If your VA leaves or isn't performing, your Customer Success Manager coordinates a replacement at no cost. Managed plans include free replacements, forever.
Quick answer: Time Etc vs BELAY comes down to how many hours you need each month. Time Etc publishes four U.S. plans, from $390 a month for 10 hours to $2,160 for 60, and its assistants typically split their time across three to six clients. BELAY does not publish prices, says support typically begins at 45 hours a month, and matches you with a U.S.-based independent contractor. Both sell part-time help. For a full-time assistant, Stellar Staff Pro costs $1,999 a month for 160 hours.
Disclosure: Stellar Staff is a staffing agency that competes with both companies in this Time Etc vs BELAY comparison. Every competitor fact comes from the company's own website or the named rating platform, checked November 8, 2026, with links. We do not quote reviewers or score either company.
Is Time Etc or BELAY Cheaper for the Hours You Need?
Time Etc has a lower starting number of hours and is the only one of the two that shows a price before a sales call. Time Etc pricing on its U.S. plans and pricing page runs $390 a month for 10 hours, $760 for 20, $1,480 for 40, and $2,160 for 60, which Time Etc lists as $39 down to $36 an hour. Plans renew monthly, there is no setup fee, and larger plans are quoted after a consultation. BELAY pricing is not published. BELAY's FAQ says it bills a flat monthly rate, that support typically begins at 45 hours a month, and that BELAY "isn't built to compete on rock-bottom price." So below about 40 hours a month, the price question mostly answers itself: Time Etc sells plans in that range, and BELAY's typical starting point is higher. From 45 hours up, you can only compare the two after BELAY sends you a quote.
| Monthly hours | Time Etc (U.S. plans) | BELAY | Stellar Staff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $390 ($39 an hour, Time Etc's figure); rollover not listed on this plan | Below BELAY's typical 45-hour start | Full-time plans only |
| 20 | $760 ($38 an hour); unused hours roll over | Below BELAY's typical 45-hour start | Full-time plans only |
| 40 | $1,480 ($37 an hour); unused hours roll over | Near the typical 45-hour start; quoted after a consultation | Full-time plans only |
| 60 | $2,160 ($36 an hour); unused hours roll over | Quoted after a consultation | Full-time plans only |
| Above 60 | Custom plan after a consultation | Quoted; BELAY says it can scale hours up in busy stretches | Full-time plans only |
| 160, full-time | No published plan | No published plan | Pro $1,999 (about $12.50 an hour); Executive $2,999 |
Sources: Time Etc plans and pricing, BELAY FAQ, and BELAY homepage, checked November 8, 2026.
Time Etc's teams page also lists lower prices when a group shares the hours, from $290 a month for 10 hours. BELAY's public pages don't say what happens to hours you don't use. Our Stellar Staff vs Time Etc and Stellar Staff vs BELAY pages set each company against a full-time plan.
How Are Time Etc and BELAY Set Up as Companies?
Time Etc is the older company, and BELAY is the broader one. Time Etc's press page says it was founded in 2007 and bootstrapped without outside funding, with a team of 500+ freelance assistants in the U.S. and the UK. Its about page says it has helped more than 22,000 entrepreneurs, and Barnaby Lashbrooke is its founder and CEO. A U.S. client signs with Time etc USA Limited, and the terms list an address in Birmingham, England, and apply the law of England and Wales. BELAY's company page says it was founded in 2010 by Bryan and Shannon Miles, that Tricia Sciortino has been CEO since January 2020, and that it has served over 25,000 leaders. BELAY describes itself as remote-first, with people in 48 states.
The product scope differs too. BELAY's homepage lists executive, personal, operations, marketing, and sales assistants, plus bookkeeping, payroll, tax, and fractional controller and CFO services, a finance line built partly through acquisitions in 2024 and 2025. None of the Time Etc pages we reviewed offer bookkeeping, payroll, or tax services, so only BELAY covers both an assistant and your books.
Will Your Assistant Also Work for Other Clients?
In most cases, yes, at both companies. Time Etc is open about it. Its recruiting FAQ tells applicants they will be introduced to between three and six clients, and it says the average assistant works about 39 hours a month through Time Etc. Each Time Etc plan includes a "dedicated U.S. assistant," which means one named person who learns your preferences, not someone set aside for you all day. BELAY's talent FAQ says many of its contractors work for more than one client, especially as they grow. It adds that hours vary by role and client, with some contractors working close to full-time and others part-time. Neither company promises an assistant who works only for you, so ask each one how many other clients your assistant supports and which hours of the day are yours. Our guide to part-time vs full-time virtual assistants covers that trade-off.
