Guide
How Much Does a Penetration Test Cost in 2026?
A professional penetration test for a SaaS web application typically costs $5,000, $30,000+ per engagement, depending on scope, complexity, and the provider. Most startup web-app pentests land in the $8,000, $15,000 range. Continuous automated testing is a lower-cost, pay-as-you-go alternative that covers the time between formal engagements.
Typical price ranges
| Engagement | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Small web app / MVP pentest | $5,000, $10,000 |
| Standard SaaS web app pentest | $8,000, $15,000 |
| Large/complex app, API + web + cloud | $20,000, $30,000+ |
| Continuous automated testing | Usage-based (from a few dollars per scan) |
These are ballpark figures for the US/EU market in 2026; boutique firms and big-name consultancies sit at the higher end.
What drives the price
- Scope: number of apps, endpoints, user roles, and whether APIs, mobile, or cloud infra are included.
- Complexity: intricate business logic and many privilege levels take longer to test.
- Depth & methodology: a black-box test costs less than a thorough grey/white-box test with source access.
- Provider: independent testers vs. boutique firms vs. brand-name consultancies.
- Retesting: some quotes include verification of fixes; some charge extra.
Hidden costs to ask about
Before signing, confirm whether the quote includes a retest after you fix issues, how many user roles are in scope, and whether you get a letter of attestation for customers. These line items are where surprises hide.
A lower-cost path for startups
If you don't yet have a compliance or contractual requirement forcing a formal engagement, a five-figure annual pentest is a lot to spend on a one-time snapshot. Continuous automated testing covers the common, high-impact vulnerability classes on every deploy at a fraction of the cost.
Kyro is pay-as-you-go: you buy credits and spend them on hunter runtime, with free credits to start. start a free scan and you can see real findings before deciding whether you also need a formal engagement. See do I need a penetration test? to decide.
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Start a free scanFrequently asked questions
How much does a penetration test cost for a SaaS startup?
Most SaaS web-app penetration tests cost between $8,000 and $15,000 per engagement in 2026, with smaller MVPs from around $5,000 and large multi-component scopes exceeding $30,000. Pricing depends mainly on scope, complexity, and provider.
Why are penetration tests so expensive?
A manual pentest is skilled human labor, experienced testers spending one to two weeks understanding and attacking your app. Cost scales with scope, complexity, the number of user roles, and the depth of methodology.
Is there a cheaper alternative to a manual pentest?
Yes. Continuous automated penetration testing is usage-based and far cheaper per scan, covering common high-impact vulnerabilities on every deploy. It's a strong complement to (and, early on, a substitute for) a formal annual engagement.