Pricing
Transparent pricing. No sales calls. No surprises.
Penetration testing in 2026 costs between $1,500 for a quick audit and $30,000 or more for comprehensive engagements. Sherlock Forensics publishes transparent pricing: Quick Audit at $1,500, Standard Pentest at $5,000 and Comprehensive at $12,000. Pricing depends on number of targets, application complexity, compliance requirements and whether retesting is included.
Most penetration testing firms hide their pricing behind discovery calls and sales teams. We publish ours because we believe security buyers deserve to know what they will pay before they make contact. Here is what penetration testing costs in 2026 and what you get at each price point.
Industry Overview
Automated vulnerability scanning with light manual validation. Identifies known CVEs, missing patches and common misconfigurations. Best for single-target baseline assessments and startups that need a first look at their external attack surface.
Manual testing by a qualified penetration tester. Includes business logic testing, authentication analysis, exploitation with proof-of-concept and a detailed report with remediation guidance. The most common engagement for compliance requirements.
Multi-target testing across networks, applications, APIs and cloud infrastructure. May include red team exercises, social engineering, physical security assessment and adversary simulation mapped to MITRE ATT&CK. For organizations with complex environments and mature security programs.
Cost Factors
Our Pricing
| Tier | Base Price | Per Extra Target | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quick Audit | $1,500 | +$500 | Automated scan, light manual validation, findings report |
| Standard Pentest | $5,000 | +$2,000 | Manual testing, business logic, PoC exploits, retest |
| Comprehensive | $12,000 | +$5,000 | Full red team, multi-vector, MITRE ATT&CK mapping, retest |
Transparency
You should not need to sit through a 45-minute discovery call to learn what a penetration test costs. Our prices are published. If the scope fits a standard tier, you can order online in minutes. If your environment requires custom scoping, call us and we will quote within 24 hours.
Our pricing is the same for every client. We do not inflate quotes for enterprise buyers or discount for startups. The price reflects the work required. Period.
Security teams are busy. Procurement cycles are long enough without adding unnecessary sales friction. We publish prices so you can evaluate whether we fit your budget before spending a minute on a call.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related
Understand the difference between automated scanning and manual penetration testing before you buy.
Network, application, cloud and red team penetration testing aligned to PTES and OWASP standards.
Purchase a penetration test at these prices online. No meetings required.
Get Started
Quick Audit from $1,500. Standard Pentest from $5,000. No meetings required.
Order OnlineIf your environment does not fit a standard tier, call us. We will scope a custom engagement and quote within 24 hours. No pressure. No obligation.
Call 604.229.1994