The verdict in three sentences
A grey-box penetration test of a business web application costs between USD 6,500 and 20,000 in Singapore (about 6,000 to 18,000 EUR), for 5 to 12 days of testing depending on scope. You should plan USD 5,500 to 27,000 for fixes afterwards, since a first audit almost always reveals OWASP Top 10 issues. To satisfy enterprise buyers and SOC 2 auditors, choose a CREST-certified provider and require a retest included in the quote.
What a pentest costs in 2026
The CTO of a B2B SaaS exposing a customer platform (orders, invoices, contract documents) receives a 120-question security questionnaire from an enterprise prospect. The expected answer: a recent pentest report and proven fixes, which also feed the SOC 2 Type II evidence.
| Audit type | Days | Price 2026 (day rate USD 1,300 to 1,650) |
|---|---|---|
| Black-box pentest, marketing site | 2 to 3 | USD 2,700 to 4,900 |
| Grey-box pentest, simple customer portal | 5 to 7 | USD 6,500 to 11,500 |
| Grey-box pentest, multi-role SaaS application | 8 to 12 | USD 11,000 to 20,000 |
| Added REST or GraphQL API audit | 2 to 4 | USD 2,700 to 6,500 |
| Targeted code review (authentication, permissions) | 3 to 5 | USD 4,300 to 8,200 |
| Retest after fixes | 1 to 2 | Often included, otherwise USD 1,300 to 3,300 |
| Cloud configuration review (AWS, Azure, GCP) | 2 to 4 | USD 2,700 to 6,500 |
Grey box (the tester gets test user accounts) is the right compromise: it tests privilege escalation and access to other tenants' data, the most severe flaws for a multi-tenant SaaS.
Fixes: the real budget
| Common OWASP flaw | Typical severity | Indicative fix cost |
|---|---|---|
| Broken access control (IDOR) | Critical | USD 2,200 to 8,700 |
| SQL or NoSQL injection | Critical | USD 1,600 to 6,500 |
| Weak session management | High | USD 1,100 to 4,300 |
| Vulnerable outdated components | High | USD 1,600 to 7,600 |
| Missing security headers and CSP | Medium | USD 550 to 1,600 |
| Insufficient logging | Medium | USD 1,600 to 4,300 |
On an application built without security review, expect on average 8 to 15 vulnerabilities, 1 to 3 of them critical. If several vendors maintained the code over time, the fix budget often exceeds USD 16,000.
Certification and deliverables to require
In Singapore, CREST certification is the common reference and is requested by banks regulated under MAS TRM guidelines. Certified providers typically charge 10 to 20 % more. In every case, require: a 2-page executive summary, one sheet per vulnerability with CVSS score and proof of exploitation, prioritized recommendations, and a dated retest letter usable as SOC 2 evidence.
Mini case study
Wei Ling, CTO of a procurement SaaS in Singapore (60 employees), must deliver a security report before signing a USD 1.3 million-a-year contract with a regional bank.
- CREST-certified grey-box pentest, 9 days: USD 14,500, retest included.
- Fixing 2 critical and 6 medium flaws: USD 12,000.
- Total: USD 26,500, about 2 % of the contract's first year.
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Without the report, the deal would not close. The cost-to-stake ratio stays below 2.5 %, 2026 order of magnitude.
FAQ
How much does a web application pentest cost in Singapore?
USD 6,500 to 20,000 for grey box over 5 to 12 days. A simple marketing site starts around USD 2,700.
Is a certified provider mandatory?
Not for most private companies, but regulated financial customers usually require CREST or equivalent. Expect a 10 to 20 % premium.
How long does it take to fix the findings?
Between 2 and 6 weeks depending on severity, for USD 5,500 to 27,000. Critical flaws should be fixed within 15 days.
How often should we repeat the pentest?
At least once a year, which SOC 2 auditors expect, and after every major release. A targeted retest costs USD 1,300 to 3,300 if not included.
Does a pentest disrupt production?
Testing an identical staging environment is recommended. Otherwise destructive tests are excluded and scheduled outside business hours.
Let's scope your project. Describe your application, its user roles and your customer's deadline: we price the audit, likely fixes and a 4 to 8 week plan. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
