The best Zirtual alternative for most businesses is Assist World: a full-time assistant from $1,800 a month (about $12 an hour), chosen by you from matched candidates, with no lock-in contract and industry-trained VAs. Zirtual starts at $599 a month for 12 hours (about $50 an hour). For a lower hourly rate with US-based assistants, compare Time Etc. For the lowest monthly price, compare Wing Assistant.
Zirtual sells US-based, college-educated assistants (per Zirtual) on published plans: $599 a month for 12 task hours on the solo plan and $1,699 a month for 45 hours across four users on the team plan. There’s no contract and no setup fee, and Zirtual lists direct phone, text and email access with a 2 hour response time in business hours. Forbes Advisor rated it 4.6 out of 5.
It suits light, high-touch inbox and calendar work. People compare it because the solo rate is about $50 an hour, unused hours don’t roll over, cancellations take effect the following month, and Forbes Advisor notes no industry-specific assistants beyond paralegal.
One disclosure up front: this is Assist World’s site, so we list ourselves first. Every price and rating below comes from each provider’s own site or from Forbes Advisor, checked in October 2026, and we say plainly where Zirtual is the better fit.
Zirtual alternatives at a glance
| Provider | Best for | Starting price | Assistants based | Guarantee or exit | Forbes Advisor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assist World | Industry-matched support you choose yourself | $1,800/mo full time (about $12/hr) | Vetted global talent pool | 100% satisfaction guarantee, no lock-in | 4.5/5, Best for Specific Industries |
| Time Etc | US-based hourly support | $390/mo for 10 hrs ($39/hr) | US-based | Cancel anytime, satisfaction guarantee | 4.9/5 |
| Boldly | Executive and personal support with published plans | $2,600/mo for 40 hrs ($65/hr) | North America or Europe options | Satisfaction guarantee (month refunded), cancel anytime | 3.8/5 |
| BELAY | US-based executive and operations support | Flat monthly fee, not published (Forbes lists $46/hr) | US-based only | Right-Fit Guarantee (rematch) | 3.7/5 |
| Wing Assistant | Lowest monthly price | $999/mo (160 hrs) or $699/mo (80 hrs) | Not specified on homepage | Free replacement, cancel anytime | Not rated (featured partner) |
| Zirtual (for comparison) | US-based inbox, calendar and outbound support | $599/mo for 12 hrs (about $50/hr) | US-based | No contract; no formal guarantee, can request a new assistant | 4.6/5 |
Prices and terms from each provider’s own pricing page and the Forbes Advisor roundup, October 2026. Where a provider doesn’t publish a price, we say so instead of estimating.
Now the detail on each one, starting with the option most Zirtual prospects compare first.
01Assist World: Matched to Your Industry, Chosen by You
If Zirtual’s appeal is a human assistant who knows your business, Assist World pushes that one step further by matching on industry as well as role. You meet at least two candidates and choose, and the shortlist is built around the work you actually need done, whether that is property management, accounting or executive support, rather than a general pool.
A full-time assistant typically costs $1,800 to $3,000 a month (about $12 to $17 an hour), depending on role and experience. To put that beside Zirtual: its Team plan is $1,699 a month for 45 hours shared by four users, while an Assist World assistant covers a full working week. Every client gets a dedicated account manager, a dashboard, a 100% satisfaction guarantee and no lock-in contract. Forbes Advisor rated Assist World 4.5 out of 5 and named it Best for Specific Industries.
To be fair about the trade: Zirtual states that its assistants live in the US, and Assist World recruits from a vetted global talent pool. If US-only is a hard requirement, that decides it. If it isn’t, you get far more hours for the money. If your work is mostly admin, see our administrative virtual assistant support.
What works
- You meet at least two matched candidates and choose who you work with
- Industry-trained VAs across 18 service lines
- Dedicated account manager and a dashboard to manage your assistant
- No lock-in contract and a 100% satisfaction guarantee
Watch for
- Pricing varies by role and experience, so use the instant quote for a firm number
- A vetted global talent pool, so not the pick if you require US-based assistants only
- A placement agency across many industries: ask about your exact tools before you commit
Versus Zirtual: Pay about $12 to $17 an hour instead of about $50, choose your own assistant and get an industry match. Zirtual wins on US-based assistants and a published team plan. Assist World wins on price and fit.
