# SOC 2 Audit Cost: Two First-Year Builds **URL:** https://theauditrail.com/frameworks/soc-2/cost/ **Published:** 2026-10-06 **Modified:** 2026-10-11 **Author:** The Audit Trail editorial desk > Thoropass puts a first-year SOC 2 at $40,000 to $100,000. Scrut puts a 50 to 100 person company at $50,000 to $110,000 with a platform. --- [SOC 2 guide](https://theauditrail.com/frameworks/soc-2/) # SOC 2 Audit Cost: Two Itemized First-Year Builds Thoropass puts a first-year SOC 2 for a 15-engineer company at $40,000 to $100,000. Scrut puts a 50 to 100 person company at $50,000 to $110,000 with a platform. The Audit Trail editorial desk Updated Oct 11, 2026 · First published Oct 6, 2026 [Some vendors pay us to be assessed or listed. Payment never changes a score, a rank or a verdict.](https://theauditrail.com/how-we-make-money/) In brief - Thoropass puts a first-year SOC 2 for 15 engineers at $40,000 to $100,000. - Scrut puts 50 to 100 people with a platform at $50,000 to $110,000. - The auditor's fee is $15,000 to $40,000 in one build and $15,000 to $35,000 in the other. - Thoropass is the only one of the six platforms that publishes an audit subscription price. - Drata puts the yearly cost after the first year at $15,000 to $40,000. Thoropass puts a [first-year SOC 2](https://theauditrail.com/frameworks/soc-2/for-startups/) for a 15-engineer company at $40,000 to $100,000. That build covers the Security criterion only and a Type 2 report. Scrut puts a first-year SOC 2 for a company of 50 to 100 people at $50,000 to $110,000, with three criteria and a platform. Both sell compliance platforms. Thoropass’s lines are a readiness assessment, a platform subscription, the auditor’s fee and staff time. Scrut’s lines are readiness, a penetration test, the auditor’s fee, a platform, an MDM tool and staff time. The auditor’s fee is $15,000 to $40,000 in the first build and $15,000 to $35,000 in the second. Linford and Co puts SOC audit fees, SOC 1 and SOC 2 together, at $20,000 to $150,000 with a median near $30,000. The two builds use different company sizes and criteria, so the totals stay separate. The audit itself is a [SOC 2](https://theauditrail.com/frameworks/soc-2/) examination by a CPA firm. ## What a SOC 2 costs in total Each first-year total below carries the scope its publisher states. Source Scope First-year total [Thoropass](https://www.thoropass.com/blog/soc-2-audit-cost-a-guide) 15 engineers on AWS, Security only, Type 2, short observation window $40,000 to $100,000 [Scrut](https://www.scrut.io/hub/soc-2/cost-of-soc-2-audit) 50 to 100 employees, three criteria, Type 2, with a platform $50,000 to $110,000 [Scrut](https://www.scrut.io/hub/soc-2/cost-of-soc-2-audit) Same company, no platform $78,000 to $170,000+ [Zipsec](https://www.zipsec.com/blog/how-much-does-soc-2-compliance-really-cost-a-clear-guide) Small company $20,000 to $80,000 [TrustNet](https://trustnetinc.com/pricing/soc-report-cost/) Up to 50 employees Around $40,000 [Drata](https://drata.com/learn/soc-2/cost) Small startup From $25,000 [Vanta](https://www.vanta.com/collection/soc-2/soc-2-audit-cost) First SOC 2, size not stated $10,000 to $80,000 or more StrongDM publishes a $147,000 all-in figure for a Type 1 that counts lost productivity and tool purchases, which puts it outside these scopes. ## Audit fees by type and size The audit fee is the CPA firm’s invoice. Linford and Co, A-LIGN and TrustNet publish their own ranges. Source Scope Audit fee [Linford and Co](https://linfordco.com/blog/soc-audit-cost/) SOC audits (SOC 1 and SOC 2), all sizes $20,000 to $150,000, median around $30,000 [A-LIGN](https://www.a-lign.com/articles/what-is-soc-2-complete-guide) SOC 2, Type 1 or Type 2 $20,000 to $150,000 or more [Drata](https://drata.com/learn/soc-2/cost) Type 1, small to midsize $7,500 to $15,000 [Drata](https://drata.com/learn/soc-2/cost) Type 2, small to