Virtual Assistant Pricing Comparison: What Top Agencies Charge in 2026

If you've spent any time researching virtual assistants, you already know the pricing landscape is a maze. One agency quotes $10 an hour. Another charges $3,000 a month with no hourly rate in sight. A third asks you to buy a block of hours upfront, use them or lose them. Before you can make a smart decision, you need a clear virtual assistant pricing comparison that cuts through the noise and shows you what you're actually getting for your money.

This guide breaks down what the top VA agencies charge in 2026, explains the different pricing structures you'll encounter, and helps you figure out which model makes sense for your situation. Prices here reflect current published rates and recent client data as of May 2026.

Why VA Pricing Varies So Dramatically

The price gap between a $7-per-hour offshore VA and a $75-per-hour domestic specialist isn't random. It reflects real differences in talent sourcing, management overhead, geographic cost of living, and the level of accountability built into the service.

When you hire through a marketplace like OnlineJobs.ph, you're paying a worker directly, usually someone in the Philippines where cost of living allows competitive wages at lower dollar amounts. When you hire through a premium agency like Boldly or BELAY, you're paying for a fully managed service with vetting, training, replacement guarantees, and a dedicated client success layer on top of the VA's actual time.

The Main Pricing Models You'll Encounter

Hourly retainer packages are the most common. You buy a block of hours per month, and your VA works within that allocation. Unused hours typically don't roll over. This model works well when your workload is predictable.

Subscription-based pricing ties your payment to a full-time or part-time VA commitment rather than a specific hour count. You're essentially paying for dedicated capacity. Agencies like Boldly and Prialto use variations of this model.

Some agencies blend these models. Wing Assistant, for example, charges a flat monthly rate for dedicated assistants working set hours, with tiered plans based on how many hours per day you need.

Premium Domestic Agencies: What You'll Pay

BELAY is consistently one of the most cited names in premium VA services, particularly for U.S.-based executive assistants and bookkeepers. In 2026, BELAY's VA plans typically start around $1,950 per month for part-time support (roughly 10 hours per week) and scale up to $3,500 or more for full-time dedicated assistants. Their bookkeeping and accounting services are priced separately and run higher. You're paying for experienced U.S.-based professionals, rigorous vetting, and a service layer that handles all HR and payroll on their end.

Athena is worth mentioning here as a premium option that pairs high-achieving clients with dedicated assistants in the Philippines who are trained to work at an executive level. Athena's pricing has settled around $3,000 to $3,500 per month for a full-time dedicated assistant, which is premium for an offshore model but justified by their intensive training program and the caliber of assistants they recruit.

Mid-Market Agencies: The Value Sweet Spot

This is where a lot of growing businesses find the best return on investment.

Time Etc is one of the most price-transparent agencies in the industry. Their plans start at around $360 per month for 10 hours, scaling to roughly $1,500 per month for 60 hours. Assistants are U.S. or UK-based, experienced, and vetted. Time Etc is particularly strong for solopreneurs, authors, coaches, and small business owners who need reliable support without the complexity of managing an offshore hire. Their per-hour effective rate comes to about $25 to $36 depending on the plan.

20four7VA sits in a similar range to Wing, offering offshore VA services with a focus on staffing flexibility. Their pricing varies based on skill set and hours, but general VA support typically runs $8 to $15 per hour through their managed plans. They're particularly active in e-commerce, real estate, and administrative support niches.

Direct Hire and Marketplace Options

OnlineJobs.ph remains the dominant marketplace for directly hiring Filipino virtual assistants. A basic membership runs about $69 per month, which gives you access to thousands of active candidate profiles. You'll find experienced VAs seeking $500 to $1,500 per month for full-time work, depending on skill level and experience. The tradeoff is that you handle all management, HR, and risk yourself. If your VA disappears or underperforms, there's no agency safety net. For experienced remote team managers, this is a non-issue. For someone hiring their first VA, it can be stressful.

How to Use This Pricing Data Practically

Raw numbers only tell part of the story. Here's how to apply this virtual assistant pricing comparison to your actual decision.

Second, factor in the hidden costs of cheap hiring. A $600-a-month hire from a job board isn't $600 if you spend 10 hours a month managing performance issues, redoing work, or searching for a replacement after turnover. Premium agencies price in the management overhead that you'd otherwise absorb yourself.

Fourth, negotiate and ask about trial options. Many agencies offer trial periods or money-back windows. BELAY and Time Etc have historically offered free trials or reduced first-month pricing. Wishup offers a replacement guarantee if the initial match doesn't work. Always ask what happens if the fit isn't right before you sign a three-month contract.

What the Industry Looks Like in 2026

A few notable trends have shaped VA pricing over the past year.

AI-augmented VAs are becoming a selling point. Agencies like Wing and Wishup now market their assistants' proficiency with AI tools — ChatGPT, Notion AI, Zapier integrations, and similar platforms — as a differentiator. You're not just buying human hours; you're buying a human who can multiply their output with AI, which is changing the effective value equation for flat-rate plans.

Latin American VAs are becoming a stronger alternative to Filipino VAs for U.S. businesses that want timezone alignment without paying domestic rates. Wing, Wishup, and several newer agencies have expanded their Latin American talent pools significantly. Rates are typically 10 to 20 percent higher than Philippine-based assistants but below domestic rates, and the cultural proximity to U.S. business norms is real.

Making Your Decision

If you're a solopreneur or very small team with limited budget and simple needs, start with Time Etc or Wishup. Both offer a quality-to-cost ratio that's hard to beat, with enough structure to avoid the risks of a raw marketplace hire.

If you're a founder or executive who needs a true right-hand assistant with minimal management overhead, Boldly and BELAY are worth the premium. Think of it as hiring a staff member without the employment complexity.

If you're building a remote team at scale and want a flexible, tech-forward option with predictable flat rates, Wing Assistant and 20four7VA offer solid infrastructure for growing businesses.

If you're comfortable managing people and want maximum value per dollar, OnlineJobs.ph is unmatched as a marketplace — but invest in your own onboarding process before your hire starts.

A clear virtual assistant pricing comparison only takes you so far. The agencies and models that look expensive on paper often deliver better ROI in practice, and the cheapest option frequently isn't the most economical when you account for your own time. Define your needs precisely, match the model to your management capacity, and start with a trial before committing to a long-term contract. That approach will serve you better than any price chart alone.