SOC 2 Pricing Report 2026: Every Published Cost Figure, Cited
Nobody publishes their SOC 2 invoice. So we collected every published cost figure we could find — six named sources, each with its scope and a link — and laid them side by side. No averages invented, no surveys fabricated.
The numbers
| Figure | Published range | Scope / context |
|---|---|---|
| SOC 2 Type 1 audit fee | $5,000–$25,000 | Point-in-time design review |
| SOC 2 Type 1 audit fee | $5,000–$20,000 | Eventus Security, Type 1 |
| SOC 2 Type 2 audit fee | $7,000–$100,000 | Full range across scopes (Secureframe) |
| SOC 2 Type 2 audit fee | $12,000–$30,000 | Small SaaS, Type II (Ferrogate) |
| SOC 2 Type 2 audit fee | $5,000–$60,000 | Average quote range (Secureframe) |
| SOC 2 Type 2, mid-size SaaS all-in | $30,000–$60,000 | 100–500 staff, first Type 2 (Uproot) |
| SOC 2 Type 2, scale-up/enterprise | $75,000–$150,000 (up to $200k+) | Complex environments (ComplyJet) |
| Readiness / gap assessment | $10,000–$17,000 | Pre-audit gap engagement (Eventus) |
| Compliance tooling | $5,000–$30,000 / year | Automation platforms (Hicomply) |
| Internal staff time (year one) | $50,000–$70,000 | Often 5–8× the audit invoice (Hicomply / Uproot) |
| First-year total, all-in | $30,000–$150,000 | Audit + readiness + tooling + staff (Uproot) |
| First-year total, startup | $20,000–$60,000 | Lean startup path (Ferrogate) |
| Year-two cost reduction | 30–50% lower | Once controls and tooling exist (Ferrogate) |
What the data actually tells us
- Type 2 audit fees cluster $15k–$60k for small-to-mid-size companies across four of six sources; the $100k+ tail is enterprise scope.
- Readiness is the hidden line item. Three sources independently put gap/readiness work at $10k–$17k — skipping it is the most expensive "saving" in SOC 2.
- Staff time dwarfs the invoice. The one source that quantifies it ($50k–$70k, 5–8× the audit fee) suggests most "cost of SOC 2" discussions undercount by half.
- Year two is cheaper. Only one source quantifies the drop (30–50%), but the mechanism — sunk readiness and tooling — is uncontroversial.
Methodology
What is this report?
A compilation of every published SOC 2 cost figure we could find from named, linkable sources, collected September 2026. It is a meta-analysis of published claims, not a survey we ran and not an average we computed.
How were sources selected?
Sources had to (1) name a dollar range or figure, (2) be publicly accessible, and (3) be attributable to a real company or author. Vendor blogs are included and labeled as such — several sources sell adjacent services.
Why do the ranges differ so much?
Different scopes. A $5k Type 1 for a 10-person startup and a $200k+ enterprise Type 2 program are both 'SOC 2 costs.' The ranges below are only comparable when the scope matches — read the scope column.
What isn't here?
Anything we couldn't source. We don't publish 'average SOC 2 cost' as a single number because the underlying populations differ too much to average honestly.
How current is this?
Sources dated 2025–2026, collected September 2026. We plan to refresh this report annually; the methodology section will note what changed.
Sources
- 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%
Get your own number
Published ranges are a starting point. Get scoped quotes from licensed auditors for your actual situation.