Both companies engage assistants as independent contractors. Time Etc's terms say its assistants are independent contractors engaged by Time Etc, and BELAY's Right Fit page calls its professionals U.S.-based independent contractors. Location rules differ. Time Etc's assistant page says its assistants are 100% U.S. based, need 5 to 8 years of relevant experience, and average 12 years. BELAY's homepage limits contractor applications to U.S. residents and excludes California, Colorado, Montana, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. If you need an assistant in one of those states, BELAY's application rules rule out that option. Stellar Staff's talent comes primarily from the Philippines, and Stellar Staff handles payroll and HR for each hire, as our guide to outsourcing to the Philippines explains.
This section is general information, not legal or tax advice.
How Do Time Etc and BELAY Choose Your Assistant?
Both companies pick a candidate for you after a call, and Time Etc lets you talk with that person before going further. Time Etc's how it works page lists three steps: a consultation, a conversation with a suggested assistant, and the start of service. Its plans page says you can change assistants free of charge, and it publishes no matching timeline. Time Etc says 98% of applicants don't make it in, and its assistant page says it screens against disclosed convictions and bankruptcy and verifies identity. BELAY's homepage says it accepts the top 3% of U.S.-based applicants, can match you in as little as one week, and reports a 93% first-match success rate. Its FAQ says most clients are matched within about a week, from a bench of more than 2,000 vetted, U.S.-based professionals.
If the first match is wrong, BELAY's Right Fit Guarantee covers a rematch at no added cost when concerns are raised within 30 days. Time Etc lets you switch assistants for free at any point. Neither company describes a round where you interview several finalists side by side. At Stellar Staff, you interview 2 to 3 finalists and pick one, and the search takes 5 to 10 business days. Our article on how long it takes to hire a virtual assistant covers each stage.
What Do the Terms Say About Notice and Hiring Your Assistant?
Time Etc posts its client terms, and BELAY does not. Time Etc's pricing page says there's no notice period and one email or call is enough to cancel. Its terms and conditions are firmer. Clause 14.2 requires notice of at least one full monthly billing period, and clause 8.2 says refunds are at Time Etc's sole discretion. Clause 7 bars hiring your assistant during the agreement and for nine months after, unless you pay a transfer fee of 50% of the annualized fees billed over the previous year or keep the assistant through Time Etc for another 12 months. BELAY's FAQ says support is month to month and that BELAY can help you move an executive assistant into an internal full-time role. The FAQ gives no notice period, but BELAY's own comparison page on Time Etc lists a "Flexible 30-day notice period" for BELAY.
| Term | Time Etc | BELAY | What to confirm in writing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contract length | Monthly plans that renew automatically | Month to month, not a long-term contract (FAQ) | Your renewal date |
| Notice to cancel | Pricing page: no notice period; terms: at least one full monthly billing period (clause 14.2) | FAQ: not stated; BELAY's comparison page: 30 days | Your last billing date |
| If the match is wrong | Change assistants free of charge | Free rematch if concerns are raised within 30 days | How work is handed over |
| Refunds | At Time Etc's sole discretion (clause 8.2) | Not mentioned on the Right Fit page | Any credit for unused time |
| Unused hours | Roll over on the 20, 40, and 60-hour plans | Not stated on public pages | Any limit or expiration date |
| Hiring your assistant | Nine-month restriction; 50% transfer fee or 12 more months (clause 7) | BELAY can help transition an executive assistant to an internal role (FAQ) | Any conversion fee |
| Governing law | England and Wales (clause 1.7) | Client agreement not posted publicly | Where a dispute would be heard |
Sources: Time Etc plans and pricing, Time Etc terms and conditions, BELAY FAQ, BELAY Right Fit Guarantee, and BELAY vs. Time Etc, checked November 8, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.
Our virtual assistant contract template lists the exit and hiring clauses worth checking before you sign. Stellar Staff plans are month to month with no long-term contract and 14 days' notice, and replacements are free, forever, on managed plans.
Does BELAY's Own Time Etc Comparison Match the Facts?
