Unused SaaS applications
Almost a quarter of all SaaS tools go unused
As of December 2025, 24% of software applications within the average tech stack went unused, effectively becoming shelfware – up from 18% in December 2024 and 19% in September 2025.
Even as companies expand their software stacks in an effort to drive efficiency and extract more value from SaaS investments amid rising costs, a growing share of those tools still sit idle. With organizations now subscribed to an average of 136 applications, unused software represents substantial financial waste – often amounting to millions of dollars annually.
But what's driving such high levels of SaaS wastage?
- Maverick spending: Employees purchase tools outside of centralized procurement processes.
- Lack of integration: Applications fail to connect with existing workflows or systems.
- Limited adoption: Teams do not fully embrace the software or its features.
- Forgotten tools: Previously purchased applications are deprioritized or fall off the radar over time.
Last updated
Jan 2026
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