Shadow IT Index: August 2025
Every app in August's Shadow IT Index scores above 90, and only one claims more than one of SOC 2, ISO 27001, and GDPR.
Updated October 7, 2026 · ChangelogSource: Torii Research, anonymized and aggregated usage data. Published August 1, 2025. Summary figures computed from the 10 apps in this report.
What kinds of apps
Every edition, by theme →Not in this edition, but in July 2025: AI assistants (10%), AI coding and building (10%).
Share of the 10 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 Shadow IT index, then viral score.
All 10 apps
These are the top shadow IT apps from the period of July 1 to 31, 2025, all of which carried a Shadow IT score of 90+ and highlighted a strong trend toward digital environments and communication tools.
IT & Security
Synaptics
Employees may be using Synaptics for enhanced user interaction or specialized biometric needs not met by current approved solutions · addressing a gap in existing enterprise software capabilities for intuitive interfaces.
About Synaptics
Synaptics is a leading developer of human interface solutions, specializing in touchpads, display drivers, and biometric technologies. Their products are found in various devices, enhancing user interaction with intuitive and responsive interfaces.
Theme: Security and IT
Vendor claims: GDPR
Productivity
Mixmax
Employees may use Mixmax to overcome limitations of standard email · seeking advanced communication tools for efficiency and personalized outreach that current approved software might lack.
About Mixmax
Mixmax is an email productivity platform that enhances Gmail with features like email tracking, scheduling, templates, and automation. It helps sales, marketing, and customer success teams streamline communication, personalize outreach, and close deals faster, improving overall efficiency and engagement.
Theme: Personal productivity
Vendor claims: SOC 2, GDPR
Operations
AngelList
Employees likely use AngelList to independently explore startup opportunities · raise capital for personal ventures · or find niche talent not readily available through official company channels
About AngelList
AngelList is a platform that connects startups with investors and job seekers. It helps entrepreneurs raise capital, recruit talent, and find mentorship. For job seekers, it offers a wide range of opportunities at innovative companies, making it a hub for startup ecosystem development.
Theme: Ops, HR, and finance
Vendor claims: GDPR
Sales & Marketing
Meetup
Employees likely use Meetup for informal networking or interest-based groups · finding it a convenient way to organize events and connect outside formal company channels · which might be difficult with standard enterprise software.
About Meetup
Meetup is a social networking service that facilitates offline group meetings in various localities around the world. It allows members to find and join groups unified by a common interest, such as hobbies, politics, or professional networking, and organize events.
Theme: Personal and consumer apps
Vendor claims: none listed
Sales & Marketing
Product Hunt
Employees likely use Product Hunt for early access to innovative tools · bypassing slow internal procurement processes or finding specialized solutions not offered by current enterprise software.
About Product Hunt
Product Hunt is a platform where users can discover, upvote, and discuss new products. It features daily launches across various categories, from software to hardware, making it a go-to resource for tech enthusiasts and early adopters to find innovative tools and services.
Theme: Sales, marketing, and CX
Vendor claims: GDPR
Productivity
tl;dv
Employees likely use this for rapid meeting insights and knowledge sharing · filling a gap where existing company tools may be too cumbersome or slow for quick · informal collaboration and information retrieval.
About tl;dv
tl;dv is an AI meeting recorder that transcribes, summarizes, and tags key moments from calls on platforms like Zoom and Google Meet. It helps teams quickly review meetings, share insights, and stay aligned by making meeting content easily searchable and shareable.
Theme: AI notes and voice · AI-native
Vendor claims: GDPR
Customer Success
Spark Mail
Employees likely use Spark Mail for its advanced features like unified inbox and efficient management · suggesting a need for better personal email control or dissatisfaction with existing corporate email tools.
About Spark Mail
Spark Mail is a powerful email client designed for Mac, iOS, and Android. It offers smart features like a unified inbox, snooze, send later, and customizable swipes to help you manage your emails efficiently and achieve Inbox Zero.
Theme: Personal productivity
Vendor claims: GDPR
Design
Streamline.hq
Employees likely use Streamline.hq for its intuitive project management and collaboration · filling a gap where existing company tools are perceived as less efficient or cumbersome for streamlined workflows.