Not row for row. BELAY publishes a BELAY vs. Time Etc page, last updated May 15, 2026, that compares the two companies on ratings, worker status, notice, and matching speed. It's a useful look at how BELAY frames the BELAY vs Time Etc choice, and it's the only BELAY page we found that states a notice period. But it is BELAY's own marketing, it cites no sources, and five of its entries don't match what the two companies publish elsewhere or what Trustpilot showed on November 8, 2026. We checked each one against the source page. Treat the comparison as a list of questions to raise on a sales call, not as a source of facts, and ask BELAY to confirm in your agreement whether the 30-day notice period applies to you.
- Ratings. The page lists BELAY at "4.8+" and Time Etc at 4.9 on Trustpilot. Trustpilot showed BELAY at 3.8 and Time Etc at 4.8.
- Worker status. The page labels both companies "Managed (W2)." BELAY's Right Fit page and Time Etc's terms both describe their assistants as independent contractors.
- Leadership. The page names Bryan Miles as BELAY's co-founder and CEO. BELAY's company page says Tricia Sciortino has been CEO since January 2020.
- Time Etc's notice. The page lists a 30-day termination notice as standard for Time Etc. Time Etc's pricing page says there's no notice period, and its terms require one full monthly billing period.
- Matching speed. The page gives 24 to 48 hours for Time Etc and 1 to 2 weeks for BELAY. Time Etc publishes no timeline, and BELAY's homepage says as little as one week.
Time Etc's own pages have smaller gaps. Its plans page says in one section that unused hours roll over on all plans, while the 10-hour plan card doesn't list rollover. Its press page gives two different totals for hours saved. Neither changes the decision, but both are good reasons to get your plan terms in writing.
How Do Time Etc and BELAY Reviews Compare on Trustpilot?
Time Etc has a higher Trustpilot rating and more reviews. On November 8, 2026, Time Etc showed 4.8 out of 5 from 282 reviews, with 93% five-star and 2% one-star. BELAY showed 3.8 out of 5 from 63 reviews, with 67% five-star and 16% one-star. BELAY's reviews are newer: 61 of its 63 were posted in the past 12 months, compared with 51 of Time Etc's 282. Both companies answer criticism. Trustpilot reports that Time Etc replies to 100% of negative reviews, typically within a week, and that BELAY replies to 92%, typically within 24 hours. Neither profile is a complete picture, and the counts can shift from one day to the next, so check the live profile and read a few recent one-star reviews before you sign with either company.
| Company | Platform | Score | Reviews | Past 12 months | Star split | Replies to negative reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time Etc | Trustpilot | 4.8 out of 5, "Excellent" | 282 | 51 | 93% five-star, 2% one-star | 100%, typically within a week |
| BELAY | Trustpilot | 3.8 out of 5, "Great" | 63 | 61 | 67% five-star, 16% one-star | 92%, typically within 24 hours |
We read the most recent reviews on each profile and summarized them in our own words. Time Etc reviewers praise proactive assistants and the option to start small and scale up; the critical ones describe billing problems after plan changes and repeated contact after canceling. BELAY reviewers praise detailed matching questions and smooth onboarding; critical reviewers question the value for the price and describe slow sales follow-up and weak candidates. Our Time Etc reviews and BELAY reviews articles cover more platforms and the fine print. For comparison, Stellar Staff is the #2 VA agency on Clutch.
When Is Time Etc the Better Pick, and When Is BELAY?
Choose Time Etc if you need 10 to 40 hours of help a month, want to see the price before any call, or want unused hours to roll over. It also fits if you want to talk with the proposed assistant before you start, or if a team of 15 to 75 people will share the hours on a team plan, and its Trustpilot record is the stronger of the two. Weigh the trade-offs before you sign: your assistant typically works with three to six clients, the terms ask for a full billing period of notice, and the agreement runs under English law. If those points don't bother you, Time Etc is the simpler, lower-cost way to test remote help, because you can start with 10 hours and grow from there.
Choose BELAY if you need roughly 45 hours a month or more from a U.S.-based assistant, want BELAY to screen and choose the match, or want bookkeeping, payroll, or tax help from the same vendor. Get the quote, notice period, and conversion terms in writing. Our BELAY vs Boldly comparison covers another U.S.-based option, and our roundup of virtual executive assistant services compares more providers.
