Find the right PCI assessor. Know the real cost.
We’ve profiled 17 accredited PCI QSA companies — their assessment fees, their timelines, who to avoid. Tell us about your environment and we’ll match you with the best-fit firms, then make them compete for your business with side-by-side quotes. Free. Two minutes. Signing with the first assessor who calls you is how companies overpay.
Free · 2 minutes · No obligation
How quote matching works
- Tell us once — 4 questions, 2 minutes, free.
- We match you — accredited QSA companies filtered to your size, scope, and timeline.
- QSAs quote you — they send scoped quotes directly; you pick.
We are a quote-matching service, not an assessment firm, and listings are not endorsements. How we vet firms and label prices →
Accredited PCI assessment firms
Every firm below is a real, operating QSA company with a website we load-verified in September 2026. We are an independent directory — listings are not endorsements, and we encourage you to confirm each firm’s current QSA status on the PCI SSC listings before engaging.
Coalfire Systems
Coalfire is one of the largest QSA companies operating in North America. It is the named assessor on Amazon and AWS PCI DSS validations in Visa's Glob…
SecurityMetrics
SecurityMetrics is a PCI-focused QSA company whose published materials emphasize practical, deadline-driven assessments with strong communication. Its…
KirkpatrickPrice
KirkpatrickPrice is an assurance firm with PCI DSS, SOC, ISO, HIPAA, and HITRUST practices. Its published materials emphasize a concierge-style client…
BARR Advisory
BARR Advisory announced its accreditation as a PCI QSA company by the PCI Security Standards Council in January 2024 (Business Wire), adding PCI DSS t…
The right QSA depends on your size and scope
A 30-person SaaS startup and a multinational retailer should not hire the same assessor. We’ve grouped the directory by buyer profile, with planning-range pricing for each.
Startups & first-timers
First PCI assessment, small cardholder data environment, price-sensitive. Boutique QSAs with low planning ranges and fast fieldwork.
Growth-stage teams
Scaling transaction volume, multi-framework needs. Credible ROCs for bigger customers and acquirers.
Enterprise buyers
Complex, multi-entity, or multi-region scope — or an acquirer that expects a globally recognized QSA name.
PCI DSS, explained honestly
PCI DSS Cost Guide
What a Level 1 ROC really costs, what drives the fee, and an interactive estimator.
PCI Assessment Timeline
Every phase from scoping to signed ROC — and the annual cycle after it.
PCI Readiness Check
A 2-minute scored quiz: are you ready for a QSA, or do you need gap work first?
2026 Pricing Report
Every cost figure we publish, with its source and date. No invented averages.
ROC vs SAQ
Do you actually need a QSA on-site, or is a self-assessment enough?
Choosing a QSA Company
Eleven questions to ask before you sign an engagement letter.
Best QSA Companies by Use Case
Buyer-matched picks: startups, SaaS scaleups, hospitality, enterprise.
RFP & Quote Comparison
What to put in your brief, a printable comparison worksheet, and engagement-letter red flags.
Our Methodology
How we vet QSA companies, label every price, and keep rankings unbought.
PCI DSS basics
What is a PCI DSS assessment?
A PCI DSS assessment is the formal validation that your systems meet the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. For Level 1 merchants and Level 1–2 service providers it means an on-site assessment by a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) employed by an accredited QSA company, producing a Report on Compliance (ROC). Smaller merchants typically validate with a Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) instead.
How much does a PCI DSS assessment cost?
Planning estimates (September 2026): a Level 1 ROC assessment typically runs $30,000 to $100,000+ in QSA fees depending on scope, with first-year all-in costs of $75,000 to $250,000+ once readiness, pen testing, remediation, and staff time are included. Guided SAQ engagements run $5,000–$25,000. See our cost guide and the 2026 pricing report for every figure with its source.
How long does a PCI DSS assessment take?
The QSA's fieldwork typically runs 2 to 12 weeks depending on size and complexity, but the full journey — scoping, gap assessment, remediation, then the ROC — usually takes 4 to 9 months for a first assessment. The ROC is valid for one year. See the timeline.
Who can perform a PCI DSS assessment?
Only a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) — an individual employed by an accredited QSA company and qualified by the PCI Security Standards Council — can perform an on-site PCI DSS assessment and sign a ROC. Compliance platforms can prepare you, but they cannot sign the report. Verify any firm on the PCI SSC's assessor listings before engaging.
Get quotes from accredited QSA companies
Tell us about your environment and timeline once. We’ll match you with QSA companies that fit — no obligation, no spam.
How it works: tell us once (4 questions, 2 min) → we match accredited QSA companies to your size and scope → they send scoped quotes directly. Free, no obligation.