Shadow IT Index: September 2025
Eight of September's nine shadow IT apps score the maximum of 100, led by Lindy AI.
Updated October 7, 2026 · ChangelogSource: Torii Research, anonymized and aggregated usage data. Published September 8, 2025. Summary figures computed from the 9 apps in this report.
What kinds of apps
Every edition, by theme →Not in this edition, but in August 2025: AI notes and voice (10%), Developer and data tools (10%), Security and IT (10%), Ops, HR, and finance (10%), Personal and consumer apps (10%).
Share of the 9 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 9 apps
The most popular unauthorized apps in enterprise environments
Productivity
Lindy AI
Employees likely use Lindy AI for unmatched productivity and task automation · addressing gaps in existing company tools or streamlining workflows where traditional software falls short.
Sales & Marketing
Rocketreach
Employees might be using RocketReach to quickly access contact information not readily available through approved channels · indicating a gap in current enterprise tools for sales · recruiting
Productivity
Eventbot
Employees likely use Eventbot for its seamless integration and simplified event management within Slack · indicating a need for more agile and user-friendly tools for scheduling and coordination not met by current enterprise solutions.
Productivity
Standuply
Employees might seek Standuply for its streamlined · asynchronous meeting updates · addressing frustrations with inefficient traditional meetings or a lack of suitable official tools for remote team communication and time-saving.
Design
pngtree
Employees likely use Pngtree for its vast · high-quality graphic assets · offering a quick and easy solution for visual content that might be cumbersome or unavailable through approved company channels.
Productivity
7-Zip
Employees might use 7-Zip for efficient file compression beyond standard tools · or because enterprise solutions are too slow or complex for their quick · daily archiving needs
Design
Topaz Labs
Employees likely use Topaz Labs to achieve professional-grade photo/video editing efficiently · possibly because existing company software is insufficient or too complex for advanced tasks.
Design
invideo AI
Employees might use Invideo AI because it simplifies video production and makes advanced tools accessible · addressing a gap or inefficiency in existing company-approved solutions for quick · high-quality content creation.
Design
Chronicle HQ
Employees might be using Chronicle HQ for its advanced threat analysis capabilities · filling a gap in existing security tools or addressing inefficiencies in current enterprise security processes.
Source: Torii Research, anonymized and aggregated usage data. Published September 8, 2025. Summary figures computed from the 9 apps in this report.
What the data says
Lindy AI ranks first, ahead of Rocketreach, Eventbot, and Standuply. Every app in the list scores 95 or higher on the Shadow IT index.
Productivity (4) and Design (4) make up almost the whole list, from productivity tools such as Eventbot and Standuply to design tools such as pngtree and Topaz Labs.
Compliance claims are thin: only 2 of the 9 apps claim SOC 2. Chronicle HQ has the highest viral score in the list, at 8.0.
Based on anonymized, aggregated usage data from August 1 to 31, 2025.
Bottom line
This month’s findings highlight a clear pattern: employees turn to unsanctioned apps when approved solutions feel inefficient or incomplete. From meeting automation to creative design and file handling, these workarounds carry hidden risks. Organizations that improve visibility, track app usage, and close workflow gaps can better balance efficiency with control.
The data
Show the full data table (9 rows)
| Rank | App | Category | Theme | AI-native | Shadow IT index | Viral score | SOC 2 claimed | ISO 27001 claimed | GDPR claimed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lindy AI | Productivity | AI agents | Yes | 100 | 6.9 | Yes | No | Yes |
| 2 | Rocketreach | Sales & Marketing | Sales, marketing, and CX | No | 100 | 6.1 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 3 | Eventbot | Productivity | Work suites and collaboration | No | 100 | 5.7 | No | No | No |
| 4 | Standuply | Productivity | Work suites and collaboration | No | 100 | 5.7 | No | No | No |
| 5 | pngtree | Design | Design and video | No | 100 | 5.7 | No | Yes | No |
| 6 | 7-Zip | Productivity | Personal productivity | No | 100 | 5.3 | No | No | No |
| 7 | Topaz Labs | Design | Design and video | No | 100 | 5.3 | No | No | No |
| 8 | invideo AI | Design | AI content and media | Yes | 100 | 5.3 | No | No | No |
| 9 | Chronicle HQ | Design | Design and video | No | 95 | 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-september-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
- CorrectionRenumbered #10 as #9 to close a gap.
- ClarificationStandardized the data source description.
- UpdateAdded takeaways from this edition's data.
- UpdateMoved from toriiresearch.com; title standardized.