midsize $12,000 to $20,000 [Drata](https://drata.com/learn/soc-2/cost) Type 2, large organizations $30,000 to $100,000+ [Thoropass](https://www.thoropass.com/blog/soc-2-audit-cost-a-guide) Type 1 $5,000 to $40,000 [Thoropass](https://www.thoropass.com/blog/soc-2-audit-cost-a-guide) Type 2 $15,000 to $100,000+ [TrustNet](https://trustnetinc.com/pricing/soc-report-cost/) Type 1 $7,500 to $35,000 [TrustNet](https://trustnetinc.com/pricing/soc-report-cost/) Type 2 $15,000 to $60,000+ Linford’s range is for SOC audit fees, which cover SOC 1 and SOC 2. A-LIGN’s range covers Type 1 and Type 2. Neither splits the two. Vanta publishes two ranges that differ. One page says audit fees usually run between [$10,000 and $50,000](https://www.vanta.com/collection/soc-2/soc-2-audit-cost). Another says a Type 2 audit costs roughly [$30,000 to $60,000](https://www.vanta.com/collection/soc-2/soc-2-type-2). Big Four firms sit above these ranges. Linford says Big Four SOC fees start in the low six figures. Scrut puts a Big Four audit for a 100-person company at $50,000 or more for the audit alone. Secureframe says at least $150,000. ## Readiness and pen test A [readiness assessment](https://theauditrail.com/frameworks/soc-2/checklist/) finds control gaps before the audit starts. Published ranges disagree. - **[Drata](https://drata.com/learn/soc-2/cost):** $5,000 to $25,000 for a gap assessment. - **[Scrut](https://www.scrut.io/hub/soc-2/cost-of-soc-2-audit):** $5,000 to $15,000 for a consultant-led assessment. - **[Thoropass](https://www.thoropass.com/blog/soc-2-audit-cost-a-guide):** $0 when done internally, up to $25,000 with a consultant. - **[Secureframe](https://secureframe.com/hub/soc-2/audit-cost):** about $15,000. - **[Sprinto](https://sprinto.com/soc-2/audit-cost/):** $10,000 to $40,000. Linford says some firms price readiness assessments separately from audits while others lump them together. A [penetration test](https://theauditrail.com/frameworks/soc-2/penetration-test-cost/) is its own line. Zipsec says SOC 2 audit quotes do not automatically include one. Drata says SOC 2 does not always require one, and many customers ask for one in due diligence. - **[Blaze Infosec](https://www.blazeinfosec.com/post/how-much-does-penetration-testing-cost/):** $8,000 to $25,000 for a standard SaaS scope, with focused tests from $4,999. - **[Invadel](https://invadel.com/pricing/):** a focused web application test from $5,200. - **[Scrut](https://www.scrut.io/hub/soc-2/cost-of-soc-2-audit):** $10,000 to $20,000 for two products tested externally and at the application level. - **[Drata](https://drata.com/learn/soc-2/cost):** $5,000 to $15,000. ## Compliance platform cost Starting prices for the six [ranked SOC 2 platforms](https://theauditrail.com/best/soc-2-compliance-software/) come from AWS Marketplace listings and secureframe.com, as recorded in the [compliance software pricing study](https://theauditrail.com/research/compliance-software-pricing-2026/), in rubric order. Platform (rubric total) Published starting price Covers Where [Sprinto](https://theauditrail.com/vendors/sprinto/) (84) $7,500 a year, plus a first framework from $2,000 Up to 100 employees AWS Marketplace [Vanta](https://theauditrail.com/vendors/vanta/) (82) $14,000 a year, Essentials 1 to 20 employees AWS Marketplace [Drata](https://theauditrail.com/vendors/drata/) (76) $15,000 a year, Foundation Package 1 to 50 employees AWS Marketplace [Drata](https://theauditrail.com/vendors/drata/) (76) $25,000 platform fee plus $7,500 per framework 100 employees AWS Marketplace [Secureframe](https://theauditrail.com/vendors/secureframe/) (75) $7,500 a year, Fundamentals Up to 100 employees secureframe.com [Scrut](https://theauditrail.com/vendors/scrut/) (72) $15,000 a year Up to 20 employees AWS Marketplace [Thoropass](https://theauditrail.com/vendors/thoropass/) (52) $8,700 a year