Shadow IT Index: April 2026
An ad platform and an AI app builder lead April's shadow IT, as AI tools spread through the rest of the list.
Updated October 7, 2026 · ChangelogSource: Torii Research, anonymized and aggregated usage data. Published April 1, 2026. Summary figures computed from the 31 apps in this report.
What kinds of apps
Every edition, by theme →Not in this edition, but in March 2026: Work suites and collaboration (8%), Design and video (4%), Browsers and search (2%).
Share of the 31 apps in this edition, by theme. Each app has one theme, assigned by Torii Research from what the product does; AI marks the AI themes. Select a theme to filter the list below. How themes work.
Top of the index
Ranked by adoption.
All 31 apps
Sales & Marketing
Google Ad Manager
Advertising Optimization · Ad Tech · Programmatic Advertising
About Google Ad Manager
Enables effective ad revenue growth through an integrated platform that enhances user experience while providing comprehensive tools to manage and analyze ad performance.
Theme: Sales, marketing, and CX
Vendor claims: none listed
Developer Tools
Bolt.new
AI Platform · Conversational AI · Website Builder
About Bolt.new
A conversational AI tool aimed at rapid web and mobile app creation.
Theme: AI coding and building · AI-native
Vendor claims: none listed
Productivity
VitalSource
Learning Platform · E-Learning · Education
About VitalSource
Provides a comprehensive digital textbook platform and eReader application that allows students to access academic titles offline while utilizing integrated study tools like annotation and search.
Theme: Personal and consumer apps
Vendor claims: none listed
Productivity
OpenClaw
Conversational AI · Calendar Productivity · Omnichannel Communication
About OpenClaw
Automates tasks by managing emails, calendars, and travel check-ins efficiently using popular chat applications, enhancing productivity and simplifying daily routines.
Theme: AI agents · AI-native
Vendor claims: none listed
Productivity
BlueSky
Open Source Management · Community Management · Social Media Platform
About BlueSky
Offers a dynamic social media platform that encourages creative expression and community building among users through interactive features and a user-friendly interface.
Theme: Personal and consumer apps
Vendor claims: none listed
Productivity
Genspark
AI Platform · AI Agent · Productivity Tools
About Genspark
An AI-powered productivity and creativity suite designed to enable users to perform complex tasks across content creation, data analysis, research, design, and communications through a conversational interface.
Theme: AI agents · AI-native
Vendor claims: none listed
Customer Success
Thankbox
Virtual Events · Personalized Gifts · Employee Engagement
About Thankbox
Enables users to create personalized group cards for various occasions while integrating video messages and reminders to enhance appreciation and celebration across teams.
Theme: Ops, HR, and finance
Vendor claims: none listed
Productivity
Spokenly
AI Platform · Text to Speech · Productivity Tools
About Spokenly
Transforms spoken language into written text seamlessly while offering free local models, support for personal API integrations, and subscription options for enhanced features.
Theme: AI notes and voice · AI-native
Vendor claims: none listed
Productivity
Okara AI
AI Generated Images and Videos · Conversational AI · AI Platform
About Okara AI
Provides a private multi-model AI workspace featuring end-to-end encryption and unified memory to allow secure switching between various open-source language and image generation models.
Theme: AI assistants · AI-native
Vendor claims: none listed
Operations
Transcribe
Transcription Services · Meeting Transcription
About Transcribe
Automatic audio to text conversion.
Theme: AI notes and voice · AI-native
Vendor claims: none listed
Developer Tools
LM Studio
LLM · AI Development · AI Platform
About LM Studio
Enables users to run a variety of local AI models on their computer, ensuring privacy and free access while leveraging powerful tools for personalized data processing and analysis.
Theme: AI coding and building · AI-native
Vendor claims: none listed
IT & Security
Hostinger
Cloud Hosting · Web Hosting · WordPress Hosting
About Hostinger
Hostinger is a web hosting provider, web builder, and Internet domain registrar, catering to a wide range of digital needs for businesses and individuals alike. It offers an array of hosting services, including shared hosting, VPS hosting, and cloud hosting, aimed at providing scalable, reliable, and affordable hosting solutions.
Theme: Developer and data tools
Vendor claims: ISO 27001, GDPR
Productivity
ChatBox AI
Conversational AI · Writing Assistance · AI Platform
About ChatBox AI
Generates AI-enhanced visuals and assists in content creation, offering tools for document editing, grammar checking, and social media post writing to enhance productivity and creativity.
Theme: AI assistants · AI-native
Vendor claims: none listed
Analytics & BI
Power Platform
Data-Driven Solution
About Power Platform
Analyze data, build solutions, automate processes, and create virtual agents.
Theme: Developer and data tools
Vendor claims: SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR
powerplatform.microsoft.com ↗ · Profile across every edition →
Developer Tools
Tavily
Search API · API Integration · Artificial Intelligence
About Tavily
Tavily is a search engine designed for AI agents, optimizing real-time, accurate results and enhancing research capabilities.
