The verdict in three sentences
An application pentest on a mid-complexity B2B web app costs USD 8,000 to 25,000 in 2026, with a 2 to 4 week turnaround and a retest included. The price hinges mostly on scope (number of roles, APIs, critical journeys) and box level (black, grey, white). Requiring an OWASP-aligned report, a prioritized remediation plan and a retest is the non-negotiable minimum.
Audit types: what you actually buy
Not all audits are equal. An USD 1,000 automated scan does not replace a manual penetration test. Here are the main families and their 2026 ballpark figures.
| Audit type | Scope | 2026 cost (USD) | Deliverables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automated scan (DAST) | Known vulnerabilities | 1,000 - 3,000 | Tool report, false positives to triage |
| Black-box pentest | No account or code | 8,000 - 13,000 | OWASP report, PoC, severities |
| Grey-box pentest | Role accounts provided | 11,000 - 20,000 | Report + authenticated journeys |
| White-box pentest | Code + arch + accounts | 15,000 - 25,000 | Code audit + business logic |
| Targeted code audit | Sensitive modules | 5,000 - 15,000 | Line-by-line review, debt |
| Retest after fixes | Replay of findings | Included - 2,000 | Fix attestation |
Grey-box offers the best coverage-to-price ratio for a B2B app: testers get role accounts and focus effort on business logic rather than reconnaissance.
What moves the invoice
A quote is not a magic number. It is built on person-days (PD) at USD 900 - 1,400/PD in 2026. The factors that push the price up:
| Factor | Quote impact | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Number of user roles | +1 to 2 PD per role | Admin, manager, client, guest |
| Exposed APIs | +2 to 4 PD | REST + webhooks + mobile |
| Payment flow | +1 to 3 PD | Cart, billing, refund |
| Multi-tenant / isolation | +2 to 5 PD | Client data isolation |
| Required compliance | +1 to 3 PD | GDPR, ISO 27001, SOC 2 |
| Urgency (< 2 weeks) | +15 to 30 % | Tender deadline |
A serious audit on a mid-size B2B app is 8 to 15 PD, which matches the ubiquitous USD 8,000-20,000 range.
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Mini case study
Thomas, CTO of an HR SaaS vendor in Manchester, must audit his platform before signing a FTSE 100 client that demands a security attestation. Scope: 4 roles, one REST API, a payroll module. The vendor quotes 12 PD grey-box at USD 1,150/PD = USD 13,800, retest included. The audit reveals an IDOR flaw (horizontal access to other tenants' payslips) and two injections. Internal fix cost: 6 dev days, about USD 4,500. Total security spend: USD 18,300 to unlock an annual contract worth USD 220,000. Immediate ROI, and the IDOR flaw could have meant a regulatory fine and the loss of the account.
FAQ
How long does an application pentest take? Plan 2 to 4 weeks from kickoff to final report, including 1 to 2 weeks of active testing. The post-fix retest adds 3 to 5 days.
Black-box or grey-box, which should I pick? For a B2B app with authentication, grey-box is almost always more cost-effective: testers do not waste PD guessing credentials and cover the business logic where 70 % of critical flaws hide.
Is an OWASP report enough for an enterprise client? Often yes, but some demand a formal attestation or an ISO 27001 / SOC 2 aligned audit. Check the procurement spec before ordering: a compliant audit costs 20 to 40 % more.
How often should I re-audit? At least once a year, and systematically after a major architecture change, a payment module rewrite or a new critical integration. A targeted retest between full audits costs USD 1,300-2,000.
Can the audit be bundled into the development package? Yes, and it is recommended: earmarking 8 to 12 % of the project budget for security avoids the surcharge of a post-production fix, which is 3 to 6 times more expensive than in the dev phase.
Let's scope your project. Describe your application (number of roles, APIs, compliance constraints) and we will frame a pentest with the right scope, no padding. 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.