including a first framework No band stated AWS Marketplace Secureframe is the only one of the six that prints a price on secureframe.com. The [rubric](https://theauditrail.com/rubric/) credits Pricing transparency only for prices on the vendor’s website. Secureframe earns 2 of 5. Sprinto, Vanta and Drata earn 1. Scrut and Thoropass earn 0. With SOC 2 as the first framework, the listings cover up to 100 employees at $32,500 a year on Drata’s $25,000 platform fee plus a $7,500 framework, $15,000 on Secureframe’s AWS Marketplace listing and $9,500 on Sprinto’s. These are starting prices, and every listing says the final price depends on size, scope and frameworks. Scrut puts a compliance automation platform at $10,000 to $30,000 a year. Thoropass says $3,000 to $10,000 for startups and $10,000 to $50,000 or more for enterprises. Both figures come from platform sellers. **[Thoropass](https://theauditrail.com/vendors/thoropass/)** is the only one of the six that publishes an audit subscription price. Its AWS Marketplace listing shows a SOC 2 audit subscription from $5,800 a year, performed by in-house auditors, next to a platform subscription from $8,700 that includes a first framework. Thoropass’s G2 listing shows SOC 2 audits from $11,500 a year, so the same seller shows two audit prices. ![Thoropass logo](https://theauditrail.com/logos/thoropass.png) Thoropass 52/100 Limited [Scorecard](https://theauditrail.com/vendors/thoropass/) [Thoropass site](https://www.thoropass.com) A [licensed CPA firm performs every SOC 2 audit](https://theauditrail.com/frameworks/soc-2/who-performs-a-soc-2-audit/). Thoropass describes its audit arm as a licensed CPA firm. ## What raises or lowers the bill Linford says each additional system in scope multiplies the audit effort, though the fee should not double. - **Trust Services Criteria.** Security is required in every SOC 2 and the other four are optional. Sensiba says Availability and Confidentiality add about 10% to 20% each to the base cost, and Processing Integrity and Privacy add about 20% to 50% each. Thoropass says each added criterion adds 15% to 30%. Scrut says three criteria cost about 1.2 times Security alone. Linford calls Privacy an expensive add-on. - **Systems and locations.** Linford says each added system raises the effort without doubling the fee. More locations cost more, and the most when controls differ between them. - **Carve-outs.** Schellman says the carve-out method, which excludes a third party’s controls from testing, is by far the most common approach. - **Observation window.** A Type 2 covers an observation period, which A-LIGN describes as typically 3 to 12 months. - **Auditor tier.** Thoropass says the fee gap between Big Four, national and regional firms runs 30% to 100%. - **Control maturity.** A-LIGN says mature control environments need less remediation and testing time. - **Pricing model.** Linford prices SOC 2 engagements on a fixed fee. RedSecLabs says hourly engagements bill partners at $250 to $350 an hour and staff at $100 to $175. Scrut says internal time does not arrive as an invoice. It counts $5,000 to $10,000 with a platform and $10,000 to $30,000 without one. Thoropass counts $15,000 to $30,000 for 100 to 150 hours at a startup. ## Type 1 vs Type 2 cost A-LIGN describes a Type 1 as a point-in-time snapshot of whether controls are suitably designed, and a Type 2 as proof they operate effectively over time. Drata says a Type 2 costs 30% to 50% more than a Type 1. Source Type 1 Type 2 [Drata](https://drata.com/learn/soc-2/cost), small to midsize $7,500 to $15,000 $12,000 to $20,000 [TrustNet](https://trustnetinc.com/pricing/soc-report-cost/) $7,500 to $35,000 $15,000 to $60,000+ [Thoropass](https://www.thoropass.com/blog/soc-2-audit-cost-a-guide) $5,000 to $40,000 $15,000 to $100,000+ Scrut publishes two all-in estimates for a company of 50 to 