Should You Hire a Boldly Virtual Assistant or Stellar Staff in 2026?
Boldly sells part-time plans from $2,600 for 40 hours a month, staffed by senior assistants in North America or Europe. Stellar Staff places a dedicated full-time assistant for $1,999 a month on Pro. Boldly fits buyers who need fewer hours from a senior assistant.
Stellar Staff vs Boldly at a glance
Boldly, founded in 2012, is a subscription staffing company with offices in New York and Towcester, England. It offers executive assistants and other remote staff based in North America or Europe, and it says each team member has 10 to 15 years of experience. Its U.S. team members are W-2 employees. Published plans run from $2,600 for 40 hours a month to $6,500 for 100 hours.
Stellar Staff, founded in 2022 in Newport Beach, California, places one dedicated full-time assistant per plan, recruited primarily from the Philippines. Pro is $1,999 a month and Executive is $2,999, each for 160 hours. Stellar Staff handles recruiting, payroll, HR, tracking, and replacements, and the client directs the daily work. The main difference is hours and seniority: Boldly sells senior part-time capacity, and Stellar Staff sells a full-time seat.
Compare the model, not just the monthly price.
Do you need Boldly's senior part-time staff or a full-time Stellar Staff assistant?
Five practical factors reveal where the two services stop looking alike.
- Hours and plan size. Boldly's published plans cover 40, 60, 80, or 100 hours a month, and Boldly quotes larger plans of up to 160 hours on request. Stellar Staff sells full-time plans only, at 160 hours a month.
- Price per hour. Every published Boldly plan works out to $65 an hour, and specialist work such as design, blog writing, or web development is billed at $79 an hour. Stellar Staff Pro is $1,999 a month, about $12.50 an hour.
- Location and employment. Boldly offers a choice of staff based in North America or Europe and says its U.S. team members are W-2 employees, not contractors. Stellar Staff recruits primarily from the Philippines and handles payroll and HR for the assistant.
- Experience versus selectivity. Boldly says each team member has 10 to 15 years of experience in their specialty. Stellar Staff accepts the top 0.1% of applicants and screens them with a 6-step application, 6 individual tests, and background checks.
- How you choose. Boldly recommends a staff member, and you meet that person before subscribing. With Stellar Staff, the search takes 5 to 10 business days, and you interview 2 to 3 finalists before picking one.
Which option fits your business?
Stellar Staff
- You have a full workload and want 160 hours a month for $1,999 on Pro, rather than $6,500 for 100 hours.
- You want to interview 2 to 3 finalists instead of meeting a single recommended candidate.
- You want free replacements, forever, on a managed plan, with 14 days' notice to cancel.
- You want a bilingual assistant for an added $200 a month, or a direct hire through Custom Recruitment for a one-time fee starting at $4,999.
Boldly
- You need 40 to 100 hours a month, not a full-time seat.
- Your assistant must be based in North America or Europe, and you want U.S. staff on a W-2 payroll.
- You want senior staff with 10 to 15 years of experience, plus access to specialists for design, web development, and project management at $79 an hour.
- You want a backup included in the plan to cover vacations and sick days, and a lifetime satisfaction guarantee.
Boldly and Stellar Staff on 13 points that decide the hire
| Decision point | Stellar Staff | Boldly |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2022 (formerly VA Support Now) | 2012 |
| Offices | Newport Beach, California | New York, New York, and Towcester, England |
| Where staff work | Primarily the Philippines | North America or Europe, your choice |
| Selection claim | Top 0.1% of applicants | 10 to 15 years of experience in their specialty, per Boldly |
| Worker status | Stellar Staff handles payroll and HR | U.S. team members are W-2 employees |
| Hours | Full-time, 160 hours a month | 40, 60, 80, or 100 hours a month; up to 160 on request |
| Published price | $1,999/month Pro; $2,999/month Executive | $2,600 to $6,500 a month by ACH; 160-hour plans quoted on request |
| Hourly equivalent | About $12.50 on Pro | $65 on every published plan; $79 for specialist tasks |
| Part-time option | No; full-time plans only | Yes, from 40 hours a month |
| Choosing your assistant | Interview 2 to 3 finalists | Meet one recommended staff member before subscribing |
| Timeline | The search takes 5 to 10 business days | No set timeline; Boldly says it cuts hiring time "from months to days" |
| Cancellation | Month to month; 14 days' notice to cancel | Month to month; 30 days' prior written notice |
| Replacement and coverage | Free replacements, forever, on managed plans | New recommendation on request; a backup covers vacations and sickness |
Work you can assign at Boldly and at Stellar Staff
Boldly sells assistants plus specialists billed by the hour, while Stellar Staff places one full-time assistant whose daily work you direct.
