How much does pentesting cost in Mexico? In general terms, a professional pentest for a company costs between 5,000 and 7,000 dollars (approximately between 90,000 and 135,000 Mexican pesos, depending on the exchange rate). However, the final price depends on several factors: the size of the company, the number of employees and systems to be assessed, the type of test and its scope. Below we explain what influences the price and how to get a quote tailored to your case.
Why does a pentest cost that much?
A pentesting (or penetration testing) is a simulated, controlled attack performed by specialists to uncover your company's vulnerabilities before a real attacker does. Its price reflects expert manual work, not a simple automated scan: planning, controlled exploitation of flaws, analysis and an actionable report. It is an investment in prevention compared with the much higher cost of a security incident.
Reference price range in Mexico (2026)
As a general reference for a mid-size company:
- Standard professional pentest: between 5,000 and 7,000 USD (approx. 90,000–135,000 MXN).
- Small or very limited scope: may cost less.
- Large, complex or multi-target projects: may exceed that range.
The exact price is always defined after understanding your case; that is why serious providers deliver a customized quote.
What factors determine the price?
- Size of the company and its infrastructure. The more systems, the greater the effort.
- Number of employees, IPs, applications and devices. They define how much needs to be assessed.
- Type of pentesting. External, internal, web application, mobile app, network, Wi-Fi or social engineering.
- Modality. Black box (no prior information), gray box (partial) or white box (full access).
- Scope and depth. How many targets are tested and at what level of detail.
- Frequency. A one-time test costs differently from a continuous service.
- Compliance requirements. Standards such as ISO 27001 or PCI DSS may require a specific scope.
- Team experience. Specialists with certifications such as OSCP, CEH or CPENT back the quality.
What does a professional pentest include?
- Planning and scope definition. What will be tested and how is agreed upon.
- Execution with recognized methodologies. Such as OWASP and MITRE ATT&CK.
- Report with findings prioritized by risk. With clear remediation recommendations.
- Results presentation meeting. To explain the findings to the team.
- Remediation retest. To verify that the vulnerabilities were fixed.
Types of pentesting and how they affect the cost
- External. Assesses what is exposed to the internet (the most common attack vector).
- Internal. Simulates an attacker who is already inside the network.
- Web application and mobile app. Thoroughly tests your platforms.
- Network and infrastructure. Servers, services and segmentation.
- Social engineering. Puts the human factor to the test (phishing, etc.).
Beware of prices that are too low
If you are offered a pentest for a few hundred dollars, be wary: it is almost always just an automated vulnerability scan, not a real test performed by specialists. An automated scan finds obvious flaws, but it does not simulate a real attacker or validate the impact of each finding. A professional pentest combines tools with expert manual analysis.
One-time pentesting vs. continuous pentesting
The traditional model is a one-time test (for example, once a year). More and more companies are opting for continuous pentesting, which assesses security on a recurring basis as the infrastructure changes. At ZetTateK you can estimate the cost of a continuous external pentest with our online calculator.
How do you get an exact quote?
The most accurate way to know how much your pentest will cost is through an assessment of your case. Request a free security assessment or use the pentest calculator from ZetTateK to get an estimate in minutes, with no commitment.
Frequently asked questions
How often should a pentest be performed?
At least once a year, and also after major changes to your systems (new applications, migrations, etc.).
Is pentesting the same as a vulnerability assessment?
No. A vulnerability assessment is a scan, usually automated, that lists possible flaws. Pentesting goes further: a specialist attempts to exploit them in a controlled way to demonstrate the real risk.
Does the price include retesting after fixes (retest)?
It depends on the provider. At ZetTateK the goal is for vulnerabilities to actually be fixed, which is why we include verification of the remediation.
Is it charged in pesos or in dollars?
It may vary depending on the provider and the project. What matters is that the quote is clear and has no surprises.
Ready to find out the exact price for your company? Request your free security assessment or use the pentest calculator.
