Is a Fiverr Virtual Assistant Enough, or Do You Need a Full-Time Hire Through Stellar Staff? (2026)
Stellar Staff Pro costs $1,999 a month for one dedicated full-time assistant you pick from 2 to 3 finalists. On Fiverr, each freelancer prices their own gigs, plus a 5.5% service fee. Fiverr is the better pick for one-off tasks.
Stellar Staff vs Fiverr at a glance
Fiverr is a freelance marketplace, not a staffing agency. Its About page says it was founded in 2010, is headquartered in Tel Aviv, and connects freelancers and businesses in an estimated 160 countries across 700+ categories. To hire a Fiverr virtual assistant, you buy a gig package, post a project brief, or accept a custom offer, including an hourly order. Fiverr adds a 5.5% service fee at checkout. Vetting depends on the tier: seller levels follow performance metrics, and Fiverr Pro freelancers are hand-vetted.
Stellar Staff, founded in 2022 and formerly VA Support Now, places one dedicated full-time assistant per plan, recruited primarily from the Philippines. Pro costs $1,999 a month and Executive $2,999, each for 160 hours. Stellar Staff handles recruiting, payroll, HR, tracking, and replacements, and the client directs the daily work.
Compare the model, not just the monthly price.
Gig marketplace or dedicated placement: where do Fiverr and Stellar Staff part ways?
Five practical factors reveal where the two services stop looking alike.
- Team location. Fiverr's freelancers and buyers come from an estimated 160 countries, and you can filter search results by spoken language and availability. Stellar Staff recruits primarily from the Philippines.
- Engagement model. On Fiverr, each purchase is a separate order: a gig package with a set scope, or an hourly order with a weekly hour limit that you can end with 24 hours' notice. Whether the freelancer works only for you depends on the freelancer you hire. Stellar Staff places one dedicated assistant for 160 hours a month, month to month, with 14 days' notice to cancel.
- Service scope. Fiverr's Virtual Assistant category is built around tasks such as research, messaging and emailing, document formatting, file conversion, and fact checking. Stellar Staff fills a full-time role that covers whatever work you assign each day.
- Onboarding speed. On Fiverr, you can order a gig directly from its page; the start depends on how fast you choose a freelancer. For Stellar Staff, the search takes 5 to 10 business days, and you interview 2 to 3 finalists.
- Specialization and vetting. Fiverr has specialist categories for bookkeeping, legal services, sales, and social media, and its vetting runs through seller levels and Fiverr Pro. Stellar Staff accepts the top 0.1% of applicants after a 6-step application and 6 individual tests.
Which option fits your business?
Stellar Staff
- You have 160 hours of recurring work a month for one dedicated person.
- You would rather interview 2 to 3 screened finalists than compare gig pages.
- You want one flat price, $1,999 or $2,999, with no per-order fees.
- You want free replacements, forever, on a managed plan.
Fiverr
- You need one task done, such as research, file conversion, or document formatting.
- You want a few hours a week on an hourly order you can end with 24 hours' notice.
- You want to browse freelancers from about 160 countries, with gig reviews.
- You need a specialist for a short project, such as a bookkeeping cleanup.
How do Fiverr and Stellar Staff compare on 14 points that affect a VA hire?
| Decision point | Stellar Staff | Fiverr |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Placement of one dedicated full-time assistant | Freelance marketplace; you choose and manage each freelancer and order |
| Headquarters | U.S. company, founded 2022 (formerly VA Support Now) | Tel Aviv, with satellite offices in New York, London, Kyiv, Berlin, and Orlando, per its About page |
| Talent location | Primarily the Philippines | Freelancers and businesses in an estimated 160 countries |
| Dedicated or shared | One dedicated full-time assistant per plan | Depends on the freelancer you hire |
| Starting price | $1,999/month Pro; $2,999/month Executive | Set by each freelancer's gig packages or hourly offer, plus Fiverr's 5.5% service fee |
| Billing cadence | Monthly | Paid at checkout for each order; hourly orders are charged every Monday for logged hours |
| Contract term | Month to month; 14 days' notice to cancel | Per order; an hourly order can be ended or paused with 24 hours' notice |
| Speed to match | The search takes 5 to 10 business days | Order a gig directly from its page; timing depends on your own search |
| Replacement policy | Free replacements, forever, on managed plans | Hire another freelancer through a new order |
| Support contact | Stellar Staff handles recruiting, payroll, HR, tracking, and replacements | Fiverr Customer Support and the Resolution Center for open orders |
| Time zone coverage | Talent primarily in the Philippines; confirm working hours before you hire | Depends on the freelancer; search filters include availability |
| Vetting steps | Top 0.1% of applicants; 6-step application, 6 individual tests, English verification, reference checks, equipment check, interviews and skill assessments, internal QA, and background checks | Seller levels based on performance metrics; Top Rated freelancers are manually reviewed; Fiverr Pro freelancers are hand-vetted by in-house evaluators |
| Trial or small first step | No trial; full-time plans only | No minimum: you can start with one small gig or a capped weekly hourly order |
| Third-party rating | #2 VA agency on Clutch | 3.4 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 16,221 reviews |
Which VA tasks can you buy on Fiverr, and which roles can Stellar Staff fill full-time?
