Best Virtual Assistant Services of 2026: Ranked After Independent Testing
There are dozens of virtual assistant services competing for your business, and almost all of them will tell you they're the best. We're not a VA company. We have no incentive to steer you toward...
Paul Bailey
VA Industry Researcher, Assistant Scout
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Last Updated: June 2026
There are dozens of virtual assistant services competing for your business, and almost all of them will tell you they're the best. We're not a VA company. We have no incentive to steer you toward anyone in particular. What follows is an independent ranking built on publicly available pricing data, Trustpilot and Glassdoor scores, and the specific use cases each service actually serves well — and the ones it doesn't.
Our top pick for most small businesses is Time Etc: transparent pricing starting at $360/month, a 4.9/5 Trustpilot score (the highest in this category), a free trial with $50 credit, and rollover hours. It's not the cheapest option on this list, and it's not right for everyone. But for the majority of entrepreneurs who want a reliable US-based assistant without a sales call to get a price quote, it's the clearest choice.
What Are Virtual Assistant Services?
A virtual assistant service connects you with a trained remote worker who handles delegated tasks — typically administrative, operational, or specialized work — on a part-time or full-time basis. Managed services handle hiring, vetting, and replacement. Freelance platforms let you hire directly. The model you choose determines your cost, your risk, and how much management time you spend.
Most small businesses delegate 10–40 hours of work per month to a VA: inbox management, scheduling, research, social media, customer service, and data entry are the most common starting points. Specialized VAs handle bookkeeping, legal support, real estate CRM management, and healthcare scheduling. The right service depends on whether you need a generalist or a specialist, offshore or US-based, and whether you want a managed handoff or direct control.
The 10 Best Virtual Assistant Services of 2026
1. Time Etc — Best for US-Based Admin Support
Time Etc was founded in 2007 by Barnaby Lashbrooke and operates from the US and UK with a fully managed, dedicated VA model. It's the highest-rated service on Trustpilot in this category at 4.9/5 across 263 reviews, which is not a number you see often in managed services.
Pricing is fully public: 10 hours/month costs $360, 20 hours costs $660, 40 hours costs $1,260, and 60 hours (the maximum) costs $1,800. That works out to roughly $30–$36/hour — more than offshore alternatives, but transparent and predictable. Hours roll over if you don't use them. You can share your VA with colleagues at no extra charge. There's a 100% money-back guarantee and a free $50 credit to try the service before committing.
The limitations are real: there's no full-time option beyond 60 hours/month, and Time Etc focuses on admin work. If you need bookkeeping, social media strategy, or specialized industry support, you'll need to look elsewhere.
Pros: Transparent pricing, best-in-class Trustpilot score (4.9/5), free trial credit, rollover hours, month-to-month Cons: No full-time option, admin-focused only, higher per-hour rate than offshore services
Read our full Time Etc review | See how it compares to BELAY
2. Wing Assistant — Best Value Full-Time Managed VA
Wing was founded in 2018 in Berkeley, CA, and built its business on a simple proposition: dedicated, managed, full-time VAs at a price point closer to freelance platforms. Their Philippines-based model starts at $699/month for 80 hours (part-time) and $1,099/month for 160 hours full-time — which works out to roughly $6.87/hour for a fully managed service.
That price includes a Customer Success Manager, a QA supervision layer, and the Wing Workspace App. You're not managing this VA alone. The service has roughly $20M in revenue and around 962 employees.
The concern is worker treatment. Wing's Glassdoor score is 3.7/5 across 311 employee reviews — the second-lowest on this list. There are documented complaints about salary delays and lack of benefits. If you're conscious about where your service dollars go, that's worth factoring in. There are also some refund dispute complaints in public reviews.
Pros: Cheapest managed full-time VA on this list ($1,099/mo), includes QA layer and CSM, Wing app for task management Cons: Low Glassdoor score (3.7/5), employee complaints about salary delays and conditions, mixed Trustpilot reviews
Read our full Wing Assistant review
3. BruntWork — Best for Offshore at Managed-Service Quality
BruntWork was founded in 2020 in Singapore and operates from the Philippines, South Africa, and Colombia. Its starting rate of $4/hour for general admin — roughly $640/month for full-time — is the lowest managed-service price on this list, and it comes with no setup fees and no contracts.
What's surprising is the included infrastructure: BruntWork covers management, IT, HR, payroll, and healthcare benefits for its VAs. You're not just getting a cheap worker — the company carries those overhead costs. Trustpilot is 4.9/5. Glassdoor is 4.9/5 across 1,373 reviews, which is unusually high and worth treating with appropriate skepticism.
The track record is short (founded 2020), and you'll be doing more hands-on management than with more established services. This is a budget-first option that punches above its price, not a white-glove experience.
