Best Shadow IT Discovery Tools in 2026: 9 tools compared
This page answers which shadow IT discovery tools are best for different needs. Shadow IT means the software and cloud apps employees use without approval from IT, and these tools find them through identity logs, email, browser extensions, finance data or network traffic. They are built for IT and security teams that need to see what is really in use.
We compared the tools on how they discover apps, whether they need an agent or extension, how they handle risk and remediation, and how clearly they publish pricing. Since many vendors sell by quote, the page also shows what each tool really costs.
Top picks at a glance
- Best for agentless discovery
Nudge SecurityIt finds apps by scanning Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 mailboxes without an endpoint agent, and publishes a flat $750 monthly price for up to 150 users.
$750 per month billed annually (Essential, up to 150 users) - Best for shadow AI visibility
Push SecurityIts browser extension watches logins and account creation, detects shadow AI apps and agentic browsers, and can block unsanctioned tools, from $5 per user per month.
$5 per user/month billed annually - Best for enterprise security teams
NetskopeInline traffic analysis scores more than 80,000 SaaS apps on over 50 attributes and can block, restrict or inspect risky app use.
Contact sales - Best low per-user price
AdminaThird-party listings show about $5 per user per month, with API connectors, 200+ integrations and an optional browser extension for apps without APIs.
$5 per user per month (third-party listing) - Best for companies with Japanese operations
JosysIt discovers apps through IdP integrations, activity signals and a browser extension, supports 350+ native integrations and works with SmartHR as an HR system.
Contact sales - Best for automating action after discovery
BetterCloudWorkflow automation can act on findings, and a no-code builder handles onboarding and offboarding, with a free Spend Optimization Basic tier to start.
$0/month (Spend Optimization Basic)
What are shadow IT discovery tools?
Shadow IT discovery tools find the software and cloud apps that employees use without approval from IT. Day to day, they scan sources such as identity provider logs, mailboxes, browser activity, finance records or network traffic to build an inventory of apps and users. IT and security teams use that inventory to judge risk, bring useful apps under control and block unsafe ones. The core capabilities are discovery across several sources, app risk scoring, remediation workflows and, increasingly, detection of AI apps that staff adopt on their own.
Shadow IT Discovery Tools compared
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan or trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nudge Security | Best for agentless discovery. | $750 per month billed annually (Essential, up to 150 users) | Free trial |
| Push Security | Best for shadow AI visibility. | $5 per user/month billed annually | Free trial |
| Netskope | Best for enterprise security teams. | Contact sales | No |
| Admina | Best low per-user price. | $5 per user per month (third-party listing) | Free trial |
| Josys | Best for companies with Japanese operations. | Contact sales | Free trial |
| BetterCloud | Best for automating action after discovery. | $0/month (Spend Optimization Basic) | Free plan, Free trial |
 Torii | IT teams wanting discovery plus workflow automation. | Contact sales | No |
 Zluri | IT teams combining SaaS management with access reviews and onboarding automation. | Contact sales | No |
 Zylo | Mid-size to large companies with a dedicated SaaS or IT ops owner. | Contact sales | No |
Prices as published by each vendor on October 24, 2026. "Contact sales" means the vendor publishes no price.
The 9 best shadow IT discovery tools in 2026
Best for agentless discovery
Nudge Security
SaaS and AI discovery tool that finds apps by scanning employee mailboxes, with a security governance focus.
Nudge Security is a SaaS and AI discovery tool that finds apps by scanning employee mailboxes, with a security governance focus. It needs no endpoint agent and suits teams on Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 that want published pricing.
- Best for
- IT and security teams under 1,500 users that want published prices.
- Company size
- Up to 1,500 users on published plans.
Key features
- Discovery sources
- Mailbox scanning in Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 plus browser extension for login activity.
- Agent or extension required
- No endpoint agent; browser extension optional.
- AI app detection
- Discovers GenAI tools in use per pricing page.
- Integrations
- Sample: Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Okta, Salesforce, Snowflake, Zoom; no count published.
Pros
- Good visibility into apps in use.
- Useful notifications.
- Clean interface.
Cons
- Access control settings.
- Contact accuracy.
- Fewer features than larger competitors.
Pricing: $750 per month billed annually (Essential, up to 150 users) · Free trial
Nudge Security pricing and review Nudge Security alternatives
Best for shadow AI visibility
Push Security
Browser-extension security platform that finds SaaS accounts, shadow AI use and weak logins as employees use them.
Push Security is a browser-extension security platform that finds SaaS accounts, shadow AI use and weak logins as employees use them. It suits security-led teams that want visibility on unmanaged devices and a published per-seat price.
