VA Masters vs Time Etc: Which Virtual Assistant Service Delivers Better Value?
VA Masters and Time Etc are both established virtual assistant services, but they operate on fundamentally different models. VA Masters places dedicated Filipino virtual assistants through a rigorous 6-stage recruitment process at competitive rates. Time Etc matches you with experienced US and UK-based assistants through a monthly hour-plan system at premium rates. The difference is not just pricing — it is the entire structure of how you engage with, manage, and get value from the service.
This comparison is written by VA Masters, and we are transparent about our perspective. We believe our service delivers significantly better value for the majority of businesses. But Time Etc is a legitimate company that has served clients for over a decade, and they have genuine strengths worth acknowledging. Our aim is to present an honest, detailed comparison that helps you make the right choice — even if that choice ends up being Time Etc for your particular situation.
The decision between these two services comes down to three questions: Do you need a dedicated VA or are you comfortable with a shared one? Is your budget optimized for cost efficiency or convenience? And do you need deep specialization or general administrative support? VA Masters has placed 1,000+ VAs globally across dozens of specializations, while Time Etc focuses primarily on general administrative and organizational tasks. Let us break down every dimension so you can decide with confidence.
Business Model Comparison: Two Different Philosophies
The structural differences between VA Masters and Time Etc shape every aspect of the client experience. Understanding these differences is essential before comparing specific features.
VA Masters Model
VA Masters operates as a recruitment agency. We source, vet, and place dedicated Filipino virtual assistants who work exclusively for your business. Your VA is a full-time professional whose sole focus is your workload, your processes, and your priorities. You manage the VA directly (with support from your dedicated account manager), set their schedule, define their responsibilities, and build a working relationship that deepens over time. The VA becomes a true team member — someone who knows your business inside and out.
Time Etc Model
Time Etc operates as a managed VA service. You purchase a monthly block of hours, and Time Etc matches you with one of their experienced VAs. The VA handles your tasks within your purchased hours. If your VA is unavailable, Time Etc can assign a backup. The VAs are primarily based in the US and UK, and they typically work with multiple clients. Time Etc handles the management layer — you submit tasks, and the system ensures they get done.
Why This Distinction Matters
The dedicated versus managed model creates fundamentally different experiences. With a dedicated VA through VA Masters, you get someone who learns your business deeply, develops institutional knowledge, and becomes increasingly efficient over time. They know your preferences, anticipate your needs, and handle recurring tasks without being told. With a managed service like Time Etc, you get professional task execution within your hour allocation, but the VA's attention is divided among multiple clients and the institutional knowledge is shallower.
Neither model is inherently better — they serve different needs. But for businesses that want a consistent, deeply integrated support relationship, the dedicated model delivers substantially more value over time.
Key Insight
The dedicated VA model creates compounding returns. In month one, your VA is learning your systems and preferences. By month three, they are executing independently with minimal direction. By month six, they are anticipating your needs and proactively managing workflows. This compounding effect only happens when the same person works exclusively with your business over an extended period — it does not happen in an hour-plan model where the VA is juggling multiple clients.
Dedicated vs Shared Virtual Assistants: The Critical Difference
This is the single most important distinction between VA Masters and Time Etc, and it deserves a thorough examination.
What "Dedicated" Means at VA Masters
When you hire through VA Masters, your VA works for you and only you. They are available during your specified working hours. They are not splitting attention between your tasks and another client's tasks. They attend your team meetings (if you want them to), use your communication tools, and function as a remote team member with full dedication to your business. Over time, they develop deep knowledge of your operations — your clients, your products, your processes, your preferences, and your priorities.
This exclusivity means your VA is always available when you need them. There is no competition for their time. Urgent tasks get handled immediately, not queued behind another client's work. And the VA has the cognitive space to think about your business problems rather than constantly context-switching between different employers.
What "Matched" Means at Time Etc
Time Etc matches you with a VA and strives for consistency, but the VA typically works with multiple clients. Your VA handles your tasks within your purchased hours, and Time Etc's platform facilitates task assignment, tracking, and communication. The VA is experienced and professional, but their deep engagement with your business is limited by the fact that they are serving other clients simultaneously.
