How Much Does a Virtual Assistant Cost in 2026? Complete Pricing Guide
Virtual assistant pricing spans a range most people don't expect: from $35/month for occasional task help to $7,515/month for a full-time US-based premium assistant. The gap isn't random — it...
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
Virtual assistant pricing spans a range most people don't expect: from $35/month for occasional task help to $7,515/month for a full-time US-based premium assistant. The gap isn't random — it reflects VA location, service model, task complexity, and how much infrastructure the company wraps around the worker.
This guide shows you exactly what you'll pay, why prices vary, and how to run your own ROI math. We're not affiliated with any VA service. We pull pricing from public sources and estimates from the market — and we flag every company that hides their pricing behind a sales call.
How Much Does a Virtual Assistant Cost in 2026?
The average cost for a managed virtual assistant service in 2026 runs $360–$2,000/month for part-time to full-time offshore support, and $2,520–$7,515/month for full-time US-based managed assistants. Hourly rates range from $4/hour (offshore general admin) to $79/hour (US specialist services). The pricing model — hourly, retainer, per-task, or subscription — is often a bigger factor than the company's brand name.
The single most important number to internalize before you start shopping: a $55,000/year US employee actually costs your business $82,000–$107,000/year after payroll taxes, benefits, office space, equipment, and PTO. A full-time Philippines VA at $8/hour costs $19,000–$24,000/year. That's a $60,000–$83,000 annual difference on the same seat.
VA Pricing Models Explained
Understanding the pricing model is as important as knowing the dollar amounts. The same number of hours can cost you very differently depending on how the service structures it.
Hourly Pricing
You pay for hours used, typically tracked by the VA or the platform. Most common on freelance platforms (Upwork, OnlineJobs.ph) and some managed services (BruntWork at $4–$17/hr). Hourly is most flexible but hardest to budget.
Monthly Retainer / Subscription
You pay for a block of hours per month at a fixed price. Most managed services use this model (Time Etc at $360/mo for 10 hours, Zirtual at $549/mo for 12 hours). Hours may or may not roll over — and that detail matters. Time Etc rolls hours over. Zirtual does not.
Per-Task Pricing
You pay per completed task rather than per hour. Fancy Hands uses this model: $35/month for 3 tasks, $125/month for 15 tasks. Each task has a 20-minute cap. This is the only model where you're paying for outputs rather than time, which sounds appealing until you realize the 20-minute cap limits task complexity sharply.
Full-Time Flat Rate
You pay a flat monthly rate for a dedicated full-time VA (typically 160+ hours/month). MyOutDesk ($1,788–$1,988/mo), Wing ($1,099/mo), and BruntWork ($4/hr × 160hrs = ~$640/mo) all offer this. The effective hourly rate is usually the best you'll find in managed services.
Pricing Comparison: All Major VA Services
This is the most comprehensive public pricing comparison for managed VA services available in 2026. Several companies — most notably BELAY — do not publish their pricing. Estimated figures are marked.
| Company | Entry Price | Part-Time | Full-Time | Location | Pricing Transparency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fancy Hands | $35/mo (3 tasks) | $125/mo (15 tasks) | N/A | US | Public |
| Time Etc | $360/mo (10 hrs) | $660/mo (20 hrs) | N/A (60hr max) | US/UK | Public |
| Zirtual | $549/mo (12 hrs) | $849/mo (24 hrs) | N/A | US | Public |
| Wing Assistant | $699/mo (80 hrs) | $699/mo | $1,099/mo (160 hrs) | Philippines | Public |
| BruntWork | $4/hr | ~$640/mo (FT gen) | $640–$2,720/mo | PH/Global | Public |
| Wishup | $1,299/mo (PT) | $1,299/mo | $1,999/mo | India; US option | Public |
| 20Four7VA | ~$1,450/mo (55hrs) | ~$1,450/mo | Custom | Philippines | Partial |
| Prialto | $1,500/mo (55 hrs) | $1,500/mo | $3,600/mo | Guatemala/PH/Kenya | Public |
| BELAY | ~$1,380/mo (est.) | ~$1,380/mo (est.) | ~$7,515/mo (est.) | US only | Hidden |
| MyOutDesk | $1,788/mo | N/A | $1,788–$1,988/mo | Philippines | Public |
| Virtual Latinos | ~$1,600/mo (PT) | ~$1,600/mo | ~$2,880/mo | LATAM | Partial |
| Boldly | $2,520/mo (40 hrs) | $2,520/mo | $5,190/mo (80 hrs) | US/UK | Public |
On BELAY's hidden pricing: It is a deliberate friction tactic. Companies hide pricing when they want to control the conversation, qualify leads before showing numbers, or prevent direct comparisons. You have to call to get a quote. Budget your time accordingly.