Book a free consultationSee pricing and get an instant quoteAssist World pricing and terms from our own rate card and site. Rating from the Forbes Advisor roundup, October 2026.
02Time Etc: US-Based Help by the Hour
Time Etc keeps Zirtual’s US-based promise and replaces its fixed-user ladder with simple hourly plans: $390 for 10 hours, $760 for 20, $1,480 for 40 and $2,160 for 60 (about $39 to $36 an hour). Each plan has holiday and sickness cover, branded email on your domain and a lifetime satisfaction guarantee.
Time Etc tracks time to the second and lets unused hours carry over on the 20, 40 and 60 hour plans, while Zirtual’s unused hours expire. You can also send a first task free. Forbes Advisor ranked Time Etc first overall with 4.9 out of 5, ahead of Zirtual’s 4.6.
What works
- Dedicated US-based assistants on every plan, with holiday and sickness cover built in
- Month to month with no setup fee, and unused hours roll over
- Free first-task trial and a satisfaction guarantee
- Forbes Advisor’s top-rated service at 4.9 out of 5
Watch for
- About $36 to $39 an hour, so volume gets expensive fast
- Forbes Advisor notes fewer industry-specific assistants
- Plans above 60 hours aren’t priced online
Versus Zirtual: Pick Time Etc for US-based quality with rollover hours and a lower entry price.
Source: Time Etc pricing page, checked October 2026. Rating from the Forbes Advisor roundup.
03Boldly: Published Pricing for Executive and Personal Support
Boldly sells hours at one rate: $2,600 for 40, $3,900 for 60, $5,200 for 80 and $6,500 for 100, which is $65 an hour. Specialist tasks are $79 an hour. Every plan includes a trained backup, and Boldly says it refunds the month’s fees if you are not completely satisfied.
That is a higher rate than Zirtual’s solo plan, with a 40-hour minimum. Boldly’s case is the backup and the refund promise, and you can meet your staff before subscribing. Forbes Advisor rated Boldly 3.8 out of 5.
What works
- Prices published for every plan up to 100 hours
- You meet your assistant before subscribing, and a trained backup is included
- 100% satisfaction guarantee that refunds the month’s fees
- No start-up fees; cancel or change plans at any time
Watch for
- $65 an hour is the highest published rate on this list, and specialist work is $79 an hour
- 40-hour monthly minimum per assistant
- Forbes Advisor listed it among the highest priced options (3.8 out of 5)
Versus Zirtual: Choose Boldly if you need 40 or more hours and want a backup and refund promise.
Source: Boldly pricing page, checked October 2026. Rating from the Forbes Advisor roundup.
04BELAY: US-Based Executive and Operations Support
BELAY is the all-US premium option. Every professional is US-based, BELAY says it accepts the top 3 percent of US applicants, and it can make a match in as little as a week. Its Right-Fit Guarantee means a rematch at no added cost if the first match isn’t right, and BELAY cites a 93 percent first-match success rate.
BELAY quotes a flat monthly fee rather than publishing prices. Forbes Advisor lists about $46 an hour and rated BELAY 3.7 out of 5, noting that its fees aren’t flexible. It suits deeper executive and bookkeeping support more than light inbox work.
What works
- Every assistant is US-based
- Right-Fit Guarantee and a stated 93% first-match success rate
- Bookkeeping and accounting teams as well as assistants
- Match in as little as one week, per BELAY
Watch for
- No published prices, so you need a sales conversation to get a number
- Forbes Advisor lists about $46 an hour, rated it 3.7 out of 5 and noted fees aren’t flexible
- Premium positioning is a stretch for simple, high-volume task work
Versus Zirtual: Choose BELAY when US-only talent and deeper executive support matter more than a published price.
