{"id":15194,"date":"2021-08-31T11:43:13","date_gmt":"2021-08-31T06:13:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/?p=15194"},"modified":"2026-05-26T16:16:43","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T10:46:43","slug":"cost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/penetration-testing\/cost\/","title":{"rendered":"How Much Does a Pentest Cost in 2026: Avg Prices ($5K\u2013$50K+)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The average cost of a penetration test ranges from $2500 to $50,000. Penetration testing costs are a function of the type of targets, the number of targets, the quality of the pentesters, and the testing methodologies used.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><strong>Here\u2019s a list of types of Pentests and their costs.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-82\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-82 column1-color\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">Types of Penetration Testing\u00a0<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">Average Pentest Cost<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">Pentest Cost Decision Variables<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-striping row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Web Application Penetration Testing<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">$5,000 to $50,000 per Pentest <\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Number of unique dynamic &amp; static pages in the web app.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/contact-us\" target=\"_blank\">Need a custom quote?<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Network Penetration Testing<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">$150 - $1000 per Device<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Number of IPs &amp; devices in the network<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Cloud Penetration Testing<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">$5,000 - $50,000 per Pentest<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Cloud services in use &amp; number of cloud servers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Mobile Application Penetration Testing<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">$5,000 - $40,000 per Pentest<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Platforms the app supports (iOS, Android, etc.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">SaaS Penetration Testing<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">$5,000 - $30,000 per Pentest<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Unique roles, tech stack, and static &amp; dynamic pages in the SaaS app<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-7\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">API Penetration Testing<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">$5000 and $30,000 per Pentest. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/contact-us\" target=\"_blank\">Get started<\/a><\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Number of unique APIs &amp; end-points in each API<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-82 from cache -->\n\n\n<style>\n.ctaSaasCheckWrap{\n  padding:35px;\n  border: 6px;\n  background-image: url('https:\/\/cdn-blog.getastra.com\/2025\/08\/0737b9ac-deepblue-bg.png');\n  background-size: cover;\n  background-repeat: no-repeat;\n  position: relative;\n  background-position: right;\n  height: 275px;\n  border-radius: 10px;\n  margin: 20px 0px;\n}\n.pentestHeadingDB{\n  color: #fff;\n  font-size: 24px;\n  font-weight: 600;\n  max-width: 450px;\n}\n.ctaSaasCheckWrapHead {\n    display: flex;\n    align-items: center;\n    grid-gap: 1rem;\n}\n.ctaOneDB {\n    display: flex;\n  align-items: center;\n  padding: 1rem 1.5rem;\n  border-radius: 12px;\n  background-color: #FCBB2F;\n  text-decoration: none;\n  grid-gap: .5rem;\n  color: #000!important;\n  font-size: 18px;\n  font-weight: 500;\n  min-height: 3.75rem;\n  max-height: 3.75rem;\n  box-shadow: 0 4px 4px #00000014, 0 0 0 1px #c08e24, inset 0 -4px #0000003d;\n}\n.ctaTwo {\n    text-decoration: none;\n    background-color: #24BC94;\n    color: #ffffff !important;\n    padding: 10px 25px;\n    border-radius: 6px;\n    font-weight: 600;\n}\n.spanBoldBlue {\n    color: #3078FE;\n    font-weight: 700;\n}\n.ctaSaasCheckWrapImg{\n  position: absolute;\n  bottom: 0px;\n  right: 10px;\n  height: 250px;\n  width: 240px;\n}\n@media(max-width: 768px){\n}\n@media(max-width: 576px){\n   .pentestHeading{\n      font-size: 28px;\n    }\n   .ctaSaasCheckWrapImg{\n     display: none;\n   }\n}\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"ctaSaasCheckWrap\">\n<p class=\"pentestHeadingDB\">Custom pentesting cost? <br \/>Let\u2019s tailor your security plan together.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"ctaSaasCheckWrapHead\">\n  <a class=\"ctaOneDB\" href=\"\/contact-us\">Let&#8217;s Talk<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ctaSaasCheckWrapImg\" src=\"\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/https:\/\/cdn-blog.getastra.com\/2024\/08\/96ad3cf0-girlcta.png\" alt=\"character\" \/>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The prices for pentesting change based on the number of assets and their components to be tested. Over the years, the demand for penetration tests has surged while there is a shortage of pentesters available. This has led to a rise in the cost of penetration tests. For example, testing a feature-rich web application requires more time, resources, and expenses than testing a simple one-page marketing website.