Theme: AI coding and building · AI-native
Vendor claims: GDPR
Operations
Datasite
Legal Operation Management · Finance API · Finance Analytics
About Datasite
Virtual data room platform.
Theme: Ops, HR, and finance
Vendor claims: SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR
Productivity
Tiimo
Time Management · Task Management · Productivity Tools
About Tiimo
Transforms tasks into actionable plans using visual timelines and AI task breakdown to enhance executive function and accessibility for users of diverse neurotypes.
Theme: Personal productivity
Vendor claims: none listed
Sales & Marketing
Adweek
Brand Management · Marketing Automation Platforms · Social Marketing
About Adweek
Halts broadcasting of a popular reality series in light of serious allegations, prioritizing ethical considerations and audience trust while leaving the show's future uncertain.
Theme: Sales, marketing, and CX
Vendor claims: none listed
IT & Security
Contrast Security
Code Security · Application Security · Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
About Contrast Security
Automatically detect and fix vulnerabilities and identify attacks.
Theme: Security and IT
Vendor claims: SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR
Developer Tools
Bruno
Version Control · API Documentation · API Development
About Bruno
Bruno is a fast and Git-friendly open-source API client. It stores API collections as plain text files in folders on your filesystem, supporting version control tools like Git for collaboration. Bruno operates offline and will not support cloud sync to ensure data privacy.
Theme: Developer and data tools
Vendor claims: none listed
Operations
Clockify
Task Management · Time Tracking · Project Management
About Clockify
Time tracking software for teams. It's a simple time tracker and timesheet app for tracking work hours on projects.
Theme: Personal productivity
Vendor claims: SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR
Analytics & BI
Explorium
Data API · Data Integration · Data Science and Machine Learning
About Explorium
Explorium offers a new breed of data science platform, fueled by Automated Data and Feature Discovery. By dynamically integrating a company’s internal data with thousands of external sources, the Explorium platform is able to extract the most relevant features and power superior machine learning models.
Theme: Developer and data tools
Vendor claims: SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR
Design
Gamma.com.ai
Presentations · Website Builder · Artificial Intelligence
About Gamma.com.ai
Transforms concepts into dynamic presentations by utilizing AI to create polished slides quickly while offering extensive templates and industry-specific designs for enhanced creativity.
Theme: AI content and media · AI-native
Vendor claims: none listed
Human Resource
Juicebox AI
Candidate Management · Talent Management · Recruitment Automation
About Juicebox AI
Enhances recruitment processes by utilizing AI to identify ideal candidates, streamline outreach efforts, and manage talent relationships effectively.
Theme: Ops, HR, and finance · AI-native
Vendor claims: SOC 2, GDPR
Operations
QR.io
QR Code Generator · Marketing Automation Platforms · QR Code
About QR.io
QR.io is a comprehensive QR code management platform designed to create, customize, and track QR codes for various marketing and operational purposes.
Theme: Sales, marketing, and CX
Vendor claims: GDPR
Productivity
VibeCodeApp
Mobile App Builder · Web Development · Build and Deployment Automation
About VibeCodeApp
Transforms app ideas into functional projects by allowing users to define their vision and providing tools for web and mobile app development with a focus on ease of use and professional quality.
Theme: AI coding and building · AI-native
Vendor claims: none listed
Productivity
Tasklet
Operations Automation · Workflow Automation · Artificial Intelligence
About Tasklet
Automates various business processes by connecting to multiple applications and APIs to streamline tasks such as scheduling, monitoring communications, and accounting entries.
Theme: AI agents · AI-native
Vendor claims: none listed
Developer Tools
Groq
Artificial Intelligence · AI Development · Deep Learning
About Groq
AI infrastructure company that delivers fast AI inference.
Theme: AI coding and building · AI-native
Vendor claims: SOC 2, GDPR
Productivity
Rectangle
Window Management
About Rectangle
Window management on macOS. Move and resize windows in macOS using keyboard shortcuts or snap areas.
Theme: Personal productivity
Vendor claims: none listed
Developer Tools
Resend
Email Deliverability · API Integration · Transactional Email
About Resend
Email platform for developers to build, test, and send transactional and marketing emails at scale with a focus on a first-class developer experience.
Theme: Developer and data tools
Vendor claims: SOC 2, GDPR
Sales & Marketing
Zoho
Network Administration and Management · Email Marketing Automation · CRM
About Zoho
Zoho is a technology company that provides SAAS services. With over 20 million users worldwide, Zoho's 33+ products aid customer sales and marketing, support and collaboration, finance and recruitment needs.
Theme: Sales, marketing, and CX
Vendor claims: SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR
Source: Torii Research, anonymized and aggregated usage data. Published April 1, 2026. Summary figures computed from the 31 apps in this report.
