If you’re comparing the best virtual assistant companies for your team, you’re not alone. Executives, leaders, and teams are calling on virtual assistants (VAs) to help them tackle their admin work and grow their businesses while reducing overhead and streamlining operations.
And it makes sense. We live in a global economy, and chances are good that you’re already working with freelancers, agencies, staff, and vendors around the world. Virtual assistant companies give you access to global talent, trained administrative professionals, without the burden of hiring, managing, training, and overhead.
A virtual assistant can manage a wide range of administrative tasks, including email and calendar, payroll, social media, data entry, AI processes, customer relationship management (CRM), and so much more. However, not all virtual assistant companies offer the same structure and benefits.
That’s why we broke down the best virtual assistant companies of 2026, so you can make the best decision for your unique business needs.
At a Glance: Top Virtual Assistant Companies Compared
Here's a quick side-by-side look at how the best virtual assistant companies stack up before you dive into the full breakdowns below.
| Company | Best For | Starting Price | Staffing Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prialto | Managed executive support | $1,600/mo (55+ hrs) | Managed, in-house |
| BELAY | U.S.-based financial support | Not published | Non-managed, contractors |
| Delegated | Fractional U.S. support | $1,200/mo (25 hrs) | Managed, in-house |
| Athena | Full-time executive coverage | $3,000/mo (full-time) | Managed, in-house |
| Boldly | Specialized fractional tasks | $2,600/mo (40 hrs) | Managed, in-house |
| MyOutDesk | Full-time offshore support | $1,988/mo | Managed, in-house |
| Direct Freelance Hire | Budget control | Varies (hourly) | Marketplace, freelance |
1. Prialto
Prialto Overview
Prialto was the first truly managed virtual assistant service on the market. All virtual assistants are full-time Prialto staff that are trained, managed, and provided with full benefits. As a fully managed service, members receive a dedicated virtual assistant, backup support, an engagement manager, and a full team of background support staff, including internal management and QA. Prialto offers fractional services in 55-hour monthly units or full-time dedicated assistants.
Prialto offers enterprise-level SOC-2 Type 2 security. Each assistant completes a four-week training, then continues with in-house training and mentorship. They are capable of handling a wide range of administrative support tasks for leaders and teams across executive leadership, sales and marketing, operations, finance, and HR.
Unlike a typical VA marketplace that only links assistants with companies, Prialto offers a VA-as-a-Service platform that delivers comprehensive, managed virtual assistant solutions.
- Founded in: 2008
- Services: Full-time and fractional VAs
- Staffing type: Staff are in-house employees
- Starting price: $1,500 per month for 55+ hours
- Staff locations: Oregon, Philippines, Guatemala, Kenya
- Model: Managed virtual assistant service
Prialto Pros & Cons
Pros
- Consultative approach: Prialto offers more than just task completion. Your VA and engagement manager can also help you build, optimize, or fix your processes.
- Enterprise-grade security: As of April 2025, Prialto is the only enterprise-grade, SOC-2 Type 2-compliant virtual assistant service.
- Full Team & Backup Support: Both fractional and full-time assistant packages include comprehensive team support, such as backup coverage and a dedicated engagement manager.
- No overage fees: Prialto understands the ebbs and flows of business. Packages are sold month-to-month after the initial onboarding period, and there are no overage fees.
Cons
- Packages: Prialto works best for companies seeking a comprehensive administrative solution. It’s not suitable for one-time projects or small-scale VA needs.
- Not HIPAA-compliant: While Prialto is SOC 2 Type 2 compliant, assistants currently cannot offer HIPAA-compliant services. That said, assistants can undergo a company's HIPAA privacy and security training.
- Limited specialized services: While Prialto assistants can handle many services (it’s always good to ask), they are not trained sales or marketing experts. They can manage the administrative aspects of these roles (CRM management, scheduling, etc.), but are not marketing or sales strategists.
2. BELAY
BELAY Overview
BELAY is a U.S.-based virtual assistant service. It provides specialized financial and assistant solutions and connects clients with dedicated contract virtual assistants who are not full-time BELAY employees. The company vets and pairs clients with assistants based on their experience, industry background, and personality compatibility.
- Founded in: 2010
- Services: Full-time and fractional VAs
- Staffing type: Contractors
- Starting price: Not published
- Staff locations: U.S.-based
- Model: non-managed staffing agency
BELAY Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong onboarding process: BELAY is well known for its rigorous matching process and ongoing customer support.
- Specialized offerings: BELAY offers specialized financial services that many other VA solutions do not.
- No long-term commitments: BELAY operates strictly on a month-to-month basis.
Cons
- Matched with contractors: BELAY’s assistants are contractors, not employees, so they may not receive paid time off or benefits, which can lead to higher turnover.