| Work | Stellar Staff | Boldly |
|---|---|---|
| Executive and calendar support | Yes; Executive plan at $2,999 | Executive assistants, its core service |
| General administration | Yes | Administration |
| Project management | Yes, within the assistant's role | Project managers; billed at $79 an hour as a specialist task |
| Marketing and social media | Yes | Marketing and social media |
| Customer service | Yes | Customer service |
| Bookkeeping | Yes, as a full-time assistant role | Bookkeeping |
| Web development, blog writing, and design | Hire a full-time assistant with that skill set | $79 an hour through Boldly's wider team |
| Multilingual work | Bilingual assistant, +$200 a month | Multilingual services included in all plans |
| AI tools | Trained on AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Zapier) | Boldly says its assistants learn to "think with any AI" rather than certify on specific tools |
| More than one assistant | Yes, one dedicated full-time assistant per plan | Yes, with a minimum of 40 hours a month per assistant |
How far does $2,600 a month go at Boldly versus Stellar Staff?
Boldly publishes monthly prices for plans up to 100 hours, paid by ACH. Stellar Staff publishes two full-time plans. We calculated Boldly's hourly rates from its published prices.
| Cost item | Stellar Staff | Boldly | Local full-time hire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $1,999 Pro; $2,999 Executive | $2,600 (40 hours), $3,900 (60), $5,200 (80), $6,500 (100) | Salary, taxes, and benefits |
| Hours included | 160 | 40 to 100; up to 160 quoted on request | Full-time schedule |
| Price for 160 hours | $1,999 on Pro | Not published; "Ask us for pricing" | Full-time salary |
| Hourly equivalent | About $12.50 on Pro | $65 | Varies by market |
| Recruiting and setup | Recruiting included | No start-up fees | Your recruiting and onboarding costs |
| Payroll and HR | Included | Included; U.S. staff are Boldly W-2 employees | Your business |
| Direct-hire option | Custom Recruitment: one-time fee starting at $4,999 | Buyout at Boldly's discretion after 6 months, at 6 times the largest monthly subscription, $30,000 minimum | Your own recruiting cost |
| Replacement | Free, forever, on managed plans | New recommendation on request | A new search |
| Relative cost | A third of the cost of a local hire | Not published | Baseline |
Two Boldly details affect the monthly math. Card payments add a 2.9% processing fee, and unused hours do not roll over to the next month. If Boldly's senior staff fit your work, ask for a written quote at the hours you actually need and compare it with Stellar Staff's published full-time rate.
Where Boldly earns its price
Boldly's main strength is seniority. It says each team member has 10 to 15 years of experience in their specialty, and its site features executive assistants who have worked with the same client for four or five years. Boldly reports that clients stay four years on average. For an executive who wants an experienced partner from the first week, that record matters.
Its terms also suit lighter workloads. Plans start at 40 hours a month, you can upgrade or downgrade during the year, and extra users cost nothing. U.S. staff are W-2 employees with health insurance and a matched 401(k), which reduces worker classification questions for the client. Clients can add more than one assistant, each from 40 hours a month. Boldly also includes a backup for vacations or sickness, multilingual support, access to specialists, and a lifetime satisfaction guarantee that waives the month's fees if you are not satisfied.
What changes when the assistant is full-time with Stellar Staff
Boldly prices senior time by the hour, so the bill rises with every block you add: 100 hours a month costs $6,500. Stellar Staff prices a full-time seat instead. Pro is $1,999 a month for 160 hours, about $12.50 an hour, and Executive is $2,999. Stellar Staff describes that as a third of the cost of a local hire.
