Most people searching for a Zirtual alternative like the idea of a dedicated assistant but not the way Zirtual sells one. Zirtual’s virtual assistant plans are monthly buckets of 12 to 45 hours, priced from $599 to $1,699 a month, and hours you don’t use don’t roll over. That works well for a small, steady admin load. It gets expensive, or simply too small, once you need more hours, a full-time person, or the chance to interview candidates before anyone starts.
This guide compares six Zirtual alternatives on what actually changes your bill and your week: price per hour, what happens to unused hours, whether full-time is possible, how the assistant is chosen, and where the assistant is based. Every competitor price was checked on the provider’s own website on October 21, 2026. VA MASTERS is one of the options and we put ourselves first, so we also show where Zirtual or another provider is the better choice.
Quick Answer
The best Zirtual alternative depends on your hours. For a full-time or half-time dedicated assistant, VA MASTERS recruits a Filipino VA for your role from $6.50/hr (about $1,040 a month full-time for admin, versus $1,699 for Zirtual’s largest 45-hour plan), and you interview the top 2–3 candidates, typically within about 2 business days. For a few hours a month with a US-based assistant, Time Etc (from $390 for 10 hours, unused hours roll over) is the closest like-for-like option. BELAY suits buyers who need a US-based assistant for 45+ hours a month.
What Zirtual Offers in 2026 (Plans and Prices)
Zirtual is a US virtual assistant company, founded in 2011, that matches clients with a dedicated, US-based, college-educated assistant on a monthly plan. Its assistants handle inbox and calendar management, travel, research, expenses and invoices, data entry, social media and light marketing. Zirtual also offers marketing and bookkeeping assistants, and sells separate plans for virtual paralegals and legal assistants, outbound calling and a virtual receptionist service.
The virtual assistant plans on its pricing page (October 21, 2026):
| Zirtual plan | Price per month | Hours of task work | Effective rate per hour | Users included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entrepreneur | $599 | 12 | about $50 | 1 |
| Grow | $899 | 20 | about $45 | 2 |
| Small Business | $1,199 | 30 | about $40 | 3 |
| Team Plan | $1,699 | 45 | about $38 | 4 |
What else Zirtual says about how its plans work:
- Unused hours don’t roll over. Zirtual’s FAQ says it is “not able to roll over hours”, and cancellations take effect the following month with no credit or proration for unused hours.
- No setup fee and no long-term contract. Plans are month to month; an upgrade or downgrade starts the following month.
- 2-hour response times during your business hours, in whichever US time zone you are in.
- You meet your assistant at the kickoff call. Zirtual pairs you based on skills, time zone, company type and personality, and you can ask for a different assistant at any time.
- Vetting: assistants live in the US, have a college degree and go through a background check.
The largest virtual assistant plan is 45 hours a month, a little over 10 hours a week. A full-time assistant works about 160 hours a month, so Zirtual’s plans are built for part-time support, not for a full-time hire.
Why People Look for a Zirtual Alternative
Zirtual is a well-established service. The reasons people compare alternatives usually come down to the plan structure, not the assistants.
- Unused hours expire. In a quiet month you still pay for the full bucket. If your workload goes up and down, you either buy a bigger plan as a buffer or leave paid hours on the table.
- The rate is US-priced. Zirtual’s plans work out at about $38 to $50 an hour. That is reasonable for a US-based assistant, but it adds up quickly once you need more than a few hours a week.
- 45 hours is the ceiling. If the work has grown into a half-time or full-time role, a 45-hour plan is too small, and stacking plans gets expensive.
- You don’t choose between candidates. Zirtual matches you with one assistant and you meet them at the kickoff call. Some buyers want to interview two or three people for the role before anyone starts.
Pro Tip
Work out your effective hourly rate, not the plan price. Divide what you paid over the last three months by the hours your assistant actually worked. If you regularly use 20 of 30 hours on a $1,199 plan, you are paying about $60 an hour, not $40.
How We Compared the Alternatives
We compared every option on the six things that decide whether a switch is worth it:
- Price per hour and per month, from the provider’s own pricing page, including minimum terms.
- Hours model: fixed buckets, rollover hours, or hours actually worked.
- Full-time option: can the assistant grow into a full-time role with you?
- How the assistant is chosen: matched for you, or recruited for your role with candidates you interview.
- Where the assistant is based, and which hours they work.
- Support after the match: account management and what happens if the fit isn’t right.
We only list providers that publish a price above ours or don’t publish one. Freelance marketplaces and on-demand task services are left out: they sell individual tasks or freelancers, not a dedicated assistant on a managed plan, which is what Zirtual buyers are usually replacing.
