Penetration testing in the UK typically costs between £4,000 and £30,000+, depending on the type of test, scope, and complexity. A standard web application test runs £5,000 to £15,000. Infrastructure tests start around £4,000 for small networks. Larger engagements with multiple applications, cloud environments, or compliance requirements can exceed £40,000.
Note: All pricing figures in this article are estimated typical UK market ranges for 2026. They are not Fortbridge-specific quotes. Actual costs vary by provider, scope, and requirements.
Table of Contents
- Pricing by Test Type
- Web Application Testing
- API Testing
- Network and Infrastructure Testing
- Mobile Application Testing
- Cloud Security Testing
- What Affects the Price
- When to Spend More
- When a Basic Test Is Enough
- Red Flags in Cheap Quotes
- Getting Value for Money
- Next Steps
- FAQ
Pricing by Test Type
The biggest factor in pricing is the type of test. Different targets require different skills, tools, and time. Here is a breakdown of what you can expect to pay in the UK market as of 2026.
Web Application Testing
This is the most common type of penetration test. Estimated UK market ranges:
- Simple web app (brochure site, limited functionality): £4,000 – £7,000
- Medium complexity (user authentication, payment processing, role-based access): £7,000 – £15,000
- Large/complex app (SaaS platform, multi-tenant, extensive APIs): £15,000 – £25,000+
Most businesses fall into the medium bracket. If your application handles customer data, processes payments, or has multiple user roles, expect to pay around £8,000 to £12,000 for a thorough test. That typically covers 5-10 days of testing effort.
A proper web application penetration test goes well beyond automated scanning. It involves manual testing for business logic flaws, authentication bypasses, and access control issues that scanners miss entirely.
API Testing
API testing is increasingly requested as organisations move to microservices and expose more functionality through APIs. Estimated UK market ranges:
- Small API (10-20 endpoints): £3,500 – £6,000
- Medium API (20-50 endpoints, authentication, rate limiting): £6,000 – £12,000
- Large API estate (multiple APIs, GraphQL, WebSocket): £12,000 – £20,000+
API tests are often bundled with web application tests at a combined rate. If your web app and API share the same authentication and data model, testing them together saves money compared to two separate engagements.
Network and Infrastructure Testing
Internal and external infrastructure tests check your network perimeter, servers, firewalls, and internal segmentation. Estimated UK market ranges:
- External only (small IP range, under 20 IPs): £3,000 – £5,000
- Internal only (standard office network, Active Directory): £5,000 – £10,000
- Combined internal + external (medium enterprise): £8,000 – £18,000
- Large enterprise (multiple sites, segmented networks): £15,000 – £35,000+
Internal tests almost always cost more than external ones. They require more time, and if Active Directory is in scope, testing privilege escalation paths and lateral movement adds significant effort. Many compliance frameworks – including ISO 27001 and PCI DSS – require both internal and external testing.
For infrastructure penetration testing, the number of in-scope IP addresses and network segments is what drives the price.
Mobile Application Testing
Mobile testing covers iOS, Android, or both, including the app itself, its local storage, and communication with backend APIs. Estimated UK market ranges:
- Single platform (iOS or Android): £5,000 – £10,000
- Both platforms: £8,000 – £16,000
- With backend API testing included: £10,000 – £22,000
Mobile tests tend to cost more per day than web tests. The tooling is more specialised, and testing often requires physical devices alongside emulators. If your app stores sensitive data locally or uses certificate pinning, expect the tester to spend extra time bypassing protections to get a realistic assessment.
Fortbridge offers mobile application penetration testing for both platforms.
Cloud Security Testing
Cloud configuration reviews and penetration tests cover AWS, Azure, or GCP environments. Estimated UK market ranges:
- Configuration review (single cloud account): £4,000 – £8,000
- Cloud penetration test (configuration + exploitation): £8,000 – £18,000
- Multi-cloud or large-scale environment: £15,000 – £30,000+
Cloud testing is a different discipline from traditional infrastructure testing. Misconfigurations in IAM policies, storage buckets, and serverless functions are the primary targets. A good cloud test checks whether an attacker with limited access can escalate privileges across your cloud estate – not just whether ports are open.
What Affects the Price
Beyond the test type, several factors push the price up or down.
Scope and Complexity
More features, endpoints, and user roles mean more testing time. A simple e-commerce site with a checkout flow is faster to test than a SaaS platform with admin panels, integrations, and multi-tenant data isolation. The scoping call is where this gets defined – be precise about what is in scope and you will get a more accurate quote.
Testing Methodology
Black box (no credentials or documentation), grey box (standard user access), and white box (full source code access) tests have different costs. Grey box is the most common and usually the best value. Black box sounds appealing but often wastes tester time on reconnaissance that could be skipped. White box costs more but finds deeper issues.
Compliance Requirements
If you need the test to satisfy a specific standard, that shapes the engagement. PCI DSS has specific requirements for testing scope and methodology. SOC 2 auditors want to see that testing covers the Trust Services Criteria. DORA has threat-led penetration testing requirements for financial services firms.
Compliance-driven tests often require more detailed reporting, specific evidence formats, and sometimes direct communication with your auditor. That adds time and cost – typically 10-20% above a standard engagement.
Retesting
Most providers include a single retest within 30-90 days. Some charge separately. Ask upfront. Retesting usually costs 10-25% of the original engagement, depending on the number of findings that need verification. If you are paying for a pentest and not fixing and retesting the findings, you are wasting your money.