Fiverr sells tasks and projects by category, and each freelancer defines what a gig includes. Stellar Staff places one full-time assistant who covers the role you hire for.
| Work | Stellar Staff | Fiverr |
|---|---|---|
| Executive assistant | Yes; Executive plan at $2,999 | No separate category; an executive assistance page lists individual gigs |
| General virtual assistant | Yes; Pro plan at $1,999 | Virtual Assistant category, with General Assistance, Research Assistance, and Messaging & Emailing |
| Bookkeeping | Yes, as a full-time assistant role | Bookkeeping category under Finance |
| Medical | Yes; medical industry support | Not listed; Fiverr does not allow services that provide medical treatment or advice |
| Insurance | Yes; insurance agency support | Not listed |
| Real estate | Yes; real estate agent support | Real estate cold calling, listed with Virtual Assistant services |
| Legal | Yes; law firm support | Legal Services, Legal Documents & Contracts, and Legal Research under Business |
| Sales | Yes | Sales category under Business |
| Customer service | Yes, as a full-time role | Customer Support and Customer Success under Business |
| Social media | Yes, under marketing | Social Media Management category |
| Copywriting | Not listed as a standalone service; confirm the scope you need | Writing & Translation, including Social Media Copywriting |
| Lead generation | Yes | Lead generation listed under Business |
What does a VA cost on Fiverr compared with a Stellar Staff plan?
Fiverr does not set what a virtual assistant costs. Each freelancer prices their own gig packages or hourly offers, so the figures Fiverr publishes are its own fees. Its help center lists a 5.5% service fee on every payment, including extras and tips. It also lists a flat small-order fee on lower-value orders, but two Fiverr help articles give different amounts and thresholds, so check the total at checkout. An hourly order adds a $5 order initiation fee when you accept the freelancer's custom offer. If you want help with the search, Fiverr Pro lists a $199 option to have a freelancer found for you. The U.S. hire column quotes Bureau of Labor Statistics median pay exactly as published; it is wage data and does not include payroll taxes or benefits.
| Cost item | Stellar Staff | Fiverr | U.S. full-time hire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base price | $1,999 a month Pro; $2,999 Executive | The freelancer's gig package price or hourly rate | $48,310 a year, or $23.23 an hour, 2025 median pay for secretaries and administrative assistants (BLS) |
| Hours included | 160 a month | The scope of the gig, or the hours logged on an hourly order | Full-time schedule |
| Platform service fee | Not applicable | 5.5% on each payment, including extras and tips | Not applicable |
| Small-order fee | Not applicable | A flat fee on lower-value orders; Fiverr's help pages state different amounts | Not applicable |
| Starting an hourly order | Not applicable | $5 order initiation fee | Not applicable |
| Finding candidates | Included | Your own search; Fiverr Pro lists a $199 option to have a freelancer found for you | Your team or a recruiter |
| Payroll and HR | Included | Not part of a gig order | Your business |
| Replacement | Free, forever, on managed plans | A new search and a new order | A new search |
| Executive-level role | $2,999 a month Executive | The freelancer's price | $76,590 median annual wage for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants, May 2025 (BLS) |
| Relative cost | A third of the cost of a local hire | Depends on the rate you agree to | Varies |
For a short task, Fiverr is usually the lower-cost route, because you pay for that one piece of work and Stellar Staff sells full-time plans only. The comparison changes when the work fills a full-time schedule. On Fiverr, you would pay the freelancer's rate for every logged hour plus Fiverr's fees, run the search yourself, and start over if the person stops taking orders. Stellar Staff charges one monthly price for 160 hours, about $12.50 an hour on Pro, with recruiting, payroll, and replacements included. Ask any Fiverr freelancer for a written hourly rate and weekly cap before you compare the two.
Where Fiverr earns its place in a VA budget
Fiverr makes small jobs easy to buy. Most freelancers list Basic, Standard, and Premium packages with the scope and price spelled out, so you can order a single research task or a document cleanup without a long hiring process. You can also post a brief and let freelancers send offers, or set up an hourly order with a weekly hour limit that you can change or remove at any time.
The choice is wide. Fiverr reports freelancers and businesses in an estimated 160 countries and 700+ categories, from bookkeeping to legal documents to social media management. Every completed order can carry a review, and Top Rated freelancers are individually reviewed by Fiverr's evaluation team. Hourly payments are held in escrow until you approve each weekly report. For buyers who want screened talent, Fiverr Pro freelancers are hand-vetted, and Fiverr Pro lists a $199 option to have a freelancer found for you.
What a Stellar Staff placement covers that a Fiverr order leaves to you
On Fiverr, you are the recruiter. You compare gig pages, read reviews, check seller levels, and decide whether a Level 2 or a Fiverr Pro freelancer is worth the price. Fiverr's own FAQ says its verification relies on the information the freelancer provides. Stellar Staff runs the search instead. It receives thousands of applicants a month, accepts the top 0.1%, and screens with a 6-step application, 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. The search takes 5 to 10 business days.