For a full breakdown of every company's strengths, see our best virtual assistant services ranking.
Virtual Assistant Cost by Country
The country where your VA works is the single biggest driver of cost. Here's what you'll pay in 2026 across the major VA sourcing regions, from freelance rates to managed service pricing:
| Region | Freelance Hourly Rate | Full-Time Monthly (Freelance) |
|---|---|---|
| Philippines | $4–$12/hr | $600–$1,400/mo |
| India | $4–$18/hr | $600–$2,000/mo |
| Latin America | $10–$30/hr | $1,500–$3,500/mo |
| Eastern Europe | $10–$30/hr | $1,500–$3,500/mo |
| US-based | $25–$75/hr | $4,000–$12,000/mo |
| UK-based | $25–$60/hr | $4,000–$10,000/mo |
Add managed service overhead — the company's cut for vetting, HR, and replacement — and the all-in cost through a managed service runs roughly 20–50% above the freelance rates above. Wing at $1,099/month full-time is effectively $6.87/hour managed — competitive with direct freelance rates from the Philippines at that volume.
LATAM VAs (Virtual Latinos, for example, starts at ~$1,600/month part-time) are the most expensive offshore option, but the tradeoff is US timezone alignment and often stronger English communication. For US businesses that need real-time collaboration, that matters. Read our guide on US vs Philippines VA pricing for a deeper comparison.
What Affects the Price of a Virtual Assistant?
Location. Philippines: $4–$12/hr freelance. US: $25–$75/hr. This is the dominant variable.
Skill level. General admin VAs are at the low end. Bookkeeping VAs, legal VAs, and medical VAs command 40–100% premiums. Wishup's Elite tier at $2,999/month reflects specialist-level access.
Service model. Managed services cost more than freelance platforms because they absorb HR costs, handle replacement, and add supervisory layers. You're paying for reduced management time, not just the VA's hours.
Experience and vetting. Wishup claims a top 0.1% acceptance rate. Boldly employs W-2 workers with full benefits. These structural quality signals are reflected in higher pricing.
Hours committed. Most services price with volume discounts. Time Etc's 10-hour rate works out to $36/hour; their 60-hour rate works out to $30/hour. Committing to more hours lowers your effective rate.
Contract length. MyOutDesk charges $1,988/month on month-to-month and $1,788/month on a 12-month agreement — a $200/month difference for the same service.
Cheap vs. Premium VA Services: Is the Difference Worth It?
The honest answer: it depends on the role, not the price.
For tasks with clear inputs and measurable outputs — data entry, scheduling, inbox zero, social media scheduling — a well-managed offshore VA at $6–$12/hour does the job. The quality gap between a $6/hour Philippines VA and a $45/hour US-based VA on these tasks is not meaningful enough to justify the price difference.
For tasks requiring judgment, client-facing communication, US regulatory awareness, or deep organizational context — the premium is more defensible. A $45/hour executive assistant handling C-suite calendar management, board prep, and sensitive email drafting is earning their rate in a way that a general admin VA isn't positioned to replicate.
The biggest mistake we see: businesses paying premium US-based rates for tasks that offshore VAs handle equally well. The second biggest mistake: buying cheap and spending 10 hours/week managing a VA who needs constant direction. That management time has a cost.
Read our full managed vs freelance comparison for a structured breakdown.
