Penetration Testing Pricing 2025: Cost Breakdown, Models, and ROI

• Price range: Penetration testing typically costs $5K- $30K for a single web or mobile app, and $50K+ for complex, cloud, or IoT environments.
• Key cost factors:
  • Scope & asset count number of apps, APIs, or networks.
  • Test depth black-box vs white-box methodologies.
  • Compliance requirements PCI DSS, HIPAA, SOC 2, ISO 27001, etc.
  • Tester expertise OSCP, CREST, or advanced Red Team qualifications.
• Pricing models:
  • Hourly: $250- $300/hr
  • Fixed fee: project-based by scope
  • Subscription/Retainer PTaaS: continuous testing for predictable budgets
• ROI case: While pentests require investment, they prevent multi-million-dollar breaches avg. cost $4.4M in 2025 delivering exceptional value when budgeted strategically.
• Key takeaway: Budget pentesting as a preventive control, not a one-time expense continuous testing provides the best long-term ROI and compliance readiness.

Penetration testing pricing is a top concern for organizations in 2025. With cyberthreats rising and compliance rules tightening, companies can’t guess at a pentest budget. In practice, small to mid programs often start around $5K- $15K for a basic test of one application or network segment, while enterprise grade engagements covering multiple systems and compliance requirements can run $50K or much more.

Industry data show an average pentest hits the low five figure mark $18K. Scanners and automated vulnerability scans might cost a few thousand dollars, but full manual tests typically cost tens of thousands. Importantly, even a $40K test is small compared to the average breach cost of roughly $4.4M making pentesting a very worthwhile investment.

Why does this matter right now? Cybersecurity budgets are growing globally and analysts project the pentesting market reaching $2.74B in 2025 as organizations prioritize security. New regulations e.g. PCI DSS, HIPAA, SOC 2, FedRAMP either mandate or strongly encourage regular pen tests.

At the same time, hybrid cloud and remote work have expanded attack surfaces, so knowing what real attackers see has never been more critical. In short: understanding penetration testing pricing helps you secure budget, select the right service, and ultimately avoid the massive costs of breaches and fines.

Typical Penetration Testing Cost Ranges

The cost of a pentest depends heavily on what you test. Below is a rough breakdown of market rates by test type:

These figures reflect moderate scope tests of typical complexity. For example, a simple web application few pages/roles often starts in the low $5K range, whereas large web platforms or API suites can cost towards $30K or more.

Testing a mobile app per platform is similar in range. External network tests attacking internet facing assets commonly fall in the $5K- $20K range, while internal network tests with LAN access are higher, roughly $7K- $35K, since they cover more hosts and deeper scenarios.

Cloud pentesting is highly variable but typically starts around $8K- $12K and can exceed $50K for large or complex cloud environments. For example, a multi account AWS/Azure audit or containerized infrastructure increases scope and cost.

In general, more complex or niche tests cost more. For instance, IoT or embedded device tests often run $10K- $50K due to specialized skills, and red team engagements full adversarial simulations including social engineering typically start around $50K and can go well over $100K. 

Spear phishing campaigns social engineering tests may cost $5K- $15K depending on scope. These are examples; always get quotes from multiple providers based on your specific assets.

Key Cost Drivers in Penetration Testing

Several factors influence the final price of a pentest:

• Scope & Complexity:
  • The number of assets, applications, servers, IP addresses, cloud accounts and their complexity directly drive effort.
  • A test targeting just one small app or a handful of IPs will cost far less than one covering dozens of hosts or custom systems.
  • Legacy tech, encrypted data stores, or bespoke integrations increase work and cost.
• Test Depth & Method:
  • Black box tests with no prior knowledge require more reconnaissance and are costlier than white box tests full access.
  • In fact, vendors note that giving testers source code or architecture details can cut time and price by 20-40%.
  • Automated scans and tools can reduce labor, but they usually are just a starting point.
  • The more manual, creative effort e.g. chaining exploits, complex logic flaws, the higher the price.
• Regulatory/Compliance Requirements:
  • Industries like finance, healthcare, and government often require very thorough tests for standards like PCI DSS, HIPAA, SOC 2, FedRAMP, etc..
  • These compliance driven pentests typically include extensive documentation, retesting after fixes, and attestations, which can raise costs by 20-50% or more.
• Tester Expertise & Reputation:
  • Senior, highly certified testers OSCP, CISSP, etc. charge premium rates. Hourly rates for expert pentesters often run $200- $300+ per hour, reflecting experience in finding subtle flaws.
  • Lesser experienced or offshore teams may be cheaper but risk missing issues. Likewise, well known firms or consultancies often command higher fees than smaller local vendors.
• Engagement Duration & Timing: Rush or out of hours tests weekends, holidays can incur extra fees. Short, 3-5 day tests are cheaper, while multi week deep dives cost more. Bundling assets into one engagement versus separate tests can reduce overhead.
• Additional Services: Detailed reporting, remediation assistance, and retesting cycles add cost. For example, including a formal re-test after fixes is common and can increase total fees by 20-30%. A clear, executive grade report takes more analyst time than a simple checklist scan.
• Location & Vendor Selection: Pricing varies by geography and firm. U.S./Western Europe rates tend to be 2-3x higher than those in Eastern Europe or Asia. Top tier firms with strong reputations CREST, OSCP teams cost more, while smaller or automated focused vendors are cheaper.