What the data says
Google Ad Manager (45% adoption) is the most widely adopted unsanctioned app in this edition, followed by the AI app builder Bolt.new (28% adoption). No other app passes 12%.
AI is the common thread: AI Platform is the top tag, on 7 apps, followed by Artificial Intelligence (5) and Conversational AI (4). Productivity (11) is the largest category, ahead of Developer Tools (6).
The median Shadow IT index is 82, and 6 of the 31 apps score 90 or higher. VibeCodeApp, another AI app builder, reaches the maximum of 100.
The data
Show the full data table (31 rows)
| Rank | App | Category | Theme | AI-native | Adoption (%) | Shadow IT index | SOC 2 claimed | ISO 27001 claimed | GDPR claimed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Google Ad Manager | Sales & Marketing | Sales, marketing, and CX | No | 45 | 85 | No | No | No |
| 2 | Bolt.new | Developer Tools | AI coding and building | Yes | 28 | 82 | No | No | No |
| 3 | VitalSource | Productivity | Personal and consumer apps | No | 12 | 91 | No | No | No |
| 4 | OpenClaw | Productivity | AI agents | Yes | 9 | 86 | No | No | No |
| 5 | BlueSky | Productivity | Personal and consumer apps | No | 8 | 93 | No | No | No |
| 6 | Genspark | Productivity | AI agents | Yes | 6 | 82 | No | No | No |
| 7 | Thankbox | Customer Success | Ops, HR, and finance | No | 5 | 90 | No | No | No |
| 8 | Spokenly | Productivity | AI notes and voice | Yes | 5 | 86 | No | No | No |
| 9 | Okara AI | Productivity | AI assistants | Yes | 5 | 90 | No | No | No |
| 10 | Transcribe | Operations | AI notes and voice | Yes | 5 | 82 | No | No | No |
| 11 | LM Studio | Developer Tools | AI coding and building | Yes | 5 | 85 | No | No | No |
| 12 | Hostinger | IT & Security | Developer and data tools | No | 5 | 81 | No | Yes | Yes |
| 13 | ChatBox AI | Productivity | AI assistants | Yes | 4 | 83 | No | No | No |
| 14 | Power Platform | Analytics & BI | Developer and data tools | No | 4 | 76 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 15 | Tavily | Developer Tools | AI coding and building | Yes | 4 | 81 | No | No | Yes |
| 16 | Datasite | Operations | Ops, HR, and finance | No | 4 | 65 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 17 | Tiimo | Productivity | Personal productivity | No | 4 | 82 | No | No | No |
| 18 | Adweek | Sales & Marketing | Sales, marketing, and CX | No | 4 | 87 | No | No | No |
| 19 | Contrast Security | IT & Security | Security and IT | No | 4 | 80 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 20 | Bruno | Developer Tools | Developer and data tools | No | 3 | 76 | No | No | No |
| 21 | Clockify | Operations | Personal productivity | No | 3 | 73 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 22 | Explorium | Analytics & BI | Developer and data tools | No | 3 | 76 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 23 | Gamma.com.ai | Design | AI content and media | Yes | 3 | 80 | No | No | No |
| 24 | Juicebox AI | Human Resource | Ops, HR, and finance | Yes | 3 | 82 | Yes | No | Yes |
| 25 | QR.io | Operations | Sales, marketing, and CX | No | 3 | 72 | No | No | Yes |
| 26 | VibeCodeApp | Productivity | AI coding and building | Yes | 3 | 100 | No | No | No |
| 27 | Tasklet | Productivity | AI agents | Yes | 3 | 91 | No | No | No |
| 28 | Groq | Developer Tools | AI coding and building | Yes | 3 | 79 | Yes | No | Yes |
| 29 | Rectangle | Productivity | Personal productivity | No | 3 | 74 | No | No | No |
| 30 | Resend | Developer Tools | Developer and data tools | No | 3 | 84 | Yes | No | Yes |
| 31 | Zoho | Sales & Marketing | Sales, marketing, and CX | No | 3 | 71 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Free to quote with attribution to Torii Research and a link to this page. A plain-text version is at shadow-it-index-april-2026.md.
How to read this index
- Adoption
- The percentage of monitored organizations where the app was adopted during that month: a monthly figure, not a running total. The list is ranked on this number where it is available.
- Shadow IT index
- How often the app is left as "discovered" rather than sanctioned through SSO or procurement, normalized to 0 to 100.
- Why it surfaced
- The app's top functional tags. Open an app for its full profile across every edition.
Definitions in the glossary; formulas and limitations on the Methodology page.
Changelog
- CorrectionCorrected the publication date to April 1, 2026.
- CorrectionRewrote the takeaways from this edition's data.
- UpdateMoved from toriiresearch.com; title standardized.