- Best for
- Security-led teams that want shadow IT and shadow AI visibility from the browser, including unmanaged devices.
Key features
- Discovery sources
- Browser extension watches logins and account creation.
- Agent or extension required
- Yes, browser extension (MDM, direct install, email enrollment, self-enrollment, BYOD)
- Remediation workflows
- Policy enforcement can block unsanctioned tools; Slack and Teams alerts.
- AI app detection
- Shadow AI apps, agentic browsers (Comet, Atlas, Dia), AI prompt and upload monitoring, AI OAuth permissions.
Pros
- Near-complete visibility into SaaS in use.
Cons
- Individual alerts lack context.
Pricing: $5 per user/month billed annually · Free trial
Best for enterprise security teams
Netskope
Security service edge platform whose CASB finds unsanctioned cloud apps from inline traffic and scores them for risk.
Netskope is a security service edge platform whose CASB finds unsanctioned cloud apps from inline traffic and scores them for risk. It can block, restrict or inspect app use, so it fits security teams rather than teams looking for license and renewal tracking.
- Best for
- Security teams already deploying or evaluating an SSE/SWG and wanting app risk scoring in the same inline path.
Key features
- Discovery sources
- Inline traffic analysis; apps classified with GenAI models.
- Agent or extension required
- Traffic must be steered through Netskope (client/proxy); exact options not confirmed by the vendor.
- App risk scoring
- Cloud Confidence Index scores 80,000+ SaaS apps on 50+ attributes.
- Remediation workflows
- Block, restrict specific actions, redirect users to sanctioned alternatives, apply DLP inspection.
Pros
- Strong zero trust enforcement.
- Real-time threat protection and DLP.
Cons
- Can feel less user-friendly than identity tools such as Okta (G2 AI summary)
Pricing: Contact sales
Best low per-user price
Admina
SaaS management and shadow IT discovery tool from Japanese fintech group Money Forward, combining API connectors with a browser extension.
Admina is a SaaS management and shadow IT discovery tool from the Japanese fintech group Money Forward. It combines API connectors with a browser extension and suits small and mid-size IT teams, though its review base on G2 is still small.
- Best for
- Small and mid-size IT teams that want a low per-user entry price.
Key features
- Discovery sources
- API/OAuth connectors to SaaS apps plus Chrome/Edge browser extension; blog also names ERP and accounting software as sources.
- Agent or extension required
- No endpoint agent stated; browser extension optional for apps without APIs.
- Remediation workflows
- Provision and de-provision users per G2 listing; no remediation playbooks verified.
- Integrations
- 200+ direct SaaS integrations (OAuth, API or scraping)
Pros
- Google Workspace connection is quick to set up.
- Pricing described as straightforward and good value.
Cons
- Fewer features than high-end SaaS management suites.
Pricing: $5 per user per month (third-party listing) · Free trial
Best for companies with Japanese operations
Josys
SaaS and identity management platform from a Japan-rooted vendor that discovers apps via IdP, activity signals and a browser extension.
Josys is a SaaS and identity management platform from a Japan-rooted vendor. It discovers apps through IdP integrations, activity signals and an optional browser extension, and adds access reviews and secure offboarding for mid-size companies.
- Best for
- Mid-size companies with Japanese operations or SmartHR as HRMS (Japanese pricing pages and HRMS integration)
Key features
- Discovery sources
- IdP integrations (Okta, Entra ID, Google Workspace), activity signals, browser extension; 50K-app shadow IT engine.
- Agent or extension required
- Browser extension optional; IdP-based discovery needs none.
- Remediation workflows
- Access reviews, secure offboarding, policy drift detection.
- AI app detection
- AI-agent and non-human identity discovery listed.
Pros
- Centralized view of accounts and devices.
Cons
- Price viewed as relatively high versus other Japanese services.
- Limited integration range for some SaaS apps.
Pricing: Contact sales · Free trial
Best for automating action after discovery
BetterCloud
SaaS management and user-lifecycle automation platform that started in Google Workspace administration and now adds license, contract and renewal tracking.
BetterCloud is a SaaS management and user-lifecycle automation platform that started in Google Workspace administration. It uses SSO, direct integrations and a Chrome extension for usage insights, and its modular setup includes a free Spend Optimization Basic tier.
- Best for
- IT teams that want no-code on/offboarding and Google Workspace controls alongside license tracking.
Key features
- Discovery sources
- SSO, direct integrations and a Chrome extension for usage insights (vendor pricing page)
- Agent or extension required
- Browser extension only for usage insights.
