Stellar Staff Alternatives (2026): 11 Companies and When Each Is a Better Fit
The main Stellar Staff alternatives are MyOutDesk, Wishup, Wing Assistant, BELAY, Athena, Prialto, Time Etc, Zirtual, 20four7VA, Near, and Vintti. Choose BELAY, Time Etc, or Zirtual for U.S.-based assistants, Wing Assistant for the lowest published full-time price, and Near or Vintti for Latin American hires. Stellar Staff fits buyers who want one dedicated full-time assistant at $1,999 a month.
Stellar Staff vs Other VA companies at a glance
Stellar Staff places dedicated full-time assistants: 160 hours a month, $1,999 on the Pro plan or $2,999 on the Executive plan, month to month with 14 days' notice to cancel. Talent comes primarily from the Philippines, and you interview 2 to 3 finalists before you choose.
That model is not right for everyone. Some buyers need ten hours a month, not 160. Some need an assistant based in the United States, or a hire who shares a Latin American time zone, or the lowest monthly price they can find. This page compares 11 providers on their published pricing and service models and explains when each may be a better fit. Every company here also has a full side-by-side comparison, linked in the tables below.
Compare the model, not just the monthly price.
What changes when you switch from Stellar Staff to an alternative?
Five practical factors reveal where the two services stop looking alike.
- Hours. Stellar Staff's managed plans are full-time only. Time Etc, Zirtual, Prialto, and 20four7VA sell smaller blocks, from 10 hours a month at Time Etc to 55-hour units at Prialto.
- Where the assistant is based. BELAY, Time Etc, and Zirtual use U.S.-based assistants. Near and Vintti recruit in Latin America. Wishup lists India. Stellar Staff recruits primarily from the Philippines.
- Published price. Wing Assistant lists $999 a month for 160 hours. MyOutDesk starts at $1,988. Athena lists $3,000 to $3,600. BELAY and Near do not publish prices.
- Dedicated or shared. Stellar Staff, MyOutDesk, and Athena place one dedicated person on your account. Time Etc says its assistants typically serve 3 to 6 clients.
- Commitment. Stellar Staff is month to month. Athena and Prialto publish 90-day minimums on some plans.
Which option fits your business?
Stellar Staff
- You need one dedicated full-time assistant at a published $1,999 a month.
- You want to interview 2 to 3 finalists from the top 0.1% of applicants before choosing.
- You want month-to-month terms with 14 days' notice and free replacements, forever.
- You want Stellar Staff to handle recruiting, payroll, HR, and replacements while you direct the work.
Other VA companies
- You need fewer than 40 hours a month of help.
- Your assistant must be based in the United States.
- You want a hire in a Latin American time zone, or plan to employ the person directly.
- Price is the deciding factor, and $999 a month for 160 hours meets your needs.
The 11 alternatives at a glance
This table summarizes each company's published pricing and service model, reviewed on October 5, 2026. Select a name for the full side-by-side comparison.
| Company | Published price | Model | Where assistants work | Often chosen for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MyOutDesk | From $1,988/month; specialized from $2,500 | Dedicated full-time assistant | International offices, per its site | A provider operating since 2008 |
| Wishup | Prime VA $1,999; Elite VA $2,999 | VA subscriptions with 4- and 8-hour options | India, per its FAQ | The same price points with India-based talent |
| Wing Assistant | $699 for 80 hours; $999 for 160 hours | Assistant subscription | Global; U.S.-based tier from $2,499 | The lowest published full-time price |
| BELAY | Not published | U.S.-based assistants, typically from 45 hours a month | United States | U.S.-based support |
| Athena | $3,000 to $3,600/month | One full-time EA for one client | Colombia, Guatemala, Kenya, and the Philippines | Executive support with published security credentials |
| Prialto | 55-hour units; full-time from $3,600 | Managed team support with backup coverage | Prialto offices in the Philippines, Kenya, and Guatemala | Built-in backup coverage |
| Time Etc | $390 for 10 hours to $2,160 for 60 hours | Part-time plans with monthly hour limits; assistants serve several clients | United States, on U.S. plans | Light, part-time workloads |
| Zirtual | $599 for 12 hours to $1,699 for 45 hours | Part-time plans with monthly hour limits | United States | Part-time U.S.-based help |
| 20four7VA | From $5 an hour, 10-hour weekly minimum | Hourly quotes | Philippines, South Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean | Flexible hourly staffing |
| Near | Not published; pay only if you hire | Direct hire or staffing | Latin America | Recruiting in Latin America |
| Vintti | Percentage of salary plus a setup fee | Direct recruiting, staffing, or startup buyout | Latin America | Senior Latin American hires |
Which alternative fits which need?
| If you need | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| An assistant based in the United States | BELAY, Time Etc, or Zirtual | All three use U.S.-based assistants |
| 10 to 45 hours of support per month | Time Etc or Zirtual | Both sell small monthly blocks of hours |
| The lowest full-time price | Wing Assistant | $999 a month for 160 hours, as published |
| A Latin American time zone | Near or Vintti | Both recruit in Latin America |
| To employ the hire yourself | Near, Vintti, or Stellar Staff Custom Recruitment | Direct-hire options with one-time fees |
| Backup coverage when your assistant is out | Prialto | Its model includes backup support |
| One dedicated full-time assistant you choose yourself | Stellar Staff | $1,999 a month; interview 2 to 3 finalists |
What 160 hours a month costs with each option
A full-time plan typically includes about 160 hours per month. Where a company sells smaller blocks, the table shows its largest published plan instead.
