How Much Does a Security Audit with a Freelancer Cost?

Estimating the cost of a security audit with a freelancer means understanding the different formulas available, since these services can vary widely in depth and duration.

The factors that determine the price

The scope of the audit is the first thing to clarify: an audit focused on a single system, like a website or a specific application, naturally costs less than a full audit covering a business's entire infrastructure. The type of audit chosen also matters: an organizational audit based on interviews and a documentation review takes less technical time than a full penetration test requiring specialized tools and an exploitation phase for the vulnerabilities found.

Fixed fee or day rate

Most freelancers specialized in security audits offer a fixed fee for a well-defined scope, which lets you know the total budget upfront. This fee generally depends on the number of systems to audit and the estimated complexity. For more open-ended missions, particularly ongoing security support, day-rate billing is more common.

What's generally included

A serious quote should specify what's covered: the analysis phase itself, but also a detailed report and, ideally, a debrief to explain the results to your teams. Some freelancers also include short-term support for implementing the first fixes, while others bill this step separately. It's worth clarifying this point as early as the quote request.

Getting comparable quotes

To receive genuinely comparable proposals, describe your infrastructure precisely, the number of systems involved, and any regulatory constraints. Find a broader overview of the process in our complete IT security audit guide for SMBs, as well as more resources in our Audit and Security category.

You can publish your project on our Audit and Security missions catalog to receive several quotes from qualified consultants.