Best SOC 2 Auditors in 2026: Complete Guide

We help companies choose SOC 2 auditors every week, and the single decision that shapes audit cost, timeline, report quality, and overall experience more than almost any other is which CPA firm you engage. The SOC 2 audit market spans several hundred CPA firms — from Big 4 firms serving enterprise organizations to boutique specialists focused exclusively on startup and growth-stage engagements. In our experience, the right auditor depends on your company size, industry, timeline, budget, and the GRC platform you use.

This guide profiles the most prominent SOC 2 audit firms, compares them across pricing, capacity, timeline, and specialization, and provides a structured framework for selecting the best auditor for your specific situation. We wrote it for compliance leads and founders who have selected a GRC platform and are now choosing an auditor for their first or upcoming SOC 2 engagement.

For GRC platform selection guidance, see our best SOC 2 compliance software roundup.

Auditor Landscape Overview

SOC 2 auditors fall into four tiers based on firm size, pricing, and target client profile. We use this tiering framework with every client engagement to narrow down the right set of firms before making introductions.

Tier	Firm Examples	Fee Range	Best For
Big 4	Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG	$80,000-$300,000+	Enterprise organizations; regulated industries requiring Big 4 attestation
Mid-tier / National	BDO, Grant Thornton, RSM, Moss Adams, Crowe	$40,000-$100,000	Mid-market companies; organizations needing broad service capabilities
Specialized SOC 2 Firms	Schellman, A-LIGN, KirkpatrickPrice, Linford & Company, Coalfire, BARR Advisory, Prescient Assurance	$20,000-$60,000	Startups through mid-market; technology-focused engagements
Boutique / Regional	Johanson Group, AssurancePoint, Sensiba San Filippo, and many others	$15,000-$40,000	Smaller companies; straightforward scopes

In our experience, specialized SOC 2 firms handle the largest share of the market (approximately thirty-five to forty-five percent of all SOC 2 audits) because they offer the best combination of expertise, pricing, and technology-sector experience for the companies that most commonly pursue SOC 2.

Prominent SOC 2 Audit Firms

Schellman

Schellman is one of the largest dedicated cybersecurity assessment firms in the United States and one of the most recognized names in SOC 2 auditing. We recommend Schellman frequently for growth-stage through enterprise organizations.

Key Strengths:

• Deep specialization in SOC 2, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, HITRUST, FedRAMP, and other cybersecurity frameworks
• Large team with capacity for high-volume engagements and complex multi-framework audits
• Strong presence across all technology verticals including fintech, healthtech, and cloud infrastructure
• Extensive experience with all major GRC platforms

Typical Engagement:

• Fee range: $25,000-$70,000 for SOC 2 (varies by scope and company size)
• Timeline: Standard scheduling; plan ahead during peak seasons (Q4-Q1)
• Best for: Growth-stage through enterprise organizations; multi-framework engagements

A-LIGN

A-LIGN operates as a technology-enabled security and compliance services firm with a large audit practice. We see A-LIGN work well for SaaS companies at any stage that want audit and advisory services under one roof.

Key Strengths:

• High-volume SOC 2 practice with significant capacity
• Integrated compliance services beyond attestation (penetration testing, readiness assessments)
• Streamlined audit process built for technology companies
• GRC platform partnerships for efficient evidence review

Typical Engagement:

• Fee range: $25,000-$65,000
• Timeline: Strong availability with efficient scheduling
• Best for: SaaS companies at any stage; organizations wanting a single firm for audit and advisory

KirkpatrickPrice

KirkpatrickPrice focuses on information security auditing and compliance services for technology companies. In our experience, they stand out for auditor responsiveness.

Key Strengths:

• Dedicated SOC 2 and compliance audit focus
• Strong reputation for auditor responsiveness and communication quality
• Active educational content and thought leadership in the SOC 2 space
• Competitive pricing for startup and growth-stage engagements

Typical Engagement:

• Fee range: $20,000-$55,000
• Timeline: Generally strong availability
• Best for: Startups and growth-stage companies wanting a responsive, communicative audit partner

Linford & Company

Linford & Company is a CPA firm focused primarily on SOC examinations and other IT attestation services. We recommend Linford frequently for startups and smaller organizations where budget is a key factor.

Key Strengths:

• Concentrated SOC 2 expertise — auditing is the firm's core business
• Competitive pricing, particularly for straightforward engagements
• Direct access to audit partners rather than being managed through multiple layers
• Strong experience with startups and early-stage compliance programs

Typical Engagement:

• Fee range: $18,000-$50,000
• Timeline: Flexible scheduling; often accommodates accelerated timelines
• Best for: Startups and smaller organizations; budget-conscious engagements

Coalfire

Coalfire provides cybersecurity advisory and assessment services including SOC 2 attestation as part of a broader security services portfolio. We recommend Coalfire for organizations with complex technical environments, especially those pursuing FedRAMP alongside SOC 2.

