Pricing guide
Ethical hacker cost: what drives the fee, and what you get
Ethical hacker cost depends on scope and depth far more than on hours. So a fixed fee, priced after a written brief, is the clearest way to compare offers.
- Signed written scope first
- Senior ethical hackers only
- Your NDA signed as standard
Typical ethical hacker cost ranges
Our ranges are published, because hidden pricing wastes everyone's time.
| Engagement | Typical fee |
|---|---|
| Full engagement | $35,000 to $120,000. |
| Minimum full engagement | $25,000. |
| Objective-driven red team | Begins higher than the floor. |
| External Exposure Review | From $4,500, bounded. |
What drives ethical hacker cost
Four things move the fee. Therefore compare them across quotes, not just the total.
- Number and complexity of systems in scope
- Depth: verified review or full exploitation chains
- Seniority of the person testing
- Whether a retest is included
Estimate your ethical hacker cost drivers
Tick what applies. More ticks usually mean a larger scope.
Your result appears here as you tick, so you can see what is still open.
The bounded review, and when it fits
The External Exposure Review covers up to five external hosts and one public web application, with a report in five business days. Every finding is verified by hand. However, it is a review, not a full penetration test, so it is not auditor-grade evidence for SOC 2 or PCI.
Why very low ethical hacker cost is a warning
Anything near $2,000 is usually a scan with a cover page. So ask how much manual work is included, and who will do it. Also check whether the report shows reproducible steps, because a scan export does not.
How Truevector prices
Premium work at set rates: where the budget changes, the scope changes. Every engagement is a fixed fee after a written scoping brief, and the review fee is credited in full if you commission a full engagement within ninety days. Our method follows the Penetration Testing Execution Standard.
Also consider timing. Year-end compliance deadlines fill calendars, so booking early keeps your preferred dates and avoids a rushed scope.
Ethical hacker cost questions
What is the lowest ethical hacker cost with Truevector?
The bounded External Exposure Review starts at $4,500.
Do you charge hourly?
No. Every engagement is a fixed fee agreed in writing.
Is the review fee lost if we upgrade?
No. It is credited in full within ninety days of the report.
Why does ethical hacker cost vary so much between firms?
Because depth, seniority and scope differ, so compare those first.
Related guides
Get your exact ethical hacker cost
Send a written brief. We reply with a fixed fee, or point you to the bounded review if it fits better. If the review is the better fit, we say so plainly. The fee is fixed in writing.
Request a written scope