For straightforward, well-defined tasks — "schedule this meeting," "format this document," "research these three companies" — the shared model works fine. The tasks get done competently. But for complex, judgment-heavy, or context-dependent work — "draft a response to this client complaint using the same tone we used last time," "prioritize my inbox based on what you know about my current projects" — a shared VA lacks the deep context that a dedicated VA accumulates over months of exclusive focus.
The Productivity Impact
Consider the numbers. A dedicated VA through VA Masters works 160 hours per month for your business. They spend 100 percent of their working time learning your systems, handling your tasks, and building expertise in your domain. After three months, they have invested 480 hours in understanding your business. A Time Etc VA working 40 hours per month for your business (the maximum standard plan) and splitting time among three to four other clients invests 120 hours over the same period. The dedicated VA has four times the context and institutional knowledge — which directly translates to faster task execution, fewer mistakes, less supervision required, and higher-quality output.
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Pricing Comparison: What You Actually Get for Your Money
Time Etc's pricing appears simpler on the surface, but the per-hour economics tell a very different story when compared to VA Masters.
VA Masters Pricing
- Hourly rate: $7 to $12 per hour
- Full-time monthly cost (160 hours): $1,120 to $1,920
- Part-time available: Yes, flexible hours based on your needs
- Setup fee: $0
- Unused hours: Not applicable — your VA is available during agreed hours
- Minimum commitment: None — month-to-month
Time Etc Pricing
- 10 hours/month: Approximately $310 ($31/hour)
- 20 hours/month: Approximately $520 ($26/hour)
- 40 hours/month: Approximately $960 ($24/hour)
- 60 hours/month: Approximately $1,380 ($23/hour)
- Setup fee: None reported
- Unused hours: May not roll over (check current terms)
- Minimum commitment: No long-term contract, but monthly plans
The Math That Matters
At first glance, Time Etc's 40-hour plan at $960 per month looks cheaper than VA Masters' full-time rate. But you are comparing 40 hours to 160 hours. The per-hour cost with Time Etc is $24, while VA Masters charges $7 to $12 per hour. At equivalent hours, VA Masters is 50 to 70 percent less expensive.
More importantly, consider what you actually get. For $960 per month at Time Etc, you get 40 hours of a shared VA's time. For a similar investment at VA Masters (approximately $1,120 to $1,200 per month), you get 160 hours of a dedicated VA's time — four times the hours. Alternatively, for the cost of Time Etc's maximum 60-hour plan ($1,380), you could get a full-time dedicated VA through VA Masters who delivers more than double the hours with exclusive focus on your business.
The value gap widens further when you factor in the dedicated versus shared distinction. A VA Masters VA working 160 hours per month exclusively for you will accomplish significantly more than a Time Etc VA working 40 hours per month while splitting attention among multiple clients. The combination of more hours plus exclusive dedication plus lower cost per hour makes VA Masters the clear value leader.
Pro Tip
If you are currently using Time Etc at any plan level, calculate your per-hour cost and compare it to VA Masters. Most businesses discover they can get 3 to 4 times the hours at a lower total monthly cost — or alternatively, pay significantly less for the same number of hours. The savings typically range from $6,000 to $15,000 per year, depending on your current plan and the role's complexity.
Task Handling and Specialization Depth
The types of tasks each service can handle and the depth of specialization available are critical factors for businesses with needs beyond basic admin.
Time Etc Task Coverage
Time Etc focuses on general administrative and organizational tasks. Their core competencies include email management, calendar scheduling, travel booking, research, data entry, document preparation, personal errands, and basic project coordination. Their VAs are generalists — experienced professionals who handle a wide range of administrative work competently. For solopreneurs who need someone to handle the operational overhead of running a business, Time Etc covers the basics well.
Where Time Etc is more limited is in specialized work. If you need a VA who can manage your QuickBooks, run your Shopify store, handle real estate transaction coordination, create marketing campaigns, manage complex CRM workflows, or produce graphic design assets, Time Etc's generalist model may not have the depth of specialization required.
