Virtustant vs Time etc
Two ways to get admin off your plate. One is a managed staffing agency placing vetted, bilingual professionals from Latin America, South Africa and the Philippines at an all-in hourly rate from $7/hr. The other is a monthly subscription for a US-based freelance assistant, published from $390 a month for 10 hours. Here is how they compare.
From $7/hr all-in · First shortlist in 48 hours · Zero placement fees · Lifetime replacement guarantee
Virtustant vs Time etc in one line: both handle the contract with the assistant, but Virtustant is a managed staffing agency where you interview and pick your hire from a shortlist of 3 to 5 vetted candidates at one all-in rate from $7/hr (about $1,120 a month full time) with a lifetime replacement guarantee, while Time etc is a subscription that shortlists a US-based freelance assistant for you and bills a monthly block of hours, published at $390 for 10 hours ($39/hr) up to $2,160 for 60 hours ($36/hr), with unused hours rolling over.
Choose Virtustant if you want a dedicated professional for a real role at a fraction of the hourly rate, bilingual Spanish-English coverage on US hours, or a specialist rather than a general assistant. Choose Time etc if you only need a few flexible hours a month from a US-based generalist and value the rollover.
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 compliance.
- All-in hourly rate from $7/hr
- Zero placement fees
- Payroll, contracts, and compliance handled for you
- Lifetime replacement guarantee with no time cap
Time etc
Time etc is a US virtual assistant subscription service. Based on its published information, it matches clients with US-based freelance assistants averaging 12 years' experience, sells monthly plans from 10 to 60 hours with unused hours rolling over, and backs the match with a lifetime satisfaction guarantee.
- Published plans as of September 2026: 10 hrs $390/mo ($39/hr), 20 hrs $760/mo ($38/hr), 40 hrs $1,480/mo ($37/hr), 60 hrs $2,160/mo ($36/hr); larger plans by consultation
- 100% US-based assistants, engaged as Time etc's freelance contractors; 10-stage selection process, average 12 years' experience
- Unused hours roll over; extra assistants and team sharing at no charge; billed in advance
- Lifetime satisfaction guarantee: Time etc keeps matching until it fits. Direct-hire transfer fee of 50% of the freelancer's annualised billings in its terms
The comparison, line by line
Comparison based on published information from both companies as of August 2026. Pricing and process are quoted per role and may vary.
What one managed rate gets you
Hard Evidence
Virtustant hires the top 1% of applicants and shows the funnel: 22% pass the recruiter screen, 9% pass skills and English, 3% reach a live interview.
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, in calendar hours, including weekends.
Quietly Handled
Payroll, contracts, and compliance 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 compliance.
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
Is Virtustant or Time etc cheaper?
Per hour, Virtustant by a factor of about five. Time etc publishes $36 to $39 per hour depending on plan size, so 40 hours a month is $1,480 and 60 hours is $2,160. Virtustant starts at $7/hr all-in, so a full-time 160-hour professional is about $1,120 a month at the starting rate and about $1,280 at the $8/hr median, with zero placement fees. If you truly need only 10 hours a month, Time etc's $390 plan is the smaller absolute number; the comparison changes as soon as the role is a real part-time or full-time seat.
What is the main difference between Virtustant and Time etc?
A role versus a block of hours. Time etc sells flexible US freelancer hours for general admin, with the assistant shortlisted by its team. Virtustant recruits for a specific role, shows you 3 to 5 vetted candidates, and the professional you pick works only for you on US hours, with Virtustant running contracts, payroll and compliance. Both providers keep you out of the employer relationship.
Do unused hours roll over with Virtustant?
Virtustant bills the hours your professional works at the agreed all-in rate, so there is no plan to roll over; you set the schedule. Time etc sells fixed monthly blocks and publishes that unused hours roll into the next month.
How fast can I hire with Virtustant vs Time etc?
Virtustant: shortlist in 48 hours, start in 72 hours, both from your first call and including weekends. Time etc shortlists an assistant after a consultation and describes getting up and running as instant, with a free first task as a trial; it does not publish a day count.
What happens if the assistant does not work out?
Time etc publishes a lifetime satisfaction guarantee and says it will keep matching until you have the right fit. Virtustant offers a lifetime replacement guarantee with no time cap, and you interview the replacement candidates yourself.
Who should choose Virtustant instead of Time etc?
Teams filling a real seat, part-time or full-time, that want to pick the person, need Spanish-English coverage on US hours, or need a specialist such as a bookkeeper, SDR or marketer. Teams that need a handful of flexible US-based admin hours a month lean toward Time etc.
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.
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