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Types_of_Penetration_Testing_And_Their_Cost\"><\/span>Types of Penetration Testing And Their Cost<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Usual targets for penetration tests are web and mobile applications, network and cloud infrastructures, and APIs. These assets are tested to find, exploit, and gain insights into their vulnerabilities. Here, the type and number of assets for pentesting influence the cost.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Web Application Penetration Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/security-audit\/web-application-penetration-testing\/\">Web application penetration testing<\/a> is the hacker-style assessment of web apps to identify and exploit vulnerabilities such as SQL injections, &amp; misconfigurations to patch their security. The web application pentesting cost ranges from $5,000 to $50,000 based on the number &amp; complexity of web applications.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Network Penetration Testing&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Network penetration tests are testing of internal networks by scanning with port and network scanners to detect vulnerabilities such as open network ports, misconfigurations, outdated software, and malware. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/security-audit\/external-penetration-testing\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/security-audit\/external-penetration-testing\/\">External penetration testing<\/a> costs for networks are around $150 &#8211; $1000 per device.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Cloud Penetration Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Azure, GCP, and AWS cloud pentests are carried out after the approval of a formal request with pentester information, IP addresses, and proposed testing date and time. Vulnerabilities like SQL, XSS, and CSRF are detected and exploited to gain insights into the vulnerability\u2019s severity, possible impact, and remediation measures. Cloud penetration testing price ranges between $5,000 &#8211; $50,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Mobile Application Penetration Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/mobile\/mobile-application-penetration-testing\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/mobile\/mobile-application-penetration-testing\/\">Mobile app pentesting<\/a> is the intrusive testing of mobile apps to detect &amp; exploit vulnerabilities such as insecure authentication &amp; authorization and misconfigurations. Mobile application pentests cost around $5,000 &#8211; $40,000 based on the number of applications and their complexity.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. SaaS Penetration Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SaaS penetration testing refers to exploiting vulnerabilities within web interfaces, APIs, networks, and other components of a SaaS app to find and remediate vulnerabilities. Prices for a SaaS pentest range from $5,000 to $30,000 per asset.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. API Penetration Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">API penetration testing is performed on application programming interfaces (APIs) to assess the strength of their security controls &amp; detect vulnerabilities. API pentests are priced between $5000 and $30,000 per asset.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<style>\n.ctaSaasCheckWrap{\n  padding:35px;\n  border: 6px;\n  background-image: url('https:\/\/cdn-blog.getastra.com\/2025\/08\/0737b9ac-deepblue-bg.png');\n  background-size: cover;\n  background-repeat: no-repeat;\n  position: relative;\n  background-position: right;\n  height: 275px;\n  border-radius: 10px;\n  margin: 20px 0px;\n}\n.pentestHeadingDB{\n  color: #fff;\n  font-size: 24px;\n  font-weight: 600;\n  max-width: 450px;\n}\n.ctaSaasCheckWrapHead {\n    display: flex;\n    align-items: center;\n    grid-gap: 1rem;\n}\n.ctaOneDB {\n    display: flex;\n  align-items: center;\n  padding: 1rem 1.5rem;\n  border-radius: 12px;\n  background-color: #FCBB2F;\n  text-decoration: none;\n  grid-gap: .5rem;\n  color: #000!important;\n  font-size: 18px;\n  font-weight: 500;\n  min-height: 3.75rem;\n  max-height: 3.75rem;\n  box-shadow: 0 4px 4px #00000014, 0 0 0 1px #c08e24, inset 0 -4px #0000003d;\n}\n.ctaTwo {\n    text-decoration: none;\n    background-color: #24BC94;\n    color: #ffffff !important;\n    padding: 10px 25px;\n    border-radius: 6px;\n    font-weight: 600;\n}\n.spanBoldBlue {\n    color: #3078FE;\n    font-weight: 700;\n}\n.ctaSaasCheckWrapImg{\n  position: absolute;\n  bottom: 0px;\n  right: 10px;\n  height: 250px;\n  width: 240px;\n}\n@media(max-width: 768px){\n}\n@media(max-width: 576px){\n   .pentestHeading{\n      font-size: 28px;\n    }\n   .ctaSaasCheckWrapImg{\n     display: none;\n   }\n}\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"ctaSaasCheckWrap\">\n<p class=\"pentestHeadingDB\">Need Exact Pentesting Cost for Your Web App\/Network\/Cloud?<br \/>Stop guessing and get expert recommendation.