Best Virtual Assistant Agencies for Small Businesses in 2026: A Detailed Comparison

Hiring a virtual assistant through an agency eliminates the biggest risk of outsourcing: picking the wrong person. A good agency handles recruitment, vetting, skills testing, and ongoing support so you can focus on running your business.

But with hundreds of VA agencies competing for your attention, how do you separate the serious operators from the middlemen? We evaluated the top agencies based on five criteria that actually matter: recruitment process quality, pricing transparency, specialization depth, client support after placement, and verified review scores.

In This Guide

• How We Evaluated These Agencies
• Quick Comparison Table
• Detailed Agency Reviews
• How to Choose the Right Agency for Your Business
• Frequently Asked Questions

How We Evaluated These Agencies

Not all VA agencies operate the same way. Some are massive staffing companies with thousands of VAs on payroll. Others are boutique recruiters who custom-source candidates for each client. Neither model is inherently better — it depends on your needs.

Here are the five criteria we weighted most heavily:

• Recruitment rigor: How thoroughly does the agency screen candidates? Generic resume reviews don't cut it — custom skills testing and multi-stage interviews produce better matches.
• Pricing transparency: Can you get clear hourly rates upfront, or do you need a sales call just to learn the ballpark? Hidden fees are a red flag.
• Specialization: Does the agency have deep expertise in specific industries or roles, or do they claim to do everything?
• Post-placement support: What happens after your VA starts? Ongoing management, performance reviews, and replacement guarantees separate the best agencies from one-and-done recruiters.
• Verified reviews: Trustpilot, Glassdoor, Indeed, and G2 scores from real clients and VAs — not cherry-picked testimonials on their own website.

Quick Comparison Table

Detailed Agency Reviews

1. VA Masters — Best for Custom-Recruited, Pre-Vetted Filipino VAs

$6.50–$17/hr  Philippines-based VAs  5.0 Glassdoor (30+ reviews) | 5.0 Indeed (50+ reviews) | 4.5 Trustpilot

VA Masters is a boutique recruitment agency that custom-sources Filipino virtual assistants for each client's specific needs. Unlike agencies that maintain a roster of available VAs, VA Masters runs a full 6-stage recruitment process for every placement: custom job posting, candidate collection from 1,000+ applicants, initial screening, purpose-built skills testing, in-depth interviews, and final client interviews with 2-3 top candidates.

This approach takes more time than pulling someone from a bench, but the match quality is significantly higher. Their custom skills tests are designed per role — a QA testing VA gets a different assessment than a bookkeeping VA or a real estate admin. The agency has placed over 1,000 virtual assistants across real estate, fintech, e-commerce, digital marketing, healthcare, and more.

What stands out is their post-placement support model: ongoing HR management, daily monitoring during the initial period, SOP development, performance reviews, and a replacement guarantee if things don't work out.

"I went from 60-hour weeks to actually having time to scout new properties. The VA handles all tenant coordination, form filling, and contractor management." — Jessica, Property Management (via Trustpilot)

Best for: Businesses that need a highly specific VA profile and want the agency to handle recruitment end-to-end with real quality control.

Considerations: The custom recruitment process means you won't get a VA within 24 hours — expect 1-3 weeks for the full process. Worth it for long-term placements; less ideal if you need someone tomorrow.

2. Belay — Best for US-Based Executive Assistants

 $30–$50/hr  US-based VAs  4.2 Glassdoor

Belay specializes in US-based virtual assistants, bookkeepers, and social media managers. Their VAs are experienced professionals, typically with 7+ years of experience, and all work from within the United States.

The trade-off is price. At $30-50/hour, Belay is 3-5x more expensive than Philippine-based agencies. For businesses that specifically need a US-based assistant for time zone alignment or cultural familiarity, Belay delivers. For cost-conscious small businesses, the premium is hard to justify.

Best for: US-based executives who want a US-based assistant and are willing to pay a premium for it.

Considerations: Significantly higher cost. Limited to admin, bookkeeping, and social media roles.

3. MyOutDesk — Best for Real Estate Teams

 $10–$17/hr  Philippines-based VAs  3.6 Glassdoor

MyOutDesk has carved a niche in real estate virtual staffing, with dedicated VAs for transaction coordination, lead follow-up, listing management, and CRM administration. They've placed over 10,000 VAs and have strong brand recognition in the real estate industry.

Their standardized onboarding and training programs are solid for common real estate workflows. However, Glassdoor reviews from VAs suggest room for improvement in management practices and compensation transparency.

Best for: Real estate teams and brokerages needing role-specific VAs fast.

Considerations: Lower review scores from VAs may affect talent quality over time. Less flexible for non-real estate roles.

4. Wishup — Best for Quick-Start Tech Tasks

 $10–$15/hr  India, Philippines  4.4 Glassdoor

Wishup positions itself as a fast-deployment VA service — you can get matched with a pre-vetted assistant within 24 hours. Their VAs are trained in 70+ tools including HubSpot, Trello, QuickBooks, and various project management platforms.

The speed is impressive, but it comes from matching you with available VAs from their existing pool rather than recruiting specifically for your needs. This works well for standard tasks but less so for specialized roles.

Best for: Startups and small businesses that need task-based support quickly without a long recruitment process.

Considerations: Less customization in the matching process. Best for general admin and tech support rather than specialized roles.

5. Time Etc — Best for Task-Based Executive Support

 $31–$42/hr  US, UK  4.3 Glassdoor

Time Etc offers experienced US and UK-based assistants on a flexible hour-based model. You buy blocks of time and assign tasks as needed. Their VAs average 12+ years of experience and go through a selective hiring process (only 2% of applicants accepted).