Pros: Cheapest managed VA period ($4/hr), no contracts, no setup fees, VA benefits included, high ratings Cons: Founded 2020 (limited track record), more client-side management required, unusually high Glassdoor score warrants scrutiny
Read our full BruntWork review
4. Wishup — Best for Tech-Savvy Businesses Wanting Fast Setup
Wishup was founded in 2015 in Delhi and has built a reputation on speed: 60-minute onboarding is their headline claim, and it appears to be accurate. More importantly, you interview and select your own VA from a curated pool — you're not assigned someone at random.
Part-time India-based pricing starts at $1,299/month, full-time at $1,999/month, and an Elite tier at $2,999/month. A US-based full-time option runs $5,400/month. VAs are trained in 150+ tools including AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude. Trustpilot is 4.7/5 across 92 reviews. There's a 7-day money-back guarantee and a same-day backup VA policy.
The timezone gap with India is real for some businesses, and the quality does vary. This isn't the cheapest offshore option, but it's the fastest to productive output. Read our full Wishup review.
Pros: Fastest onboarding (60 minutes), you pick your VA, AI and no-code tool training, transparent pricing, 7-day guarantee Cons: India timezone gap, not the cheapest offshore option, quality varies across VA pool
5. 20Four7VA — Best for First-Time VA Hirers
Founded in 2013 with offices in Berlin, Maryland and a Philippines operations hub, 20Four7VA has one of the strongest Trustpilot scores on this list: 4.8/5 across 477 reviews. Their standout feature for new VA hirers is risk reduction: there's no upfront fee before you select your VA, and you get a 2-week paid trial before committing fully.
Pricing runs approximately $1,450/month for 55+ hours, with a $99 setup fee that only applies if you proceed past the trial. Cancellation requires just 7 days' notice. The specialty range is broad: admin, customer service, bookkeeping, design, web development, SEO, and e-commerce.
The limitation is geography: 20Four7VA is Philippines-only, which means you won't get US-based VAs here.
Pros: No upfront cost before selection, 2-week trial, 4.8/5 Trustpilot (477 reviews), broad skill range Cons: Pricing not shown upfront on their site, Philippines-only talent pool
Read our full 20Four7VA review
6. Prialto — Best for Executive Teams Needing Backup Coverage
Prialto's model is structurally different from most services on this list. They assign you a primary VA, a backup VA, and an Engagement Manager — a three-layer team for a single seat. When your primary VA is sick or unavailable, coverage continues without a gap. Their clients include Little Spoon, Compass, and Rapid.
Founded in 2009 in Portland, OR, Prialto operates VAs in Guatemala, Philippines, and Kenya. Fractional pricing is $1,500/month for 55 hours plus overflow; full-time is $3,600/month for 165+ hours. There's a $250 setup fee waived with a one-year agreement, and a 90-day pilot minimum.
The 90-day minimum is a real commitment. Trustpilot is 4.1/5, and Glassdoor scores for VA compensation are low at 2.9/5. This is best for organizations with enough complexity to justify the layered management, not for solopreneurs.
Pros: Built-in backup VA coverage, Engagement Manager layer, overflow hours included, enterprise-grade reliability Cons: 90-day minimum commitment, $250 setup fee, no free trial, low VA compensation scores on Glassdoor (2.9/5)
7. Zirtual — Best for Small Teams Sharing a VA
Zirtual's most distinctive feature is its multi-user team structure: their plans support 1–5 users sharing a single VA, which is unusual in this market. Pricing runs from $549/month for 12 hours and 1 user (Entrepreneur plan) up to $1,699/month for 50 hours and 5 users (Team plan). VAs are US-based and college-educated.
The company's history is rocky. It was founded in 2011, shut down abruptly in August 2015, acquired by Startups.co, and then acquired again by PennSpring Capital in December 2023. Trustpilot is 3.8/5 across only 21 reviews. Glassdoor employee satisfaction is 3.4/5 with a compensation score of 2.9/5.
Hours don't roll over, which is a meaningful limitation. If you consistently use less than your allotted hours, you're leaving money on the table. Read our full Zirtual review.
Pros: Multi-user team sharing (unique feature), US-based VAs, flexible plan sizes Cons: Turbulent acquisition history, hours don't roll over, low employee satisfaction scores, no bookkeeping
8. BELAY — Best for Executives Needing US-Based VA + Bookkeeping
BELAY was founded in 2010 in Roswell, GA and has built a strong brand serving executives who want premium, US-based support. They offer VAs, bookkeepers, and social media strategists under one roof — the only managed service on this list with comprehensive bookkeeping built in.
