Free Software Subscription Tracker
Monitor software licenses and rein in your SaaS sprawl with Sherlock, our free SaaS subscription tracker. Detect shadow IT, rogue subscriptions, and unauthorized or insecure apps in real time. Gain complete visibility over your software subscriptions, completely free, starting now.
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How it works
Reclaim up to 30 % of wasted spend by uncovering redundancies, unused licenses, and hidden subscriptions with our free subscription tracker—and manage all your licenses and vendors directly within the platform. Plus, sign up to unlock exclusive software deals on AWS, Carta, DigitalOcean, Apollo, Instantly.ai, DocSend, and hundreds of top SaaS products.
NachoNacho leverages virtual credit cards to tackle SaaS management head‑on. Assign a unique credit card to each subscription, each with its own spend limit and expiration date, so you gain real‑time cost visibility and prevent surprise charges.
Why virtual cards are the best way to manage SaaS licenses:
- Granular cost control: Cap spend per subscription and track every charge in your admin dashboard.
- Automated renewal management: Configure expiration dates to stop billing at contract end—and cancel with a single click.
- Scalable approval workflows: Employees request new cards via a self‑service portal; designated approvers receive real‑time alerts for instant approval or denial.
- Enhanced security & compliance: No shared primary card details—each virtual card is unique, dynamically generated, and secure, for simplified reconciliation and reporting.
What is SaaS sprawl?
SaaS sprawl occurs when teams independently adopt new applications without centralized oversight or subscription tracking, resulting in a fragmented tech stack. Over time, redundant apps and underutilized licenses drive up costs. At the same time IT complexity and security risks grow as unvetted tools expose sensitive data and create operational inefficiencies. Employees waste time switching between overlapping solutions, and finance loses visibility into where budgets are going.
To avoid SaaS sprawl, you can:
- Automatically scan and monitor every software license with our free SaaS vendor management tool and subscription tracker
- Enforce centralized governance for SaaS procurement and renewals
- Conduct regular audits to remove redundant or unused apps
- Consolidate functionality onto multipurpose platforms where possible
- Implement single sign‑on (SSO) and strict access controls
- Educate employees on approved tools and the risks of shadow IT
- Establish a formal approval process for all new SaaS purchases
What is SaaS license management, and why does it matter?
SaaS license management encompasses the oversight and optimization of acquiring, allocating, utilizing, and renewing SaaS subscriptions across your organization. It involves tracking who has access to each application, enforcing vendor agreement compliance, and cutting costs by retiring redundant or underused licenses.
Effective license management demands full visibility into every SaaS tool, continuous monitoring of user activity to uncover inactive accounts, and adjusting subscription tiers to match actual usage (e.g., downgrading unneeded premium features).
Poor license management leads to overspending, security vulnerabilities from orphaned accounts, and compliance risks when permissions or data storage violate contractual terms.
By proactively managing SaaS licenses, you eliminate waste, streamline operations, and ensure your SaaS investments align with business goals—while minimizing risks from shadow IT and uncontrolled sprawl.
Why your business needs a license & subscription tracker
Without a SaaS subscription management tool and tracker, your organization risks overspending on redundant tools, underutilized licenses, and unnoticed auto‑renewals. Shadow IT and decentralized procurement introduce security vulnerabilities, compliance gaps, and wasted budgets. A robust subscription tracker delivers full visibility into who’s using which applications, how often they’re accessed, and whether license allocations match actual needs—enabling precise cost control and risk mitigation.
- Prevent overspend by retiring unused licenses and redundant subscriptions
- Mitigate security risks by revoking access for inactive users and former employees
- Maintain compliance with vendor agreements and data regulations
- Enhance productivity by reducing app overload and streamlining workflows
- Scale efficiently with real-time insights to adjust licenses as needs evolve
- Centralize oversight to eliminate shadow IT and unauthorized purchases
Plus, with our free subscription tracker, you get a comprehensive view of all your tools—no expensive software required. Try it free today.
How much does a subscription manager cost?
Software license management platforms like Zylo, Vendr, Zluri, and Torii typically cost $1,250–$3,000+ per month—and none offer a free tier to start capturing value immediately.
Our free software license management tool lets you see every vendor subscription at a glance, pinpoint inefficiencies in your stack, and take action—whether you resolve issues on your own or leverage NachoNacho’s end‑to‑end subscription management to eliminate SaaS sprawl.