About Streamline.hq
Streamline.hq is a project management tool designed to enhance team collaboration and efficiency. It offers features like task tracking, progress monitoring, and communication tools, helping businesses streamline workflows, improve productivity, and ensure timely project delivery for optimal operational performance.
Theme: Work suites and collaboration
Vendor claims: none listed
Analytics & BI
Tablecruncher
Employees might be using Tablecruncher for its intuitive data management and analysis · suggesting a lack of similar user-friendly tools or efficient processes within approved company software.
About Tablecruncher
Tablecruncher is an intuitive application designed to help users efficiently manage and analyze tabular data. It offers powerful tools for data cleaning, transformation, and visualization, making complex datasets easier to understand and utilize for informed decision-making.
Theme: Developer and data tools
Vendor claims: none listed
Customer Success
Adobe Connect
Employees might use Adobe Connect for its advanced interactive collaboration features · which could be lacking in approved enterprise software · making it a more efficient solution for specific remote communication needs.
About Adobe Connect
Adobe Connect is a web conferencing platform used for online meetings, webinars, and training. It offers features like breakout rooms, polls, and whiteboards to facilitate interactive virtual collaboration. It's often used by businesses and educators for remote communication and learning.
Theme: Work suites and collaboration
Vendor claims: none listed
Source: Torii Research, anonymized and aggregated usage data. Published August 1, 2025. Summary figures computed from the 10 apps in this report.
What the data says
Synaptics, Mixmax, and AngelList top the index with the maximum Shadow IT score of 100. The other seven apps range from 91 to 95.
No category has more than two apps, from Meetup and Product Hunt in Sales & Marketing to Spark Mail and Adobe Connect in Customer Success.
Compliance claims are rare: only Mixmax claims two of the three standards, 6 of the 10 apps claim GDPR, 1 claims SOC 2, and none claims ISO 27001. Adobe Connect has the highest viral score in the list, at 8.8.
The Shadow IT Index provides a real-time look into how unsanctioned tools are shaping active SaaS stacks. The findings of this report are based on real-time usage data from the period of July 1 to 31, 2025, aggregated from companies of all sizes. This dataset is unique because it reflects actual software usage across organizations, not survey intentions or estimates.
Bottom line
The dominance of high-risk shadow IT apps centered on digital environments and communication underscores growing exposure to unmanaged costs and security gaps. To stay ahead, organizations should prioritize real-time SaaS visibility, active app discovery, and disciplined software inventory management.
The data
Show the full data table (10 rows)
| Rank | App | Category | Theme | AI-native | Shadow IT index | Viral score | SOC 2 claimed | ISO 27001 claimed | GDPR claimed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Synaptics | IT & Security | Security and IT | No | 100 | 6.5 | No | No | Yes |
| 2 | Mixmax | Productivity | Personal productivity | No | 100 | 3.8 | Yes | No | Yes |
| 3 | AngelList | Operations | Ops, HR, and finance | No | 100 | 3.5 | No | No | Yes |
| 4 | Meetup | Sales & Marketing | Personal and consumer apps | No | 95 | 5.8 | No | No | No |
| 5 | Product Hunt | Sales & Marketing | Sales, marketing, and CX | No | 94 | 4.8 | No | No | Yes |
| 6 | tl;dv | Productivity | AI notes and voice | Yes | 93 | 4.3 | No | No | Yes |
| 7 | Spark Mail | Customer Success | Personal productivity | No | 93 | 4.4 | No | No | Yes |
| 8 | Streamline.hq | Design | Work suites and collaboration | No | 92 | 6.8 | No | No | No |
| 9 | Tablecruncher | Analytics & BI | Developer and data tools | No | 92 | 3.8 | No | No | No |
| 10 | Adobe Connect | Customer Success | Work suites and collaboration | No | 91 | 8.8 | No | No | No |
Free to quote with attribution to Torii Research and a link to this page. A plain-text version is at shadow-it-index-august-2025.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
- CorrectionRewrote the takeaways from this edition's data.
- ClarificationStandardized the data source description.
- UpdateMoved from toriiresearch.com; title standardized.
