What does audit software cost?
Most providers only quote prices on request. This overview explains the common pricing models for audit management software, shows typical cost traps – and states our own prices in concrete terms.
As of August 2026 · Net prices plus VAT · offer for business customers only (Section 14 German Civil Code)
In short
Cloud-based audit software costs roughly 30 to several hundred euros per user per month, depending on the provider and scope; enterprise suites are priced individually. What matters is less the list price than what it includes: all modules or modular, set-up fee or not, support included, standard catalogues extra. IMS-Audit Cloud costs €49 per user per month – all modules included, no set-up fee.
Four models you will come across
Per user per month (SaaS)
The most common model today: you pay per named user, usually annually in advance. Operation, updates and backups are handled by the provider. Easy to plan, grows with the team – and scales down when the QM team is small.
IMS-Audit Cloud is billed this way – with volume discounts from 5 users.
Flat rate / enterprise licence
A fixed price for any number of users, often tiered by company size or number of sites. Only pays off with a very large number of users; usually oversized for small QM teams.
One-off perpetual licence (on-premise)
The classic model for installed software: a one-off licence price per workstation, plus an optional annual maintenance contract (typically 15–20 % of the licence price). Add your own costs for servers, database, updates and IT support.
IMS-Audit Desktop (Pro) is sold this way – from €1,690 net per licence (one-off).
Modular pricing
A low base price, with every additional module (actions, 8D, documents, risk …) costing extra. The entry price looks low, but the total is only known after the requirements analysis – so always compare the fully equipped version.
Seven items that are often missing from the quote
Never compare just the price per user, but the total cost over the contract term – including these points:
- Set-up & onboarding: Many providers charge a set-up fee or mandatory workshops – often four figures.
- Modules & add-ons: With modular models, action management, reports or multilingual support are licensed separately.
- Support & maintenance: Support packages or a maintenance contract come on top of perpetual licences; with SaaS, support is usually included – ask about scope and hours.
- Standard question catalogues: Ready-made catalogues for ISO 9001, IATF 16949 and the like are a separate item almost everywhere – including IMS-Audit Cloud (sold separately).
- External access: If suppliers or auditees are to work on actions themselves, they need logins – with some providers payable as full users.
- Training & test environment: A separate practice environment for training is not included everywhere.
- Your own IT (on-premise): Servers, database licences, backups, update roll-out and downtime – the real costs of installed software rarely appear in the quote.
How IMS-Audit Cloud is billed
Per user per month, billed annually, all modules in every plan – audits, question catalogues, actions / CAPA, 8D, risk, document control, management review, reports, roles, import/export.
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 user | €49 per month |
| 5 users | €245 per month · €49/user |
| 10 users | €400 per month · €40/user |
| 20 users | €749 per month · around €37/user |
- · Introductory price until 1 October 2026 · no set-up fee · updates and support (Mon–Fri 9 am–5 pm) included
- · Restricted logins are additional, limited-scope accounts in IMS-Audit Cloud for external participants (e.g. suppliers) – without using a full user seat
- · Training environment: included from 20 users, available as an add-on for €29/month with 5 and 10 users
- · Ready-made standard question catalogues sold separately · larger teams on request
- · Minimum term 12 months, three months’ notice to the end of the term · contracts and terms are concluded in German · Net prices plus VAT · offer for business customers only (Section 14 German Civil Code)
The cost of audit software
What does audit software cost per user?
For cloud solutions, prices range roughly from 30 to several hundred euros per user per month, depending on the provider and scope; enterprise suites usually quote prices only on request. IMS-Audit Cloud costs €49 per user per month (1 user), and around €37 per user with 20 users – billed annually, net, all modules included.
Is there free audit software?
For getting started, yes: IMS-Audit Desktop Lite is a permanently free Windows version with a reduced scope. Cloud solutions with multi-user operation, backups and support are generally paid for; “free” offers are usually trial versions limited in time or functionality.
Which pricing model makes sense for a small QM team?
For 1–10 users, per-user billing is almost always the most economical – provided all modules are included. Flat rates and enterprise licences only pay off with many users; perpetual licences only if you already have in-house IT capacity for servers, database and updates.
Are standard question catalogues included in the price?
With IMS-Audit Cloud, the ready-made standard catalogues are sold separately – please contact us. You can create your own catalogues at any time free of charge or import them via Excel. With other providers, too, standard catalogues are usually a separate item – ask specifically.
Is there a set-up fee for IMS-Audit Cloud?
No. There is no set-up fee; updates and support (Mon–Fri 9 am–5 pm) are included in the price. The minimum term is 12 months, with three months’ notice to the end of the term. Contracts and terms are concluded in German.
Read on: Checklist – choosing audit software · Audits in Excel or with software?
Prefer concrete figures?
The quote assistant shows you the price for your team straight away – or we discuss it in a personal appointment.