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"ctaSaasCheckWrapHead\">\n  <a class=\"ctaOneDB\" href=\"\/contact-us\">Let&#8217;s Connect<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ctaSaasCheckWrapImg\" src=\"\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/https:\/\/cdn-blog.getastra.com\/2024\/08\/96ad3cf0-girlcta.png\" alt=\"character\" \/>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Different_Penetration_Testing_Methodologies_And_Their_Pricing\"><\/span>Different Penetration Testing Methodologies And Their Pricing<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" src=\"\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/https:\/\/cdn-blog.getastra.com\/2024\/02\/e6e8076c-statistics-template-3.jpg\" alt=\"Penetration testing methodologies and cost\" class=\"wp-image-30849\" style=\"width:510px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Having decided on the type of assets for pentesting, the next question is what testing methodology you need to lock in on pricing. Pentesting methodologies are the POV from which the pentest is carried out, i.e., from an insider or outsider perspective with different levels of privilege.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-83\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-83 column1-color\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">Pentesting Methodology<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">Pricing<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-striping row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Black-Box Penetration Testing<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">$5,000 - $50,000 per asset<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">White-Box Penetration Testing<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">$500 - $2000 per asset<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Grey-Box Penetration Testing<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">$500 - $50,000 per asset<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-83 from cache -->\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Black Box Penetration Testing&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this methodology, the pentester is not given any system information or prior privileges for testing.<strong> <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/security-audit\/black-box-penetration-testing\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/security-audit\/black-box-penetration-testing\/\">Black-box pentesting<\/a><strong> <\/strong>costs around<strong> $5,000 to $50,000, <\/strong>which can be explained since it is the closest to an actual attack.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Pro Tip:<\/em><\/strong> <em>Choose black-box pentesting if you\u2019re looking to thoroughly assess your security posture from an external perspective by replicating the activities of a malicious hacker.<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. White Box Penetration Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before the test, the pentester is provided with the system\u2019s background information, such as source codes, credentials, and internal software. It is ideal for examining an asset\u2019s internal infrastructure and costs around <strong>$500 to $2000 per asset.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Pro Tip:<\/em><\/strong><em> White-box pentesting is suitable if you want to examine your asset\u2019s security from the internal perspective of a malicious insider, vulnerable code, or an unaware employee.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Grey Box Penetration Testing&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is a methodology where the pentester is given limited information like login credentials. A mix of white and black box testing is ideal for insider or social engineering &amp; threat testing and average costs around <strong>$5,000 to $50,000<\/strong>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Pro Tip:<\/em><\/strong><em> Choose a <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/penetration-testing\/gray-box\"><em>grey-box pentesting<\/em><\/a><em> approach to simulate internal and external attack scenarios to gain security insights from both black and white-box perspectives.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<style>\n.ctaSaasCheckWrap{\n  padding:35px;\n  border: 6px;\n  background-image: url('https:\/\/cdn-blog.getastra.com\/2025\/08\/0737b9ac-deepblue-bg.png');\n  background-size: cover;\n  background-repeat: no-repeat;\n  position: relative;\n  background-position: right;\n  height: 275px;\n  border-radius: 10px;\n  margin: 20px 0px;\n}\n.pentestHeadingDB{\n  color: #fff;\n  font-size: 24px;\n  font-weight: 600;\n  max-width: 450px;\n}\n.ctaSaasCheckWrapHead {\n    display: flex;\n    align-items: center;\n    grid-gap: 1rem;\n}\n.ctaOneDB {\n    display: flex;\n  align-items: center;\n  padding: 1rem 1.5rem;\n  border-radius: 12px;\n  background-color: #FCBB2F;\n  text-decoration: none;\n  grid-gap: .5rem;\n  color: #000!important;\n  font-size: 18px;\n  font-weight: 500;\n  min-height: 3.75rem;\n  max-height: 3.75rem;\n  box-shadow: 0 4px 4px #00000014, 0 0 0 1px #c08e24, inset 0 -4px #0000003d;\n}\n.ctaTwo {\n    text-decoration: none;\n    background-color: #24BC94;\n    color: #ffffff !important;\n    padding: 10px 25px;\n    border-radius: 6px;\n    font-weight: 600;\n}\n.spanBoldBlue {\n    color: #3078FE;\n    font-weight: 700;\n}\n.ctaSaasCheckWrapImg{\n  position: absolute;\n  bottom: 0px;\n  right: 10px;\n  height: 250px;\n  width: 240px;\n}\n@media(max-width: 768px){\n}\n@media(max-width: 576px){\n   .pentestHeading{\n      font-size: 28px;\n    }\n   .ctaSaasCheckWrapImg{\n     display: none;\n   }\n}\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"ctaSaasCheckWrap\">\n<p class=\"pentestHeadingDB\">Unsure Which Pentesting Method Fits Your Budget &#038; Goals? <br \/>Let experts help you find the right approach.