- BELAY’s assistants work exclusively from home: U.S.-based, but work remotely from their own devices, which could raise quality or security concerns.
- Limited geographic coverage: BELAY assistants are all in the U.S., which could make them a poor fit for international or multi-national organizations.
- Limited pricing visibility: BELAY does not publicly publish its pricing.
3. Delegated
Delegated Overview
Delegated, formerly Red Butler, is also a U.S.-based virtual assistant company. It offers exclusively fractional assistant services. Its virtual assistants are college-educated and supported by backup coverage. Delegated offers front office, back office, and personal support packages ranging from 25 to 75 hours a month.
- Founded in: 1990
- Services: Fractional VAs
- Staffing type: Staff are in-house employees
- Starting price: $1,200 per month for 25 hours
- Staff locations: U.S.-based
- Model: Managed virtual assistant service
Delegated Pros & Cons
Pros
- Roll-over & à la carte hours: Delegated allows you to purchase additional hours in a given month and roll over unused hours.
- Assistants are in-house W-2 staff: All assistants are full-time Delegated staff with benefits.
- Your hours coverage: Delegated assistants work 8 am – 5 pm, your hours.
Cons
- Higher price-point: All Delegated’s assistants are college-educated U.S.-based assistants, which means they have one of the highest virtual assistant price points on this list. You may be able to get the same quality of service at a lower price if your tasks don’t require specialized education.
- Only offers fractional assistants: Delegated does not offer full-time virtual assistants, but you can buy extra hours for your assistant.
- No engagement manager: Delegated provides backup support; however, there is no dedicated engagement manager or customer support representative available to proactively assist with developing your administrative processes or managing your service.
4. Athena
Athena Overview
Athena offers full-time outsourced executive and personal assistant services designed for entrepreneurs, executives, and business leaders. Athena emphasizes its assistants’ training, education, and AI skills. Their assistants are full-time Athena staff members.
- Founded in: 2018
- Services: Full-time VAs
- Staffing type: Staff are in-house employees
- Starting price: $3,000 per month for full-time coverage
- Staff locations: Philippines, Guatemala, Kenya, India
- Model: Managed virtual assistant service
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Provides in-house training: Athena's training process emphasizes proficiency testing and skill evaluations.
- Athena Platform: Athena is building an AI tool designed specifically for their executive support.
- Dedicated Client Partnership Manager: Athena’s client partnership manager will help facilitate onboarding and delegation.
Cons
- Only offer full-time assistants: Athena’s service is only available full-time; they don’t offer fractional assistants, making it less flexible than some VA services.
- Backup support: Athena does not state on its website that it provides backup support or coverage.
- Higher-priced solutions: Athena’s service starts at $3,000, a relatively high initial price point.
5. Boldly
Boldly Overview
Boldly, formerly known as Worldwide101, provides fractional virtual assistant services based in the U.S. Similar to Prialto, it operates on a managed model with in-house assistants and backup support, avoiding contractors. While it mainly offers standard executive assistant services, it also provides specialized services at a premium rate of $79 per hour.
- Founded in: 2012
- Services: Fractional VAs
- Staffing type: Staff are in-house employees
- Starting price: $2,600 per month for 40 hours/month
- Staff locations: U.S.-based
- Model: Managed virtual assistant service
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Dedicated account manager: Boldly provides a dedicated account manager to help with long-term support and the integration of VA into the team.
- Provide backup support: All customers receive a trained backup assistant who will step in for their primary assistant during vacations or emergencies.
- EAs are full-time Boldly employees: Boldly assistants are full-time W-2 Boldly employees.
Cons
- Only offers fractional support: Although you can hire several fractional assistants, there is currently no option to employ a single full-time (40 hours per week) assistant.
- High starting price with no rollover hours: Boldly’s basic plan is $2,600 per month for 40 hours, which could be costly for some businesses. Hours do not roll over to the following month.
- Charges a higher rate for more specialized tasks: Boldly charges $79 an hour for all tasks beyond their role as an executive assistant.
6. MyOutDesk
MyOutDesk Overview
MyOutDesk offers full-time virtual assistant support from the Philippines. All MyOutDesk assistants hold college degrees, and MyOutDesk focuses on matching personality and culture when selecting virtual assistants for clients. They specialize in general administration, marketing, and CRM support.
- Founded in: 2008
- Services: Full-time VAs
- Staffing type: In-house Staff
- Starting price: $1,988 per month for an unknown number of hours
- Staff locations: The Philippines
- Model: Managed virtual assistant service
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Focus on a culture mesh: MyOutDesk’s process includes DISC personality matching to ensure assistants are a strong fit for the team they work with.