- Remediation workflows
- Workflow automation can act on findings.
- Integrations
- 100+ native integrations plus open API.
Pros
- Responsive support and quick onboarding wizard (G2 summaries)
- Workflow automation for user lifecycle.
Cons
- Pricing can be high for smaller organizations, especially with many SaaS apps.
- Some integrations missing or lacking full functionality, and hard to configure without outside help.
- Documentation described as thin.
- Complex automation workflows take time to set up.
Pricing: $0/month (Spend Optimization Basic) · Free plan, Free trial
Torii
Torii is a SaaS management platform that discovers apps, tracks spend and renewals, and automates access workflows.
Torii is a SaaS management platform that discovers apps, tracks spend and renewals, and automates access workflows. It offers an AI Management product for AI apps and suits IT teams that want discovery plus workflow automation, but pricing is quote only.
- Best for
- IT teams wanting discovery plus workflow automation.
Key features
- AI app detection
- AI Management product.
- Integrations
- Integration list published on vendor site; count not confirmed by the vendor.
Pros
- Clear visibility into the SaaS stack.
Cons
- Missing features, especially integrations and onboarding workflows.
- Reporting is weak.
Pricing: Contact sales
Zluri
Zluri is a SaaS management and identity governance platform that maps access across SaaS, cloud and enterprise apps.
Zluri is a SaaS management and identity governance platform that maps access across SaaS, cloud and enterprise apps through an identity graph. It suits IT teams that combine discovery with access reviews and onboarding automation.
- Best for
- IT teams combining SaaS management with access reviews and onboarding automation.
Key features
- Discovery sources
- Discovers identities across SaaS, cloud and enterprise apps via an identity graph; specific sources not confirmed by the vendor.
Pros
- Access review and onboarding automation.
Cons
- Some integrations need the connected app's enterprise plan, raising total cost.
Pricing: Contact sales
Zylo
Enterprise SaaS management platform covering discovery, license, spend and renewals, sold on annual quote.
Zylo is an enterprise SaaS management platform covering discovery, license, spend and renewals, sold on annual quote. Its Zylo Discover product adds standalone SaaS discovery and inventory, and it suits mid-size and large companies with a dedicated SaaS owner.
- Best for
- Mid-size to large companies with a dedicated SaaS or IT ops owner.
- Company size
- Mid-market and enterprise (inferred from price data)
Key features
- Discovery sources
- Zylo Discover: standalone SaaS discovery and inventory launched 2024; specific sources not confirmed by the vendor.
Pros
- Automated usage tracking and a consolidated dashboard.
- Strong customer success team.
- Renewal alerts give months of notice before auto-renewals.
Cons
- Usage tracking depends on logins going through the SSO tool (Okta), so other logins go untracked.
- Data can need manual cleanup.
- Some reviewers wanted coverage beyond SaaS (non-SaaS products)
Pricing: Contact sales
How to choose the best shadow IT discovery tools
The best shadow IT discovery tool depends on what you already run and what you want to do with the findings. Start with the discovery method, because identity logs, mailbox scans, browser extensions and network traffic each see different apps. Then consider whether you can deploy an agent or extension, how the tool scores risk, what it can do about unsafe apps and whether it detects AI tools. Finish with pricing and integrations, since quotes can hide the real cost.
Discovery sources
Discovery sources decide which apps you will see. Identity logs catch apps that use single sign-on, mailbox scans catch sign-up and invoice emails, browser extensions see logins as they happen, and network inspection sees traffic. Strong tools combine several sources, because any single one leaves blind spots.
- Nudge Security: Mailbox scanning in Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 plus browser extension for login activity.
- Push Security: Browser extension watches logins and account creation.
- Netskope: Inline traffic analysis; apps classified with GenAI models.
- Admina: API/OAuth connectors to SaaS apps plus Chrome/Edge browser extension; blog also names ERP and accounting software as sources.
- Josys: IdP integrations (Okta, Entra ID, Google Workspace), activity signals, browser extension; 50K-app shadow IT engine.
Agent or extension required
Some tools need software on each device or in each browser, while others work through connections to your existing systems. Agentless tools are faster to start and need no device management. Extension-based tools see more detail, including unmanaged devices, but you must roll them out and maintain them.
- Nudge Security: No endpoint agent; browser extension optional.
- Push Security: Yes, browser extension (MDM, direct install, email enrollment, self-enrollment, BYOD)
- Netskope: Traffic must be steered through Netskope (client/proxy); exact options not confirmed by the vendor.
- Admina: No endpoint agent stated; browser extension optional for apps without APIs.