Key Strengths:

• Broad cybersecurity expertise beyond attestation services
• Strong presence in cloud security assessments (AWS, Azure, GCP)
• FedRAMP and government compliance capabilities alongside SOC 2
• Deep experience with complex technical environments

Typical Engagement:

• Fee range: $30,000-$80,000
• Timeline: Standard scheduling; higher demand may require advance planning
• Best for: Organizations with complex technical environments; companies pursuing multiple frameworks including FedRAMP

BARR Advisory

BARR Advisory is a cloud-focused cybersecurity and compliance firm with a growing SOC 2 practice. We see BARR perform especially well with cloud-first startups.

Key Strengths:

• Cloud-native focus aligned with modern SaaS architecture
• Strong reputation for quality and attentiveness with smaller company clients
• Growing firm with a collaborative audit approach
• Experience with all major cloud providers and GRC platforms

Typical Engagement:

• Fee range: $20,000-$55,000
• Timeline: Good availability; typically responsive scheduling
• Best for: Cloud-first startups and growth-stage companies

Prescient Assurance

Prescient Assurance is a CPA firm focused on SOC 2, ISO 27001, and related cybersecurity attestations. We find them to be a solid option for startups that need competitive pricing without sacrificing audit quality.

Key Strengths:

• Technology-forward audit approach with efficient engagement management
• Competitive pricing for startup and growth-stage organizations
• Growing firm with expanding capacity
• Multi-framework capabilities (SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA)

Typical Engagement:

• Fee range: $18,000-$50,000
• Timeline: Generally good availability
• Best for: Startups looking for competitive pricing with competent audit quality

Johanson Group

Johanson Group is a boutique CPA firm specializing in SOC examinations with a reputation for hands-on partner involvement. We recommend them for first-time SOC 2 organizations that value personalized attention.

Key Strengths:

• High-touch engagement model with direct partner access
• Competitive pricing aligned with boutique firm positioning
• Strong communication throughout the audit process
• Particularly well-suited for first-time SOC 2 organizations

Typical Engagement:

• Fee range: $15,000-$40,000
• Timeline: Flexible scheduling with boutique-level responsiveness
• Best for: First-time SOC 2 organizations; smaller companies wanting personalized attention

How to Choose: Selection Framework

Step 1: Define Your Requirements

Before evaluating specific firms, we recommend clarifying your selection criteria:

Factor	Questions to Answer
Budget	What is your approved auditor budget?
Timeline	When do you need fieldwork to begin and the report delivered?
Scope	Which Trust Service Criteria are included? Type I or Type II?
Industry	Do you need industry-specific experience (fintech, healthcare, government)?
Multi-framework	Do you need SOC 2 + ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI DSS, or FedRAMP?
GRC platform	Which platform are you using? Does the auditor have experience with it?
Future plans	Will you need the same auditor for multiple years?

Step 2: Match Tier to Company Profile

Your Profile	Recommended Tier	Why
Seed-stage startup (under 25 employees)	Boutique or specialized	Best pricing; right-sized for straightforward engagements
Growth stage (25-200 employees)	Specialized	Deep SOC 2 expertise; competitive pricing; technology focus
Mid-market (200-1,000 employees)	Specialized or mid-tier	More capacity for complex scopes; multi-framework capabilities
Enterprise (1,000+ employees)	Mid-tier or Big 4	Complex scope handling; brand recognition; regulatory requirements
Regulated industry requiring Big 4	Big 4	Regulatory or contractual requirement for Big 4 attestation

Step 3: Evaluate Specific Firms

We advise requesting proposals from two to three firms in your target tier and comparing across:

• Fee structure: Fixed fee vs. hourly. Fixed-fee engagements are standard and preferred because they provide budget certainty.
• Audit timeline: Confirm fieldwork dates and report delivery timeline. Ensure the firm can meet your schedule.
• Team composition: Understand who will manage your engagement — senior partners, managers, or junior staff. Direct partner access matters for quality.
• Platform familiarity: Ask whether the firm regularly works with your GRC platform. Familiarity reduces fieldwork time and friction.
• Communication style: Evaluate responsiveness during the proposal process. In our experience, firms that are slow to respond during sales are typically slow during the engagement.
• References: Request references from companies similar to yours in size and industry.

