Cost guide · October 2026
How much does a virtual assistant
cost in 2026?
Offshore virtual assistants from agencies cost about $6 to $15 an hour, US based VA services $36 to $65, and a US employee about $34 with benefits. Opteamus managed VA teams start at $10 an hour, with management and QA included.
$10/hr
Opteamus managed VA team, starting rate
$36 to $65
per hour at US based VA services
~$34/hr
a US administrative assistant costs with benefits
70%+
less than a US hire for the same hours
Price comparison
What VA services charge in 2026
Published or reported prices, checked in October 2026. Each figure links to its source.
| Option | Price | What you get | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opteamus managed VA team | From $10 an hour | A managed team with a lead and QA review, US business hours, one-week trial, month to month | Our pricing |
| Wing Assistant | $699 a month part-time (80 hours), $999 full-time (160 hours), about $6 to $9 an hour | A dedicated offshore assistant | HireinSouth, checked Oct 31, 2026 |
| MyOutDesk | From $1,988 a month full-time on a 24-month commitment (about $11 to $12 an hour) | A dedicated offshore assistant, 8 hours a day | MyOutDesk pricing, via HireinSouth, checked Oct 31, 2026 |
| Time Etc | $36 to $39 an hour ($390 for 10 hours, up to $2,160 for 60 hours) | US and UK based assistants, plans by the hour | Time Etc pricing page, checked Oct 31, 2026 |
| Boldly | About $65 an hour (40 hours for $2,600) | US based assistants on monthly plans | Carly, Feb 2026, checked Oct 31, 2026 |
| Prialto | $1,500 to $1,600 a month for 55 hours (about $27 to $29 an hour); $250 setup fee unless on a one-year agreement; 90-day minimum | A dedicated assistant with an engagement manager and trained backup | HireinSouth, 2026, checked Oct 31, 2026 |
| Freelance VA on Upwork | $10 to $20 an hour median; Upwork's own guide cites $18 to $35 by skill | An individual you vet, train, manage and replace yourself | Upwork, checked Oct 31, 2026 |
| In-house US administrative assistant | About $34 an hour with benefits ($23.23 median wage) | An employee you hire, train and manage | BLS wage, BLS benefits share |
Competitor details come from the public sources linked, checked on the date shown. Confirm current terms with each provider.
Offshore virtual assistants
Offshore virtual assistant cost, by model
An offshore virtual assistant from an agency usually costs about $6 to $15 an hour, and what you pay depends more on the model than the country. A freelancer from a marketplace has an Upwork median of $10 to $20 an hour, and you vet, train and manage them yourself. An agency that places one dedicated offshore assistant charges a monthly fee: Wing lists $699 a month part-time and $999 full-time (about $6 to $9 an hour), and MyOutDesk starts at $1,988 a month full-time on a 24-month commitment. A managed team, like Opteamus, adds a team lead and a QA check on every task to the hourly rate, at $10 to $15 an hour. Sources and check dates are in the table above.
Monthly cost
What 10 or 40 hours a week costs
The same hours priced three ways, about 40 and 160 hours a month.
| Option | 10 hours a week | 40 hours a week |
|---|---|---|
| Opteamus | $400 to $600 | $1,600 to $2,400 |
| Time Etc | $1,480 | Custom plan |
| In-house US assistant (with benefits) | About $1,360 | About $5,430 |
Why Opteamus
Low price, without the usual trade-off
Cheap VA support usually means one freelancer you manage yourself. We put a lead and a QA check around every task, use AI to work faster with a person validating every result, and replace anyone who is not the right fit at no extra cost. Opteamus LLC is a US company, and our team works US business hours from Dhaka, Bangladesh. See our managed VA service or what clients saved.
FAQ
Common questions
How much does a virtual assistant cost per hour in 2026?
Offshore assistants from agencies cost about $6 to $15 an hour. US based VA services charge about $36 to $65 an hour. A US employee doing the same job costs about $34 an hour once benefits are added to the $23.23 median wage. Opteamus managed VA teams start at $10 an hour.
What is the most affordable managed virtual assistant service?
Opteamus starts at $10 an hour with management and QA review included, which puts it among the lowest prices for a managed service. Some offshore agencies charge a similar amount for a single assistant, but without a lead or a QA check on the work.
Why are some virtual assistants so much more expensive?
Mostly location. US based assistants cost three to six times more than offshore teams for the same tasks. Management, QA and specialist skills like bookkeeping or CRM work also add to the price.
Are there hidden costs with a virtual assistant?
With a freelancer, your hidden cost is the time you spend hiring, training and checking the work, and starting over when they leave. With Opteamus, management, QA and replacing a team member who is not the right fit are included in the hourly rate.
How many hours of VA support do I need?
Most clients start with 10 to 20 hours a week. Our clients save anywhere from 40 to 200 hours a month, depending on the work they hand over.
How much does an offshore virtual assistant cost?
About $6 to $15 an hour from an agency for most admin and support work. Marketplace freelancers have an Upwork median of $10 to $20 an hour, agencies that place one dedicated offshore assistant charge from about $699 to $1,988 a month, and Opteamus managed teams are $10 to $15 an hour with a team lead and QA included.
How much does an offshore agency charge for a dedicated executive assistant?
Agencies that place one full-time offshore assistant list monthly fees: Wing $999 a month for 160 hours, and MyOutDesk from $1,988 a month on a 24-month commitment, both checked Oct 31, 2026. Opteamus works as a managed team rather than one dedicated assistant, at $10 to $15 an hour with a team lead and QA, so you pay only for the hours worked.