The arrangement is different too. A Fiverr order ends when the work is delivered or the hourly order is closed, and each new order carries Fiverr's service fee. A Stellar Staff assistant works 160 hours a month for one flat price: $1,999 on Pro, about $12.50 an hour, or $2,999 on Executive. Stellar Staff handles recruiting, payroll, HR, tracking, and replacements, and you direct the daily work. If your assistant leaves, replacements are free, forever, on managed plans. Stellar Staff has placed 1,000+ remote hires since 2022 and is the #2 VA agency on Clutch.
Fiverr gig or Stellar Staff hire: matching the choice to the workload
Choose Fiverr if
- You need a defined task or short project, such as research, data cleanup, or document formatting.
- You want a few hours a week on an hourly order with a weekly cap.
- You are comfortable screening freelancers and managing each order yourself.
- You want a specialist, such as a bookkeeper or a legal document writer, for one project.
Choose Stellar Staff if
- You have a full-time role to fill and want one dedicated assistant for 160 hours a month.
- You want a flat $1,999 or $2,999 a month instead of per-order fees.
- You would rather interview 2 to 3 vetted finalists, with free replacements, forever, on a managed plan.
- You may later want a direct hire on your own payroll through Custom Recruitment, from $4,999 one-time.
Comparing marketplaces first? Our Upwork vs Fiverr guide for hiring a virtual assistant covers buyer fees, disputes, and which VA jobs suit each platform.
Before you order a VA gig on Fiverr: eight buyer questions
Clear answers on pricing, hiring speed, replacements, specialization, and compliance.
How much does a Fiverr virtual assistant cost?
Fiverr does not set virtual assistant rates; each freelancer prices their own gig packages or hourly offers. Fiverr adds a 5.5% service fee to every payment, a flat small-order fee on lower-value orders, and a $5 initiation fee on hourly orders. Stellar Staff Pro is $1,999 a month for 160 hours.
Is Fiverr legit for hiring a virtual assistant?
Fiverr is an established marketplace; its About page says it was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Tel Aviv. On Trustpilot, it is rated 3.4 out of 5 from 16,221 reviews. Its own FAQ says verification relies on the information the freelancer provides, so check reviews and work samples before you order.
Can I hire a Fiverr virtual assistant by the hour?
Fiverr offers hourly orders through a freelancer's custom offer, with a weekly hour limit you can change. The freelancer logs hours by Sunday at 23:59 UTC, you are charged every Monday, and payment stays in escrow until you approve the report. Accepting the offer carries a $5 order initiation fee.
What do Fiverr seller levels and Fiverr Pro mean?
Fiverr assigns Level 1, Level 2, and Top Rated status based on metrics such as success score, rating, response rate, orders, and earnings. Top Rated freelancers also pass a manual review. Fiverr Pro freelancers are hand-vetted by in-house evaluators, and Pro lists a $199 option to have a freelancer found for you.
How do cancellations and refunds work on Fiverr?
Fiverr handles cancellations of open orders through its Resolution Center. The freelancer has 48 hours to respond before the order cancels automatically. Canceled amounts return to your Fiverr balance, or you can request a direct refund. Hourly disputes cover reported hours, not work quality. Stellar Staff is month to month with 14 days' notice.
What are the alternatives to a Fiverr virtual assistant?
Alternatives to Fiverr include other marketplaces, such as Upwork, and assistant companies such as Stellar Staff that run the search for you. On a marketplace, you screen and manage each freelancer yourself. Our Stellar Staff vs Upwork comparison covers the other big marketplace option for a full-time assistant.
Should I use Fiverr or Stellar Staff for a full-time assistant?
Stellar Staff is built for full-time work: one dedicated assistant for 160 hours a month at $1,999 on Pro. Fiverr's hourly orders can cover ongoing work, but you pay the freelancer's rate plus Fiverr's fees and run the search yourself. Fiverr suits tasks and a few hours a week better.
What happens if my Fiverr assistant disappears, and is it safe to share logins?
Fiverr's off-platform guidance tells users to avoid sharing passwords or credit card information, which limits what a VA can handle. If a freelancer stops responding, you can request cancellation of an open order. Stellar Staff runs background and reference checks, and replacements are free, forever, on managed plans.
Stellar Staff
Stellar StaffFiverr
How we reviewed the providers
Fiverr details were reviewed on October 22, 2026 on Fiverr's own websites. Sources include the Fiverr About page, the help article on paying for orders, How Fiverr works for clients, the hourly orders article, the cancellations article, the seller levels article, the Top Rated article, the Fiverr Pro solutions page, the FAQs for clients, and Stellar Staff pricing. The Trustpilot score was read on Fiverr's Trustpilot page the same day. Fiverr's help articles state different small-order fee amounts and thresholds, so this page does not quote one, and freelancer rates are set by each freelancer. Prices and terms can change; confirm them in writing with each provider before you sign.