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"ctaSaasCheckWrapHead\">\n  <a class=\"ctaOneDB\" href=\"\/contact-us\">Talk to Experts<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ctaSaasCheckWrapImg\" src=\"\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/https:\/\/cdn-blog.getastra.com\/2024\/08\/96ad3cf0-girlcta.png\" alt=\"character\" \/>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Factors_Affect_Penetration_Testing_Costs\"><\/span>What Factors Affect Penetration Testing Costs?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/https:\/\/cdn-blog.getastra.com\/2024\/02\/8e4702f2-factors-influencing-pentest-costs-1.jpg\" alt=\"factors influencing pentest costs\" class=\"wp-image-30848\" style=\"width:640px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/security-audit\/penetration-testing-services\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">penetration testing services<\/a> give tailored quotations since their prices differ based on the number of targets, pentester experience, and methodology. Factors on which pentest pricing depends:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Complexity of Target<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The cost of a pentest is proportional to the complexity of the target, such as the number of pages, APIs, etc. A pentest for a simple web app on a single server costs around $5,000, while a pentest for a complex system with interconnected servers and different tech stacks ranges around $10,000 to $50,000.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Methodology of Pentesting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Choose the pentest methodology after considering the price since each has its own merits. External pentest vs internal pentest or black\/grey\/white box are a few methodologies to consider. Manual black-box pentest costs more than the automated black-box pentest. White and grey-box attacks have different prices due to the time, effort, and resources involved in identifying vulnerabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Experience of Pentesters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Look for companies whose pentesters are experts with relevant certifications (OSCP, CREST, CEH, GPEN, etc), the latest tech knowledge, and good communication skills to provide valuable remediation assistance.&nbsp; Companies with skilled pentesters will quote more because of their service and accreditations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Remediation &amp; Retesting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The pentest journey doesn&#8217;t end with the vulnerability report. Fixing issues and verifying those fixes is where real security value emerges. Many providers charge extra for retesting, while others include a limited number of rescans in their packages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Smart budgeting includes remediation support costs. Internal teams need time to implement fixes, and you will want to verify that vulnerabilities are actually resolved. Fixing security bugs early costs <strong>6x less than addressing them later<\/strong> in development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Type of Assets For Pentest<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Choose a pentesting company that can test multiple assets like web, mobile applications, networks, APIs, and cloud infrastructure. The processes of detecting vulnerabilities for each asset and its specific features can cause a variation in pricing.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Timeline For Penetration Test<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pentest costs are influenced by the timeline, which changes based on assets and compensates for short timelines, labor, and technology. Pick a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/services\/penetration-testing-service\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/services\/penetration-testing-service\">pentest service<\/a> that can make the necessary arrangements to meet urgent timelines due to compliance or product release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Compliance Requirements<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each industry has unique security rules that affect pentest pricing. For example, healthcare companies need HIPAA checks, and FinTech companies require PCI DSS tests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meeting compliance means hiring experts, keeping detailed records, and following strict reporting. A standard pentest might cost $15,000, but for healthcare, it could double due to extra legal checks.