Where Stellar Staff Fits When the Work Fills a Full Week
Time Etc and BELAY both sell part of an assistant's week. Stellar Staff places one dedicated assistant for 160 hours a month, at a price you can see on our pricing page before any call. Pro costs $1,999 a month, about $12.50 an hour, and Executive costs $2,999. A bilingual assistant adds $200 a month. We receive thousands of applicants a month and accept the top 0.1%. Vetting includes a 6-step application and 6 individual tests, written and spoken English verification, reference checks, an equipment check, professional interviews and skill assessments, internal QA, and background checks. You interview 2 to 3 finalists and pick one, and the search takes 5 to 10 business days. Assistants are trained on AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Zapier).
Stellar Staff handles recruiting, payroll, HR, tracking, and replacements, and you direct the daily work. Replacements are free, forever, on managed plans, and plans are month to month with 14 days' notice. Stellar Staff has 1,000+ remote hires placed since 2022.
We're not the right fit for every buyer. If your assistant must live in the United States, Time Etc and BELAY both offer that and we don't. If you need 10 to 60 hours a month, Time Etc fits better, and if you want a U.S. assistant and a finance team from one vendor, BELAY does. Our BELAY alternatives guide compares more options.
Time Etc vs BELAY: Questions Buyers Ask
Which is better, Time Etc or BELAY?
It depends on your monthly hours. Time Etc is better for 10 to 40 hours a month: it publishes prices from $390, rolls over unused hours on larger plans, and holds a 4.8 Trustpilot score. BELAY suits buyers who need about 45 hours or more and want finance services from the same company.
How much does a BELAY virtual assistant cost compared with Time Etc?
BELAY doesn't publish prices. It quotes a flat monthly rate after a consultation, and its FAQ says support typically begins at 45 hours a month. Time Etc pricing is public: $390 for 10 hours, $760 for 20, $1,480 for 40, and $2,160 for 60. Ask BELAY to quote the same number of hours. Prices were checked November 8, 2026.
Are Time Etc and BELAY legit?
Yes. Time Etc has operated since 2007 and says it has helped more than 22,000 entrepreneurs. BELAY was founded in 2010 and says it has served over 25,000 leaders. On Trustpilot, Time Etc showed 4.8 from 282 reviews and BELAY 3.8 from 63 on November 8, 2026. Read each agreement before you sign.
Are Time Etc and BELAY assistants based in the U.S.?
Yes. Time Etc says its assistants are 100% U.S. based, and BELAY says its professionals are U.S.-based. BELAY's contractor applications exclude California, Colorado, Montana, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Both use independent contractors. Stellar Staff's talent comes primarily from the Philippines.
How much notice do you need to cancel Time Etc or BELAY?
Time Etc's pricing page says there's no notice period, but clause 14.2 of its terms requires at least one full monthly billing period. BELAY's FAQ doesn't specify a notice period, while its comparison page on Time Etc lists 30 days. Get the rule in writing. Stellar Staff plans need 14 days' notice.
What is a full-time alternative to Time Etc and BELAY?
If your work fills a full week, consider Stellar Staff. Pro costs $1,999 a month for 160 hours, the search takes 5 to 10 business days, and you interview 2 to 3 finalists and pick one. Replacements are free, forever, on managed plans. Choose Time Etc or BELAY if your assistant must live in the U.S.
Time Etc for Small Blocks of Hours, BELAY for a Heavier U.S. Workload
The Time Etc vs BELAY decision is mostly about hours and how you like to buy. Time Etc wins on published prices, low entry plans, rollover, and review scores. BELAY wins on a larger bench, a finance team under the same roof, and a company that runs the match for you. Both use independent contractors who usually support other clients, and both leave some terms to the agreement you sign, so get the notice period and any hiring fee in writing. A remote assistant is also not the right answer for every business. If you need help only a few hours a month, a small Time Etc plan or a freelancer may cost less than any agency. If the role requires someone in your office, hire locally.
If nobody on your team can direct an assistant's daily work, settle that before you hire anyone. If you have a full workweek of tasks and want to choose the person yourself, compare plans on the Stellar Staff pricing page and book a call to start your search.
Competitor details and ratings checked November 8, 2026, on each company's own website and on Trustpilot. Plans and terms change, so confirm current figures with each provider. Stellar Staff pricing is current as of November 2026. This article is general information, not legal or tax advice.