How to Calculate Your VA ROI
This is the calculation that actually tells you whether a VA hire is worth it. Run it before you sign anything.
Step 1: Identify your hourly value. If you bill clients at $150/hour, or your time as a founder is worth $100/hour based on what you're generating, that's your baseline.
Step 2: Count the hours you'll delegate. Be conservative. What tasks are you certain you can hand off in the first 30 days? Start with 10–20 hours/month.
Step 3: Calculate recovered value. 10 hours/month × $100/hour value = $1,000/month in recovered capacity.
Step 4: Subtract VA cost. Time Etc at 10 hours/month = $360. Net recovered value = $640/month. That's 177% ROI in month one.
Step 5: Account for ramp time. Most businesses recover their VA cost fully within 3.2 weeks of productive work. Expect 1–7 days for a managed service to become productive (they handle onboarding), versus 2–6 weeks for a freelance hire.
Industry ROI benchmarks:
- E-commerce: 3.3–5.3x average ROI
- Real estate: MyOutDesk clients report average $42,000 additional GCI/year on $1,788–$1,988/month investment
- Coaching ($300/hr rate): 10 hours/week recovered = $3,000/week in additional capacity
If you work with a VA service and your VA costs $10/hour and you bill $100/hour, each hour you delegate and replace with billable work returns 10:1. The math only requires that you actually use the time you've freed up.
FAQ
What is the cheapest virtual assistant service in 2026? Fancy Hands is the cheapest entry at $35/month for 3 tasks, but it's a task-pool model with no dedicated VA and a 20-minute cap per task. For a full dedicated VA, BruntWork starts at $4/hour with no contracts — roughly $640/month for full-time managed service from the Philippines. That's the cheapest managed full-time option available. For a full comparison, see our best VA services ranking.
Why do some VA services hide their pricing? It's almost always a sales tactic. Companies like BELAY require you to contact sales before getting a quote, which lets them control the conversation, qualify your budget before disclosing theirs, and prevent direct price comparisons with more transparent competitors. From the buyer's perspective, hidden pricing is a red flag: if the price were competitive, they'd show it. Always budget extra time for the sales call process when pricing isn't public.
Is it cheaper to hire a VA directly on Upwork vs. a managed service? Often yes in hourly rate, but not necessarily in total cost. Upwork's real overhead is 22–34% per contract when you factor in both buyer and seller fees. A VA listing at $10/hour on Upwork effectively costs you $12.20–$13.40/hour after fees. Additionally, you absorb all management time, replacement risk, and quality control. Managed services typically add 20–50% to base VA rates but remove those headaches.
How much should I pay a virtual assistant per hour? Philippines-based freelance VAs typically earn $4–$12/hour for general admin and $8–$20/hour for specialized work. US-based VA hourly rates run $25–$75/hour. Through a managed service, you'll pay effective rates of $6.87/hour (Wing full-time) to $63/hour (Boldly). The right rate is one where the VA earns enough to stay motivated and you earn enough ROI to justify the relationship. Underpaying high-turnover VAs costs more in the long run.
Do VA services charge setup fees? Some do. Prialto charges a $250 setup fee (waived with a 1-year commitment). 20Four7VA charges a $99 setup fee that only applies if you proceed past the 2-week trial. Time Etc, BruntWork, and Wing charge no setup fees. Always ask about setup fees before signing.
What's the typical notice period to cancel a VA service? This varies and matters more than most buyers realize. BELAY requires 30 days' notice — if you cancel on day 1 of the month, you owe another full month. 20Four7VA requires only 7 days. Most services are month-to-month. Prialto requires a 90-day minimum pilot. Read cancellation terms before signing. A 30-day notice period on a $3,800/month service is $3,800 of locked-in cost after you decide to leave.
Are VA service costs tax-deductible? In most cases, yes — VA services are a business operating expense and deductible in the same category as contractor payments or professional services. Consult your accountant for specifics in your jurisdiction. This makes the effective cost lower than the sticker price, which improves your ROI calculation.
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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