| Company | Full-time or largest published plan | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stellar Staff | $1,999 (Pro) or $2,999 (Executive), 160 hours | About $12.50 an hour on Pro |
| Wing Assistant | $999, 160 hours | U.S.-based tier $4,999 for 160 hours |
| MyOutDesk | From $1,988 | Specialized plans from $2,500 |
| Wishup | $1,999 or $2,999 | Confirm whether the price covers 4 or 8 hours a day |
| Vintti | About $2,700 average for a senior placement, per Vintti | Priced as a share of salary plus a setup fee |
| Athena | $3,000 to $3,600 | Commitment terms differ between its pricing page and FAQ |
| Prialto | From $3,600 for 165+ hours | Fractional units also available |
| Zirtual | $1,699 for 45 hours | Largest plan; no full-time plan published |
| Time Etc | $2,160 for 60 hours | Largest plan; assistants typically serve 3 to 6 clients |
| 20four7VA | Quoted per client, from $5 an hour | 10-hour weekly minimum |
| BELAY and Near | Not published | Request a written quote |
Prices change. Confirm the current figure and what it includes with each company before you decide.
Where the alternatives are stronger
Several of these companies have operated far longer than Stellar Staff, which was founded in 2022. Time Etc has operated since 2007, MyOutDesk since 2008, Prialto since 2009, and BELAY since 2010. For buyers who weigh track record heavily, that matters.
Others solve problems Stellar Staff does not. BELAY, Time Etc, and Zirtual offer assistants based in the United States. Time Etc and Zirtual sell small blocks of hours for light workloads. Wing Assistant publishes a lower full-time price. Near and Vintti recruit in Latin America and offer routes to hire the person directly. Prialto builds backup coverage into its service.
What Stellar Staff does differently
Stellar Staff places a dedicated full-time assistant for a published price: $1,999 a month on Pro or $2,999 on Executive, for 160 hours, month to month with 14 days' notice to cancel.
Selection is strict. Stellar Staff accepts the top 0.1% of applicants, and vetting covers a 6-step application, 6 individual tests, written and spoken English verification, reference and equipment checks, professional interviews and skill assessments, internal QA, and background checks. The search takes 5 to 10 business days, and you interview 2 to 3 finalists before choosing your assistant.
Stellar Staff handles recruiting, payroll, HR, time tracking, and replacements. Managed plans include free replacements, forever. You direct the assistant's daily work. Stellar Staff is the #2 VA agency on Clutch and has placed 1,000+ remote hires since 2022.
Choosing between Stellar Staff and an alternative
Choose an alternative if you need part-time hours, an assistant based in the United States, a Latin American time zone, or the lowest published full-time price.
Choose Stellar Staff if you want one dedicated full-time assistant at a published monthly price, the chance to interview finalists before you commit, and month-to-month terms with free replacements.
If you are deciding between two specific companies, the full comparisons linked above go into hours, terms, and selection in more detail. All of them are collected on the comparison hub.
Questions about switching from Stellar Staff
Clear answers on pricing, hiring speed, replacements, specialization, and compliance.
What are the best alternatives to Stellar Staff?
The companies most often compared with Stellar Staff are MyOutDesk, Wishup, Wing Assistant, BELAY, Athena, Prialto, Time Etc, Zirtual, 20four7VA, Near, and Vintti. The best one depends on the hours you need, where you want the assistant to be based, and your budget.
Which Stellar Staff alternative is cheapest?
Among the companies that publish full-time prices, Wing Assistant lists the lowest: $999 a month for 160 hours. Stellar Staff Pro is $1,999 a month for 160 hours, with candidates selected from the top 0.1% of applicants and interviews with 2 to 3 finalists.
Which alternatives offer U.S.-based assistants?
BELAY, Time Etc, and Zirtual use assistants based in the United States. Wing Assistant also lists a U.S.-based tier, starting at $2,499 a month for 80 hours. Stellar Staff recruits primarily from the Philippines.
Is there an alternative for part-time help?
Yes. Time Etc sells plans from 10 hours a month, and Zirtual from 12 hours. Stellar Staff's managed plans are full-time only, at 160 hours a month.
Do any alternatives charge the same as Stellar Staff?
Wishup lists the same price points, $1,999 and $2,999 a month, and MyOutDesk starts at $1,988. The differences are in hours included, where the assistants are based, and how you choose your hire.
Can I hire the assistant directly instead of through a monthly plan?
Near and Vintti offer direct-hire options. Stellar Staff also offers Custom Recruitment, a one-time fee starting at $4,999, with a 3-month replacement guarantee.
How does Stellar Staff's hiring timeline compare with those of alternatives?
For Stellar Staff, the search takes 5 to 10 business days. Other companies publish their own timelines, which are listed on each individual comparison page.
Is it hard to switch away from Stellar Staff?
No. Stellar Staff plans are month to month, and you can cancel with 14 days' notice. There is no long-term contract.
Stellar Staff
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How we reviewed the providers
Each company's pricing, plan, and FAQ pages were reviewed on October 5, 2026, and the details here summarize the individual comparisons linked above, where every source is cited. Stellar Staff details reflect its current plans and service terms. Where a company publishes conflicting figures, the range is shown. Prices and terms change; confirm them with each company before you decide. Last reviewed October 6, 2026.