Tester Experience and Accreditation
CREST-accredited companies charge more than unaccredited ones. There is a reason for that. CREST accreditation means the company has been independently assessed and its testers hold recognised qualifications. For regulated industries – financial services, healthcare, government – CREST accreditation is often a requirement, not a preference.
Day rates for senior CREST-certified testers typically range from £1,200 to £1,800 per day. Junior testers at smaller firms might charge £800 to £1,000. The difference in findings quality is usually significant.
Urgency and Scheduling
Need a test done within two weeks? Expect to pay a premium. Most reputable firms book 3-6 weeks out. Rush jobs cost 20-40% more, if the provider can accommodate them at all. Plan ahead and you will get better pricing and availability.
When to Spend More
Not every test needs to be the most expensive option. But some situations warrant a higher investment.
If you process payment card data, handle healthcare records, or store financial information, the cost of a breach far exceeds the cost of a thorough test. Spend more here.
If you are preparing for a compliance audit – whether ISO 27001 certification, SOC 2 Type II, or PCI DSS – the test needs to meet specific standards. A cheap test that does not satisfy your auditor is money wasted twice: once on the test, and again when you have to redo it.
If you have had a security incident, or if your application has changed significantly since the last test, invest in a thorough assessment. Post-incident testing should be more aggressive than routine annual tests.
If your application is customer-facing and handles sensitive data, the reputational damage from a breach justifies a higher testing budget. A data breach in the UK triggers ICO reporting obligations under UK GDPR, and potential fines can reach £17.5 million or 4% of global turnover.
When a Basic Test Is Enough
A smaller engagement works well for internal tools that do not handle sensitive data, staging environments before go-live, or annual compliance checks where the application has not changed much. A focused test on a limited scope at £4,000-£6,000 can still provide genuine security value.
Startups building their first product sometimes benefit more from a targeted review of their authentication and authorisation logic than a full-scope test. Fix the fundamentals first, then expand testing scope as the product matures.
Red Flags in Cheap Quotes
If someone quotes you £1,500 for a web application penetration test, you are not getting a penetration test. You are getting an automated scan with a PDF report. That is a different service, and it is worth a fraction of what manual testing costs.
Watch out for:
- Quotes that do not include a scoping call – the provider cannot price accurately without understanding what they are testing
- Fixed-price “packages” that do not adjust for scope – a 5-page marketing site and a 200-endpoint SaaS platform should not cost the same
- No named testers or certifications mentioned – you want to know who is doing the work
- Reports that are mostly automated scanner output with a logo on top
- No retesting included – fixing vulnerabilities and verifying the fix is part of a proper engagement
The UK market has providers at every price point. The cheapest option is rarely the best value. A poorly executed test gives you false confidence, which is worse than no test at all.
Getting Value for Money
To get the most from your budget:
- Define your scope clearly before requesting quotes. Know what is in scope, what is not, and what your priorities are.
- Provide documentation and test accounts. Grey box testing finds more issues per day than black box, and it costs less because the tester spends less time on reconnaissance.
- Fix findings and retest. A penetration test without remediation follow-through is an expensive compliance checkbox.
- Build a relationship with your testing provider. Repeat engagements are more efficient because the tester already understands your environment.
- Bundle tests if you have multiple applications or environments. Most providers offer reduced rates for larger engagements.
Next Steps
Fortbridge is a CREST-accredited penetration testing company based in the UK. We test web applications, APIs, mobile apps, cloud environments, and network infrastructure for organisations of all sizes.
If you want a realistic quote based on your specific requirements, get in touch for a free scoping call. We will tell you exactly what the test involves, how long it takes, and what it costs – no vague estimates, no hidden fees.
You can also explore our penetration testing services to see the types of assessments we offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a basic penetration test cost in the UK?
A basic penetration test in the UK typically costs between £3,000 and £7,000, depending on the target. This covers a small web application, a limited IP range, or a simple API. More complex targets with multiple user roles, integrations, or large network scopes cost more.
Why is penetration testing so expensive?
Penetration testing requires highly skilled professionals with specialist certifications. A qualified tester might spend 5-15 days manually probing your systems, writing custom exploits, and documenting findings in detail. You are paying for expertise that takes years to develop, not just a software license.
How often should you do a penetration test?
At minimum, once a year. More frequently if your application changes significantly between releases, if you are in a regulated industry, or after a security incident. Many organizations test quarterly for their most critical applications.
Is a vulnerability scan the same as a penetration test?
No. A vulnerability scan is an automated tool that checks for known issues. A penetration test involves a skilled human attempting to exploit vulnerabilities, chain them together, and demonstrate real-world attack impact. Scans cost a few hundred pounds. They find surface-level issues. Penetration tests find the problems that actually matter.
Do I need CREST-accredited penetration testing?
It depends on your industry. Financial services firms regulated by the FCA, government organizations, and companies pursuing ISO 27001 or SOC 2 often require CREST accreditation. Even if it is not strictly required, CREST accreditation gives you confidence that the testing company and its staff meet independently verified standards.
What should I look for in a penetration testing provider?
CREST accreditation, named testers with recognized qualifications (CRT, OSCP, OSWE, OSEP), a clear scoping process, and sample reports available on request. Ask how many testers will work on your engagement and what their experience is with your technology stack.
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