How Much Does Penetration Testing Cost in Australia? (2026 Guide)
Short answer: most penetration tests in Australia cost between roughly A$5,000 and A$30,000, depending on what's being tested and how thoroughly. A focused web application test often lands around A$7,000 to A$15,000, while a broad, multi-system engagement or red team exercise can run well beyond that.
That's a wide range, and it should be. "Penetration test" covers everything from a single web app to an entire corporate network. Below is what actually sits behind the number, so you can budget sensibly and tell a fair quote from an inflated one.
What you're actually paying for
A real penetration test is skilled manual work, not a button press. You're paying for an experienced tester to think like an attacker: map your systems, chain weaknesses together, and prove what an adversary could actually achieve, then document it clearly enough that your team can fix it.
That's the key distinction from an automated vulnerability scan, which a tool can run in minutes for a fraction of the price. A scan lists potential issues. A penetration test verifies which ones are real, how far they go, and what they mean for your business. If a quote looks suspiciously cheap, it's often a scan with a tidy report, not a genuine test.
Typical price ranges by test type
Indicative 2026 ranges for the Australian market (excl. GST):
| Test type | Typical range (AUD) | Usual duration |
|---|---|---|
| Web application (single app) | $7,000 to $15,000 | 3 to 7 days |
| External network (internet-facing) | $5,000 to $12,000 | 2 to 5 days |
| Internal network | $8,000 to $20,000 | 4 to 10 days |
| Mobile application (iOS/Android) | $8,000 to $18,000 | 4 to 8 days |
| Cloud configuration review (AWS/Azure/M365) | $5,000 to $15,000 | 3 to 7 days |
| Phishing / social engineering | $4,000 to $10,000 | 2 to 5 days |
| Full-scope / red team | $25,000+ | 3 to 6 weeks |
These are guides, not quotes. The only way to know your number is to scope the work (more on that below).
What drives the cost
Five things move the price more than anything else:
- Scope and size. The number of applications, IP addresses, user roles, and integrations directly sets the days required. Days are the main cost driver.
- Depth and methodology. A test mapped to a recognised standard (OWASP, PTES) by a senior tester takes longer and costs more than a light once-over, and is worth it.
- Complexity. Custom code, lots of business logic, or unusual tech stacks take longer to understand and test properly.
- Retesting. A good engagement includes a retest to confirm your fixes worked. Some providers include it; some charge separately. Always ask.
- Remediation support. A report that just lists findings is cheaper than one where the tester walks your developers through fixing them. The second is usually the better value.
Cheap vs quality: what to watch for
A low price almost always means one of these: an automated scan dressed up as a test, an offshore team with little context on Australian compliance, a junior tester, or a vague scope that balloons later. None of that is a bargain if it misses the finding that actually mattered.
What good looks like: a clear scope agreed up front, manual testing by experienced people, a report written for both executives and engineers, a debrief, and a retest. Ask who is doing the testing and what certifications they hold (for example CREST, OSCP, or CISSP-led oversight).
Do you actually need one, and how often?
Most Australian businesses get a penetration test for one of these reasons:
- A customer or contract requires it (increasingly common in tenders and supplier reviews).
- A compliance or framework driver: ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI DSS, or working toward the ASD Essential Eight.
- A major change: a new application, a cloud migration, or a significant release.
- Peace of mind before something forces the issue.
As a rule of thumb, test annually, and again after any significant change to the systems in scope. Many SMBs pair an annual penetration test with more frequent automated vulnerability scanning in between, which keeps ongoing cost down while maintaining coverage.
How to get an accurate quote
You'll get a far better (and usually lower) price by scoping properly. Have these ready:
- What you want tested (URLs, apps, network ranges, cloud environments).
- Rough size: number of apps, user roles, pages or endpoints, hosts.
- Why you're testing (compliance, a contract, a release, general assurance).
- Any deadlines, and whether testing must happen out of hours.
With that, a provider can give you a fixed price against a defined scope, rather than a padded estimate to cover the unknown.
Frequently asked questions
Is a vulnerability scan the same as a penetration test? No. A scan is automated and lists potential issues; a penetration test is manual and proves what's actually exploitable and how far it goes. They're complementary, not interchangeable.
How long does a penetration test take? Most SMB engagements run from a few days to two weeks of testing, plus reporting. Larger or red team engagements take longer.
How often should we test? Annually as a baseline, and after any major change to the systems in scope.
What's the cheapest legitimate option? A tightly scoped external network or single web app test is usually the most affordable genuine starting point, often around A$5,000 to A$10,000.
Get a tailored quote
Cyber Legion provides penetration testing built for Australian small and medium businesses: clear scope, manual testing, and a report your team can actually act on. If you'd like an accurate, no-obligation quote for your environment, get in touch.
Figures in this guide are indicative ranges for the Australian market in 2026 and will vary with scope. They're a budgeting guide, not a quote.