In short, the bigger and more regulated your environment, and the deeper you want testers to go, the higher your pentest bill. Before getting quotes, define your assets, goals, and compliance constraints clearly to avoid surprises.

Pentest Pricing Models

Vendors use various pricing approaches:

• Hourly Billing: Many charge by the hour, with typical rates of $250- $300/hr for skilled testers. This model suits flexible or open ended projects but can be hard to budget.
• Fixed Price Projects: Here, you pay a set fee for a defined scope e.g. one web app test for $X. This gives budget certainty if the scope is clear. However, if scope drifts or hidden complexities emerge, you may face change orders.
• Retainer/Credits PTaaS:
  • Some firms offer block hour or subscription models often called Penetration Testing as a Service, PTaaS.
  • You pre-purchase days or credits often at a discount and use them on demand over time. This is ideal for continuous security programs and can smooth out costs.
• Per Asset Pricing:
  • A few sell pentests per asset per IP, per application. For example, some advertise $500- $1,000 per IP or $X per web app. While simple, experts warn this can misalign price and effort.
  • Netragard notes an example where one vendor charged $1,094/IP for 64 IPs $70K total, versus Netragard’s quote of $21K for 11 similarly complex IPs.
  • In other words, two IPs might not be equal effort. Use per asset quotes cautiously and ensure they account for workload.
• Bug Bounty Supplement: Larger organizations sometimes complement pentests with bug bounty programs. Bounties pay per validated vulnerability, shifting to variable spend. They typically add to the security strategy rather than replace structured tests.

Each model has pros and cons. Hourly billing is transparent but can lead to scope creep. Fixed price is predictable but rigid. Retainers encourage ongoing security. When selecting a vendor or model, ensure the proposal details exactly what’s included tests, reporting, retests and aligns with your risk profile.

ROI: Is a Pentest Worth the Cost?

Yes by a large margin. Penetration tests provide massive ROI by averting breaches and fines. Consider this: IBM’s 2025 report pegs the average breach cost at about $4.4 million. In contrast, even an expensive pentest is a small fraction of that.

According to one industry example, a $20- $40K pentest helping prevent a single breach could yield an ROI over 12,000%.

Another study DeepStrike found that for every $1 spent on pentesting, organizations save up to $10 in breach costs. That’s because tests uncover critical holes early, reducing downtime, data loss, and regulatory fines.

For example, a typical pentest can help avoid penalties for compliance failures e.g. PCI fines or HIPAA breaches and prevent loss of customer trust.

Key ROI factors include avoided downtime, protected revenue, and legal/regulatory costs. In budgeting, frame a pentest as an insurance policy: a $50K investment that helps dodge a potential multi million dollar loss is highly cost effective. In short, spending on a thorough, high quality pentest pays off many times over.

How to Plan & Optimize Your Pentest Budget

Creating a realistic budget is easier with a clear process:

1. Define Scope & Goals. List all in scope assets apps, networks, cloud accounts, APIs and objectives e.g. PCI compliance, pre release testing. Agree on what will be tested. Clear scope avoids ambiguity you might also consult a penetration testing RFP writing guide for tips.
2. Choose Test Type. Decide on external vs internal, web vs mobile, black/gray/white box, or a red team. Each has cost implications.
3. Collect Quotes. Provide your scope to 2 3 vendors and compare. Ensure each quote covers the same deliverables number of days, reporting detail, retests. Beware one vendor quoting per asset see Netragard example.
4. Build in Extras. Plan 20-30% extra for follow up: retesting after fixes, deeper dives if new issues surface, or post report consulting. Also budget for remediation effort on your side.
5. Negotiate Pricing Model. If you expect ongoing needs, ask about retainer blocks or PTaaS subscriptions these can yield discounts. If a fixed fee is preferred, ensure all requirements are locked in.
6. Benchmark with Data. Use industry benchmarks like those above to sanity check quotes. If a quote is way above or below typical ranges, ask why. Sometimes cheaper options use automation only, which may miss nuances.

By following these steps, you’ll budget effectively. Remember: prioritize quality of testing over lowest price. A cheap scan that misses logic flaws can leave you exposed despite spending a little. A thorough test uncovers the real risks that’s where the value lies.

Vulnerability Scanning vs Penetration Testing

A common confusion is between vulnerability assessments automated scans and penetration tests manual, exploit driven. It’s important to distinguish:

• Vulnerability Assessment Scan: Automated tools scan systems for known vulnerabilities and misconfigurations. They are fast and relatively low cost, often a few hundred to a few thousand dollars for a moderate network. However, they only identify potential issues often with false positives and do not confirm exploitability.
• Penetration Test: Human experts actively exploit those issues and find new ones. A pentest might reveal that one of those scan flagged SQL injection points is actually exploitable in a way that leads to data leakage. It might also find multi step attack chains that scanners miss. Pen tests thus provide a realistic measure of risk.

