The short answer
- Software with a price you can read: Secureframe's Fundamentals package starts at $7,500 a year. Strike Graph's Scale plan starts at $21,500 a year and its Enterprise plan at $35,000 a year.
- Software with a price after a call: Comp AI, Drata, Hyperproof, Oneleet, Scrut, Scytale, Sprinto, Thoropass and Vanta are quote only. Ask each for the first-year total in writing.
- The audit: an independent CPA firm (a firm of licensed accountants) sets its own fee. The one audit price on offer is Strike Graph's own assessment and audit services, at $4,000 to $8,000 a year depending on the plan.
- Extras: Strike Graph prices a penetration test (a security test by outside experts) at $10,000, a quarterly vulnerability scan at $4,000 to $5,000 and an ISO 27001 internal audit at $7,000 to $8,000. Oneleet includes human penetration tests in its flat fee.
Who is this cost guide for?
This guide is for founders at seed to Series B startups who need a SOC 2 report to close a first deal with a large company and want the full cost before they sign. It is part of our guide to compliance platforms for startups, which compares 11 platforms.
A SOC 2 report is a report from an independent accounting firm (a CPA firm) on the controls your company has for security and for protecting customer data. It is not a certificate you buy from a software company, and that is why the cost splits into more than one bill.
What are the three parts of a SOC 2 bill?
- The platform. Software that connects to your tools, collects evidence (the proof an auditor asks for) and tracks your controls (rules you follow and can prove). You pay the platform company, usually by the year.
- The audit. An independent CPA firm tests your controls and writes the report. You pay the audit firm, which sets its own fee. Some platform companies sell audit services or own an audit firm.
- Extras and your time. Penetration tests, vulnerability scans, extra frameworks (a framework is a set of security rules, such as SOC 2 or ISO 27001) and the hours your team spends on evidence and policies.
Ask for all three in writing before you sign. The rest of this guide covers the first and the third, because those are the parts with prices on offer.
What does each compliance platform cost?
Only two platforms set a price you can read. For the rest, the price comes after a demo or a call.
| Platform | Price | What the price covers | What to ask |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secureframe | Fundamentals from $7,500 a year; Complete and Defense by quote | One framework, 300+ native integrations, a trust center and AI answers for 100 questions a year | What an audit through the Audit Partner Network costs |
| Strike Graph | Scale from $21,500 a year; Enterprise from $35,000 a year; Certify by inquiry, with a free trial | Certify: one Tier 1 framework and 50+ cloud integrations. Scale adds security questionnaires and one framework of any tier | Which add-ons you need; add-ons are priced |
| Thoropass | Quote only | The software and an audit arm that is a licensed CPA firm | Software and audit prices together |
| Comp AI | Quote after a 20-minute call; money-back guarantee | Four things set the price: frameworks, company size, timeline, and audit and security needs | Which of audit, penetration testing or a trust center is in the quote |
| Oneleet | Quote after a demo | One flat fee for the platform, human penetration tests, code scanning, device management, a vCISO and audit support | Who pays the audit firm and when |
| Scytale | Quote only; every plan starts with a demo | Three startup bundles, one framework each; two add a consulting plan and a web-app penetration test | What an extra framework costs |
| Vanta | Quote only; book a demo | Four tiers; Essentials includes one framework, evidence collection, an Auditor API and a trust center | Startup pricing, and what year two costs |
| Drata | Quote only | Compliance plans Foundation, Advanced and Enterprise; Foundation covers up to 50 FTEs and one framework | What changes in year two |
| Sprinto | Quote only; contact sales | Foundation and Growth; Foundation automates 25+ frameworks | Whether you need Growth to bring your own auditor |
| Scrut | Quote only; book a demo | 70+ frameworks and 1,500+ overlapping controls | What the first framework includes |
| Hyperproof | Quote only; book a demo | 160+ pre-built frameworks for mid-market and enterprise teams | Whether the plan fits a startup |
Prices are in US dollars as of 20 October 2026. "Price" is the lowest price on offer, and add-ons come on top. Prices change, so confirm with the company before you buy.
What do the extras cost?
Strike Graph is the only platform that sets a price on its extras, so the table uses its prices as a guide to what to ask the others about.
| Extra | Strike Graph | Others |
|---|---|---|
| Penetration test (a security test by outside experts) | $10,000 add-on; $20,000 for an enhanced test | Oneleet includes human penetration tests in its flat fee. Scytale's done-for-you bundle includes a web-app penetration test |
| ISO 27001 internal audit | $7,000 to $8,000 | Quote only elsewhere |
| Quarterly vulnerability scan (a check for known weak spots) | $4,000 to $5,000 | Quote only elsewhere |
| Own assessment and audit services | $4,000 to $8,000 a year, for approved certifications, depending on the plan | Thoropass has a licensed audit arm and is quote only |
| Extra framework | $2,000 to $8,000 a year each, by plan and tier | Vanta, Secureframe, Drata and Scytale: ask in the demo |
| AI credits | $4,250, $6,500 or $10,000 a year | Quote only elsewhere |
What does a first-year bill look like?
