How Much Does a UX Audit Cost in 2026?
Prices for UX audits vary widely, and few providers publish them. This guide compares the ranges published by two agencies in 2026, explains what moves the price and suggests questions to ask before you hire anyone, including us.
Short answer
Published 2026 ranges run from about $500 for a basic heuristic review to $75,000 or more for the largest enterprise audits, according to two agency sources. Scope, method, participant research and deliverables drive the difference. Both sources sell audits, so treat their figures as market context, not neutral data.
On this page
A note on these sources
Both sources quoted below are commercial publishers: agencies that sell UX audits and have an interest in how buyers think about price. Their figures are useful because so few providers publish any numbers, but they are not independent surveys. We quote their ranges as they published them, with dates, and add no figures of our own. Our own approach to pricing is explained on our pricing page.
Ranges published by Design Studio UI/UX
Design Studio UI/UX published a 2026 guide to UX audit costs, updated August 6, 2026 1. Its tiers are:
| Audit type as named by the source | Published range | Provider the source pairs it with |
|---|---|---|
| Heuristic review only | $500 to $2,000 | junior freelancer |
| Focused flow audit | $3,000 to $6,000 | senior freelancer or boutique agency |
| Full product audit | $8,000 to $18,000 | UX design agency |
| Enterprise UX audit | $18,000 to $25,000+ | specialist agency |
The same source gives an hourly range of $100 to $250 for US agencies.
Ranges published by Orbix Studio
Orbix Studio published a 2026 guide to UX audit pricing, last updated October 31, 2026 2. Its tiers are:
| Tier as named by the source | Published range |
|---|---|
| Heuristic Review | $1,000 to $3,000 |
| Flow Audit | $3,000 to $8,000 |
| Full-Scope Audit | $8,000 to $25,000 |
| Enterprise Audit | $25,000 to $75,000+ |
Orbix also lists ranges by provider type and by specialty:
| Category as named by the source | Hourly rate | Audit price range |
|---|---|---|
| Junior Freelancer | $25 to $50 per hour | $500 to $1,500 |
| Senior Freelancer | $100 to $200 per hour | $3,000 to $8,000 |
| Mid-Sized Agency | $150 to $300 per hour | $15,000 to $40,000 |
| Accessibility-Only Audit | $100 to $200 per hour | $1,000 to $3,500 |
| Mobile-Only Audit | $100 to $200 per hour | $2,000 to $8,000 |
| eCommerce UX Audit | $100 to $250 per hour | $5,000 to $20,000 |
Why the two sources differ
The two sources agree on the broad shape of the market, with prices rising from expert-only reviews to full audits, but their numbers differ at each tier. The enterprise tier shows the largest gap: Design Studio UI/UX tops out at $25,000 and up for an Enterprise UX audit, while Orbix's Enterprise Audit starts there. Part of the difference is definitional. Each provider decides what a "flow audit" or "full product audit" includes, and the same name can cover very different amounts of work. That is why comparing quotes by tier name alone is risky.
What drives the price
Whatever the tier is called, the same factors move the cost:
- Method. An expert review by one person costs less than a review with several evaluators, and both cost less than research with recruited participants.
- Scope. The number of pages, flows, devices and audience groups reviewed.
- Participants. Recruiting, incentives and session time add cost, especially for specialist audiences or participants who use assistive technology.
- Deliverables. A list of findings costs less than a report with severity ratings, evidence, recommendations, a backlog and a workshop.
- Experience and overhead. Individual specialists, small studios and larger agencies carry different costs.
- Timeline. Compressed deadlines may need more people working in parallel.
Questions to ask any provider
Before you compare prices, compare what you would receive. Ask each provider:
- Which pages, flows and devices are in scope, exactly?
- Is the work an expert review, research with participants or both? How many reviewers or participants?
- How are findings rated and prioritized?
- Will every finding include evidence, such as a screenshot or recording?
- Are recommendations specific enough for a developer to act on?
- Are participant incentives and recruiting fees included or separate?
- What is not included?
- Can I see a sample report, real or fictional?
Our own sample report page shows the structure we use, with a fictional site, so you can compare it with what others offer.
Red flags
Be cautious when a provider guarantees a specific conversion increase before seeing your data, cannot explain its method, offers no sample of its reporting format, or presents an automated scan as a full audit. Automated tools can support an audit, but they cannot judge whether people understand your content or can complete your tasks.
Budgeting sensibly
If your budget is limited, a narrow scope done well beats a broad scope done lightly. An expert review of your single most important flow, followed later by a small round of testing with participants, can deliver more usable findings than a large review that touches every page briefly. Our sample size guide explains why small, repeated rounds of testing are efficient.
Comparing quotes fairly
When you collect quotes, line them up by what you will receive rather than by tier name. Write down, for each provider, the pages and flows in scope, the method, the number of reviewers or participants, the deliverables and anything listed as extra. Two quotes that look far apart may cover very different work, and two quotes with the same total may differ in the evidence behind each finding.
Ask too how the provider handles participant incentives. Some include them in the total, some list them separately and some expect you to pay participants directly. Our guide to consent and incentives explains why separate tracking matters for tax reporting.
Finally, consider timing. A quote that looks low may assume a long timeline with limited attention, and a high quote may reflect an urgent deadline. Ask each provider for its planned schedule, and compare like with like.
Cost questions
Why do so few providers publish prices?
Audits vary so much in scope that a single price can mislead. Many providers, including us, prefer to quote after understanding the project.
Is a cheap heuristic review worth it?
It can be, if the scope is clear and the reviewer is experienced. A low-cost review of a focused flow can find real problems. Check what you will receive before buying.
Are these prices for US providers only?
Design Studio UI/UX states its hourly figure for US agencies. Check each source for the market it describes; rates elsewhere can differ substantially.
Sources
- UX Audit Cost 2026: $3K to $25K and When It Pays Off (title paraphrased, the original uses a dash and an ampersand), Design Studio UI/UX, updated August 6, 2026.Commercial publisher, agency blog
- UX Audit Cost 2026: Pricing Tiers, Providers & ROI Guide, Orbix Studio, last updated October 31, 2026.Commercial publisher, agency blog