Cyber Essentials Cost 2026: Complete UK Pricing Guide

Cyber Essentials costs £299.99 to £549.99 + VAT with Fig Group in 2026, depending on organisation size. The price covers the verified self-assessment and certificate, with three free re-submissions. Consultancy or technical remediation is not mandatory and is not included.

One of the most common questions organisations ask when considering Cyber Essentials certification is: how much does it cost? For the base-level certificate, the principal price variable is the IASME organisation-size band. This guide focuses specifically on Cyber Essentials rather than Cyber Essentials Plus.

This guide provides a full, transparent breakdown of Cyber Essentials pricing in 2026.

Use this as the base Cyber Essentials cost guide. For the independently audited tier, use the Cyber Essentials Plus cost comparison. To select a package and purchase, use current pricing. To compare the lowest-priced providers, use the cheapest Cyber Essentials guide.

Cyber Essentials is the self-assessed certification level. You complete a questionnaire covering five core security controls, submit it for review, and receive your certificate if you pass. Pricing is based on organisation size:

These prices are fully inclusive. With Fig, there are no hidden assessment fees, no mandatory consultancy add-ons, and no surprise charges after purchase.

Cyber Essentials Plus adds an independent technical assessment and is priced separately from £1,499 + VAT. The Plus price assumes that you hold the required Cyber Essentials certificate. See the current Cyber Essentials and Plus cost comparison for every Plus tier and an explanation of the additional assessment cost.

Certification pricing varies significantly across IASME-licensed certification bodies. Some providers advertise low headline prices but add fees for assessment, consultancy, or platform access. Others bundle everything into a single price.

Fig's pricing includes:

• The full assessment - no additional fees for review or resubmission
• Structured feedback - up to three rounds of feedback on your self-assessment to help you pass
• Cyber Essentials certified in under 6 hours from self-assessment submission - for orders placed before midday
• Readiness checker - free self-assessment tool to identify gaps before you begin
• Dedicated support - guidance throughout the certification process

When comparing prices, always ask: what is included? A £300 headline price that requires a £200 consultancy add-on is not cheaper than a £299.99 all-inclusive price.

Organisation size - IASME uses employee bands for Cyber Essentials pricing, so the applicable tier changes as headcount crosses a band boundary.

Preparation time - The certification fee covers the assessment itself. If your organisation is not ready, you may need to invest time (and potentially external consultancy) to remediate gaps before submitting. Using a readiness checker can reduce this cost significantly.

Annual renewal - Cyber Essentials certification is valid for 12 months. You will need to recertify annually at the same price band.

Not all certification bodies are transparent about pricing. Common hidden costs include:

• Assessment fees charged separately from the certification fee
• Mandatory consultancy packages required before assessment
• Platform access fees for completing the questionnaire
• Resubmission charges if your first submission has gaps
• Expedite fees for faster turnaround

Fig charges none of these. The price you see is the price you pay.

For most organisations, the return on investment is clear:

Contract requirements - Some public and private procurement exercises require Cyber Essentials. Always check the exact contract wording to confirm whether it names the base certificate or Plus.

Client requirements - Many private-sector organisations now require suppliers to hold Cyber Essentials. Losing a client relationship over a £299.99 certification is not a sensible trade-off.

Security baseline - The scheme focuses attention on five technical control areas designed to reduce exposure to common internet-based attacks.

If you are ready to get certified, view current Cyber Essentials pricing and packages to choose your organisation size and purchase directly.

For organisations that want to check their readiness first, our free readiness checker takes 10-15 minutes and identifies any gaps before you commit.

View current packages | Compare Cyber Essentials and Plus | Compare CE and Plus costs