Their largest problem: pricing is not public. You have to contact sales to get a quote. Based on available estimates, hourly rates run approximately $42–$46/hour, putting a 30-hour/month package around $1,380 and a 90-hour/month package around $3,800. Their "Right-Fit Guarantee" promises a rematch within 30 days — but it is not a money-back guarantee. Cancellation requires 30 days' notice.
Trustpilot is 4.1/5. They've served 1,000+ organizations with approximately 2,000 VAs available. Read our full BELAY review.
Pros: US-based only, bookkeeping included, white-glove matching, corporate credibility Cons: No transparent pricing, no free trial, 30-day cancellation requirement, expensive vs. offshore alternatives
9. MyOutDesk — Best for Real Estate Teams
MyOutDesk is the dominant brand in real estate virtual assistance. Founded in 2008 in Sacramento, CA by Daniel Ramsey, they've served 8,500+ clients and 6,000+ organizations. Their Trustpilot score is 4.5/5. Clients report an average of $42,000 in additional gross commission income per year — a specific ROI claim that's unusual in this industry.
Pricing is flat-rate and full-time only: $1,988/month on a month-to-month basis, $1,848/month at 6 months, and $1,788/month on a 12-month agreement. There is no part-time option and no free trial. VAs are Philippines-based and trained specifically for real estate operations.
For real estate agents, this is a strong pick. For everyone else, there are better options. Read our full MyOutDesk review.
Pros: #1 real estate VA brand, flat pricing, includes HR/payroll/benefits for VAs, proven ROI data Cons: No part-time option, no free trial, Philippines-only, not cheap for an offshore service
10. Boldly — Best for C-Suite Executives Who Need Long-Term Stability
Boldly is the most expensive service on this list, and the reason is structural: their VAs are W-2 employees with full benefits — health insurance, 401(k), and PTO. That benefits structure reduces turnover dramatically, and their Glassdoor score reflects it: 4.8/5 with 95% of employees recommending the company.
Founded in 2012 as Worldwide101 and rebranded in 2019, Boldly operates exclusively with US and UK assistants. Pricing starts at $2,520/month for 40 hours (~$63/hour) and goes to $5,190/month for 80 hours. Specialist roles run $79/hour. Minimum commitment is 40 hours/month. Note: they charge a 2.9% credit card processing fee.
For a CFO or founder who has burned through three VAs in 18 months and needs stability, Boldly's model makes sense. For anyone else, it's hard to justify the premium over Time Etc at half the price.
Pros: W-2 employees with benefits = lowest VA turnover rate, senior-level talent, 4.8/5 employee satisfaction Cons: Most expensive US option ($2,520/mo minimum), no plans under 40 hours, no free trial, 2.9% CC surcharge
How We Ranked These VA Services
We evaluated each service on six criteria: pricing transparency, Trustpilot and Glassdoor scores, task range, contractual flexibility, quality signals (onboarding, backup coverage, vetting process), and overall fit for stated use cases.
We weighted pricing transparency heavily because hidden pricing is a deliberate friction tactic that benefits the company, not the buyer. We weighted both Trustpilot (client satisfaction) and Glassdoor (employee satisfaction) because VA quality is inseparable from how the company treats its workers. A 2.9/5 compensation score is relevant to the buyer: underpaid VAs have incentive to cut corners or leave.
We did not accept sponsored placements or ranking fees. Our editorial positions are independent.
How Much Do Virtual Assistant Services Cost?
Virtual assistant service costs range from $35/month for task-based access (Fancy Hands) to $7,515/month for a full-time US-based premium assistant (Boldly). The most common full-time managed offshore package runs $1,000–$2,000/month.
For a complete breakdown with pricing by country and plan type, see our virtual assistant cost guide.
The single most important cost insight: a full-time US employee with a $55,000 base salary actually costs $82,000–$107,000 per year when you factor in payroll taxes, benefits, office space, equipment, and PTO. A full-time Philippines-based VA at $8/hour costs $19,000–$24,000 per year. The difference is $60,000–$83,000 annually.
What Tasks Can a Virtual Assistant Handle?
The most common starting tasks: inbox management, calendar scheduling, research, data entry, social media scheduling, customer service responses, travel booking, and document formatting.
Specialized VAs can handle bookkeeping (BELAY, QuickBooks-trained VAs), real estate CRM management (MyOutDesk), legal support (client intake, deadline tracking), healthcare scheduling (HIPAA-compliant services like Hello Rache), and e-commerce operations (product listings, order management, Klaviyo email flows).
One task category that consistently surprises new clients: research. A good VA doing competitive research, supplier sourcing, or contact list building can deliver in a day what would take you a week. For a full breakdown of what to delegate, see our virtual assistant task guide.