Three examples, using only prices on offer.
- Secureframe Fundamentals: $7,500 a year for the platform. The audit firm's fee, any penetration test and your team's time come on top.
- Strike Graph Scale: $21,500 a year for the platform. Strike Graph's own assessment and audit services add $4,000 to $8,000 a year depending on the plan. Ask whether SOC 2 is on its list of approved certifications.
- A quote-only platform: the first-year total is the number in the quote. Ask for platform, audit and penetration test as one number.
Which platforms bundle the audit, testing or expert help?
These six platforms move the total most, because price or bundle details change what you pay outside the software.
Secureframe
- Defense is a separate package for CMMC, a US defense rule set.
- The Secureframe Audit Partner Network comes with Fundamentals and Complete.
Strike Graph
- Extra frameworks cost $2,000 to $8,000 a year each, by plan and tier.
- General users are free; multi-manager users need a paid account.
Thoropass
- Thoropass Assurance, the audit arm, is a licensed certified public accounting firm.
- Ask for the software and audit prices together.
Oneleet
- The independent auditor signs your report.
- Evidence, risk and vendor tracking sit in the same platform.
Comp AI
- Works with any accredited auditor you choose.
- Audit, penetration testing or a trust center can be part of the quote.
Scytale
- Each startup bundle includes one framework; more are add-ons.
What adds to the bill after the first report?
- A second framework. Where a base plan has a set framework count, it is one, so a second framework is a second line on your bill. Strike Graph prices it at $2,000 to $8,000 a year. For Vanta, Secureframe, Drata and Scytale, ask in the demo.
- A penetration test. Ask your auditor and your buyer whether you need one, and whether the platform includes it.
- Your team's hours. Software collects evidence, but your people still write policies, answer the auditor and fix findings.
- Year two. Ask each company what you pay in year two, and ask your audit firm how often it expects to repeat the audit.
What five questions should you put in any quote?
- How many frameworks does the first price include, and what does the second cost?
- Is the audit fee included, or paid to a separate audit firm?
- Is a penetration test included?
- What do I pay in year two?
- How many security questionnaires are included each year?
Frequently asked questions
How much does SOC 2 cost for a startup?
There is no single price, because the cost has three parts: the software platform, the audit firm and extras. Secureframe's Fundamentals package starts at $7,500 a year, Strike Graph's Scale plan at $21,500 a year and its Enterprise plan at $35,000 a year. The other nine platforms give a price after a demo or a call. The audit firm sets its own fee. Ask for the full first-year total in writing.
How much do SOC 2 audits cost?
An independent audit firm sets its own fee, separate from the software, and the fee depends on the scope of your audit. Strike Graph's own assessment and audit services, for approved certifications, run $4,000 to $8,000 a year depending on the plan. Ask each audit firm for a quote and ask what the quote covers.
Why is SOC 2 so expensive?
Three kinds of work sit behind one report: software that collects evidence, an audit firm that tests your controls, and your own team's time. The software price is the easiest to compare. The audit fee depends on your scope, so get quotes for both before you sign.
How much does Secureframe cost?
Fundamentals starts at $7,500 a year. Complete and Defense are by quote. Fundamentals and Complete each include one framework.
How much does Strike Graph cost?
Certify is by inquiry and comes with a free trial. Scale starts at $21,500 a year and Enterprise at $35,000 a year. Extra frameworks cost $2,000 to $8,000 a year each, by plan and tier, and the other add-ons have set prices too.
Does the software price include the audit?
Not by default. The audit comes from an independent CPA firm that sets its own fee. Thoropass sells software and audit from one company group, Strike Graph sells its own assessment and audit services at $4,000 to $8,000 a year, and Oneleet's flat fee covers the platform, penetration tests, a vCISO (an outside security lead) and audit support. Ask each company what its quote includes.
What does a SOC 2 penetration test cost?
Strike Graph sells one as an add-on at $10,000, and $20,000 for an enhanced test. Oneleet includes human penetration tests in its flat fee, and Scytale's Build DFY bundle includes a web-app penetration test. Ask your auditor and your buyer whether you need one.
Which SOC 2 platform is the cheapest?
Secureframe has the lowest price you can read, from $7,500 a year. Nine platforms are quote only, so a lower number may sit behind a demo. Compare first-year totals, platform and audit, for the same scope.
The short version
- A price you can see first: Secureframe or Strike Graph.
- Audit and software from one company: Thoropass.
- Testing and a dedicated expert in the fee: Oneleet.
- Open source, with a quote after a short call: Comp AI.
- A done-for-you bundle with consulting: Scytale.
- Everyone else: ask for the first-year total, platform and audit, in writing.
An independent CPA firm issues the SOC 2 report, not the software, and it sets its own fee. Prices change, so confirm the current price with the company before you buy.
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Prices are as of 20 October 2026 and can change.
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