Plus, your free NachoNacho account unlocks hundreds of exclusive software deals, so you save even more right from the start.
FAQs
Choosing the right software license management tool depends on your company’s size, budget, and SaaS complexity. Smaller teams may only need basic tracking and cost visibility, while larger organizations often require advanced features like compliance monitoring, AI‑driven optimization, and vendor negotiation tools. Look for scalability—if your SaaS stack is expanding quickly, prioritize tools that automate license reclamation and integrate with finance systems. Security should also be a focus, with role-based access controls, audit logs, and protections like virtual cards. And be sure to compare pricing models, as some tools charge per user while others offer flat-rate enterprise plans.
That said, there’s no need to commit upfront—use our free software subscription tracker to quickly identify if license management is even a problem for your business.`,
Subscription-Based SaaS Licenses
The Software-as-a-Service model introduced recurring, subscription-based licensing, where users pay per user for access to cloud-hosted applications. These licenses often include tiered features and automatic updates, with popular examples like Google Workspace and Salesforce. While they offer scalability, they require careful oversight to manage costs as usage grows.
Proprietary Licenses
Proprietary software licenses grant usage rights without allowing modifications or redistribution. These commercial licenses, such as those for Microsoft Windows or Adobe Photoshop, often include strict terms and DRM protections. Organizations must closely track license counts and compliance to avoid penalties for unauthorized use.
Open Source Licenses
Open source licenses provide flexibility, with varying obligations. Permissive licenses like MIT and Apache allow broad use, including integration into proprietary products. In contrast, copyleft licenses like GPL require derivative works to remain open source. Projects like Linux and React showcase how open licensing supports innovation while preserving user freedoms.
Enterprise Licensing Solutions
Enterprises often adopt large-scale agreements that offer volume discounts, custom terms, SLAs, and dedicated support. These licenses help standardize environments across departments and geographies, ensuring consistency and cost-efficiency at scale.
Specialized Licensing Models
Other models serve specific needs. Concurrent licenses allow shared access to limited seats, ideal for high-cost software. Perpetual licenses offer indefinite use of a version without ongoing updates. Freeware is available at no cost with limited features, while shareware provides trial access designed to convert users to paid plans.
Centralized SaaS Tracking
Enterprise software license management tools offer a centralized dashboard that provides full visibility into all software assets. These platforms automatically discover and catalog applications across the organization, tracking license expirations, usage data, and compliance status—eliminating manual tracking via spreadsheets and reducing the risk of overspending or audit penalties.
Automated Compliance Monitoring
These tools continuously monitor software usage against entitlements, generating real-time alerts when usage exceeds licensed limits. Detailed audit trails support vendor audits, and integrations with software asset management (SAM) frameworks help ensure compliance with complex licensing models from vendors like Microsoft and Oracle.
Cost Optimization Capabilities
Built-in analytics identify underused licenses that can be reclaimed or downgraded. Tools provide insights for right-sizing, such as transitioning from per-user to concurrent models, and use benchmarking data to uncover redundant tools and negotiate more favorable contract terms.
Integration with Business Systems
Many platforms integrate with HR systems to automate onboarding and offboarding, procurement tools to track purchases, and financial systems for cost allocation and chargeback processes.
Security and Access Controls
Advanced tools offer role-based access management and automated license revocation when employees leave. Some also detect unauthorized software and include virtual card capabilities to control payments and reduce exposure to unapproved tools.
Reporting and Analytics
Robust reporting features turn raw license data into strategic insights. Dashboards highlight metrics like cost per application, usage trends, and departmental adoption, while predictive analytics help forecast future needs based on growth and industry data.
Vendor Management Features
Enterprise-grade tools support vendor relationship management with features like contract lifecycle tracking, automated renewals, and procurement workflows. Many also include licensing rule databases to simplify navigation of complex agreements like Microsoft’s Enterprise Agreement.
Cloud and SaaS Management
Modern platforms extend beyond traditional software to manage SaaS subscriptions and cloud services. They monitor usage across providers like AWS and Azure, flag redundant apps, and optimize subscription levels organization-wide.
Mobile and Remote Workforce Support
With hybrid work models, leading tools support license tracking across personal and mobile devices. They enforce compliance with BYOD policies and ensure consistent oversight regardless of location.
Customizable Workflows and Automation
These platforms streamline license management with policy-based automation and configurable approval workflows, reducing manual overhead while maintaining control over software access and allocation.