Zirtual Alternatives at a Glance (2026)
Prices from each provider’s website on October 21, 2026. “Full-time” means about 160 hours a month.
| Provider | Assistant based in | Published price | Unused hours | Full-time option | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zirtual (for reference) | US | $599 (12 h) to $1,699 (45 h) a month | Don’t roll over | No (largest VA plan 45 h) | A few hours a week of US-based admin |
| VA MASTERS | Philippines | $6.50–$15/hr by role; admin $6.50–$10/hr (about $1,040–$1,600 a month full-time) | Billed for hours worked | Yes, or half-time (80 h) | A dedicated half-time or full-time VA recruited for your role |
| Time Etc | US | $390 (10 h) to $2,160 (60 h) a month | Roll over | No published plan above 60 h | Light, flexible US-based help |
| BELAY | US | Flat monthly rate, not published; typically from 45 h a month | Not stated | Hours scale up | Buyers who need a US-based assistant |
| Wishup | India (per its FAQ); US-based plan available | Prime VA $1,299 (4 h a day) or $1,999 (8 h a day) a month; US-based VA $3,000 or $5,400 | Daily-hours plan | Yes (8 h a day) | Fast onboarding on a subscription |
| MyOutDesk | Philippines, Latin America, Africa | From $1,988 a month (Managed) or $2,500 (Specialized), full-time | Full-time seat | Full-time only | A managed full-time VA |
| Prialto | Not stated on its pricing page | $1,500–$1,600 a month per 55-hour unit; full-time (165+ h) from $3,600; 90-day minimum | No overage fees | Yes (3+ units) | Executives who want a managed team behind the assistant |
The 6 Best Zirtual Alternatives, Reviewed
1. VA MASTERS: Best for a Dedicated Half-Time or Full-Time VA
VA MASTERS is a global virtual assistant recruitment agency, founded in 2021, that places dedicated Filipino virtual assistants with businesses in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia and Europe. Instead of matching you with whoever is available, we run a search for your role: every search is custom-built, powered by a database of 400,000+ pre-assessed Filipino applicants, AI-assisted screening and human recruiters. You interview the top 2–3 candidates, typically within about 2 business days, and choose who joins you.
Rates run from $6.50 to $15 an hour depending on the role. Administrative and executive support is $6.50–$10 an hour, so a full-time admin VA costs about $1,040–$1,600 a month and a half-time one (80 hours) about $520–$800. You are billed monthly for the hours your VA actually worked, so there are no expiring buckets. It costs nothing to start, there are no setup fees, and if the fit isn’t right you get a free replacement. Full details are on our pricing page.
Because you recruit for a role rather than buy a plan, the VA can cover more than admin: marketing, bookkeeping, customer support, sales support or operations, with a custom skills test built on the real work where the role needs it. We recruit for your hours, so your VA works the schedule you need, including US business hours.
Best for: businesses whose work has outgrown a few hours a week and who want one dedicated person, half-time or full-time. Trade-off: your VA is based in the Philippines, not the US, and our recommended minimum is 80 hours a month (lighter set-ups of about 40 hours are possible). If you need only a few hours a month, Zirtual or Time Etc fit better.
2. Time Etc: Best Like-for-Like Swap With Rollover Hours
Time Etc is the closest match to Zirtual’s model: a dedicated US assistant on a monthly hours plan, from $390 for 10 hours ($39 an hour) to $2,160 for 60 hours ($36 an hour). The big difference is that unused hours roll over. Extra assistants and sharing with your team are free, and you can switch plans or cancel at any time.
Best for: light, uneven admin with a US-based assistant. Trade-off: still US-priced per hour, and the largest published plan is 60 hours a month. More in our Time Etc alternatives guide.
3. BELAY: Best for a US-Based Assistant at More Hours
BELAY matches clients with US-based virtual assistants, executive assistants, bookkeepers and marketing assistants. It doesn’t publish prices: its FAQ says support is billed at a flat monthly rate and typically begins at 45 hours a month, and that most clients are matched within about a week.
Best for: buyers who need a US-based assistant and more hours than a 45-hour Zirtual plan. Trade-off: US-based pricing, and you need a sales call to get a number. See BELAY alternatives.
4. Wishup: Best for Fast Onboarding on a Subscription
Wishup sells assistant subscriptions by hours per day: its Prime VA plan is $1,299 a month for 4 hours a day or $1,999 for 8 hours a day, with higher Elite VA plans and a US-based VA plan at $3,000 or $5,400. It advertises 60-minute onboarding and free VA replacement.
Best for: buyers who want to start fast on a fixed daily schedule. Trade-off: you choose a plan tier rather than a person recruited for your exact role. See Wishup alternatives.
