Virtustant vs Howdy
Two ways to hire remote talent from Latin America. One is a managed staffing agency for any role with an all-in hourly rate. The other is a developer-focused managed model that adds a fee on top of salary. Here is how they compare.
From $7/hr all-in · First shortlist in 48 hours · Zero placement fees · Lifetime replacement guarantee
Which is better, Virtustant or Howdy?
Short answer: A remote staffing agency that places vetted Latin American professionals on US hours (e.g., Virtustant) starts at $7/hr all-in, with a shortlist of 3 to 5 candidates in 48 hours, $0 placement fees and a lifetime replacement guarantee. A Latin American engineering staffing service (e.g., Howdy) takes 15% of the total cost as its fee, with the other 85% going to the engineer's pay, benefits and local costs, and no startup, recruiting or cancellation fees (checked October 28, 2026). Choose Virtustant for any remote role, part-time or full-time, at one all-in rate. Choose Howdy for full-time Latin American software engineers with an employer of record.
Virtustant vs Howdy in one line: both place vetted Latin American talent on US hours, but Virtustant is a remote staffing agency for any role at one all-in rate from $7/hr with a lifetime replacement guarantee, while Howdy focuses on full-time software engineers and keeps a published 15% of the total cost.
How Howdy prices
Howdy's FAQ (checked October 28, 2026) splits the total cost of a placement three ways. Its homepage example, a front-end UX engineer, shows $120K a year in employer cost through Howdy, including the fee, against $233K in the US. Applied to that example:
| Share of total cost | What it pays for, per Howdy | On the $120K example | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60% | Professional's take-home pay (average) | $72,000 | $6,000 |
| 25% | Benefits and local costs | $30,000 | $2,500 |
| 15% | Howdy's fee | $18,000 | $1,500 |
Howdy charges no startup, recruiting or cancellation fees, places engineers full time with no end date, and requires no minimum commitment. It can act as employer of record, holding the employment contract and running payroll, tax and benefits. Quick check on a Howdy quote: multiply the monthly total by 0.15 to see the fee and by 0.60 to see the engineer's take-home pay.
Virtustant quotes one all-in hourly rate with no separate fee line: from $7/hr for most roles and from $8/hr for developers, with the rate for your role scoped on the discovery call.
Related: IT staff augmentation explained · Virtustant vs Tecla · Virtustant vs DistantJob
Same region, different way of hiring
Virtustant
Virtustant sources, vets, places, and manages remote professionals across Latin America and a global bench. You get one predictable hourly rate that covers the agent, payroll, and the paperwork on the professional's side.
- All-in hourly rate from $7/hr
- Zero placement fees
- Payroll, contracts, and paperwork handled for you
- Lifetime replacement guarantee with no time cap
Howdy
Howdy places full-time Latin American software engineers with US companies. Based on its published information, it keeps 15% of the total cost as its fee, can act as employer of record handling contracts, payroll, tax and benefits, and runs Howdy Houses, local hubs across Latin America.
- Published fee: 15% of the total cost; 85% goes to the professional (about 60% take-home, 25% benefits and local costs) (checked October 28, 2026)
- No startup, recruiting, long-term contract or cancellation fees; no minimum commitment
- Full-time placements with no end date; employer of record available
- Homepage example: front-end UX engineer at $120K a year through Howdy vs $233K in the US
The comparison, line by line
Comparison based on published provider information. Pricing, included services and replacement terms can change; confirm the current written quote and agreement for your role.
What one managed rate gets you
Hard Evidence
Virtustant hires the top 1% of applicants and shows the funnel: 22% clear the recruiter screen, 9% pass cognitive (IQ), skills and English testing, 3% reach a live interview, 1% are hired.
Fully Backed
A lifetime replacement guarantee with no time cap. If a placement is not working, Virtustant replaces the agent.
Due Diligence
Shortlist in 48 hours. Start in 72 hours. Both timelines run from your first call.
Quietly Handled
Payroll, contracts, and paperwork run in the background under one scoped hourly rate. You direct the work, Virtustant handles operations.
From discovery call to placed agent
Discovery call
Virtustant scopes the role, the workload, and the budget with you.
Shortlist in 48h
Virtustant delivers a vetted shortlist from the top 1% of applicants.
Interview
You meet the candidates you want and choose the fit.
Onboarding
Virtustant handles contracts, payroll setup, and the paperwork on the professional's side.
Ongoing support
Virtustant manages payroll and backs the placement for its lifetime.
Virtustant proves what other staffing firms only promise: vetted talent, a real guarantee, and one predictable rate.Trusted by 1,000+ US companies and 2,000+ placements
Frequently asked questions
How much does Howdy cost?
Howdy says 15% of the total cost goes to its fee and 85% goes to the professional: on average about 60% as take-home pay and 25% to benefits and local costs (checked October 28, 2026). It charges no startup, recruiting or cancellation fees and requires no long-term contract. Its homepage example puts a front-end UX engineer at $120K a year in employer cost through Howdy, including its fee.
Is Virtustant or Howdy cheaper?
For a software engineer, compare the full monthly cost of the same profile. On Howdy's own $120K example, its 15% is $18,000 a year, or $1,500 a month. Virtustant quotes one all-in hourly rate with no separate fee: developers start at $8/hr, and the rate for the role is scoped on the discovery call. For non-engineering roles, Howdy does not apply; Virtustant starts at $7/hr all-in.
What is the main difference between Virtustant and Howdy?
Scope and pricing unit. Howdy places Latin American software engineers full time, can act as employer of record, and takes a published 15% of total cost. Virtustant places professionals in any remote role, from assistants and bookkeepers to developers, on one all-in hourly rate, part-time or full-time.
How fast can I hire with each?
Virtustant delivers a shortlist of 3 to 5 vetted candidates within 48 hours of your first call, and your hire can start in 72 hours. Howdy does not publish a time to hire.
What happens if the hire does not work out?
Howdy does not publish a client replacement guarantee; its continuity promise is that if an engagement ends, it finds the professional a new placement in its network. Virtustant offers a lifetime replacement guarantee with no time cap, and you interview the replacement candidates.
Who should choose Virtustant instead of Howdy?
Teams hiring outside engineering, or hiring part-time, who want one all-in rate and a lifetime replacement guarantee. Teams building a full-time Latin American engineering team who want employer of record and a published percentage fee may prefer Howdy.
Add talent without adding risk
Tell Virtustant the role. Virtustant delivers a vetted shortlist in 48 hours, handles the operations, and backs the placement for its lifetime. No placement fees.
Book my discovery call