Alternatives to Time Etc: 10 Virtual Assistant Services Compared (October 2026)

1. Assistantly

Best for: Time etc clients whose 40 or 60 hours now run out every month, and anyone who wants one person owning admin, operations, marketing, client experience or finance full time.

Assistantly places full-time talent from more than 38 countries, matched to your leadership profile and proven on a Day One™ job simulation before you meet them. Most full-time roles land at $2,500 to $3,000 a month, the person's own rate plus benefits, shown on every finalist's profile. Three finalists arrive within 72 hours of the first call, each with the work they turned in, a video intro and their rate.

What changes from Time etc: Your hire works your hours for you alone, is employed by Assistantly in their own country with health coverage, paid time off, tools and training, and is supported by a success team through a 90-day plan with five checkpoints (the simulation, Fresh Eyes™ at two weeks, day 30, day 60, day 90). The quality guarantee lasts as long as you work with Assistantly. 98% of placements are still in the seat at six months. Placements begin with a three-month commitment so every hire gets a real chance to clear the checkpoints, then renew monthly.

Limitation: full time only. If you need <20 hours a month, Time etc, Zirtual or Fancy Hands fit better, and Time etc's cancel-any-time terms are looser than a three-month start.

View Assistantly pricing · See how it works · Read client reviews

2. BELAY

Best for: Time etc clients who want more vetting and a success consultant around a US-based assistant, and specialist help such as bookkeeping or social media.

BELAY matches US-based fractional assistants and financial specialists after a consultation. It publishes no rate card, but its FAQ says US-based assistants cost $30 to $75 an hour and $1,200 to $3,000 a month for part-time support; customer reports cluster at $42 to $50 an hour. Matching takes about a week, 93% of clients are matched first time, and the Right-Fit Guarantee rematches you at no cost. 

Limitation: BELAY states that guarantee's window three ways on its own pages (anytime, 30 days, none), and at its published range it is more expensive per hour than Time etc, not less. See our BELAY alternatives guide.

3. Boldly

Best for: Executives who want a senior US-based assistant who is a W-2 employee of the provider rather than a contractor.

Boldly's published plans run $2,600 a month for 40 hours ($65 an hour), $3,900 for 60, $5,200 for 80 and $6,500 for 100, with specialist work at $79 an hour; full time is quoted on request. Its 40-hour plan costs $1,120 more than Time etc's 40 hours, and what the premium buys is the employment model and the seniority.

Limitation: the highest per-hour rate on this list and a near-empty independent review footprint (one Trustpilot review).

4. Zirtual

Best for: Time etc's 10-hour buyers who want a US-based, college-educated dedicated assistant on a smaller plan.

Zirtual sells US-based assistants on monthly hour plans with a dedicated account manager and a team plan that lets several users share one assistant. Third-party pages disagree on its 2026 entry price, quoting $449 and $599 a month for 12 hours, and $1,699 for a 45-hour team plan. 

Limitation: it is the same metered-hours model as Time etc with a smaller bundle, and its prices are not confirmed from its own site for this guide. 

5. Fancy Hands

Best for: One-off and occasional tasks, which Time etc's FAQ says it is not suited to.

Fancy Hands sells US-based assistance per request rather than per hour: you buy a monthly number of short tasks and submit them to a pool, with no dedicated assistant. It fills the gap Time etc leaves for people who need a few errands a month rather than ongoing support. 

Limitation: no continuity and no dedicated person, so anything that needs context about your business goes back to square one each time.

6. Prialto

Best for: Clients who left Time etc because an assistant fell behind, and want a managed layer with a trained backup.

Prialto sells units of 55 hours a month at $1,600, each with an engagement manager and a trained backup assistant who already knows your processes, with talent in the Philippines, Kenya and Guatemala. Engagements begin with a three-month pilot. Per hour it is close to Time etc ($29 against $36 to $39) but the backup is the point. 

Limitation: 55-hour units, so full-time coverage means three units and a higher total than the full-time providers below. (Prialto FAQ, read Oct 7, 2026)

7. Wing Assistant

Best for: Price-first buyers who want a dedicated assistant and a customer success manager, part time or full time.

Wing publishes $699 a month for a part-time dedicated General Virtual Assistant (80 hours) and $999 for full time (160 hours), both with free replacement, a Customer Success Manager and the Wing Workspace app, month to month. For $61 less than Time etc's 20-hour plan you get four times the hours.

Limitation: specialist roles are priced separately and not on the page, Wing's FAQ still describes an older on-demand plan model, and its Trustpilot score is 3.9 from 51 reviews against the 4.8 it advertises from Capterra and G2.

8. Magic

Best for: Teams that want the cheapest published dedicated plan with no contract.

Magic publishes $270 a week for a part-time assistant (20 hours a week, about $1,170 a month) and $540 a week for full time (about $2,340), with no contracts. Its part-time plan delivers roughly 85 hours a month for less than Time etc charges for 40. Trustpilot rates it 4.0 from 81 reviews. 

Limitation: a general-assistant model with no stated onboarding program and no talent location stated on its site. See our Magic alternatives guide.