The model works well for executives who need ad-hoc support — research, scheduling, email management, travel planning — rather than a full-time dedicated assistant.

Best for: Executives and entrepreneurs who need flexible, part-time support from experienced professionals.

Considerations: Expensive for full-time use. Not ideal if you need a dedicated VA working 40 hours/week.

6. OnlineJobs.ph — Best DIY Hiring Platform

 $3–$15/hr (you negotiate directly)  Philippines  3.9 Trustpilot

OnlineJobs.ph is a marketplace, not an agency. You post a job, browse profiles, and hire directly. With over 2 million Filipino worker profiles, it has the largest talent pool available. The platform charges employers a monthly subscription ($69-$299/month) rather than taking a cut of VA pay.

The catch: you're responsible for everything — writing the job post, screening hundreds of applicants, testing skills, interviewing, onboarding, training, and ongoing management. Experienced remote team builders can find excellent talent at low cost. First-time hirers often waste weeks on bad matches.

Best for: Experienced remote managers who know exactly what they want and are comfortable handling recruitment themselves.

Considerations: No screening, no support, no quality guarantee. High time investment required. You're essentially the HR department.

7. Boldly — Best for Premium Executive Support

 $35–$55/hr  US, Europe  4.5 Glassdoor

Boldly positions itself at the premium end of the VA market with highly experienced, US and Europe-based assistants. Their VAs are W-2 employees (not contractors), which means Boldly handles payroll, benefits, and HR compliance. Average VA experience is 10+ years.

The quality is genuine — Boldly consistently earns high marks from both clients and VAs. But the price reflects it. At $35-55/hour, they're competing with local part-time hires rather than offshore alternatives.

Best for: Companies that want premium, onshore executive support and are less price-sensitive.

Considerations: Highest price point on this list. Limited to executive and marketing assistant roles.

How to Choose the Right Agency for Your Business

The right agency depends entirely on your situation. Here's a simple decision framework:

If cost savings are your priority and you want a dedicated full-time VA, look at agencies specializing in Filipino talent. The Philippines offers the best combination of English proficiency, professional skills, and competitive rates ($6.50-$17/hour depending on specialization).

If you need someone fast for standard tasks, platforms with pre-vetted VA pools like Wishup can match you within 24-48 hours. You sacrifice customization for speed.

If you need a specialized role — a QA tester, a bookkeeper who knows QuickBooks, an ActiveCampaign specialist — choose an agency that builds custom skills tests rather than relying on generic assessments. The difference in match quality is dramatic.

If you prefer onshore talent and budget is secondary, Belay, Time Etc, or Boldly offer experienced US/UK-based professionals at premium rates.

If you're an experienced remote manager comfortable with DIY hiring, OnlineJobs.ph gives you direct access to the largest Filipino talent pool at the lowest cost — but you handle everything yourself.

Key takeaway: The average cost of a virtual assistant ranges from $6.50 to $55 per hour depending on location, experience, and whether you use an agency or hire directly. Filipino VAs through a quality agency typically cost $6.50-$17/hour — delivering 60-70% savings compared to US or UK-based alternatives while maintaining professional-grade output.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to hire a virtual assistant through an agency?

Agency-placed virtual assistants typically cost between $6.50 and $55 per hour. Filipino VAs through agencies like VA Masters range from $6.50-$17/hour. US-based VAs through agencies like Belay or Boldly cost $30-$55/hour. Most agencies either charge a one-time recruitment fee, a monthly management fee, or build their margin into the hourly rate.

What's the difference between a VA agency and a freelancer marketplace?

A VA agency handles recruitment, screening, skills testing, and often ongoing management. A marketplace (like OnlineJobs.ph or Upwork) gives you access to a talent pool but you handle hiring and management yourself. Agencies cost more but save significant time and reduce hiring risk. Marketplaces are cheaper but require more effort and experience to use effectively.

How long does it take to hire a VA through an agency?

It depends on the agency model. Agencies with pre-vetted pools can match you within 24-48 hours. Boutique agencies that custom-recruit for each role typically take 1-3 weeks. Custom recruitment takes longer but produces better long-term matches because the VA is specifically sourced for your needs.

Are Filipino virtual assistants good quality?

The Philippines is the world's second-largest English-speaking country and has a strong BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) industry with over 1.3 million workers. Filipino VAs are known for strong English skills, cultural affinity with Western businesses, and professional work ethic. Quality varies widely by individual — which is why the agency's screening process matters more than the country of origin.

What tasks can a virtual assistant handle?

Modern VAs handle far more than basic admin. Common delegated tasks include email and calendar management, social media, bookkeeping (QuickBooks, Xero), customer service, e-commerce operations (Shopify, Amazon), data entry and analysis, real estate administration, graphic design, content writing, lead generation, and even technical roles like QA testing and web development.

What if my VA doesn't work out?

Most reputable agencies offer replacement guarantees. If the VA isn't a good fit, the agency will recruit a replacement at no additional cost. This is one of the key advantages of using an agency over hiring directly — you have a safety net. Always confirm the replacement policy before signing up.

Do I need to provide equipment to my virtual assistant?

Most Filipino VAs already have their own computer and reliable internet connection. This is standard in the Philippine VA industry. Some agencies verify internet speed and equipment quality during screening. You'll typically just need to provide access to your business tools and software licenses.

Can a virtual assistant work in my time zone?

Yes. Most Filipino VAs are experienced with working US, UK, and Australian business hours. The Philippines is in the GMT+8 time zone, but the BPO industry has normalized night-shift work. Reputable agencies will confirm time zone availability during the recruitment process.