Step 4: Negotiate and Engage

• Multi-year contracts: Many firms offer five to fifteen percent discounts for multi-year commitments. If you anticipate annual renewals, we recommend negotiating upfront.
• Bundled services: If you need penetration testing, readiness assessment, or ISO 27001 alongside SOC 2, ask about bundled pricing.
• Payment terms: Standard terms are net-30 with payment split across engagement milestones. Some firms offer annual billing options.

GRC Platform and Auditor Partnerships

Most GRC platforms maintain auditor partner networks — vetted CPA firms that regularly work with the platform and use the auditor-facing dashboard for efficient evidence review.

GRC Platform	Auditor Network	How It Works
Vanta	Vetted auditor partner network	Browse and select auditors through Vanta; auditor uses Vanta dashboard
Drata	Audit partner network	Connect with Drata-experienced auditors; auditor accesses Drata audit center
Secureframe	Auditor partner network	Select from Secureframe's partner auditors; evidence organized for auditor consumption
Sprinto	Auditor network	Partner auditors familiar with Sprinto's evidence format

Using a platform-partnered auditor is not mandatory, but in our experience it typically reduces fieldwork duration by one to two weeks because the auditor already knows how to navigate the platform and access evidence efficiently.

Pricing Comparison by Company Size

Company Size	Boutique Firms	Specialized Firms	Mid-Tier Firms	Big 4 Firms
Under 25 employees	$15,000-$25,000	$20,000-$35,000	$35,000-$55,000	Not typical
25-100 employees	$18,000-$30,000	$25,000-$45,000	$40,000-$65,000	$60,000-$100,000
100-500 employees	$25,000-$40,000	$30,000-$55,000	$50,000-$80,000	$80,000-$150,000
500+ employees	$30,000-$50,000	$40,000-$70,000	$60,000-$100,000	$100,000-$300,000+

These ranges reflect Type II engagements with Security criterion. Adding Trust Service Criteria or frameworks increases fees by ten to twenty-five percent per criterion.

Key Takeaways

• We recommend specialized SOC 2 audit firms (Schellman, A-LIGN, KirkpatrickPrice, Linford & Company, BARR Advisory) for most technology companies — they handle the largest share of the market and provide the best value
• In our experience, auditor fees range from $15,000-$40,000 at boutique firms to $80,000-$300,000+ at Big 4 firms
• We advise choosing your auditor tier based on company size, budget, scope complexity, and industry requirements
• GRC platform partner auditors reduce fieldwork duration by one to two weeks due to platform familiarity — we encourage clients to factor this into their decision
• Multi-year contracts can save five to fifteen percent on annual auditor fees, and we recommend negotiating these upfront whenever possible
• Evaluate firms on fee structure, timeline, team composition, platform familiarity, communication quality, and references
• Lock in auditor dates early — in our experience, scheduling conflicts are the most common cause of SOC 2 timeline delays

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use the auditor my GRC platform recommends?

What we tell clients is that platform-recommended auditors are a strong starting point because they are pre-vetted and familiar with the platform's evidence format. That said, we always advise comparing at least two to three firms — including one platform partner and one independent firm — to ensure you get competitive pricing and the best fit for your organization. Platform partnerships primarily benefit efficiency during fieldwork, not audit quality itself.

How do I know if an auditor is qualified to perform SOC 2?

What we tell clients is to verify two things immediately: the firm's CPA registration and their SOC 2 volume. SOC 2 audits can only be performed by CPA firms. Beyond that, we recommend asking how many SOC 2 engagements the firm completes annually, which industries they serve, and whether they have experience with your specific framework scope and GRC platform. In our experience, firms that complete fewer than twenty SOC 2 engagements per year may lack the specialization to deliver an efficient experience.

Can I switch auditors between years?

Yes, and we help clients do this regularly. There is no requirement to use the same auditor every year. However, what we tell clients is to budget for transition costs — the new auditor needs to familiarize themselves with your control environment, system description, and evidence organization. We recommend budgeting two to four weeks of additional preparation time when switching. The most common reasons we see clients switch are pricing, communication dissatisfaction, or changing scope requirements that require different expertise.

Do auditors care which GRC platform I use?

What we tell clients is that most experienced SOC 2 auditors work with all major GRC platforms and do not have a strong preference. Some individual auditors may have slight familiarity advantages with platforms they use most frequently. We recommend asking your prospective auditor which platforms they work with regularly, but we advise against choosing a platform based on auditor preference — the platform serves your compliance program for years, while auditors can be changed.

When should I engage the auditor relative to my compliance timeline?

We recommend engaging your auditor three to four months before you want fieldwork to begin. This gives time for proposal review, engagement letter negotiation, and scheduling. For Type I, we advise engaging the auditor within the first two weeks of your compliance project. For Type II, we recommend engaging the auditor before the observation period begins so the auditor can review your scope and system description in advance.