Bug Circuit

Low cost, still done by a person

Affordable penetration testing that is still done by hand.

A manual penetration test of your website with a written report, from $49. Here is why it costs so little, and what you do not get for the price.

Get a manual audit for $49See all prices
How much does affordable penetration testing cost? Traditional penetration tests often cost $5,000 to $20,000 or more. Bug Circuit’s Circuit plan is $49 one-time: a security expert tests one website by hand and sends a written report. It costs less because the scope is tight and the method is productized, not because a scanner does the work. Signal is $299 and adds fixes and 3 months of cover. Larger scopes and compliance needs cost more.

Why low cost penetration testing can be honest

A fair question: if a day of expert time can cost $900 or more, how can a test cost $49? Four things change the math, and none of them is skipping the person.

  • One website. The scope is fixed up front, so there is no scoping call and no custom quote.
  • Focused manual work. The tester spends time where attacks on one website actually land, not on a wide engagement.
  • No sales process. You buy online. There is no proposal, no account manager and no negotiation to pay for.
  • A productized method. The same steps and the same report layout every time, so less time is lost on setup.

Traditional firms price in all of that extra work on top of the testing. That is fine for a large, custom engagement. It is more than most single websites need.

Cheap penetration testing options compared

Affordable penetration testing options compared
Free scannerCircuit ($49)Signal ($299)Traditional firm
PriceFree$49 one-time$299 for 3 months$5,000 to $20,000 or more
Who testsSoftwareA person, by handA person, by handPeople, scoped per project
Finds logic and access-control flawsRarelyYesYesYes
Written report with fix stepsA generated listYesYesYes
Fixes with you, re-test, ongoing coverNoNoYes, for high and critical issuesVaries by contract
ScopeWhatever you point it atOne websiteOne websiteCustom
Compliance certificateNoNoNoOnly if the firm is accredited for it

Free scanners are a good first step, and our own free Pulse check is passive and touches nothing on your site. The manual audit is the next step, when you want a person to test what software cannot judge.

What an affordable penetration test does not include

We would rather you know the limits before you pay.

  • It is not a multi-week enterprise engagement. It covers one website, with a fixed scope.
  • It is not a compliance certificate. We are not a PCI QSA or a HIPAA auditor. A manual audit is complementary evidence, never a certificate.
  • It is not built for large scopes. Several websites, apps or APIs get one scoped engagement with a custom fixed quote on our Enterprise page.
  • Circuit does not fix things for you. It gives exact fix steps for your developer. Signal adds fixing the high and critical issues with you.

How to avoid a cheap scan sold as a pentest

Some low prices are honest. Others sell an automated scan with a logo on the PDF. You can tell the difference before you pay:

  • Ask who tests. A real answer is a person who confirms every finding, not “our platform”.
  • Ask for a sample report. A scan export is a long, generic list of version numbers and “possible” issues. A real report shows evidence and fix steps. Here is ours: sample report.
  • Ask what is tested. Logins, access control and business logic need a person. A scanner cannot judge them.
  • Ask about authorization. A serious provider verifies you own the target and records your permission first.

Read the full guide on manual vs automated penetration testing, or estimate your own budget with the pentest cost calculator.

From checkout to report

  1. 1

    Pay once

    $49 for Circuit or $299 for Signal, in US dollars through Stripe. No subscription.

  2. 2

    Prove it is your site

    Verify the domain by email code, DNS TXT record, file or meta tag.

  3. 3

    Approve the test

    A recorded Authorization to Test keeps everything above board.

  4. 4

    Read your report

    Usually within about 5 business days after you verify the domain.

Pick your price

Circuit, $49 one-time. A manual audit of one website and a full written report. Signal, $299 for 3 months (also $335 for 6 and $407 for 12). Everything in Circuit, plus we fix the high and critical issues with you, re-test them, and keep watch as you ship. There is a 14-day money-back guarantee if testing has not started. Customers rate us 5.0 out of 5.

Get Circuit for $49Get Signal for $299See pricing

Frequently asked questions

How much should a penetration test cost?
Traditional penetration tests often cost $5,000 to $20,000 or more, and experienced manual testers bill roughly $900 to $2,200 per day. The right price depends on scope. For one website, Bug Circuit charges $49 one-time for a manual audit and written report, or $299 for 3 months with fixes and cover. Several sites, apps or APIs need a custom quote.
Why is your penetration test so cheap?
The scope is tight (one website), the work is focused and manual, there is no sales process, and the method is the same every time. That removes cost without removing the person doing the testing. It also means it is not a multi-week enterprise engagement, and we say so.
Is cheap penetration testing worth it?
It is worth it when a person does the testing and the scope fits your risk. It is not worth it when a scanner export is sold as a penetration test. Ask who tests, ask for a sample report, and check that the provider verifies you own the target before testing.
Is there a free vulnerability scanner?
Yes, there are free scanners, and they are a good first step. Our free Pulse check is a passive scan that shows what attackers can see: subdomains, technology, DNS and email security. Free scanners usually miss logic and access-control flaws, which need a person to test.
Is penetration testing illegal?
Not when the owner gives permission first. Testing a system without permission is illegal in most countries. Bug Circuit only tests websites you own or are authorized to test, after domain verification and a recorded Authorization to Test.
Is AI replacing pentesters?
Tools and automation help map a website quickly, but at Bug Circuit a person does the testing and confirms every finding. Judging access control and business logic takes human thinking, so we do not hand the work to a scanner.
Will an affordable penetration test satisfy PCI DSS or another compliance rule?
No. Bug Circuit is not a PCI QSA or a HIPAA auditor and does not issue compliance certificates. Our report is useful evidence of real testing, but it is not a certificate. If your auditor or contract requires a specific accredited tester, use that firm.

Keep reading

How much does a penetration test cost?Market prices and what drives them.Manual vs automated testingWhat a person finds that a scanner cannot.Pentest cost calculatorEstimate what your scope should cost.Sample reportSee what you get for $49.EnterpriseSeveral websites, apps or APIs, with a custom fixed quote.

Start with the free check

Run the free passive check on your website. No login, nothing touches your site, results in seconds. Then pick your plan.

Ready for the full manual audit? See pricing