VA Masters Task Coverage
VA Masters places VAs across the full spectrum of remote-capable roles. Our specializations include everything Time Etc offers (general admin, scheduling, email, research) plus bookkeeping and accounting support, social media management and content creation, graphic design and video editing, e-commerce operations, real estate administration and transaction coordination, marketing and email campaign management, CRM administration, project management, data analysis, customer service, technical support, healthcare administration, legal support, HR and recruitment, and specialized roles like AI workflow management. We recruit specifically for the skills each role requires — a marketing VA goes through different assessments than a bookkeeping VA.
Why Specialization Matters
Most businesses start with general admin needs but quickly discover additional delegation opportunities. The marketing manager realizes they need social media help. The finance team needs bookkeeping support. The sales team needs CRM management. With VA Masters, you can fill all of these roles through a single provider with consistent quality standards and one account management relationship. With Time Etc, you may find that their generalist VAs cannot handle specialized work at the required level, forcing you to engage additional providers and manage multiple relationships.
Recruitment and Quality Standards
How each company finds and evaluates talent directly impacts the quality of VA you receive.
VA Masters Recruitment
VA Masters uses a 6-stage recruitment process with AI-powered front-end screening. Every candidate goes through live English proficiency assessment, role-specific technical testing, internet reliability verification, workspace evaluation, and professional reference checks. Our acceptance rate is below 2 percent. Each candidate is assessed against the specific requirements of your role — we do not use generic assessments. By the time you meet a VA Masters candidate, they have already demonstrated competence in the exact skills, tools, and tasks your role requires.
Time Etc Recruitment
Time Etc selects VAs with significant professional experience — they state that their average VA has 12+ years of experience and comes from an executive assistant or administrative background. Time Etc's vetting includes interviews, skills evaluation, and reference checks. They emphasize the professional caliber and experience level of their VAs. The experience-first approach means you are likely to get a polished professional, though the depth of vetting for specific technical skills may be less rigorous than an agency that tests for each individual role's requirements.
Practical Quality Comparison
Time Etc VAs bring maturity and polish — they have seen it all and can handle standard administrative work with minimal guidance. VA Masters VAs bring assessed, verified competence in specific skills relevant to your role, combined with the adaptability and motivation of professionals who have earned their position through a highly competitive selection process. For general admin, both deliver strong quality. For specialized work, VA Masters' role-specific vetting produces a measurably better skill match.
VA Masters tests every candidate on the specific tools and workflows they will use in your role. If you need a VA who works in Salesforce, we test Salesforce proficiency. If you need QuickBooks expertise, we assess QuickBooks competency. This role-specific testing is more predictive of on-the-job success than general experience assessments, because it measures what the VA can actually do, not just what they have done in the past.
Contract Terms and Flexibility
The financial risk of each service depends on how locked in you are if things do not work out.
VA Masters Terms
- Month-to-month engagement — no long-term contracts
- No setup fees or upfront payments
- Replacement guarantee at no additional cost
- Scale hours up or down as needed
- No penalties for ending the engagement
- Transparent pricing with no hidden fees
Time Etc Terms
- Monthly plans with no long-term lock-in
- Unused hours may expire at month end (check current terms)
- Satisfaction guarantee with re-matching available
- Plans can be upgraded or downgraded
- No setup fees reported
The Expiring Hours Problem
One significant difference is how unused time is handled. With VA Masters, your dedicated VA is available during your agreed-upon hours — there is no concept of "unused hours" because you have a team member, not an hour bank. With Time Etc, you purchase a block of hours each month. If you do not use all your hours, they may expire. This creates an odd dynamic where you feel pressure to find tasks to fill your purchased hours, even in slow weeks — or you lose the value you paid for. With a dedicated VA, slow weeks simply mean your VA has capacity for lower-priority projects, training, or process documentation that would otherwise never get done.
Support and Client Experience
The post-purchase experience determines whether the service feels like a partnership or a transaction.