5. MyOutDesk: Best for a Managed Full-Time Seat
MyOutDesk places full-time remote professionals from the Philippines, Latin America and Africa, starting at $1,988 a month for its Managed tier and $2,500 for its Specialized tier, with a dedicated account manager.
Best for: a clearly full-time role with a mature managed provider. Trade-off: full-time only, so it doesn’t replace a small Zirtual plan. See MyOutDesk alternatives.
6. Prialto: Best for Executive Support With a Backup Team
Prialto sells managed assistant “units” of 55 hours a month at $1,500–$1,600 a unit, with an engagement manager and teammates who can step in. Full-time support (three or more units, 165+ hours) starts at $3,600 a month. There is a 90-day minimum per unit and a $250 set-up fee in the first month, waived on a 1-year agreement.
Best for: executives who want documented processes and built-in cover. Trade-off: a 90-day minimum per unit and a $250 set-up fee unless you sign for a year, and full-time starts at $3,600 a month. See Prialto alternatives.
See an Assistant at Work, and How We Recruit
Lei, an executive virtual assistant, walks through her daily workflow: calendar management, email filtering, client communication, social media and the tools she uses.
Karyl, an administrative VA candidate, completes two real skills-test tasks: a step-by-step SOP and a professional client email based on research.
VA MASTERS’ recruitment manager walks through how candidates are screened and vetted at each stage of the 6-stage process before a client meets them.
Zirtual vs Time Etc: Which Is Better?
Zirtual and Time Etc are the two best-known hours-plan services with US-based assistants, so they are often compared directly. On the published terms (October 21, 2026):
| Zirtual | Time Etc | |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant based in | US, college-educated | US |
| Plans | 12, 20, 30 or 45 hours a month | 10, 20, 40 or 60 hours a month |
| Price | $599–$1,699 a month | $390–$2,160 a month |
| Effective rate | about $38–$50 an hour | $36–$39 an hour |
| Unused hours | Don’t roll over | Roll over |
| Extra users | 1 to 4 users included, by plan | Extra assistants and team sharing free |
| Response time | 2-hour response times during your business hours | Not stated on its pricing page |
| Contract | Month to month, changes start the next month | Switch plans or cancel any time |
At every plan size, Time Etc’s hourly rate is lower (for example 20 hours: $760 versus Zirtual’s $899), rollover hours remove the “use it or lose it” problem, and team sharing is free. Zirtual’s edge is its published 2-hour response time during your business hours; Time Etc doesn’t state one on its pricing page. If you need more than 60 hours a month, neither publishes a virtual assistant plan for it. Our VA MASTERS vs Time Etc comparison covers that case.
Zirtual vs VA MASTERS: Head-to-Head
The two models solve different problems. Zirtual sells a few hours a month from a US-based assistant. VA MASTERS recruits one dedicated person for your role, half-time or full-time.
| VA MASTERS | Zirtual | |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant based in | Philippines | US |
| Price | $6.50–$15/hr by role; admin $6.50–$10/hr | $599–$1,699 a month for 12–45 hours |
| Full-time (about 160 h) | About $1,040–$1,600 a month for admin | No virtual assistant plan above 45 hours |
| Billing | Monthly, for hours actually worked | Monthly bucket; unused hours expire |
| How you get your assistant | Custom search for your role; you interview the top 2–3 | Matched for you; you meet them at the kickoff call |
| Time to start | First candidates in about 2 business days | Matched in as little as 24 hours, per Zirtual |
| Roles | Any role: admin, EA, marketing, bookkeeping, support, sales, operations | Admin, marketing and bookkeeping assistants; separate legal, outbound calling and receptionist plans |
| Working hours | We recruit for your hours, including US business hours | Your business hours, in your US time zone |
| If the fit isn’t right | Free replacement | Ask for a different assistant |
| Setup fees | None: it costs nothing to start | None |
For the full comparison, see VA MASTERS vs Zirtual. For a wider view of the market, see our comparison of the best virtual assistant companies in 2026.
