How Much Does a SOC 2 Audit Cost?

A SOC 2 audit typically costs between $10,000 and $100,000+, depending on the audit type, company size, scope, and preparation level. However, the real cost of SOC 2 goes beyond the audit fee itself.

This article breaks down what you actually pay, why costs vary, and how to manage your SOC 2 budget effectively.

SOC 2 Audit Costs: What Influences the Final Price?

The cost of achieving SOC 2 compliance can vary widely, often ranging from under $10,000 to well over $100,000, depending on several factors that shape the scope and effort of the audit. These elements affect not only audit fees, but also preparation time and internal workload.

Type of SOC 2 report

SOC 2 Type 1 assessments are generally more affordable, as they focus on control design at a specific moment. Type 2 audits, which evaluate how controls operate over an extended period, require deeper testing, more evidence, and sustained auditor involvement, resulting in higher costs.

Organizational scale and technical complexity

Companies with larger teams, multiple systems, or distributed environments typically face higher audit expenses. More infrastructure, processes, and risks mean additional controls to review and validate.

Audit scope and Trust Services Criteria

Expanding beyond the required Security criterion to include Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, or Privacy increases the audit workload. Custom systems or non-standard security architectures can further drive up costs.

Internal readiness and resource availability

The amount of time your internal teams can dedicate to documentation, evidence collection, and coordination plays a major role. Limited availability or poorly organized controls often lead to longer preparation phases and higher indirect costs.

External services and supporting tools

Organizations often rely on external support such as readiness assessments, penetration testing, or compliance software to streamline preparation. While these services can improve efficiency, they also add to the overall compliance budget.

Remediation and control implementation

If gaps are identified during preparation, corrective actions may be required before the audit begins. Implementing new controls, updating policies, adjusting workflows, and training staff can represent a significant portion of the total cost.

SOC 2 Type 1 vs Type 2 audit costs

How much does a SOC 2 Type 1 audit cost?

A SOC 2 Type 1 audit provides a point-in-time assessment of an organization’s security controls. The auditor evaluates whether the controls are properly designed, without assessing how they operate over time.

For small to mid-sized organizations, audit fees typically fall between $7,500 and $15,000. In larger or more complex environments, costs can increase significantly, often ranging from $10,000 to $50,000, depending on scope and infrastructure complexity.

How much does a SOC 2 Type 2 audit cost?

A SOC 2 Type 2 audit examines the effectiveness of controls over a defined period, usually between three and twelve months. This extended review requires ongoing testing and validation, which explains the higher cost compared to Type 1.

For small to mid-sized organizations, Type 2 audit fees generally range from $10,000 to $20,000. For larger enterprises or organizations with broader audit scopes, total costs can reach $25,000 to $100,000 or more, reflecting the additional audit effort involved.

Tools vs Human Support: What Actually Impacts Cost?

When estimating the cost of a SOC 2 audit, many organizations focus on tools first. In reality, the biggest cost differences often come from how the audit is supported, not just which platform is used. Understanding the role of automation tools versus human-led support is key to controlling overall costs.

Automation Tools

Compliance automation platforms typically come with recurring subscription fees, which vary based on company size, number of integrations, and supported frameworks. Beyond the license cost, there is also a setup and ongoing maintenance effort: configuring controls, connecting systems, responding to alerts, and keeping evidence up to date.

While these tools can streamline evidence collection and monitoring, they have clear limits. Automation cannot interpret SOC 2 requirements, assess whether controls are truly appropriate, or adjust scope based on business context. As a result, organizations often spend additional time correcting misaligned controls or responding to auditor questions.

Human-Led SOC 2 Support

Human-led SOC 2 support focuses on readiness guidance and professional judgment rather than automation alone. An experienced auditor or advisor helps define the right scope, interpret controls correctly, and align requirements with the organization’s actual risks and operations.

This approach significantly reduces audit friction: fewer misunderstandings, fewer last-minute changes, and fewer back-and-forths with the auditor. When positioned correctly, human expertise is not an extra cost. It is often a cost optimization lever, helping organizations avoid over-engineering controls, wasting internal time, and extending audit timelines unnecessarily.