9. Wishup

Best for: Startups that want published tiers, same-day onboarding and assistants trained on AI and automation tools.

Wishup lists dedicated assistant plans from $1,299 a month for 80 or 160 hours, with offshore and US-based options and a no-questions-asked replacement; it also publishes a Time etc alternatives page of its own. 

Limitation: continuity rests on substituting people rather than on one person, and Wishup's own pages conflict on its price ($1,299 a month in one place, "$9.99 per hour" in another), its talent location (India in the FAQ, offshore and US options elsewhere) and its Trustpilot score (4.7 or 4.8).

10. Hire a freelance assistant directly

Best for: Owners who want to pay only for hours worked, with no agency margin, and are willing to recruit and manage themselves.

Hiring directly on a freelance marketplace removes the bundle and the markup: you set the hours, the rate and the tools. Several Time etc reviewers who left went this way. 

Limitation: you do the sourcing, testing, payment, backup and replacement, and there is no guarantee or success team if the hire does not work out. See our Upwork alternatives guide for the hiring-side options.

Compare Time etc alternatives at a glance

All figures read Oct 24, 2026 unless the entry says otherwise. Prices change; confirm on the provider's site before you budget.

Assistantly vs Time etc: different, better, cheaper

Different. Time etc sells hours: you buy a bundle, your assistant logs time to the second against it, and the assistant may also serve other clients. Assistantly places a person: one full-time hire who works for you alone, chosen from three finalists who have already done the role's real work on a Day One™ simulation, with their results and their rate on the profile before you interview.

Better. Time etc's answer to a poor fit is a free change of assistant, and reviewers describe the retraining that comes with it. Assistantly's 90-day plan is built to catch a weak match before that: Fresh Eyes™ at two weeks, then checkpoints at days 30, 60 and 90, each read by a different part of the success team, with a guarantee that lasts as long as you work together and has one wording on every page. Your hire is also employed with health coverage and paid time off, which is why 98% of placements are still in the seat at six months.

Cheaper, once the work is daily. Time etc's 60-hour plan costs $2,160; Assistantly's full-time roles land at $2,500 to $3,000 for 160 hours, about $16 to $19 an hour against Time etc's $36. For 10 or 20 hours a month, Time etc is the cheaper option, because Assistantly does not sell part-time plans.

Choose Time etc if

• You need 10 to 40 hours a month and the work is admin that can be handed over in a task queue.
• Your assistant must be US-based for client-facing calls or residency reasons, and you want to cancel at any time with no notice.
• You want to try before you buy: the first task is free and there is no setup fee.

Choose Assistantly if

• Your bundle runs out most months, or you are already on 60 hours and quoting a bigger plan.
• You want one person who owns a function, not a queue of tasks, and you want to see their work and their price before the interview.
• You want a guarantee with stated terms that does not expire, fixed checkpoints that surface a weak match early, and you can give the hire a three-month start to prove it.

Pricing comparison at Time etc's plan tiers

Figures are monthly, from the providers' published pages or FAQs, read Oct 24, 2026 unless noted.

Tier A: 10 to 20 hours a month (Time etc $390 to $760)

• Time etc: $390 for 10 hours or $760 for 20, dedicated US assistant, no contract.
• Zirtual: $449 to $599 for 12 hours (third-party figures; confirm).
• Fancy Hands: per-request plans for occasional tasks (price to confirm).
• Wing: $699 for 80 hours part time, which is four times Time etc's 20 hours for $61 less.
• Assistantly: not a fit at this volume.

Tier B: 40 hours a month (Time etc $1,480)

• Time etc: $1,480, with rollover.
• Boldly: $2,600 for 40 hours, US-based W-2 assistant.
• Prialto: $1,600 for 55 hours with a trained backup.
• Magic: about $1,170 for roughly 85 hours part time.
• Assistantly: $2,500 to $3,000 buys 160 hours of one dedicated person, so if 40 hours is where you are and growing, the full-time step costs about one more Time etc tier.

Tier C: 60 hours and beyond (Time etc $2,160 and quote)

• Time etc: $2,160 for 60 hours; above that, a custom quote, and 160 hours at its rates would be $5,760 to $6,240.
• BELAY: $4,800 to $12,000 for 160 hours at its published $30 to $75 an hour.
• Wing: $999. Magic: about $2,340. Wishup: $1,299 for up to 160 hours.
• Assistantly: $2,500 to $3,000, with the success team, five checkpoints and the guarantee included; the same money as 70 to 83 Time etc hours.

Which Time etc clients benefit most from switching?

Solo founders with a few hours of inbox and calendar work a week are usually better served staying on a 10- or 20-hour plan, or moving to Zirtual or Fancy Hands.

How to switch from Time etc without losing momentum

1. Export your task history and time logs from the Time etc dashboard; the to-the-second records are a ready-made scope for the new role.
2. List the recurring tasks, tools and approval rules, and rotate any shared passwords on the switch date.
3. Check your rollover balance and ask Time etc in writing how unused hours are treated on cancellation; its FAQ says cancellation needs no notice.
4. Run a short overlap if hours allow, or a structured handoff week.
5. Set the first 90 days' checkpoints before day one: response time, task completion, weekly reporting.