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-e43a8917\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>Pro Tip<\/strong>: Think of compliance testing as your starting point for security, not the finish. Building on these basics protects your business against more sophisticated risks.<\/em><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. Testing Frequency<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How often you test impacts both your security budget and risk. Companies typically opt for one-time checks, yearly tests, or ongoing PTaaS monitoring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One-time tests are cheaper and more predictable, but they only provide a single view of your security. Continuous testing may seem to cost more initially, but it finds issues quicker, lowering the risk of expensive breaches. Remember, a data breach averages $4.45 million, which is significantly more than most pentesting budgets on average.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9. Vendor Reputation &amp; Location<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reputed pentesting companies that have branded enterprise clients and pentesters with certifications like OSCP or CREST charge premium rates but deliver more thorough assessments. They cost more upfront but provide comprehensive vulnerability discovery that cheaper providers might miss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Geographic location also matters. A $30,000 U.S.-based pentest might cost less via an international vendor; however, consider factors like time zones, regulatory knowledge, and communication when evaluating such options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">10. Testing Environment &amp; Customizations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The complexity of your IT environment directly multiplies penetration testing costs. Cloud infrastructures with multiple services, mobile apps supporting both iOS and Android, or IoT device networks require specialized testing approaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Simple external network scans start around $3,600, while comprehensive internal network assessments range $4,800-$35,000. API testing varies from $5,000-$30,000, depending on endpoint complexity and integration requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<style>\n.ctaSaasCheckWrap{\n  padding:35px;\n  border: 6px;\n  background-image: url('https:\/\/cdn-blog.getastra.com\/2025\/08\/0737b9ac-deepblue-bg.png');\n  background-size: cover;\n  background-repeat: no-repeat;\n  position: relative;\n  background-position: right;\n  height: 275px;\n  border-radius: 10px;\n  margin: 20px 0px;\n}\n.pentestHeadingDB{\n  color: #fff;\n  font-size: 24px;\n  font-weight: 600;\n  max-width: 450px;\n}\n.ctaSaasCheckWrapHead {\n    display: flex;\n    align-items: center;\n    grid-gap: 1rem;\n}\n.ctaOneDB {\n    display: flex;\n  align-items: center;\n  padding: 1rem 1.5rem;\n  border-radius: 12px;\n  background-color: #FCBB2F;\n  text-decoration: none;\n  grid-gap: .5rem;\n  color: #000!important;\n  font-size: 18px;\n  font-weight: 500;\n  min-height: 3.75rem;\n  max-height: 3.75rem;\n  box-shadow: 0 4px 4px #00000014, 0 0 0 1px #c08e24, inset 0 -4px #0000003d;\n}\n.ctaTwo {\n    text-decoration: none;\n    background-color: #24BC94;\n    color: #ffffff !important;\n    padding: 10px 25px;\n    border-radius: 6px;\n    font-weight: 600;\n}\n.spanBoldBlue {\n    color: #3078FE;\n    font-weight: 700;\n}\n.ctaSaasCheckWrapImg{\n  position: absolute;\n  bottom: 0px;\n  right: 10px;\n  height: 250px;\n  width: 240px;\n}\n@media(max-width: 768px){\n}\n@media(max-width: 576px){\n   .pentestHeading{\n      font-size: 28px;\n    }\n   .ctaSaasCheckWrapImg{\n     display: none;\n   }\n}\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"ctaSaasCheckWrap\">\n<p class=\"pentestHeadingDB\">Wondering if expensive pentests actually reduce risk or just raise your invoice?<\/p>\n<div class=\"ctaSaasCheckWrapHead\">\n  <a class=\"ctaOneDB\" href=\"\/contact-us\">Let&#8217;s Talk<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ctaSaasCheckWrapImg\" src=\"\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/https:\/\/cdn-blog.getastra.com\/2024\/08\/96ad3cf0-girlcta.png\" alt=\"character\" \/>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Astra_Pentest_is_Your_Best_Choice\"><\/span>Why Astra Pentest is Your Best Choice?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1238\" height=\"842\" src=\"\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/https:\/\/cdn-blog.getastra.com\/2024\/10\/28c452fa-astra-vapt-india-company-cert-empaneled.png\" alt=\"Astra Pentest pentest\" class=\"wp-image-35116\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Astra Security offers hacker-style penetration testing for websites,&nbsp; mobile apps, the cloud, APIs, networks, and SaaS. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/website-vapt#pricing\">pentest pricing plans for Astra Security<\/a> are:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Scanner<\/strong> &#8211; $1,999 per year<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Pentest<\/strong> &#8211; $5,999 per year<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Enterprise<\/strong> &#8211; $7,999 per year<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a CREST-certified pentest platform, we provide unlimited vulnerability scans and essential PtaaS features like an intuitive pentest dashboard and customizable PDF pentest reports. Security experts vet pentest scan results to weed out pesky false positives.