Source: BELAY site, checked October 2026. Rating from the Forbes Advisor roundup.
05Wing Assistant: Lowest Monthly Price
Wing Assistant’s $699 plan (80 hours) and $999 plan (160 hours) are month to month, with a customer success manager and free replacement. The $699 plan costs about as much as Zirtual’s solo plan ($599 for 12 hours) and provides nearly seven times the hours.
The cost of that value is validation: Forbes Advisor lists Wing as a featured partner without a rating, there’s no stated guarantee beyond replacement, and the homepage doesn’t say where assistants are based.
What works
- Lowest published monthly price on this list
- Dedicated assistant, customer success manager and free replacement
- Month-to-month plans with no stated minimum term
- Plans published openly on the pricing page
Watch for
- Assistant location isn’t specified on the homepage
- No satisfaction or money-back guarantee stated, only free replacement
- Forbes Advisor lists Wing as a featured partner without a star rating
Versus Zirtual: Pick Wing when volume and budget matter more than US location.
Source: Wing Assistant pricing page, checked October 2026. Rating from the Forbes Advisor roundup.
For light inbox and calendar help, US-based is a nice-to-have. For work that needs judgment, it can be the point.
Why people look for Zirtual alternatives
Zirtual’s model suits light, high-touch support. The reasons people compare it with other providers are usually these:
- The solo hourly rate. $599 for 12 hours is about $50 an hour, among the highest solo rates on this list.
- Hours don’t roll over. Unused hours expire, and cancellations take effect the following month.
- No formal guarantee. Zirtual lets you request a different assistant but doesn’t state a satisfaction guarantee.
- No industry specialization. Forbes Advisor notes none beyond paralegal. Assist World matches by role and industry.
- They want more hours. Full-time needs are cheaper on a monthly placement than on an hourly plan.
What the price gap actually buys
Any virtual assistant is a bargain next to a local hire. For most US businesses the comparison that matters is against the salary they would otherwise pay:
Zirtual’s team plan at $1,699 a month is well under a local hire, and Assist World at about $12 to $17 an hour is lower again for a full-time person. The real question is whether US-based assistants and direct phone and text access are worth roughly three to four times the hourly rate for your work.
Zirtual’s plan ladder, hour by hour
Zirtual prices by task hours and by how many people share the assistant, and the hourly rate falls as you move up. Here are the virtual assistant plans as published in October 2026, with our per-hour math.
| Plan | Monthly price | Task hours | Users | Per hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entrepreneur | $599 | 12 | 1 | about $50 |
| Grow | $899 | 20 | 2 | about $45 |
| Small Business | $1,199 | 30 | 3 | about $40 |
| Team Plan | $1,699 | 45 | 4 | about $38 |
Plans from Zirtual’s pricing page. Per-hour figures are our math, rounded.
Zirtual also sells outbound calling plans, which most competitors don’t list: $599 for 6 hours, $999 for 12, $1,999 for 24 and $2,999 for 36 hours, or roughly $83 to $100 an hour. If calling prospects or customers is the job, that is the number to compare.
The fine print on Zirtual’s terms
Zirtual says there is no long-term contract and no setup fee. The details that matter sit in the exit terms:
- You can cancel anytime, but cancellation takes effect the following month, and unused hours aren’t credited or prorated.
- Unused hours don’t roll over. Zirtual says it works to prevent unused hours through regular manager check-ins.
- Upgrades and downgrades also take effect the following month.
- You meet your assistant on the kickoff call and can request a different one if the fit isn’t right.
- Assistants are reachable by phone, text and email, and Zirtual states a 2 hour response time during your business hours.
Where Zirtual is the better choice
- You need US-based, college-educated assistants. Zirtual states both on its pricing page.
- You want direct phone and text access. Many services route everything through a dashboard.
- You need outbound calling. Its calling plans run from 6 to 36 hours a month.
- Several people will share one assistant. The Grow, Small Business and Team plans include two, three and four users.
Questions to ask Zirtual before you sign up
- Do I need all 12 hours, and what happens to the ones I don’t use?