VA Masters Support
Every client receives a dedicated account manager who oversees the engagement from placement through ongoing operations. This account manager conducts onboarding sessions, facilitates the first weeks of the working relationship, monitors VA performance through regular check-ins, handles any issues that arise, manages replacements if needed, and helps optimize workflows over time. The account manager is a named individual who knows your business — not a rotating support desk. This support is included in the standard pricing with no additional fees.
Time Etc Support
Time Etc provides a client dashboard for task management, a matching service to pair you with an appropriate VA, and customer support for issues. Their platform is designed to be self-serve — you log in, submit tasks, track progress, and communicate with your VA through the system. Support is available if problems arise, and they offer a satisfaction guarantee that includes re-matching if the VA is not a good fit.
The Experience Difference
VA Masters' dedicated account management is a qualitatively different experience from a self-serve platform. When you have questions about how to delegate effectively, when you are unsure how to structure your VA's workflow, when you want to expand the VA's responsibilities, or when something goes wrong — having a dedicated human who knows your business and is personally invested in the success of the engagement makes a tangible difference. This is particularly valuable for first-time VA users who benefit from guidance on how to maximize the return on their investment.
Detailed Cost Analysis
Let us put specific numbers on real scenarios to make the cost comparison concrete.
Scenario 1: Part-Time Support (40 Hours/Month)
Through Time Etc, 40 hours per month costs approximately $960 ($24/hour). Through VA Masters at $9/hour, 40 hours per month costs $1,440 — but you actually get a part-time dedicated VA who works only for you, not a shared resource. The Time Etc option is $480 less per month, but you get a shared VA at $24/hour versus a dedicated VA at $9/hour. If your needs ever expand beyond 40 hours, VA Masters becomes less expensive in absolute terms while already being less expensive per hour.
Scenario 2: Full-Time Support (160 Hours/Month)
This is where the comparison becomes dramatic. VA Masters at $9/hour for 160 hours equals $1,440 per month. Time Etc does not offer a standard 160-hour plan, but extrapolating their pricing structure, 160 hours would cost approximately $3,680 to $4,000+ per month ($23 to $25/hour). VA Masters is $2,240 to $2,560 less per month — a savings of $26,880 to $30,720 per year. That annual savings is enough to hire a second full-time VA through VA Masters and still have money left over.
Scenario 3: 12-Month Engagement Comparison
Over 12 months at 40 hours per month: Time Etc costs $11,520. VA Masters costs approximately $5,760 (at $12/hour) to $4,320 (at $9/hour). Annual savings with VA Masters: $6,000 to $7,200. Over 12 months at full-time (160 hours): VA Masters costs $13,440 to $23,040. The equivalent through Time Etc would exceed $44,000. Businesses that switch from hourly services like Time Etc to dedicated VAs through VA Masters consistently save up to 80% on support costs while dramatically increasing the hours of support they receive.
Key Insight
The most common feedback from clients who switch from Time Etc to VA Masters is that they did not realize how much more they could accomplish with a dedicated, full-time VA compared to a limited block of shared hours. The shift from "I have 40 hours of tasks this month" to "I have a full-time team member who handles everything" fundamentally changes how you think about delegation and what you can offload from your plate.
As a medical tourism company operating globally across multiple countries and locations, maintaining organization and efficiency is crucial for our success. VA Masters helped us map out our processes and routines, identifying tasks that could be outsourced to optimize our workflow. Hiring four Virtual Assistants for administrative tasks, operations, customer support, and social media allowed us to streamline daily operations without losing control or quality. The cost savings have been significant—over 30% in administrative and operational expenses. Having all HR aspects managed for us made the whole experience smooth and stress-free. This support has been invaluable in helping us scale efficiently while maintaining high standards of service. I highly recommend this solution for any growing business looking to optimize operations.
Our 6-Stage Recruitment Process
VA Masters' 6-stage recruitment process is what makes it possible to offer Filipino VAs at competitive rates without compromising on quality. By investing in rigorous screening upfront, we ensure that every VA we place delivers professional-grade work from day one.
Our process screens for English proficiency through live assessment (not just self-reported skill levels), technical competence through role-specific testing, internet reliability through verification of connection speed and backup systems, workspace quality through video inspection, and professional conduct through reference checks and behavioral assessment. Fewer than 2 percent of applicants make it through to the finalist stage.