100 people: $30,000 to $100,000 for a first Type 2, and $50,000 to $110,000 in its itemized build. It puts a Type 1 at $15,000 to $40,000 all-in. Scrut says about 70% of its clients skip Type 1 and go straight to Type 2. Scrut also says the minimum Type 2 observation period is 3 months. A-LIGN says the period is typically 3 to 12 months, and PB Mares says first-time reports may cover 3, 6 or 9 months. ## Renewal cost Drata, Scrut, Secureframe and RedSecLabs each publish a yearly cost after the first year. - **[Drata](https://drata.com/learn/soc-2/cost):** $15,000 to $40,000 a year for the re-audit fee plus tools. - **[Scrut](https://www.scrut.io/hub/soc-2/cost-of-soc-2-audit):** $20,000 to $40,000 for a Type 2 re-certification audit. Scrut also says re-certification and monitoring add $20,000 to $50,000 a year without automation. - **[Secureframe](https://secureframe.com/hub/soc-2/audit-cost):** $10,000 to $60,000 a year for maintenance. - **[RedSecLabs](https://www.redseclabs.com/blog/soc-2-audit-cost/):** $15,000 to $40,000 a year from year 2. Platform renewals can rise too. Thoropass’s AWS Marketplace listing says renewal pricing may rise by up to 7% over the prior term. Sprinto says some auditors discount subsequent audits, and Thoropass says multi-year engagements can cut per-audit costs by 10% to 30%. Schellman states that it sets fees for each engagement independently. Platforms in this article [![Sprinto logo](https://theauditrail.com/logos/sprinto.png)Sprinto (84/100)](/vendors/sprinto/)[ ![Vanta logo](https://theauditrail.com/logos/vanta.png)Vanta (82/100) ](/vendors/vanta/)[ ![Drata logo](https://theauditrail.com/logos/drata.png)Drata (76/100) ](/vendors/drata/)[ ![Secureframe logo](https://theauditrail.com/logos/secureframe.png)Secureframe (75/100) ](/vendors/secureframe/)[ ![Scrut logo](https://theauditrail.com/logos/scrut.png)Scrut (72/100) ](/vendors/scrut/)[ ![Thoropass logo](https://theauditrail.com/logos/thoropass.png)Thoropass (52/100)](/vendors/thoropass/) ## Frequently asked questions - How much does a SOC 2 audit cost? Linford and Co puts SOC audit fees, SOC 1 and SOC 2 together, at $20,000 to $150,000 with a median price around $30,000, and A-LIGN says $20,000 to $150,000 or more. Drata quotes $12,000 to $20,000 for a Type 2 at a small to midsize company. The fee depends on company size, systems in scope, the Trust Services Criteria chosen and the report type. - How much does SOC 2 certification cost? A-LIGN says a SOC 2 audit produces a formal report. Thoropass puts a first year for a 15-engineer company, Security only, at $40,000 to $100,000. Scrut puts a 50 to 100 person company with three criteria and a platform at $50,000 to $110,000. - How much does a SOC 2 Type 2 cost? Type 2 audit fees run $12,000 to $20,000 for small to midsize companies on Drata's page and $15,000 to $60,000 or more on TrustNet's. Drata says a Type 2 costs 30% to 50% more than a Type 1. - Does compliance software include the SOC 2 audit? Thoropass is the only one of the six ranked SOC 2 platforms that publishes an audit subscription price: from $5,800 a year on AWS Marketplace, performed by in-house auditors, next to a platform subscription from $8,700. Thoropass describes Thoropass Assurance as a licensed CPA firm. The other five publish no audit subscription price. - Is a penetration test required for SOC 2? Drata says a penetration test is not always required by SOC 2, and many customers demand one anyway. Blaze Infosec puts a SOC 2 penetration test at $8,000 to $25,000 for a standard SaaS scope, and Invadel lists a web application test from $5,200. - What does SOC 2 cost after the first year? Drata puts maintenance at $15,000 to $40,000 a year, covering the re-audit fee and ongoing tools. Scrut puts a Type 2 re-certification audit at about $20,000 to $40,000. Secureframe's range is wider, $10,000 to $60,000 a year.