If you move to Assistantly, step 5 is built in: early wins are agreed in week one, Fresh Eyes™ lands at two weeks, and checkpoints follow at days 30, 60 and 90. See how it works.

How to choose the right Time etc alternative

Ask these five questions before you sign:

1. Am I buying hours or a person, and which does the work actually need?
2. Will my assistant work for other clients, and who covers when they are out?
3. What happens to hours I don't use, and when do they expire?
4. What exactly does the guarantee give me: a refund, a credit or a rematch, and for how long?
5. Do I need US-based talent, or is proven global talent acceptable?

If your answers are "a person, full time, with stated terms", Assistantly belongs at the top of your shortlist. If they are "10 hours of US admin I can cancel next month", Time etc or Zirtual will serve you better.

Read more: Virtual Assistant Cost in 2026 · 10 Best BELAY Alternatives

FAQ

How much does Time etc cost per month?

Time etc publishes four plans: $390 a month for 10 hours, $760 for 20, $1,480 for 40 and $2,160 for 60, which works out to $36 to $39 an hour with a dedicated US-based assistant. There is no setup fee, hours roll over on the 20-hour plan and above, and plans above 60 hours are quoted on a consultation. The first task is free as a trial.

Does Time etc offer a full-time virtual assistant?

Not as a published plan. Time etc's largest standard plan is 60 hours a month, and its pricing page says bigger plans are available on a consultation. At its published rates, 160 hours a month would cost $5,760 to $6,240. Providers that sell full-time dedicated assistants on a published price include Wing ($999), Magic (about $2,340), Wishup ($1,299) and Assistantly ($2,500 to $3,000, the person's rate plus benefits).

What is Time etc's satisfaction guarantee?

Time etc promises a satisfaction guarantee on every plan but does not publish its terms. Its pricing page calls it a "Complete satisfaction guarantee" and a "Lifetime satisfaction guarantee", and its FAQ says you are "always covered" if not completely satisfied, without saying whether that means a refund, a credit or a rematch. The FAQ does confirm you can change your assistant free of charge at any time.

Do unused Time etc hours roll over?

Time etc's FAQ says hours you don't use roll over into the next month. On its pricing page, "Unused hours rollover" is listed on the 20-, 40- and 60-hour plans but not on the 10-hour plan, and no expiry is stated. Older reviews describe rolled-over hours expiring. Ask Time etc for the current rollover and expiry rule in writing before buying a bundle you may not use every month.

Is Time etc legit?

Yes. Time etc has operated since 2007, serves US and UK clients with US-based assistants, and holds a 4.8 Trustpilot score from about 280 reviews, with 93% five-star. Its critical reviews concentrate on early matching, onboarding effort, assistants shared across clients and billing mechanics, and the company replies to every negative review.

What is the best alternative to Time etc for a full-time assistant?

For one dedicated full-time person whose work and price you see before the interview, Assistantly: $2,500 to $3,000 a month for most roles, three finalists in 72 hours, a Day One™ simulation, and a guarantee that lasts as long as you work together. For the lowest published full-time price, Wing at $999 a month. For a US-based senior assistant, Boldly by quote above 100 hours.

Is Assistantly cheaper than Time etc?

For full-time work, yes. Time etc's 60-hour plan costs $2,160, and 160 hours at its rates would be $5,760 to $6,240; Assistantly's full-time roles land at $2,500 to $3,000 for 160 hours, including the success team, the 90-day plan and the guarantee. For 10 to 40 hours a month, Time etc is cheaper, because Assistantly places full-time hires only.

Does Assistantly require a contract?

There is no commitment until you choose who to hire. Placements then begin with a three-month commitment, so every hire has time to clear the five checkpoints of the 90-day plan, and renew monthly after that. Time etc has no contract and no notice period, which suits a trial but also means the relationship can end before the work has settled.

Will my Time etc assistant work for other clients?

Time etc assigns a dedicated assistant, but reviewers describe assistants who also work for other clients, and Time etc's recruiting describes flexible, part-time work. That is normal for an hour-bundle model. With Assistantly, your hire works your hours for you alone and is employed by Assistantly in their own country; with Wing or Magic, the dedicated assistant is also assigned only to you.

How fast can I switch from Time etc?

Time etc's FAQ says cancellation takes one email or call with no notice period. Assistantly sends your three best finalists within 72 hours of the first call, Wing advertises going live in 48 hours, Wishup in 60 minutes, and BELAY matches in about a week. Export your Time etc task history and time logs first; they are the scope for the new role.

Bottom line

Time etc is a well-run way to buy 10 to 60 hours a month of US-based admin, and if that is what you need, the right move may be a smaller plan or Zirtual rather than a new model. 

If the bundle keeps running out, the assistant's time is split, or you want one person who owns the work and whose price and proof you see before the interview, Assistantly is the step up for 2026.

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