- Josys: Browser extension optional; IdP-based discovery needs none.
App risk scoring
Risk scoring rates each discovered app on security and compliance attributes, such as data handling, certifications and breach history. Strong tools use a large, regularly updated catalog and explain each score. Without scoring, you get a list of apps but no way to decide which ones to act on first.
- Netskope: Cloud Confidence Index scores 80,000+ SaaS apps on 50+ attributes.
Remediation workflows
Remediation is what happens after discovery. Strong tools can alert owners, start access reviews, offboard users, redirect staff to approved alternatives or block unsanctioned apps. Weak tools only report findings, which leaves your team to handle every follow-up manually.
- Push Security: Policy enforcement can block unsanctioned tools; Slack and Teams alerts.
- Netskope: Block, restrict specific actions, redirect users to sanctioned alternatives, apply DLP inspection.
- Admina: Provision and de-provision users per G2 listing; no remediation playbooks verified.
- Josys: Access reviews, secure offboarding, policy drift detection.
- BetterCloud: Workflow automation can act on findings.
AI app detection
AI app detection finds generative AI tools, AI agents and AI permissions that staff adopt without approval. Strong tools show which AI apps are used, by whom and sometimes what data is shared. This matters because AI tools appear quickly and often connect to company accounts through OAuth.
- Nudge Security: Discovers GenAI tools in use per pricing page.
- Push Security: Shadow AI apps, agentic browsers (Comet, Atlas, Dia), AI prompt and upload monitoring, AI OAuth permissions.
- Netskope: GenAI-based app classification; AI app coverage specifics not confirmed by the vendor.
- Josys: AI-agent and non-human identity discovery listed.
- Torii: AI Management product.
Pricing
Pricing is usually per user per month, a flat fee by user band or a custom quote. Published prices make budgeting easier, while quote-only tools need a sales call. Ask what is included, how the price grows with headcount and whether extra modules cost more.
- Nudge Security: Flat $750 per month up to 150 users, then $5 per user per month.
- Push Security: Per employee per month.
- Netskope: Quote-based.
- Admina: About $5 per user per month per third-party listings; enterprise custom.
- Josys: Per governed identity, quote only.
Integrations
Integrations connect discovery to the systems you already use. Strong tools link to identity providers, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, SIEM tools and chat apps such as Slack or Teams so alerts reach the right people. A published integration count is useful, but check that your specific systems are supported.
- Nudge Security: Sample: Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Okta, Salesforce, Snowflake, Zoom; no count published.
- Push Security: SIEM (Sentinel, Splunk, Datadog, Panther, Cribl, SentinelOne), Slack, Teams, Tines, Okta, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, REST API.
- Admina: 200+ direct SaaS integrations (OAuth, API or scraping)
- Josys: 350+ native integrations (SaaS plan page says 300+ direct)
- BetterCloud: 100+ native integrations plus open API.
What shadow IT discovery tools really cost
Features decide the shortlist; the bill decides whether it stays affordable as the team grows. The numbers below come from each vendor's published plans: entry prices, how far plans climb, what single sign-on costs extra and which fees sit on top.
- Quote-only vendors
- 5 of 9
- Publish their prices
- 2 of 9
- Free plans
- 1 of 9
- Sell paid add-ons
- 4 of 9
publish no usable price
7 quote on request
BetterCloud
on top of the plan price
How shadow IT discovery tools vendors set their prices
5 of 9 vendors publish no usable price, so a price comparison starts with knowing what each one charges for. The most common basis here is "quote only, no stated basis" (4 vendors).
- 4Quote only, no stated basisNetskope, Torii, Zluri and Zylo
- 3Per user or seatNudge Security, Admina and BetterCloud
- 2Per employeePush Security and Josys
| Tool | Pricing basis | As the vendor describes it | Published starting point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nudge Security | Per user or seat | Flat then per user. | $750 per month billed annually (Essential, up to 150 users) |
| Push Security | Per employee | Per user. | $5 per user/month billed annually |
| Netskope | Quote only, no stated basis | Custom. | Contact sales |
| Admina | Per user or seat | Per user. | $5 per user per month (third-party listing) |
| Josys | Per employee | Per employee. | Contact sales |
| BetterCloud | Per user or seat | Per user. | $0/month (Spend Optimization Basic) |
| Torii | Quote only, no stated basis | Custom. | Contact sales |
| Zluri | Quote only, no stated basis | Custom. | Contact sales |
| Zylo | Quote only, no stated basis | Custom. | Contact sales |
How shadow IT discovery pricing works
Shadow IT tools price in a few distinct ways, and the differences matter once headcount or app count grows. Some publish clear per-user rates, others bundle products into a quote, and a few offer a free tier that stops at basic reporting. The patterns below summarize the pricing models and cost traps in this category, with the questions to ask before you sign.
