10 Best Virtual Assistant Companies & Agencies (2026)
Virtual assistant companies fall into two models. Agencies recruit, match and manage the assistant for you, and charge a premium for it: usually $25-35/hr or more for US-based help. Marketplaces let you hire the assistant directly, so you pay closer to what the assistant actually asks.
Our published rate data from 61,534 profiles puts the median Philippine virtual assistant asking rate at $5.00/hr. The gap between that number and an agency invoice is the agency margin. Choose an agency if you want someone else to handle hiring; choose a marketplace if you want the lowest total cost.
The 10 best virtual assistant companies, ranked
1. eVirtualAssistants
Marketplace - From $4/hr (median $5.00/hr)
200,000+ virtual assistant profiles, mostly from the Philippines, with a $5.00/hr median asking rate across 61,534 profiles in our published rate data. You hire directly with no agency markup, and posting a job is free.
Best for: Businesses that want direct hire at offshore rates without paying an agency margin.
See the rate data2. BELAY
Agency - $40-50/hr
US-based assistants with mature account management and candidate pre-screening.
Best for: Premium US-only support with a managed account team.
BELAY alternatives3. Time Etc
Agency - About $32/hr
US and UK assistants, established since 2007, with a free trial available.
Best for: Buyers who want US/UK assistants but find BELAY too expensive.
Time Etc alternatives4. Wing Assistant
Agency - Around $10/hr
Dedicated offshore assistant with a managed support team and free replacement.
Best for: A dedicated VA with managed onboarding at offshore pricing.
Wing Assistant alternatives5. Magic
On-demand - $30+/hr
24/7 on-demand assistant support with strong vetting and task routing.
Best for: Executives needing on-demand premium assistant support.
Magic alternatives6. MyOutDesk
Agency - Around $10/hr
Background-checked Filipino VAs specialized in real estate, mortgage and insurance.
Best for: Real estate, mortgage and insurance professionals.
MyOutDesk alternatives7. VirtualStaff.ph
Marketplace - Employer subscription
Philippines-focused hiring platform for direct hiring with some platform admin.
Best for: Direct hiring from the Philippines with platform tools.
VirtualStaff.ph alternatives8. OnlineJobs.ph
Job board - $69/mo subscription
Large Philippine job board; you contact and hire workers directly.
Best for: DIY direct hire from the Philippines.
OnlineJobs.ph alternatives9. Upwork
Marketplace - Freelancer-set rates + 5% client fee
Global freelance marketplace: post a job, review proposals and hire contractors.
Best for: Project-based work across many skills and countries.
Upwork alternatives10. Fancy Hands
On-demand - Per-task plans
Pay-per-task US assistant service with fast turnaround.
Best for: Quick, one-off task support.
Virtual assistant companies compared
| Company | Model | Starting price | Vetting | Contract terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| eVirtualAssistants | Marketplace | From $4/hr (median $5.00/hr) | Profile screening, skills and English checks | No long-term contract |
| BELAY | Agency | $40-50/hr | Pre-screened, agency-matched | Monthly hour packages |
| Time Etc | Agency | About $32/hr | Agency-vetted US/UK assistants | Monthly hour plans |
| Wing Assistant | Agency | Around $10/hr | Agency-vetted, dedicated match | Monthly subscription |
| Magic | On-demand | $30+/hr | Strong internal vetting | Prepaid hours |
| MyOutDesk | Agency | Around $10/hr | Background-checked | Subscription |
| VirtualStaff.ph | Marketplace | Employer subscription | Self-screening | Monthly subscription |
| OnlineJobs.ph | Job board | $69/mo subscription | None; you screen | Monthly subscription |
| Upwork | Marketplace | Freelancer-set rates + 5% client fee | Reviews and job history | Per contract |
| Fancy Hands | On-demand | Per-task plans | Service-managed | Monthly task plans |
Competitor prices are typical published starting points and can change; check each provider before buying.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the cheapest virtual assistant company?
- Direct-hire marketplaces are the cheapest option because there is no agency markup. On eVirtualAssistants, rates start from $4/hr and the median Philippine VA asks $5.00/hr, and posting a job is free.
- What is the difference between a VA agency and a VA marketplace?
- An agency recruits, matches and manages the assistant and bills you a marked-up hourly rate. A marketplace lets you find, interview and hire the assistant directly, so you pay the assistant's own rate and handle the management yourself.
- How much do virtual assistant companies charge?
- It depends on the model. Our published data from 61,534 profiles shows a $5.00/hr median asking rate for Philippine VAs hired directly, while US-based agencies typically charge $25-35/hr, and premium agencies like BELAY charge $40-50/hr.
- How do I choose a virtual assistant company?
- Decide first whether you want a managed service or direct hire. Then compare the total hourly cost, how candidates are vetted, contract length and replacement terms. Start with a small paid trial task before committing to more hours.
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