- Intensive background checks: While it isn’t clear exactly what they mean, MyOutDesk states on its website that its assistants undergo intensive background checks.
- Full-time W2 employees: All assistants are W2 employees with benefits, PTO, and internal training. This helps them maintain assistants’ skills and happiness.
Cons
- Only offers full-time VAs: MyOutDesk provides only full-time assistants, which limits flexibility and scalability compared to other options. You can only increase the service by adding more full-time support when needed.
- All assistants are in a single location: All MyOutDesk assistants are based in the Philippines, drawing from a single talent pool.
- Time zone challenges: Since all staff are based in the Philippines, they might struggle to cover some time zones effectively.
Direct Freelance Hire
Overview
Alternatively, you can hire a virtual assistant directly on platforms like Upwork or Fiverr, which comes with different tradeoffs than outsourcing vs hiring directly through a managed provider. These sites feature a range of candidates with diverse skills and varying prices.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The ability to be selective: Hiring directly through an online talent marketplace gives you full control over your selection. These platforms offer access to talent in nearly any specialty.
- Control: Since you aren’t working through a service, you can adjust your hours with your assistant whenever needed.
Cons
- You don’t get backup support: When hiring directly, you won't get backup support or replacement staff if your assistant leaves; you'll need to handle any gaps yourself.
- You're responsible for management: Outsourcing on these platforms is more cost-effective than hiring in-house staff, but it incurs extra expenses. You must train and manage your outsourced team, supervise their work to ensure quality, give feedback, and oversee their tasks.
- You don’t get the same security guarantees: You may not always be aware of how secure your outsourced staff's working environment is. They frequently work remotely using unsecured devices and networks.
How to Choose the Best Virtual Assistant Service for Your Needs
There is no one-size-fits-all perfect virtual assistant service. The right virtual assistant company depends on a number of factors, including:
- Your ideal price point, what you can afford
- The number of hours you need
- The specialization you need
- Your working hours
- The tasks you need them to perform
- Whether you need backup support
- And so much more
If you want to learn more about Prialto and how our managed virtual assistant service works, set up a consultation call. We’ll walk you through it!
Determine your budget and price point
Before committing to a provider, evaluate what you can comfortably afford long-term. Managed W-2 employees based in the U.S. typically command a premium, while overseas contractors or independent freelancers offer more budget-friendly rates.
For a full breakdown of typical rates, see how much a virtual assistant costs. The right investment often pays for itself. See the ROI of hiring a virtual assistant for a closer look.
Understand Managed vs Freelance models
A critical decision is choosing between a fully managed service and an independent freelancer. Managed services provide trained, pre-vetted staff, dedicated account managers, and backup coverage to keep your workflows running. Freelance models require you to handle all the sourcing, training, and ongoing management yourself.
Match the Service to your Buyer Profile
Before you commit, it helps to ask a few key questions of any provider you're considering. Then, consider these buyer profiles to find your ideal fit:
- Budget-conscious solopreneurs: If you need strict budget control and have time to manage staff, a direct freelance hire is often the best route.
- Founders needing specialized skills: If you require highly technical or specialized financial workflows, look for niche agencies like BELAY.
- Teams requiring heavy process management: If you need reliable, long-term administrative support without the burden of daily oversight, a managed service like Prialto is the ideal solution.
FAQs
What tasks can a virtual assistant handle for my business?
Common duties include inbox and calendar management, data entry, CRM updates, customer support, and bookkeeping. Many companies also offer specialized remote assistants who can assist with marketing, social media scheduling, and industry-specific needs like real estate or healthcare support.
What is the difference between a managed virtual assistant service and a freelance platform?
A managed virtual assistant service provides pre-vetted, trained professionals along with dedicated account managers and built-in backup coverage to ensure seamless workflow continuity. In contrast, freelance platforms require you to handle the recruiting, training, and ongoing management of the independent contractor yourself. While freelance platforms may offer more budget-friendly and flexible options, managed services deliver a much more hands-off, reliable experience for busy executives.
How do I choose the best virtual assistant company for my needs?
Selecting the right virtual assistant provider requires carefully evaluating your specific operational bottlenecks, monthly budget, and the level of management you want to take on. Consider whether you need a dedicated full-time assistant, fractional weekly hours, or highly specialized industry knowledge before making a commitment. It is also important to assess the company's onboarding process, security compliance, and backup support structure to ensure they fully align with your long-term business goals.
Is my business data secure when working with a remote virtual assistant?
Any reputable virtual assistant company should have clear, strict data security protocols to protect their clients. Top-tier providers often feature enterprise-grade security measures, such as SOC 2 compliance, and require their in-house assistants to use secure networks and monitored devices. When evaluating different services, always ask about their privacy training, background checks, and exactly how they handle access to your proprietary tools.