Per-user pricing
Admina and Push Security list about $5 per employee per month for smaller companies, with Push at $6 billed monthly. The cost is predictable, but it scales with every employee, including those who barely use SaaS. Check size limits, such as the under-500-employee tiers.
Flat fee, then per user
Nudge Security starts at $750 per month billed annually for up to 150 users, then scales. A flat starting fee suits mid-size teams, but check what the next band costs and which features, such as the paid AI and posture add-ons, are excluded.
Modules and separate products
Torii quotes SMP, IGA and AI Management as three products, and BetterCloud sells Spend Optimization, User Automation and Workspace Management separately. Buying only the modules you need keeps cost down, but the total can climb as needs grow.
Free tiers with limits
BetterCloud lists Spend Optimization Basic at $0 per month. A free tier is useful to see your app inventory, but published prices stop there. Ask what is limited and what the next paid step costs.
Custom quotes tied to identities or enterprise scope
Josys prices by governed identity, and Zylo, Zluri and Netskope are quote-only. Zylo's Vendr data shows about a $35K annual median. Ask for a multi-year price and renewal cap, since quote-based tools can reprice at renewal.
What a 20-person team pays
Per-seat prices only tell half the story. Below is the yearly list price for 20 users on the plan such a team would realistically need, calculated from each vendor's published prices.
- Nudge Security$9,000/year on Essential ($750/month x 12), flat up to 150 active users; not per seat.
- Push Security20 x $5 x 12 = $1,200 per year on annual billing (Standard, up to 500 employees)
- Admina20 x $5 x 12 = $1,200 per year, assuming the $5 monthly rate; billing period not stated by the vendor.
Costs that are easy to miss
Add-ons, usage fees and premium modules often decide the real bill. These are the paid extras the vendors list themselves.
- Nudge SecurityAI agents, configuration security posture management, integration security posture management (marked paid, no prices published)
- JosysAccess Management, Managed Service and Professional Services (one-time SaaS audit) are separate quote-based plans
- BetterCloudData Loss Prevention (price not published)
- ToriiThree separate products (SMP, IGA, AI Management), each quoted via demo
Our recommendation
Choose the discovery method that fits your setup and the action you want to take. Agentless tools such as Nudge Security are quick to start, browser-based tools such as Push Security add detail and AI visibility, and Netskope suits teams that need to block risky apps. Before you commit, confirm pricing in writing, including add-ons, and check that the tool supports your identity provider.
Shadow IT Discovery Tools: frequently asked questions
What are shadow IT discovery tools?
Shadow IT discovery tools find software and cloud apps that employees use without IT approval. They look at sources such as identity logs, email, browser activity, finance data or network traffic and build an inventory of apps and users.
How do I find shadow IT in my company?
Connect a discovery tool to your identity provider, mailboxes or browsers, and review the apps it finds. Nudge Security scans mailboxes, Push Security uses a browser extension, and Netskope analyzes inline traffic. Combining sources gives the most complete picture.
Can I find shadow IT without an agent?
Yes. Nudge Security needs no endpoint agent for Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, and Josys can discover apps through IdP integrations without a browser extension. Agentless methods can miss apps that never touch your identity or email systems.
What features should shadow IT discovery tools have?
Look for discovery from several sources, app risk scoring, remediation workflows, AI app detection and integrations with your identity provider, SIEM and chat tools. Which feature matters most depends on whether security or IT leads the project.
How much do shadow IT discovery tools cost?
Published prices start around $5 per user per month for Push Security and Admina's third-party listing. Nudge Security charges a flat $750 per month up to 150 users, while Netskope, Torii, Zluri, Zylo and Josys sell by quote.
What do shadow IT discovery tools cost for a team of 20?
Calculated from published list prices: Nudge Security: $9,000/year on Essential ($750/month x 12), flat up to 150 active users; not per seat; Push Security: 20 x $5 x 12 = $1,200 per year on annual billing (Standard, up to 500 employees); Admina: 20 x $5 x 12 = $1,200 per year, assuming the $5 monthly rate; billing period not stated by the vendor. Tools that quote on request are not included.
Which shadow IT discovery tools have a free plan or free trial?
Nudge Security (free trial), Push Security (free trial), Admina (free trial), Josys (free trial) and BetterCloud (free plan, free trial), according to the vendors' sites on October 24, 2026.