How much does a SOC 2 audit cost?
The honest answer: it depends on your size, scope, and readiness — but published ranges are narrower than most vendors admit. Start with the estimator, then see what drives the number.
SOC 2 cost estimator
How this estimate is calculated (formula & assumptions)
Audit-fee bands by size are derived from published 2025–2026 ranges: Type 2 audit fees $7k–$100k (Secureframe), $12k–$30k for small SaaS (Ferrogate), $30k–$60k all-in for mid-size SaaS (Uproot). Type 1 = ~55–60% of Type 2. Each Trust Services Criterion beyond Security adds ~20%. Readiness: 40–60% of audit fee from scratch, 15–30% with partial controls. Tooling: $5k–$30k/yr (Hicomply). Internal staff time excluded (sources: $50k–$70k, often 5–8× the invoice).
What the published data says
| Source | Key figures |
|---|---|
| Uproot Security — “The Cost of an SOC 2 Audit” (updated Sept 2026) | Type 1: $5k–$25k (Security-only $5k–$12k) · Startups/mid-market audit fee: $10k–$50k · First-year total: $30k–$150k · Mid-size SaaS (100–500 staff) first Type 2 all-in: $30k–$60k |
| Secureframe — “How Much Does a SOC 2 Audit Cost in 2025?” | Type 2 audit: $7k–$100k · Average quote: $5k–$60k · One AICPA-licensed firm charges $20k (Type I) / $30k (Type II) / $15k gap assessment |
| ComplyJet — “SOC 2 Compliance Cost in 2026” | Type 1: $10k–$50k · Type 2 (scale-ups/enterprise): $75k–$150k, $200k+ in complex environments |
| Eventus Security — SOC 2 cost breakdown | Type 1: $5k–$20k · Type 2: $7k–$150k · Readiness assessment: $10k–$17k |
| Hicomply — “SOC 2 Costs in 2025: The Snapshot” | Audit fees: $5k–$60k · Internal staff time: $50k–$70k · Tooling: $5k–$30k/yr · First year total: $20k–$100k+ |
| Ferrogate SOC 2 scoping guide (open-source, 2026) | Type I: $5k–$20k · Type II: $12k–$30k (small SaaS) · All-in first year: $20k–$60k · Year-two costs typically drop 30–50% |
What drives your price
- Company size. More employees means larger control samples and more interviews — the single biggest fee driver.
- Scope. Security is mandatory; each extra criterion (Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, Privacy) adds roughly 15–25%.
- Complexity. Microservices, multiple cloud providers, and distributed teams all expand testing.
- Readiness. Walking in with documented controls and organized evidence is the cheapest lever you control.
- Auditor choice. Boutique firms often price 20–40% below Big-4-style practices for the same report type — the report format is standardized by the AICPA either way.
The costs nobody quotes you
The audit invoice is usually the smaller half. Published breakdowns add: internal staff time ($50k–$70k in year one), compliance tooling ($5k–$30k/year), readiness assessments ($10k–$17k), and remediation work. Budget the all-in number, not the quote.
Frequently asked
What is the average cost of a SOC 2 Type 2 audit?
Published sources cluster the audit fee between $7,000 and $100,000, with most quotes landing $15,000–$60,000 for small to mid-size companies. First-year all-in costs (audit + readiness + tooling + staff time) typically run $30,000–$150,000.
Is SOC 2 Type 1 cheaper than Type 2?
Yes — typically about 55–60% of the Type 2 fee, because Type 1 is a point-in-time design review with no observation period. But most enterprise customers ask for Type 2, so many companies skip Type 1 or do it only as a stepping stone.
What drives SOC 2 cost up the most?
Company size (more employees = more sampling), number of Trust Services Criteria in scope, system complexity, and how audit-ready you are on day one. Each added criterion beyond Security typically adds 15–25% to the fee.
Do costs drop after the first year?
Yes. Open-source scoping guidance and vendor data suggest year-two costs fall 30–50% once policies, tooling, and evidence habits exist — the re-audit is mostly the annual fee plus tooling.
- Uproot Security — “The Cost of an SOC 2 Audit” (updated Sept 2026)
- Secureframe — “How Much Does a SOC 2 Audit Cost in 2025?”
- ComplyJet — “SOC 2 Compliance Cost in 2026”
- Eventus Security — SOC 2 cost breakdown
- Hicomply — “SOC 2 Costs in 2025: The Snapshot”
- Ferrogate SOC 2 scoping guide (open-source, 2026)
Get your actual number
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