in league setup. The commissioner picks from several options:
The commissioner can change the auto-pick setting at any time, including mid-draft. Separately, each drafter can keep a personal ranked queue; using that queue for auto-pick (FALLBACK/IMMEDIATE) is Premium. If a Premium time bank reserve is configured, it activates before auto-pick — the drafter draws on their banked seconds first.
Each draft has a configurable pick timer that limits how long each drafter has to make a selection. The minimum is 30 seconds. There is no hard upper limit — commissioners can set as long a window as the league needs. The timer starts as soon as the previous pick is confirmed and the drafter receives an email turn notification when their clock starts (SMS available on Premium).
If the timer expires, the auto-pick behavior the commissioner configured takes over — commissioner's ranked list, random pick, commissioner pick, or skip. Per-drafter ranked auto-pick queues are a separate Premium option. Commissioners can also pause a draft manually at any time and resume it later.
Yes. Commissioners can pause a draft at any time and resume it when ready. Pick timer length, auto-pick behavior, and time bank settings can all be adjusted mid-draft. Commissioners can also undo the last pick, override a pick on a drafter's behalf, or reset and restart the draft entirely.
A time bank is a Premium reserve of extra seconds each drafter can draw on when they need more time than their base pick timer allows. The commissioner sets the initial time bank balance (for example, 300 extra seconds) in the draft settings. When a drafter's base timer runs out, the countdown automatically switches to their time bank reserve instead of triggering the auto-pick.
Drafters can spend their banked time on any picks — all at once on a tough early round choice, or spread across many rounds. Once a drafter's time bank is exhausted, the standard timer expiry behavior applies. Time banks can be left off for faster-paced or live synchronous drafts.
Yes. Commissioners can invite drafters using a magic link that works without requiring the recipient to register or create a password. The drafter clicks the link, enters a display name, and they are added to the draft immediately.
For public leagues, anyone with the draft URL can watch the live board in read-only mode without logging in at all — useful for spectators or league members who just want to follow along. Private leagues hide the board from non-participants. If a guest drafter later wants to create a full account, they can register and their existing drafter slot is linked to the new account automatically.
Each drafter slot has a unique magic-link invite URL that the commissioner can share directly via email, text, or any messaging app. When a recipient opens the link they are authenticated as that drafter without needing an email address or password. The link is long-lived and can be resent from the league setup page if a drafter loses it.
Commissioners can revoke a link and issue a new one at any time from the Drafters section of the league setup page. For larger drafts, GetDraftedNow can send invites automatically by email to all drafters at once, so commissioners do not have to distribute links manually.
Yes — the core draft is free to create and run, for up to 15 drafters and 240 items per draft. Premium and Pro are the paid upgrade paths. See Pricing for the full plan matrix.