Detailed Job Posting
Custom job description tailored to your specific needs and requirements.
Candidate Collection
1,000+ applications per role from our extensive talent network.
Initial Screening
Internet speed, English proficiency, and experience verification.
Custom Skills Test
Real job task simulation designed specifically for your role.
In-Depth Interview
Culture fit assessment and communication evaluation.
Client Interview
We present 2-3 top candidates for your final selection.
Have Questions or Ready to Get Started?
Our team is ready to help you find the perfect match.
Get in Touch →Scaling Potential: Growing Beyond One VA
Your support needs today are not your support needs in six months. How well each service supports growth matters for long-term planning.
Scaling with VA Masters
VA Masters is built for scaling. When you need a second VA, we repeat our recruitment process for the new role and present candidates within 1 to 2 weeks. Your existing account manager oversees both VAs, maintaining continuity and consistency. Clients commonly start with one administrative VA and expand to include marketing support, bookkeeping, customer service, or specialized roles. Each VA is recruited specifically for their role's requirements, ensuring deep competence. We have clients managing teams of five to ten VAs, all coordinated through their single VA Masters account manager.
Scaling with Time Etc
Scaling with Time Etc means purchasing additional hour blocks. You can increase your monthly hours, and Time Etc may assign additional VAs to handle the volume. However, the hourly cost remains at the US/UK rate ($23 to $31/hour), which makes scaling expensive quickly. A team of three full-time VAs through Time Etc (if available at that scale) would cost $12,000 to $15,000+ per month. The same team through VA Masters costs $3,360 to $5,760 per month. The cost differential makes VA Masters the only realistic option for businesses that need to build a multi-person support team without a massive budget increase.
Which Service Fits Your Needs
Choose Time Etc If:
- You need fewer than 20 hours per month of general administrative support
- Your tasks are straightforward and well-defined — no specialization required
- You specifically want a US or UK-based VA and are willing to pay the premium
- You prefer a self-serve platform over a relationship-based service model
- You do not need a VA who builds deep institutional knowledge of your business
- Budget is not a primary concern
Choose VA Masters If:
- You need a dedicated VA who works exclusively for your business
- You want maximum hours for your budget — up to 80% savings compared to US/UK services
- You need specialized skills beyond general admin (bookkeeping, marketing, design, e-commerce, etc.)
- You plan to expand your VA team over time
- You value dedicated account management and personal support
- You want a no-contract, no-fee model with zero financial risk upfront
- You want a team member who develops deep knowledge of your business
For the majority of businesses, VA Masters delivers substantially better value. The combination of a dedicated VA, lower per-hour cost, broader specializations, personal account management, and flexible terms creates a package that Time Etc's hour-plan model cannot match. Book a free discovery call to discuss your specific needs and see how VA Masters can deliver more support at a lower cost than you are currently paying.
Common Mistake
Some businesses choose Time Etc because the monthly plan price ($310 for 10 hours) seems cheaper than VA Masters' full-time rate. But this is a false comparison. At $31/hour, those 10 Time Etc hours cost more per hour than a full-time dedicated VA through VA Masters at $7 to $12/hour. If you only need 10 hours per month, Time Etc's total monthly cost is lower — but you are paying a much higher per-hour rate and getting a shared rather than dedicated VA. Always compare per-hour rates and the dedicated versus shared distinction, not just total monthly costs at different hour levels.
| Feature | VA MASTERS | Others |
|---|---|---|
| Custom Skills Testing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Dedicated Account Manager | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ongoing Training & Support | ✓ | ✗ |
| SOP Development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Replacement Guarantee | ✓ | ~ |
| Performance Reviews | ✓ | ✗ |
| No Upfront Fees | ✓ | ✗ |
| Transparent Pricing | ✓ | ~ |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is VA Masters cheaper than Time Etc per hour?
Yes, significantly. VA Masters charges $7 to $12 per hour for dedicated VAs. Time Etc charges $23 to $31 per hour depending on the plan. VA Masters is 50 to 75 percent less expensive on a per-hour basis. The savings are even more dramatic at full-time hours — a full-time VA through VA Masters costs $1,120 to $1,920 per month versus $4,000+ through Time Etc at equivalent hours.