- What does the following-month cancellation rule mean for my billing date?
- How do you match on skills, time zone, company type and personality?
- What does a different-assistant request look like in practice, and how fast is it?
- Does my plan cover project work, or only inbox and scheduling?
- What is the price for plans above 45 hours?
How to choose between Zirtual and its alternatives
Run every provider through the same four checks before you compare price:
- Location. Is US-based a requirement, or a preference you could trade for price?
- Volume. How many hours will you really use each month? Hourly plans win at low volume, monthly placements at high volume.
- Exit terms. Does cancellation take effect now or next month, and do unused hours roll over?
- Role fit. Has this person done your exact task (scheduling, intake, bookkeeping, listing coordination) before?
Count the people who share
Zirtual’s price depends on users as well as hours, so list everyone who will delegate.
Price per hour used
Divide the monthly price by hours you will truly use, since unused hours don’t roll over.
Check the exit
Ask when cancellation and plan changes take effect and whether you are billed for the gap.
Decide on location
Mark whether US-based is a requirement or a preference, because it decides the whole shortlist.
How to switch from Zirtual without losing momentum
Zirtual says there is no contract, but cancellations take effect the following month, so time the move. Prepare the handoff in advance:
- Ask your assistant to document recurring tasks, templates and approval rules.
- Use up the month’s hours before the cancellation date.
- Move shared logins into a password manager so access can be reassigned in minutes.
- Write down the three outcomes you’ll judge the new assistant on after 30 days.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Zirtual alternative?
It depends on what you’re optimizing for. For industry-trained assistants you choose yourself with no lock-in contract, Assist World (from $1,800 a month, rated 4.5 out of 5 by Forbes Advisor). For US-based help at a lower hourly rate, Time Etc (from $390 a month). For US-only executive support, BELAY. For the lowest monthly price, Wing Assistant ($999 a month for 160 hours).
How much does Zirtual cost?
Zirtual’s pricing page lists $599 a month for 12 task hours on the solo plan (about $50 an hour) and $1,699 a month for 45 hours and four users on the team plan (about $38 an hour). There’s no contract and no setup fee. Prices checked in October 2026.
Are Zirtual assistants US-based?
Yes. Zirtual states that its assistants are US-based and college educated. Time Etc and BELAY also say US-based. Assist World recruits from a vetted global talent pool, so tell us your hours up front when you book a consultation.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Zirtual?
Yes. Time Etc runs about $36 to $39 an hour, Assist World about $12 to $17 an hour, and Wing Assistant about $6.24 an hour. Check each provider’s terms before you commit.
Does Zirtual have a contract?
No. Zirtual says there’s no contract, though cancellations take effect the following month. Assist World also has no lock-in contract.
How does Forbes Advisor rate these providers?
In Forbes Advisor’s current roundup, Time Etc scores 4.9, Zirtual 4.6, Assist World 4.5, Boldly 3.8 and BELAY 3.7. Wing Assistant appears only as a featured partner without a rating.
Do unused hours roll over at Zirtual?
No. Zirtual says unused hours don’t roll over, and it doesn’t credit or prorate them if you cancel. Time Etc lets unused hours carry over on its 20, 40 and 60 hour plans.
Does Zirtual offer outbound calling?
Yes. Zirtual’s outbound calling plans run from $599 for 6 hours to $2,999 for 36 hours. Wishup says its India-based VAs can’t make cold calls, while its US-based plan at $5,400 a month can.
How many people can share a Zirtual assistant?
The Entrepreneur plan is for one user. The Grow plan covers two users, Small Business three and the Team plan four, at $899, $1,199 and $1,699 a month.
Keep comparing
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Free ConsultationHow we checked. Pricing and terms come from each provider’s own site (Zirtual, Time Etc, Boldly, BELAY, Wing Assistant), reviewed in October 2026. Ratings come from the Forbes Advisor roundup of virtual assistant services. Where a provider doesn’t publish a price, we say so instead of estimating.
Disclosure. Assist World is our company, so we list it first. Prices and terms change, so confirm current details with any provider before you buy.