Put simply: a scan is like a security checklist, while a pentest is a simulated cyberattack. Pen tests cost more but show real business impact. See our detailed guide on vulnerability assessment vs penetration testing for examples.

For budgeting: plan separate line items if you need both. Many organizations run quarterly vulnerability scans very affordable and an annual full pentest.

Compliance Requirements Impacting Cost

If your industry is regulated, expect higher pentesting costs and frequencies. Standards and laws often dictate testing:

• PCI DSS 11.3: Requires both external and internal pen tests at least annually and after major changes in the cardholder data environment. This dual requirement doubles some effort.
• SOC 2 AICPA Trust Services: While not explicitly prescriptive, SOC 2 auditors expect evidence of regular testing. Our SOC 2 penetration testing requirements guide covers this in detail.
• HIPAA: The security rule doesn’t name pen tests, but HIPAA covered entities follow best practices. Many healthcare organizations budget for annual tests often pairing with SOC 2 for consolidated audits.
• FedRAMP: Cloud service providers under FedRAMP must conduct periodic pentesting on in scope systems as part of security assessment processes.
• ISO 27001: One clause of this standard expects organizations to test technical security controls, so pen tests can be part of compliance.

In general, meeting compliance or high risk sector demands usually means deeper, more frequent testing and higher costs. Factor this into your budget from the start and talk to vendors who understand your regulatory drivers.

In summary, penetration testing costs reflect the depth and breadth of the engagement. Most organizations can budget in the ballpark of $5K- $30K for a standard test, scaling up for larger asset counts or compliance mandates. Key factors like number of systems, test methods black/gray/white box, and industry regulations heavily influence the final price. While pentests require investment, they yield very high ROI by preventing breaches IBM reports an average breach cost $4.4M.

Ready to strengthen your defenses? The threats of 2025 demand more than awareness; they require readiness. If you're looking to validate your security posture or identify hidden risks, DeepStrike is here to help.

Explore our penetration testing services to see how we can uncover vulnerabilities before attackers do. Drop us a line we’re always ready to dive in.

About the Author

Mohammed Khalil is a Cybersecurity Architect at DeepStrike, specializing in advanced penetration testing and offensive security operations. With certifications including CISSP, OSCP, and OSWE, he has led numerous red team engagements for Fortune 500 companies, focusing on cloud security, application vulnerabilities, and adversary emulation. His work involves dissecting complex attack chains and developing resilient defense strategies for clients in the finance, healthcare, and technology sectors.

FAQs

• How much does penetration testing cost?
  • It varies widely by scope. As a rule of thumb, basic tests often start around $5K for a single system. Typical comprehensive pentests cost $10K- $40K.
  • For example, scanning a few websites or servers might cost low $5K, whereas in depth multi system tests or red team engagements can exceed $100K.
  • Always define your assets and get quotes use our cost ranges above and Software Secured’s calculator or vendor resources to estimate.

• What factors affect penetration testing pricing?
  • Major factors include the number of targets, test complexity, methodology, and compliance needs. More assets = more hours.
  • Black box tests no info cost more than white box. Industries like finance or healthcare with PCI, HIPAA, or SOC requirements will see higher costs.
  • Experienced, certified testers charge higher rates. Also consider add ons reporting depth, retesting. See the Key Cost Drivers section above for details.

• What’s the difference between internal and external penetration testing costs?
  • External tests focus on internet facing assets. Typically they cost $5K- $20K. Internal tests simulating an inside attacker cover LAN systems, often multiple servers and devices, so they run higher, roughly $7K- $35K.
  • Internal tests generally take longer to scope and execute. In practice, a combined internal+external engagement costs more than just one type alone.
  • Our detailed difference between internal and external penetration tests guide explains this fully.

• How often should penetration testing be done?
  • At minimum once a year or after major changes to meet most compliance rules. However, many companies are moving to more frequent schedules.
  • According to 2025 surveys, only 38% of organizations test once or twice per year, while about 40% now prefer quarterly or continuous testing.
  • High risk or rapidly changing environments e.g. cloud apps may justify even more frequent checks.
  • Continuous testing platforms PTaaS and automated weekly scans are also growing options.

• Is penetration testing worth it?
  • Absolutely. Though it has a price tag, pentesting often saves far more by preventing breaches and fines.
  • Remember, average breach costs are millions. Studies show every $1 on pentesting can save $10 in breach costs.
  • It also builds trust with customers and regulators. Skimping here can lead to far higher costs later.

• Do we need a vulnerability assessment instead of a pentest to save money?
  • Not really. A vulnerability assessment is cheaper but far less thorough. It’s useful for regular scanning and triage, but it doesn’t simulate real attacks.
  • If you only want a quick check, a vulnerability scan may suffice $2K- $5K. But if you need to know where hackers could actually break in, a pentest manually exploiting vulnerabilities is the proper answer.
  • Often, organizations do both: cheap scans monthly and a full pentest annually.