How to Choose the Right VA Service
The decision tree comes down to four questions:
1. Do you need US-based? If yes: Time Etc, BELAY, Boldly, or Zirtual. If no, offshore options cost 60–80% less.
2. Do you need full-time or part-time? Full-time offshore: Wing ($1,099/mo) or Wishup ($1,999/mo). Part-time US-based: Time Etc ($360/mo for 10 hours).
3. Do you need a specialty? Bookkeeping: BELAY. Real estate: MyOutDesk. Tech-savvy AI tools: Wishup. Legal/medical: check compliance requirements first.
4. How much management time do you have? Managed services (all 10 above) handle HR and replacement. Freelance platforms (Upwork, OnlineJobs.ph) are cheaper but require you to manage the relationship.
For a step-by-step hiring walkthrough, read our guide on how to hire a virtual assistant.
Side-by-Side Comparison Table
| Company | Starting Price | Full-Time Monthly | VA Location | Trustpilot | Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time Etc | $360/mo (10 hrs) | N/A (60hr max) | US/UK | 4.9/5 (263) | Managed/Dedicated |
| Wing Assistant | $699/mo (80 hrs) | $1,099/mo | Philippines | Mixed | Managed/Dedicated |
| BruntWork | $4/hr (~$640/mo FT) | $640–$2,720/mo | Philippines/Global | 4.9/5 | Managed hourly |
| Wishup | $1,299/mo (PT) | $1,999/mo | India; US option | 4.7/5 (92) | Managed/Dedicated |
| 20Four7VA | ~$1,450/mo (55hrs) | Custom | Philippines | 4.8/5 (477) | Managed/Dedicated |
| Prialto | $1,500/mo (55 hrs) | $3,600/mo | Guatemala/PH/Kenya | 4.1/5 | Managed + backup VA |
| Zirtual | $549/mo (12 hrs) | N/A | US only | 3.8/5 (21) | Managed/Dedicated |
| BELAY | ~$1,380/mo (est.) | ~$7,515/mo (est.) | US only | 4.1/5 | Managed/Dedicated |
| MyOutDesk | $1,788–$1,988/mo | $1,788/mo (FT) | Philippines | 4.5/5 | Managed/Dedicated |
| Boldly | $2,520/mo (40 hrs) | $5,190/mo (80hrs) | US/UK (W-2) | 4.8/5 | Premium/Employed |
FAQ
What is the best virtual assistant service overall? For most small businesses and entrepreneurs, Time Etc is the best balance of quality, transparency, and value among US-based services. It starts at $360/month for 10 hours, holds a 4.9/5 Trustpilot score, offers a free $50 trial credit, and doesn't hide its pricing. If budget is the primary concern, BruntWork at $4/hour managed offshore is the strongest budget option.
How much does a virtual assistant service cost per month? Monthly costs range from $35 (Fancy Hands task-based) to $7,515 (Boldly full-time US). The typical range for a part-time managed VA is $360–$1,500/month. Full-time offshore managed services run $1,000–$2,000/month. Full-time US-based managed services run $3,800–$7,500/month. See our complete pricing guide for a full breakdown.
What's the difference between a managed VA service and a freelance platform? Managed services (BELAY, Time Etc, Wing) handle hiring, vetting, HR, and replacement. If your VA leaves or underperforms, they find you another one. Freelance platforms (Upwork, OnlineJobs.ph) let you hire directly at lower cost, but you manage the relationship, handle your own replacement process, and absorb platform fees of 22–34% in real terms on Upwork.
Are US-based VAs worth the extra cost? For most admin and operational tasks, the honest answer is no — the quality gap between a well-vetted Philippines VA and a US-based VA is not large enough to justify 3–5x the price. US-based VAs make sense for client-facing phone calls, roles requiring US regulatory knowledge, or legal/compliance contexts where domestic credentials matter.
Which virtual assistant service is best for small businesses? Time Etc and Wing Assistant are the two strongest picks for small businesses. Time Etc is better if you want US-based and can work within 60 hours/month. Wing is better if you need more hours at a lower price and are comfortable with Philippines-based support. Both have managed infrastructure so you're not doing the HR work yourself.
Can I try a virtual assistant service before committing? Yes. Time Etc offers $50 in free credit with no credit card required. 20Four7VA offers a 2-week paid trial with no upfront fee before VA selection. Wishup has a 7-day money-back guarantee. BELAY has a "Right-Fit Guarantee" that means a rematch — not a refund — within 30 days.
What tasks should I give my VA first? Start with tasks that have clear outputs and don't require judgment calls: inbox organization, scheduling, data entry, and research. These let you calibrate the relationship before trusting the VA with higher-stakes work like client communication or financial data. Most business owners recover their VA cost within 3.2 weeks once they start with the right starter tasks.
About the Author: Our editorial team independently researches and tests virtual assistant services. We are not affiliated with any VA company featured on this site.
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