What You Actually Pay: 3 Workloads Compared
Plan prices only make sense next to the hours you need. Here are three typical workloads, using published prices (October 21, 2026) and our administrative rate of $6.50–$10 an hour.
| Workload | Zirtual | Time Etc | VA MASTERS (admin VA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| About 5 hours a week (20 h a month) | $899 (Grow plan) | $760 (20-hour plan) | Below our usual set-up; the lightest option is about 40 h a month ($260–$400) |
| About 10 hours a week (45 h a month) | $1,699 (Team Plan) | $1,480 for 40 h, or $2,160 for 60 h | Half-time, 80 h: $520–$800 |
| Full-time (160 h a month) | No plan | No published plan | $1,040–$1,600 |
The pattern is simple. For a few hours a week, a US hours plan is the easier buy. Once the work reaches half-time, a dedicated VA usually costs less than Zirtual’s largest plan while giving you almost twice the hours, and at full-time there is no Zirtual plan to compare with. Most roles we open are part-time: in VA MASTERS’ analysis of 323 roles opened February–August 2026, 72% were part-time and 46% were opened at exactly 80 hours a month (report). For the rest of the market, see how much a virtual assistant costs and our US vs Philippines cost comparison.
On a Zirtual Team Plan
- $1,699 a month for 45 hours
- Unused hours expire at month-end
- About 10 hours a week, at most
- Matched for you, met at the kickoff call
With a Half-Time VA MASTERS VA
- $520–$800 a month for 80 hours (admin)
- Billed for hours actually worked
- Room to grow to full-time
- You interview the top 2–3 candidates
Zirtual Reviews and Track Record: What to Know
Zirtual has a long history, including one rough chapter that still comes up in reviews. Founded in 2011, it shut down abruptly in August 2015 and laid off its assistants with almost no notice; within days it was bought by Startups.co and service resumed the following week, as CNN Money, Fortune and TechCrunch reported at the time. It has operated as a managed service since then.
What clients praise today, in the testimonials on Zirtual’s own site, is the personal relationship with one assistant and how much routine work they take off a busy professional’s plate. Third-party reviews, such as Niche Pursuits’ Zirtual review, name the plan model as the main drawback: you pay for hours whether you use them or not. Read recent reviews on independent sites before you sign with any provider, including us.
When Zirtual Is Still the Right Choice
Zirtual is a good service for the right buyer, and we would rather you choose it than switch for the wrong reasons. Stay with Zirtual if:
- you need a US-based assistant, for example to speak with US clients as a local or to meet a requirement for US-based staff;
- your workload is a steady 3 to 10 hours a week of admin and is unlikely to grow;
- you value a published 2-hour response time during your business hours;
- you want specialist US support such as a virtual paralegal or a receptionist service from the same provider.
Switch when the work has grown past a 45-hour plan, when you keep losing unused hours, or when you want to interview candidates for a specific role.
… I no longer have to worry about scheduling or follow-ups, which lets me focus on strategic decisions. …
How VA MASTERS Recruits Your Assistant
Zirtual matches you with an assistant from its own team. VA MASTERS runs a 6-stage search for your role, and you choose who joins you.
Detailed Job Posting
We write a job description for your exact role, tools and hours, half-time or full-time.
Candidate Collection
Every search is custom-built for the role, powered by our database of 400,000+ pre-assessed Filipino applicants.
Initial Screening
English, internet set-up and relevant experience are checked, with AI-assisted screening and human recruiters.
Custom Skills Test
Where the role calls for it, candidates complete a task built on your real work, such as an SOP or a client email.
In-Depth Interview
Our recruiters assess communication, initiative and fit with how you work.
Client Interview
You meet the top 2–3 candidates, typically within about 2 business days, and choose your VA.
The bar is high: about 1 in 508 applicants is placed (166,350 applications, January 2025 to July 2026, according to our Filipino VA statistics report). After placement, VA MASTERS stays involved with regular check-ins, and if the fit isn’t right you get a free replacement.
Outgrown Your Hours Plan?
Tell us the role and the hours you need. We’ll run the search and present the top 2–3 candidates for you to interview, typically within about 2 business days.
Tell Us About Your Role →How to Switch From Zirtual Without Losing Momentum
- Audit your real hours. Check what your assistant actually worked over the last three months, and what you lost at month-end.
- Re-define the role. List every task and tool, including the work you held back because it didn’t fit the plan.
- Time the cancellation. Zirtual cancellations take effect the following month and unused hours aren’t credited, so line up your new assistant’s start with the end of your last paid month.
- Document your processes. Ask your current assistant to write down recurring tasks, logins you own and where files live, so nothing is lost in the hand-over.
- Start with your top three workflows. Hand those to your new assistant first and set a 30-day checkpoint for “owned and running”.
Pro Tip
Keep every account in your own name (email, calendar, tools) and give assistants their own logins. Switching providers is then a matter of changing who has access, not rebuilding your systems.
Questions to Ask Any Zirtual Alternative Before You Commit
- What is my effective hourly rate once I divide by the hours I will really use?
- Do unused hours roll over, expire, or am I billed only for hours worked?
- Is there a minimum term or set-up fee?
- Can the assistant grow into a half-time or full-time role?