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Astra&#8217;s security experts perform manual pentests to exploit critical vulnerabilities detected by the constantly updated vulnerability scanner, which tests for over 10,000 vulnerabilities. Astra uses AI to create test cases for your organization&#8217;s business logic based on the technology you use.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-0d16e733\">\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-5c89a587\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-b9454617 gb-headline-text\">See Astra\u2019s continuous Pentest platform in action.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-c6f37f68\">\n\n<a class=\"gb-button gb-button-c5f2ad3e gb-button-text\" href=\"https:\/\/astra.sh\/product-demo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Take a Product Tour<\/strong><\/a>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Astra\u2019s intuitive pentest dashboard facilitates real-time vulnerability reporting &amp; collaboration, reducing the patch time for developers. The tool can be easily integrated with CI\/CD tools like Slack, Jira, Jenkins, and GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once the remediation and rescans are complete, a publicly verifiable penetration testing certificate is given. Other reasons why Astra Security outsmarts other pentesting solutions out there are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Offers compliance scans (HIPAA, SOC2 pentest, PCI-DSS pentest, ISO 27001)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cloud security and source code reviews<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vulnerability PoCs&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Remediation assistance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<style>\n.ctaSaasCheckWrap{\n  padding:35px;\n  border: 6px;\n  background-image: url('https:\/\/cdn-blog.getastra.com\/2025\/08\/0737b9ac-deepblue-bg.png');\n  background-size: cover;\n  background-repeat: no-repeat;\n  position: relative;\n  background-position: right;\n  height: 275px;\n  border-radius: 10px;\n  margin: 20px 0px;\n}\n.pentestHeadingDB{\n  color: #fff;\n  font-size: 24px;\n  font-weight: 600;\n  max-width: 450px;\n}\n.ctaSaasCheckWrapHead {\n    display: flex;\n    align-items: center;\n    grid-gap: 1rem;\n}\n.ctaOneDB {\n    display: flex;\n  align-items: center;\n  padding: 1rem 1.5rem;\n  border-radius: 12px;\n  background-color: #FCBB2F;\n  text-decoration: none;\n  grid-gap: .5rem;\n  color: #000!important;\n  font-size: 18px;\n  font-weight: 500;\n  min-height: 3.75rem;\n  max-height: 3.75rem;\n  box-shadow: 0 4px 4px #00000014, 0 0 0 1px #c08e24, inset 0 -4px #0000003d;\n}\n.ctaTwo {\n    text-decoration: none;\n    background-color: #24BC94;\n    color: #ffffff !important;\n    padding: 10px 25px;\n    border-radius: 6px;\n    font-weight: 600;\n}\n.spanBoldBlue {\n    color: #3078FE;\n    font-weight: 700;\n}\n.ctaSaasCheckWrapImg{\n  position: absolute;\n  bottom: 0px;\n  right: 10px;\n  height: 250px;\n  width: 240px;\n}\n@media(max-width: 768px){\n}\n@media(max-width: 576px){\n   .pentestHeading{\n      font-size: 28px;\n    }\n   .ctaSaasCheckWrapImg{\n     display: none;\n   }\n}\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"ctaSaasCheckWrap\">\n<p class=\"pentestHeadingDB\">Curious what a pentest should cost for your scope and risk profile?<\/p>\n<div class=\"ctaSaasCheckWrapHead\">\n  <a class=\"ctaOneDB\" href=\"\/contact-us\">Let&#8217;s Talk<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ctaSaasCheckWrapImg\" src=\"\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/https:\/\/cdn-blog.getastra.com\/2024\/08\/96ad3cf0-girlcta.png\" alt=\"character\" \/>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_Thoughts\"><\/span><strong>Final Thoughts<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Penetration testing is a smart investment that guards your assets against security breaches, legal &amp; remediation expenses, and revenue &amp; reputation loss. The cost of a pentest is justified when its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.darkreading.com\/vulnerabilities-threats\/pen-testing-roi-how-to-communicate-the-value-of-security-testing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ROI<\/a> is the total <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/security-audit\/data-protection-trends\/\">costs of a data breach<\/a>. Hence, a trusted and thorough penetration test is ideal for your organization&#8217;s security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Choose the right penetration testing company for your needs by considering factors like pricing, scope, number of assets, and required timeline. Astra Security is a pentesting solution that provides upfront pricing and an array of exciting features to simplify pentesting.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"faqs\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Pen_Testing_Cost_%E2%80%93_FAQs\"><\/span>Pen Testing Cost &#8211; FAQs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1708703063395\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">How much does a Pentest usually cost?