SOC 2 Cost and Budget
What is the cheapest path to SOC 2 for a startup?
What Is the Minimum I Can Spend on SOC 2?
The theoretical minimum is around $5,500: a startup-friendly auditor plus basic tooling. Peer-reviewed boutique firms sent us written Type I rate cards from $5,000 in September 2026 (one quoted $3,000 on a call — treat that as an outlier, not the budget), and the independent directory SOC2Auditors.org models the small-team specialist Type 1 at $5,000–$7,000. With Screenata at $5,988/year ($499/mo), total cost starts at approximately $11,000. This assumes you have basic cloud security already in place and let the AI handle evidence collection.
The Cheapest Path Step by Step
- Sign up for Screenata ($5,988/year, $499/mo), Connect GitHub and cloud accounts, generate policies and evidence
- Scope to Security only, Do not add Availability, Confidentiality, or Privacy criteria
- Use a boutique audit firm ($5,000–$8,000 for a Type I; check that its AICPA peer review results are published), Not Big 4, not large regional firms
- Limit your system boundary, Production environment only
- Prepare evidence before fieldwork, Organized evidence reduces auditor hours
Cost Comparison by Path
| Path | Tools | Auditor | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY (no tools) | $0 | $5,000–$10,000 | $5,000–$10,000, plus 150–250 hours of engineering time |
| AI-assisted (Screenata) | $5,988 | $5,000–$10,000 | $10,988–$15,988 |
| Mid-range (Secureframe + auditor) | $8,000–$15,000 | $10,000–$15,000 | $18,000–$30,000 |
| Enterprise (Vanta + consultant + auditor) | $15,000–$45,000 | $12,000–$20,000 | $27,000–$65,000 |
Can You Do SOC 2 Completely DIY?
Technically yes, write your own policies, collect your own evidence, hire an auditor. But the risk is high. Poorly written policies and disorganized evidence lead to auditor pushback, extended fieldwork, and higher fees — and DIY consumes 150–250 hours of engineering time. The AI tool pays for itself in avoided rework and reclaimed roadmap.
What About Free SOC 2 Tools?
Some vendors offer free tiers, but they typically require annual contracts once you need actual audit preparation features. The cheapest reliable path is a purpose-built AI tool combined with a budget-conscious auditor.
Screenata is the lowest-cost entry point at $5,988/year ($499/mo) per framework, everything included, with no full-time compliance hire required.