# Synack vs Cobalt for penetration testing

Source: https://pentestcompare.com/compare/synack-vs-cobalt/
Publisher: Excession Labs (pentestcompare.com)
Last updated: 2026-11-09

Synack vs Cobalt compared on delivery, scope, price units, turnaround, retests, sample reports and credentials, with vendor sources checked on 9 November 2026.

> **Short answer:** Synack lists starting prices per test ($5,085 to $27,120) and bills a platform subscription separately. Cobalt sells annual credit packages with no tier price and one $3,500 autonomous test on a limited-time offer. Both pair human testers with AI. This comparison uses vendor pages checked on 9 November 2026 and names no winner.

Synack and Cobalt both pair vetted human testers with AI and deliver through a platform. They sell differently. Synack prints starting prices per test for three products, and Cobalt prints credit tiers with no price plus one autonomous test at $3,500. This page uses vendor pages checked on 9 November 2026. Both are in the [provider dataset](/providers/).

## How do Synack and Cobalt compare at a glance?

| Field | Synack | Cobalt |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery | Sara (autonomous AI agent) plus the Synack Red Team of vetted researchers; SynackST uses one human tester; Synack14 uses a team | Vetted freelance testers (Cobalt Core) with AI agents, plus a separate Autonomous Pentest |
| Scope named | Web, host, API, mobile, cloud, network (varies by product; Sara: external web or host only) | Web app, API, cloud, network, mobile, AI apps |
| Pricing model | Starting price per test, bought with credits that expire one year after purchase; platform subscription billed separately | Annual credit packages (Standard, Premium, Enterprise); one credit is 8 hours of testing |
| Published prices | Sara Pentest $5,085; SynackST $10,283; Synack14 $27,120 (all starting, per test). Platform: no price; Basic tier free | Autonomous Pentest $3,500 per test (limited time, start and finish before 31 Dec 2026). Tiers: no price |
| Turnaround claim | Test windows: Sara 4 to 5 business days; SynackST 5 days; Synack14 14 days | Autonomous: findings in 24 hours. Tiers: start in 3 / 2 / 1 business days (Standard / Premium / Enterprise), varying by engagement type |
| What turnaround measures | Length of the testing window | Time to first findings (autonomous) or time to start (tiers) |
| Retest terms | Patch verification included in each product; platform lets you request retests | Table: free for 6 months (Standard) or 12 months (Premium, Enterprise). FAQ: unlimited on demand during the contract |
| Sample report | Not published | On request |
| Credentials with evidence | FedRAMP authorization (Moderate, platform only, per merger notice) | SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, CREST accreditation (Trust Center) |
| Integrations | ServiceNow, Jira, Splunk, Qualys, Palo Alto Networks, Microsoft | Jira, GitHub, Slack |

Sources: [Synack pricing](https://www.synack.com/pricing/), [Synack and NetSPI notice](https://www.synack.com/netspi-and-synack/), [Cobalt pricing](https://www.cobalt.io/pricing), [Cobalt Trust Center](https://www.cobalt.io/trust-center), all checked 9 November 2026.

## What changed at Synack?

NetSPI and Synack announced a merger on 2 September 2026. Synack's own notice says the merger completed on 5 October 2026. Customers keep their scope, cadence, platform access and contacts, and each company still runs its own platform, services and agreements. No unified SKU or pricing has been announced. Synack's offerings may change, so confirm the product list at quote time.

## Choose Synack if

- You want starting prices for three depth levels before you call sales: AI-led ($5,085), one human tester for one framework ($10,283) and a team test over 14 days ($27,120).
- You need a team-based test with a fixed 14-day window (Synack14), or a single-tester test aimed at a named framework such as SOC 2 or PCI DSS (SynackST).
- You are a public-sector buyer who needs the Synack platform's FedRAMP Moderate authorization. Confirm whether it covers your use.
- You can accept an unpriced platform line item, and credits that expire after one year.

## Choose Cobalt if

- You want a single published figure for a web app test now. The $3,500 Autonomous Pentest ends with the 31 December 2026 deadline.
- You prefer a stated start time by tier and a retest allowance that is part of the package.
- You want credentials listed on a Trust Center page: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001 and CREST.
- You expect to run many tests across a year, and a credit pool fits your plan. Credit use varies with your per-credit rate, which Cobalt quotes.

## What differences matter most?

The price units differ. Synack's figures are starting prices per test, and the scope sets the real price. SynackST at its listed price covers up to 25 unauthenticated web apps, one low-complexity authenticated web app or 100 host IPs. Synack14 covers up to 50 unauthenticated web apps, one authenticated web app or 250 host IPs. The Sara test covers external web or host. Cobalt's credits measure hours of effort, so a test costs whatever credits its scope uses at your rate. Do not set $10,283 beside a credit package as if they were equal.

The platform fee is a hidden line at Synack. Any test needs the Synack Platform, and it is billed separately with no published price. A free Basic platform tier exists with self-service launch, vulnerability management, patch verification and reports. Credits cannot pay for the subscription. Ask for the all-in first-year cost.

The turnaround figures answer different questions. Synack gives the length of the test. Cobalt gives start time or time to first findings. Neither states time to the final report.

Retests are stated differently. Synack includes patch verification in each product. Cobalt's page contradicts itself between table and FAQ. Ask both for the clause.

Credentials come from different bodies. Cobalt's list covers its own audits (SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001) and a CREST accreditation. Synack's evidence is a FedRAMP authorization for the platform. They do not substitute for each other, so ask which your buyer or auditor requires.

Neither publishes a sample report. Cobalt provides one on request. See the [sample report guide](/guides/judge-a-pentest-provider-by-its-sample-report/) and the [pentest cost guide](/guides/penetration-testing-cost/) for how to judge both. For other options, see [Cobalt alternatives](/compare/cobalt-alternatives/).

Found an error? [Send a correction](/methodology/#corrections).

## Questions

### Did the Synack and NetSPI merger change Synack's pricing?

Synack's merger notice says the NetSPI deal closed on 5 October 2026 and that no unified platform, contract, pricing or partner program has been announced. Customers keep their current scope and agreements. The pricing page we read on 9 November 2026 still showed the standalone Synack prices.

### Is Synack's $5,085 test comparable to Cobalt's $3,500 test?

Only loosely. Synack's Sara Pentest covers external web or host with a 4 to 5 business day window, patch verification and a report. Cobalt's Autonomous Pentest covers a web application test with findings in 24 hours and runs only until 31 December 2026. Compare scope documents, not the headline prices.

### What is the FedRAMP status on Synack's side?

Synack's merger notice says its FedRAMP Moderate authorization remains in place and applies to the Synack platform only, not to NetSPI products. Its pricing page says FedRAMP pricing is available on request. Cobalt's Trust Center lists SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001 and CREST, and we found no FedRAMP claim there.

## Sources

- [Synack pricing](https://www.synack.com/pricing/)
- [NetSPI and Synack merger notice](https://www.synack.com/netspi-and-synack/)
- [Synack homepage](https://www.synack.com/)
- [Cobalt pricing](https://www.cobalt.io/pricing)
- [Cobalt Trust Center](https://www.cobalt.io/trust-center)
- [Cobalt homepage](https://www.cobalt.io/)