Selection works differently too. Boldly recommends one staff member for you to meet. Stellar Staff receives thousands of applicants a month, accepts the top 0.1%, and screens them with 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. You then interview 2 to 3 finalists and choose one. Boldly's experience claim and Stellar Staff's selection rate measure different things, so ask each company for candidate profiles that match the role you need.
Cancellation terms are also shorter. Boldly asks for 30 days' written notice; Stellar Staff asks for 14. Replacements are free, forever, on managed plans, and Stellar Staff handles recruiting, payroll, HR, and tracking while you direct the daily work.
Who should hire Boldly, and who should hire Stellar Staff?
Pick Boldly if you need 40 to 100 hours a month from a senior assistant based in North America or Europe, you want U.S. staff on a W-2 payroll, or you expect to need specialists for design or web development. Budget $65 an hour for assistant time and $79 an hour for specialist work.
Pick Stellar Staff if you have a full-time workload and want 160 hours a month at a published price, a choice among 2 to 3 finalists, and month-to-month terms with 14 days' notice. The search takes 5 to 10 business days.
Before you sign with Boldly: buyer questions
Clear answers on pricing, hiring speed, replacements, specialization, and compliance.
How much does a Boldly virtual assistant cost?
Boldly's published plans cost $2,600 a month for 40 hours, $3,900 for 60, $5,200 for 80, and $6,500 for 100, paid by ACH. Card payments add a 2.9% fee, and plans of up to 160 hours are quoted on request. Specialist tasks are $79 an hour. Stellar Staff Pro is $1,999 a month for 160 hours.
Is Boldly legit?
Boldly is an established company. Its site says it was founded in 2012, lists offices in New York and Towcester, England, and names Worldwide101 Inc. as the contracting entity. Boldly says clients stay four years on average. For independent Boldly reviews, read recent client feedback on third-party sites and ask Boldly for references.
Are Boldly assistants employees or contractors?
Boldly says its U.S. team members are W-2 employees, not 1099 contractors, and that its legal and HR teams handle state registration and compliance. Its site does not say how staff in Europe are engaged. With Stellar Staff, the company handles payroll and HR for the assistant, and you direct the daily work.
What are some alternatives to Boldly?
Alternatives to Boldly include BELAY, Athena, Time Etc, Prialto, and Stellar Staff. They differ on where assistants live, whether you buy blocks of hours or a full-time seat, and whether prices are published. Stellar Staff fits buyers who want a dedicated full-time assistant from the Philippines at $1,999 a month on Pro.
How do I cancel Boldly?
Boldly's terms say service runs month to month and either side can end it with 30 days' prior written notice. Its pricing page says you can cancel at any time, so read that as no minimum term rather than no notice. Stellar Staff is also month to month, with 14 days' notice to cancel.
What happens if my Boldly assistant is not a good fit?
Boldly says you can email your account manager, and it will update your requirements and recommend a new executive assistant. Its guarantee page says a skills or personality mismatch is solved by assigning another assistant. Stellar Staff's managed plans include free replacements, forever. Ask either company how the handoff works.
How fast can Boldly or Stellar Staff place an assistant?
Boldly does not publish a set timeline. It says it replies to new inquiries within a few hours and cuts hiring time "from months to days," and you meet the recommended staff member before you pay. For Stellar Staff, the search takes 5 to 10 business days, and you interview 2 to 3 finalists before you choose.
What happens when a Boldly assistant is sick or on vacation?
Boldly says each team member can prepare a backup who steps in during vacations or sickness, and its pricing page lists that backup as included in every plan. Boldly staff work business hours, Monday to Friday. Stellar Staff assigns one dedicated full-time assistant, and replacements are free, forever, on managed plans.
Stellar Staff
Stellar StaffBoldly
How we reviewed the providers
Reviewed October 13, 2026 on Boldly's own website. Sources include Boldly pricing, Boldly New York pricing, Boldly FAQs, Boldly terms and conditions, Boldly about page, Boldly compliance page, Boldly guarantee, Boldly how it works, and Stellar Staff pricing. We calculated Boldly's hourly rates from its published monthly prices. Prices and terms can change, so confirm them in writing with each provider before you sign.