- Is the assistant recruited for my role, and do I interview candidates first?
- Will candidates be tested on tasks like mine?
- Where is the assistant based, and which hours will they work?
- What happens if the fit isn’t right?
- Who supports me and the assistant after the start?
Common Mistakes When Choosing a Zirtual Alternative
- Comparing plan prices, not effective rates. Divide by the hours you will actually use, not the hours the plan includes.
- Buying a bigger bucket “just in case”. With expiring hours you pay for the buffer and then lose it.
- Squeezing a specialist role into an admin plan. If you need bookkeeping or marketing, hire for that role.
- Switching for price alone. If you truly need a US-based assistant, an offshore VA is the wrong fix, however much it saves.
- No owner for the hand-over. Decide who documents processes and who checks the first 30 days.
Common Mistake
Moving from a 12-hour plan straight to a full-time hire. If your work fills only a few hours a week, start with a lighter set-up and add hours as your assistant takes on more.
What Our Clients Say
Real Messages from Real Clients
The People Behind the Service
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Zirtual alternative?
It depends on your hours. For a dedicated half-time or full-time assistant, VA MASTERS recruits a Filipino VA for your role from $6.50/hr (about $1,040 a month full-time for admin), and you interview the top 2–3 candidates. For a few hours a month with a US-based assistant, Time Etc is the closest like-for-like option, from $390 for 10 hours with rollover hours. BELAY suits buyers who need a US-based assistant for 45+ hours a month.
Who are Zirtual’s main competitors?
Companies like Zirtual include Time Etc and BELAY (US-based assistants), Wishup (assistant subscriptions by hours per day), MyOutDesk (managed full-time VAs), Prialto (managed assistant units with a backup team) and VA MASTERS (dedicated Filipino VAs recruited for your role).
How much does Zirtual cost in 2026?
Zirtual’s virtual assistant plans cost $599 a month for 12 hours, $899 for 20 hours, $1,199 for 30 hours and $1,699 for 45 hours, about $38 to $50 an hour. There is no setup fee, and plans are month to month. Legal support, outbound calling and receptionist services have their own plans.
Do Zirtual hours roll over?
No. Zirtual says it is not able to roll over hours, and cancellations take effect the following month without credit for unused hours. Time Etc rolls unused hours over, and VA MASTERS bills monthly for the hours your VA actually worked.
Zirtual vs Time Etc: which is better?
At every plan size, Time Etc costs less per hour ($36–$39 versus about $38–$50) and rolls unused hours over. Zirtual publishes 2-hour response times; Time Etc includes team sharing free. Both use US-based assistants, and neither publishes a virtual assistant plan above 60 hours a month.
Is Zirtual still in business?
Yes. Zirtual was founded in 2011, shut down abruptly in August 2015, and was bought and relaunched by Startups.co within days. It operates today with monthly plans for virtual assistants, marketing and bookkeeping assistants, legal support, outbound calling and receptionists.
Is there a more affordable alternative to Zirtual with a dedicated assistant?
Yes, if you need more than a few hours a week. A half-time VA MASTERS admin VA (80 hours a month) costs about $520–$800, compared with $1,699 for Zirtual’s 45-hour plan, and a full-time one about $1,040–$1,600. The difference is that your VA is based in the Philippines, not the US.
Can I get a full-time assistant instead of an hour bucket?
Yes. Zirtual’s largest virtual assistant plan is 45 hours a month. VA MASTERS, MyOutDesk (from $1,988 a month), Wishup ($1,999 for 8 hours a day) and Prialto (from $3,600) all offer full-time options; VA MASTERS also offers half-time (80 hours).
Will a VA MASTERS assistant work US business hours?
Yes. We recruit for your hours, so your VA works the schedule you need, including US business hours in your time zone.
How fast can I switch from Zirtual?
With VA MASTERS, first candidates typically arrive within about 2 business days and you choose after interviewing the top 2–3. Because Zirtual cancellations take effect the following month, plan the start date so you don’t pay for two services.
When is Zirtual still the better choice?
When you need a US-based assistant for a steady 3 to 10 hours a week, when you value a published 2-hour response time, or when you want US specialist support such as a virtual paralegal from the same provider.
Ready for a Dedicated VA Instead of an Hours Plan?
Tell us the role and the tasks eating your week. We’ll run a search for your role and present the top 2–3 candidates for you to interview.
- From $6.50/hr; admin and executive support $6.50–$10/hr
- Billed monthly for hours worked
- First candidates in about 2 business days
- It costs nothing to start, and a free replacement if the fit isn’t right
Anne is the Operations Manager at VA MASTERS, a 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
