If you need a U.S.-based assistant, look at BELAY, Boldly or Time etc. For the lowest published full-time price, Wing ($999 for 160 hours) and Magic (from $15 an hour) are the cheapest. Athena offers a dedicated full-time EA from $3,000 a month with a 12-month commitment. Hedly fits executives who want a bilingual EA (English, Spanish or Arabic), month-to-month terms and a weekly report of the work done.
The services side by side
Each row uses only what the provider publishes on its own site. A dash means the provider does not publish it.
| Service | Where assistants are | Model | Published price | Commitment and fees | If it is not a fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athena | Overseas (hiring hubs in the Philippines, Colombia, Guatemala, Kenya) | One dedicated EA, 40 h a week | $3,000 / month (12 months) or $3,600 / month (90 days) | 12-month or 90-day commitment | Matched with a different EA |
| BELAY | United States | Dedicated assistant, from 45 h a month | — | Month to month | Free rematch ("Right-Fit Guarantee") |
| Boldly | U.S.-based W-2 employees (its FAQ also mentions Europe) | Dedicated, part time | — | Monthly; 30 days' notice | Refund of the month's fees |
| Wing Assistant | Worldwide | Dedicated general virtual assistant | $699 (80 h) or $999 (160 h) / month | No long-term contract; $35 / month card fee | Free replacement |
| Prialto | — | Dedicated assistant plus a backup team | $1,500 per 55-hour unit; full time from $3,600 | 90-day minimum; $250 setup fee | — |
| Time etc | United States | Dedicated assistant, billed by hours used | $390 (10 h) to $2,160 (60 h) / month | No setup fee; cancel any time | Free change of assistant; first task free |
| Virtalent | United Kingdom | Dedicated virtual assistant | £310 (10 h) to £2,700 (100 h) / month | No setup fee; 7 days' notice | — |
| Magic | Philippines | Dedicated EA, 40 h a week | From $15 / hour | Billed weekly; no long-term commitment or hiring fees | Replacement if the assistant leaves |
| Hedly | Latin America, South Africa, Middle East, Europe, Asia | Dedicated EA working with AI tools; weekly report | Shared on a call | Month to month; no setup fee | Free replacement |
Read on each provider's site on October 28, 2026. Athena's pricing page and FAQ give different terms for the $3,000 price; the table follows the FAQ. Boldly's pricing page did not load.
Which one fits which need
- You want a U.S.-based assistant in your own culture and time zone: BELAY, Boldly or Time etc. Expect U.S. rates.
- You want the lowest price for full-time help: Wing or Magic. Check whether you get a general virtual assistant or an executive assistant.
- You want one dedicated EA and can commit for a year: Athena.
- You want a backup team behind your assistant: Prialto.
- You are in the UK and want a UK assistant: Virtalent.
- You need English, Spanish or Arabic, overlap with the Gulf or Latin America, and proof of the work every week: Hedly.
Questions to ask any provider
- Is the assistant dedicated to me, or shared?
- Where will they be based, and how many of my working hours will we share?
- What is the minimum term, the setup fee and the notice period?
- Can I interview the actual assistant before I pay?
- What happens if it is not a fit, and how fast does a replacement start?
- How will I see what was done each week?
- Which tools will they use, and what can they send or book without my approval?
Where Hedly is different, and where others are stronger
Hedly's EAs work with AI tools under approval modes you set, and you get a one-page report every Friday. You meet 3 EAs on video within 24 hours, and plans are month to month with no setup fee.
Others are stronger on some points: BELAY, Boldly and Time etc offer U.S.-based assistants; Wing, Time etc and Virtalent publish their prices, and Hedly does not yet. If a published price matters most to you, start there. See also what an executive assistant costs.
Frequently asked questions
01What is the cheapest remote executive assistant service?
Among published prices read in October 2026, Wing ($999 for 160 hours a month) and Magic (from $15 an hour) are the lowest for full-time help. Wing's plan is for a general virtual assistant.
02Which services use U.S.-based assistants?
BELAY and Time etc say their assistants are entirely U.S.-based. Boldly's homepage says U.S.-based W-2 employees, while its FAQ also mentions Europe.
03Do I have to sign a long contract?
It depends: Athena asks for 12 months or 90 days and Prialto for 90 days per unit, while BELAY, Boldly, Time etc, Virtalent, Magic and Hedly are monthly or cancel any time.
04Does Hedly publish its prices?
Not yet. Hedly shares pricing on a short call once it knows the hours, languages and coverage you need.
Sources
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