Find the right PCI QSA. Know the real cost.
We've profiled 18 PCI assessment firms -- their prices, their timelines, who to avoid. Tell us about your environment and we'll match you with the best-fit Qualified Security Assessors, 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 — licensed CPA firms filtered to your size, scope, and timeline.
- Auditors quote you — they send scoped quotes directly; you pick.
We are a quote-matching service, not an audit firm, and listings are not endorsements. How we vet firms and label prices →
PCI QSA firms
Every firm below is a real, operating PCI assessment practice with a verified website. We are an independent directory -- listings are not endorsements, and we encourage you to confirm each firm's current QSA-company listing with the PCI Security Standards Council before engaging.
Coalfire
Coalfire is one of the largest PCI assessment practices in the world, performing hundreds of PCI DSS assessments a year for merchants and service prov…
SecurityMetrics
SecurityMetrics grew up as a PCI scanning vendor and built one of the industry's best-known SMB PCI programs: bundled ASV scanning, SAQ guidance, and …
LevelBlue (formerly Trustwave)
Trustwave -- now operating as LevelBlue -- has run one of the longest-standing PCI assessment practices in the industry, paired with its managed detec…
ControlCase
ControlCase is a PCI-centric assessment firm known for fixed-fee engagements and heavy use of its own compliance technology to keep assessment costs p…
The right assessor depends on your size
A 5-location retailer doing SAQ B-IP and a Level 1 service provider should not hire the same firm. We've grouped the directory by buyer type, with planning-range pricing for each.
Small merchants
SAQ-eligible businesses, price-sensitive. Firms with bundled ASV scanning and SAQ support.
Mid-market
Growing card volume or complexity. Fixed-fee assessments and multi-framework runway (SOC 2, ISO 27001).
Level 1 & service providers
ROC-required environments -- or a portfolio of merchants to manage. Deep benches and global delivery.
PCI DSS, explained honestly
The 12 PCI DSS Requirements
Every requirement in plain English -- what the assessor actually tests.
SAQ Types Explained
SAQ A, A-EP, B, B-IP, C, C-VT, D, P2PE -- which questionnaire is yours.
PCI Cost Guide
Published ROC and SAQ fee ranges, what drives price, and an interactive estimator.
PCI Assessment Timeline
How long a ROC really takes, from scoping to signed report.
Readiness Check
A 2-minute scored quiz that tells you if you're assessment-ready.
2026 Pricing Report
A meta-analysis of published PCI cost data, every number cited.
Choosing a QSA
Nine questions to ask before you sign an assessment engagement.
ROC vs SAQ
Which validation path your merchant level actually requires.
Best QSA Firms by Use Case
Buyer-matched picks: SMBs, mid-market, Level 1, multi-location.
Our Methodology
How we vet firms, label every price, and keep rankings unbought.
PCI DSS basics
What is PCI DSS?
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard: 12 requirements for protecting cardholder data, maintained by the PCI Security Standards Council. Any organization that stores, processes, or transmits cardholder data must comply -- and validate that compliance annually.
How much does a PCI DSS assessment cost?
Published sources put a Level 1 Report on Compliance (ROC) between $20,000 and $200,000+ depending on environment size and complexity, with QSA-assisted SAQs from a few thousand dollars. See our cost guide and the 2026 pricing report for sourced numbers.
Do I need a QSA, or can I self-assess?
Level 1 merchants (6M+ transactions/year) and most service providers must use a Qualified Security Assessor for a ROC. Smaller merchants can self-assess with the right SAQ -- though many hire a QSA to validate it. See ROC vs SAQ.
How long does a PCI assessment take?
A Level 1 ROC typically runs 3 to 6 months from signed statement of work to signed report, with 4 to 12 weeks of active fieldwork. SAQ engagements are faster: 4 to 12 weeks. Details on the timeline page.
Get quotes from PCI QSA firms
Tell us about your environment and timeline once. We'll match you with assessors who fit -- no obligation, no spam.
How it works: tell us once (4 questions, 2 min) → we match licensed auditors to your size and scope → they send scoped quotes directly. Free, no obligation.