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>An average penetration testing cost is between $2500 $50,000, and the pricing varies based on multiple factors such as target, asset type, timeline, expertise of pentesters, and more. For example, network pentest pricing is based on the number of devices. <\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1754890444555\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">How much does penetration testing cost per IP?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>External network pentests typically cost $5,000\u2013$10,000 for up to 25 IPs, which scales beyond $15,000\u2013$30,000 for larger portfolios (50+ IPs).<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1754890471201\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">What&#8217;s the cost of a black box pentest?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Black\u2011box pentests, where testers start with zero internal knowledge, generally cost between $5,000 and $15,000, though complex environments or enterprises may push that up to $50,000 per asset.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-2cb182ed product-demo-cta\">\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-c4f87c50\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-4fc3f8e1 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong><strong>Explore Our Penetration Testing Series<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:16px\">This post is&nbsp;<strong>part of a series on penetration testing.<\/strong><br>You can also check out other articles below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"gb-block-image gb-block-image-825b18cb\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gb-image gb-image-825b18cb\" src=\"\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/https:\/\/cdn-blog.getastra.com\/2024\/09\/64e35ab3-file.png\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-a27fcb2d\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Chapter 1:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/penetration-testing\/pentest-guide\/\">What is Penetration Testing?<\/a><br>Chapter 2:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/penetration-testing\/types\/\">Different Types of Pentest Testing<\/a><br>Chapter 3:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/penetration-testing\/methodology\/\">Top 5 Pentest Methodology<\/a><br>Chapter 4:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/penetration-testing\/companies\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/penetration-testing\/companies\/\">Top Pentest Companies to Consider in 2026<\/a><br>Chapter 5:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/penetration-testing\/online\/\">Best Pentest Online Tools \u2013 Top List<\/a><br>Chapter 6:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/penetration-testing\/wordpress\/\">A Super Easy Guide on WordPress Pentest<\/a><br>Chapter 7:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/security-audit\/penetration-testing-cost\/\">Average Penetration Testing Cost in 2026<\/a><br>Chapter 8:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/security-audit\/penetration-testing-report\/\">Pentest Reporting (Sample Report)<\/a><br>Chapter 9:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/security-audit\/web-application-penetration-testing\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/security-audit\/web-application-penetration-testing\/\">Web App Pentest Guide<\/a><br>Chapter 10:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/security-audit\/web-application-penetration-testing\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/security-audit\/web-application-penetration-testing\/\">Pentest Website Guide<\/a><br><br><br><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The average cost of a penetration test ranges from $2500 to $50,000. Penetration testing costs are a function of the type of targets, the number of targets, the quality of the pentesters, and the testing methodologies used. Here\u2019s a list of types of Pentests and their costs. The prices for pentesting change based on the &#8230; <a title=\"How Much Does a Pentest Cost in 2026: Avg Prices ($5K\u2013$50K+)\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/penetration-testing\/cost\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about How Much Does a Pentest Cost in 2026: Avg Prices ($5K\u2013$50K+)\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":33067,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[722],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15194","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-penetration-testing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15194","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/43"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15194"}],"version-history":[{"count":32,"href":"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15194\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47169,"href":"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15194\/revisions\/47169"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33067"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15194"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15194"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15194"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}