How Much Does a Penetration Test Cost?

Why Pricing Varies So Much

Penetration testing pricing varies enormously across the industry — from a few thousand dollars to well over $100,000 — because "penetration test" covers a wide range of scope, methodology, and quality. A report produced by automated scanning tools is fundamentally different from one produced by a senior certified engineer conducting manual testing. Both may be sold as "penetration tests."

What Drives the Cost?

• Scope size — Number of external IPs, internal hosts, or web applications in scope
• Test type — Internal tests typically cost more than external; combined engagements more than single-scope
• Methodology — Manual testing by senior engineers costs more than automated scanning — and is substantially more valuable
• Report depth — Tiered reporting with executive summaries and attestation documentation takes more time to produce

Grid32 Pricing

Grid32 offers transparent, scope-based pricing through our online quote builder. You define your scope; we provide a clear price. No discovery calls required. No surprise line items after the SOW.

You Get What You Pay For

The cheapest penetration test is often not a penetration test at all — it's an automated vulnerability scan with a branded PDF wrapper. See our full discussion on pentest pricing →