The Short Answer
SOC 2 costs between $5,000 and $150,000 in 2026, depending on company size, report type, and whether you use compliance automation. A typical startup spends $7,495–$12,000 total for a first SOC 2 Type I. A mid-sized company running Type II with a legacy consulting model spends $60,000–$120,000 per year.
- •Auditor fees: $2,500–$18,000 (Type I or Type II)
- •Compliance software: $4,995–$40,000/year
- •Internal engineering time: 120–500 hours
- •Penetration test (often required): $1,200–$3,000
- •Cheapest legitimate path: LowerPlane ($4,995) + boutique auditor ($2,500) = $7,495
The SOC 2 cost question is deceptively simple. Most compliance vendors publish either a headline software price or a marketing testimonial with no numbers. The real cost is four line items most buyers underestimate: the auditor, the software, engineering time, and edge costs like penetration tests. This guide breaks each down with 2026 market rates.
SOC 2 Cost by Company Size
Company size drives cost more than any other single factor. Auditors scope their fees on employee count, in-scope services, and number of production systems. Here's what teams actually pay in 2026:
| Company size | Total (Type I) | Total (Type II) | Typical timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seed / early startup (1–25) | $7,495 – $12,000 | $10,000 – $18,000 | 30–60 days |
| Series A/B (26–75) | $12,000 – $20,000 | $18,000 – $30,000 | 60–90 days |
| Mid-size (76–200) | $20,000 – $35,000 | $30,000 – $50,000 | 90–120 days |
| Enterprise (200+) | $35,000 – $60,000 | $50,000 – $80,000 | 4–6 months |
Totals include compliance platform, auditor fees, and penetration test. Excludes internal salary time.
The Four SOC 2 Cost Buckets
1. Auditor Fees
The SOC 2 audit fee is what a CPA firm charges to review your controls and issue the SOC 2 report. Only licensed CPA firms can perform SOC 2 audits — you cannot self-certify.
| Auditor tier | Type I range | Type II range |
|---|---|---|
| Boutique / startup-friendly | $2,500 – $4,000 | $2,500 – $4,000 |
| Mid-tier regional CPA | $4,000 – $10,000 | $4,000 – $10,000 |
| National / Big 4 | $15,000 – $18,000 | $15,000 – $18,000 |
For startups, boutique auditors deliver the same signed report at a fraction of Big 4 pricing. Customers rarely ask which firm signed your SOC 2 — they just want the report.
2. Compliance Software
SOC 2 compliance software automates evidence collection from your infrastructure (AWS, GCP, Azure, GitHub, Okta, etc.), generates policies, tracks controls, and packages everything for the auditor. Without automation, engineers spend 200+ hours pulling screenshots.
| Platform | Starting price | Typical annual |
|---|---|---|
| LowerPlane | $4,995/yr | $4,995 – $12,000 |
| Vanta | $8,000/yr | $14,000 – $32,000 |
| Drata | $10,000/yr | $16,000 – $40,000 |
| Secureframe | $9,000/yr | $15,000 – $35,000 |
Vanta and Drata publish base prices but charge per-seat or per-connector once you scale. Most customers pay 2×–4× the sticker rate by year two. LowerPlane uses flat pricing with no per-seat surcharge.
3. Internal Engineering Time
The hidden cost most buyers ignore. Without automation, expect 200–500 hours across engineering, IT, and security to reach audit-readiness. At a $75/hr fully-loaded rate, that's $15,000–$37,500 of internal cost. With modern automation, the same work drops to 60–120 hours ($4,500–$9,000).
4. Penetration Testing
Not strictly required by AICPA but nearly every enterprise customer will ask to see one during vendor review, and most auditors flag its absence. A third-party pen test runs $1,200–$3,000 depending on scope. Budget one every 12 months if your product is customer-facing SaaS.
SOC 2 Type I vs Type II Cost
SOC 2 Type I is a point-in-time snapshot — the auditor confirms your controls exist on a specific date. SOC 2 Type II tests those same controls continuously over 3–12 months. With boutique CPA partners, auditor fees are similar for both report types; Type II adds slightly higher software and engineering costs over the observation window.
Most startups begin with Type I to satisfy their first enterprise deals, then complete Type II 6–12 months later. See our detailed SOC 2 Type I cost breakdown for narrower pricing.
Cheapest Path to SOC 2 in 2026
Total: $7,495 – $12,000
- 1.LowerPlane starter plan: $4,995/year. Flat pricing, no per-seat fee, dedicated advisor included.
- 2.Boutique CPA auditor: $2,500–$4,000. LowerPlane partners with firms like Prescient Assurance and JMV that specialize in startup SOC 2 audits.
- 3.Pen test (optional first year): $1,200–$3,000. Skip in year one if your buyers don't require it; add before your first Type II.
Compared to a traditional Vanta + Big 4 approach at $50,000+, this saves $42,000+ in year one without cutting audit quality. The SOC 2 report reads identically.
Ongoing SOC 2 Cost (Year 2+)
SOC 2 isn't one-time. Reports expire annually. Year-2 costs are typically 60–80% of year-one because the readiness work is already done. Expect:
- •Software renewal: same or +10% price bump
- •Audit fee (Type II): usually flat or -10% for repeat clients
- •Pen test: annual re-test
- •Internal time: drops to 40–80 hours if automation is in place
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does SOC 2 cost for a startup?
A 10–25 person startup in 2026 pays $12,000–$20,000 total for SOC 2 Type I when using modern automation. See our SOC 2 for startups guide for the full playbook.
Is SOC 2 a one-time cost?
No. SOC 2 reports expire 12 months from issuance and must be renewed annually. Year-two costs typically run 60–80% of year one because you keep the same platform and (usually) the same auditor.
Why do SOC 2 costs vary so much?
Three variables: company size (auditor scope), report type (Type I vs Type II), and platform choice. A 20-person team using LowerPlane and a boutique auditor pays $13,000. A 200-person team using Big 4 and Drata pays $120,000+. Same report, wildly different price.
Do I need SOC 2 compliance software?
Technically no — you can prepare for SOC 2 manually with spreadsheets and screenshots. Practically, yes. Manual prep takes 200+ engineering hours; automated platforms cut that to 40–80 hours. The software pays for itself in engineering time saved.
Are SOC 2 costs tax deductible?
In most jurisdictions, yes — SOC 2 audit fees, compliance software, and pen testing qualify as ordinary business expenses. Consult your tax advisor for your specific situation.
What's the cheapest legitimate SOC 2?
$7,495 as of 2026: LowerPlane ($4,995) + a boutique CPA firm ($2,500). Any offer below this is either not a real SOC 2, is missing components (no pen test, no continuous monitoring), or is a promotional rate that will spike at renewal.
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