Does Time Etc give you a dedicated VA like VA Masters does?
Time Etc matches you with a VA who handles your tasks, but that VA typically works with multiple clients. VA Masters provides a dedicated VA who works exclusively for your business — no shared attention, no competing priorities. This exclusivity means your VA builds deep knowledge of your business and is always available during your scheduled hours.
What happens to unused hours with Time Etc?
Time Etc's unused hours may not carry over to the next month, depending on the current plan terms. This means you lose value if you do not use all your purchased hours. With VA Masters, there is no hour-bank concept — your dedicated VA is available during your agreed working hours, and slower periods simply create capacity for lower-priority projects or process improvement.
Can Time Etc VAs handle specialized tasks like bookkeeping or graphic design?
Time Etc focuses on general administrative and organizational tasks. For specialized work like bookkeeping, graphic design, e-commerce management, or technical support, their generalist VAs may not have the required depth. VA Masters recruits and tests VAs specifically for each role's requirements, offering deep specialization across dozens of functions including bookkeeping, design, marketing, real estate, and more.
Which service is better for solopreneurs?
It depends on your needs and budget priorities. If you only need 10 to 20 hours per month of basic admin help and want a US/UK-based VA regardless of cost, Time Etc is a viable option. If you want maximum value, a dedicated VA, and the flexibility to expand as you grow, VA Masters delivers significantly more for less money. Most solopreneurs who try VA Masters discover they can afford more support than they expected.
How does the recruitment process compare?
VA Masters uses a 6-stage recruitment process with AI-powered screening, live English assessment, role-specific skills testing, and reference verification. Our acceptance rate is below 2 percent. Time Etc selects experienced professionals (average 12+ years experience) through interviews and assessments. VA Masters' process is more rigorous and role-specific, while Time Etc's approach emphasizes broad professional experience.
Can I scale from one VA to multiple VAs with VA Masters?
Yes. VA Masters is designed for scaling. When you need additional VAs, we recruit specifically for each new role and present candidates within 1 to 2 weeks. Your single account manager oversees all VAs, maintaining consistency. Scaling with Time Etc means purchasing more hours at $23-$31/hour, which becomes cost-prohibitive for multi-VA teams.
Does VA Masters offer the same satisfaction guarantee as Time Etc?
VA Masters offers a replacement guarantee at no additional cost. If the VA is not the right fit for any reason, we restart recruitment and present new candidates with no penalties or fees. Time Etc offers a satisfaction guarantee with re-matching. Both services protect you against a bad initial match — the key difference is that VA Masters' guarantee covers the ongoing engagement, not just the initial period.
Are Time Etc VAs more experienced than VA Masters VAs?
Time Etc emphasizes that their average VA has 12+ years of professional experience, which is a genuine strength for general administrative work. VA Masters VAs are selected through a competitive process that evaluates demonstrated skills rather than years of experience alone. Both approaches produce competent professionals — Time Etc's VAs tend to be older with more corporate background, while VA Masters' VAs are specifically tested for the skills your role requires.
How fast can I get started with each service?
Time Etc can match you with a VA relatively quickly since they have an existing pool of available assistants. VA Masters typically presents 2 to 3 pre-vetted candidates within 1 to 2 weeks. The VA Masters process is slightly longer because of our thorough vetting, but the result is a higher-quality match with detailed assessment data. For urgent needs, we can expedite the process.
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Anne is the Operations Manager at VA MASTERS, a boutique recruitment agency specializing in Filipino virtual assistants for global businesses. She leads the end-to-end recruitment process — from custom job briefs and skills testing to candidate delivery and ongoing VA management — and has personally overseen the placement of 1,000+ virtual assistants across industries including e-commerce, real estate, healthcare, fintech, digital marketing, and legal services.
With deep expertise in Philippine work culture, remote team integration, and business process optimization, Anne helps clients achieve up to 80% cost savings compared to local hiring while maintaining top-tier quality and performance.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +13127660301
