What Does 160 Hours Cost? Virtual Assist USA vs Stellar Staff (2026)
Virtual Assist USA sells prepaid packages of U.S.-based assistant hours, starting at $885 for 20 hours. Stellar Staff charges $1,999 a month for a dedicated full-time assistant working 160 hours. Virtual Assist USA is the better pick if you need 40 hours a month or fewer.
Stellar Staff vs Virtual Assist USA at a glance
Virtual Assist USA has offered virtual assistant services since 2008. Founder and CEO Danielle Cuomo is based in Pittsburgh, and the company describes its team as American, W-2 employees. Clients buy prepaid packages: $885 for 20 hours, $1,678 for 40 hours, or $2,379 for 60 hours, or they pay $47.25 an hour as they go. Hours do not expire, and there is no monthly contract. Each client gets a dedicated assistant plus backup from a wider team.
Stellar Staff was founded in 2022 in Newport Beach, California, under the name VA Support Now. Each plan is one dedicated assistant working full-time, recruited primarily from the Philippines. Pro is $1,999 a month and Executive is $2,999, each covering 160 hours. Stellar Staff runs recruiting, payroll, HR, tracking, and replacements, and the client sets the daily work. The deciding factor is volume: a few hours a week, or a full workload.
Compare the model, not just the monthly price.
How far apart are Virtual Assist USA and Stellar Staff on hours, price, and talent?
Five practical factors reveal where the two services stop looking alike.
- Pricing model. Virtual Assist USA sells prepaid hour packages that do not expire, starting at $885 for 20 hours, plus a $47.25 pay-as-you-go rate. Stellar Staff charges a flat $1,999 a month on Pro or $2,999 on Executive for one assistant working 160 hours.
- Cost per hour. Virtual Assist USA's published prices work out to $39.65 an hour on its 60-hour package and $44.25 on its 20-hour package. Stellar Staff Pro comes to about $12.50 an hour, because the plan buys a full-time schedule.
- Talent location. Virtual Assist USA says its team is American and on W-2 payroll. Stellar Staff recruits primarily from the Philippines and handles payroll and HR for each hire.
- Matching. Virtual Assist USA says it matches clients with an assistant in one business day, using DiSC assessments. For Stellar Staff, the search takes 5 to 10 business days, and you interview 2 to 3 finalists before choosing.
- Hiring the assistant yourself. Virtual Assist USA's agreement bars clients from hiring its staff during the agreement and for 12 months afterward, with $55,000 in liquidated damages. Stellar Staff offers Custom Recruitment, a direct hire onto your own payroll, for a one-time fee starting at $4,999.
Which option fits your business?
Stellar Staff
- You have 160 hours of work a month and want one person handling all of it.
- You want a full-time assistant for $1,999 a month instead of paying $39.65 or more per hour.
- You want to interview 2 to 3 finalists and make the final pick yourself.
- You want free replacements, forever, on a managed plan, with 14 days' notice to cancel.
Virtual Assist USA
- Your assistant must be a U.S.-based W-2 employee.
- You need 20 to 60 hours a month, and you want unused hours to carry over with no expiration date.
- You want to start quickly; Virtual Assist USA says it matches clients in one business day.
- You also want website design, automations, custom coding, or business coaching from the same vendor.
Comparing Virtual Assist USA and Stellar Staff before you buy hours
| Decision point | Stellar Staff | Virtual Assist USA |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2022 (formerly VA Support Now) | 2008 |
| Company base | Newport Beach, California | Virtual Assist USA, LLC; founder based in Pittsburgh; Pennsylvania law governs its agreement |
| Where assistants work | Primarily the Philippines | United States |
| Worker status | Stellar Staff handles payroll and HR | American, W-2 employees, per its homepage |
| How you buy | Flat monthly plan | Prepaid hour packages, or pay as you go |
| Starting price | $1,999/month Pro; $2,999/month Executive | $885 for 20 hours |
| Hourly equivalent | About $12.50 on Pro | $39.65 to $47.25, from its published prices |
| Hours | Full-time, 160 hours a month | Packages of 20, 40, or 60 hours; hours do not expire |
| Contract | Month to month; 14 days' notice to cancel | No monthly contract or minimums; services are prepaid |
| Time to match | The search takes 5 to 10 business days | One business day, per its homepage |
| Choosing your assistant | Interview 2 to 3 finalists | Matched by Virtual Assist USA using DiSC assessments |
| If the assistant is out or not a fit | Free replacements, forever, on managed plans | A backup assistant covers vacations and sick days; replacement terms not stated |
| Direct hire onto your payroll | Custom Recruitment: one-time fee starting at $4,999 | No direct-hire option stated; hiring its staff within 12 months after the agreement carries $55,000 in liquidated damages |
| Screening | Top 0.1% of applicants; reference and background checks | Background-checked, bonded, and insured staff, per its homepage |
Task coverage at Virtual Assist USA and Stellar Staff
Virtual Assist USA groups its work into assistant, technical and web, and consulting services. Stellar Staff places dedicated full-time assistants across common business roles.
| Work | Stellar Staff | Virtual Assist USA |
|---|---|---|
| Executive and calendar support | Yes; Executive plan at $2,999 | Admin and executive support |
| Email, files, and travel | Yes | Yes, under admin and personal assistance |
| Sales support and CRM updates | Yes | Sales and lead generation support |
| Marketing and social media | Yes | Digital marketing, including social posting and email campaigns |
| Bookkeeping and invoicing | Yes, as a full-time assistant role | Financial support, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, and invoicing |
| Legal support | Yes | Paralegal support and a law firm industry page |
| Healthcare support | Yes | HIPAA-certified assistants, per its site |
| Website design and custom coding | Depends on the hire; confirm the skills you need | Technical and web services |
| Business coaching and strategy | Not a Stellar Staff service | Fractional coaches and strategists |
| AI tools | Trained on AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Zapier) | Automations, under its technical and web services |
| Bilingual assistant | +$200 a month | Not stated on its site |
How does Virtual Assist USA pricing compare at 20, 40, and 160 hours?
Virtual Assist USA prices by the block of hours, and Stellar Staff prices by the month. We calculated Virtual Assist USA's 160-hour costs from its published prices; it does not sell a 160-hour package.
| Cost item | Stellar Staff | Virtual Assist USA | Local full-time hire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smallest purchase | $1,999 a month on Pro | $885 for 20 hours | A full salary |
| 40 hours a month | Not sold; plans are full-time | $1,678 | Part-time wages |
| 160 hours a month | $1,999 Pro; $2,999 Executive | $6,712 as four 40-hour packages; $7,560 pay as you go | Salary, taxes, and benefits |
| Hourly equivalent | About $12.50 on Pro | $39.65 to $47.25 | Varies by market |
| Recruiting and payroll | Included | Included; staff are its W-2 employees | Your business |
| Replacement | Free, forever, on managed plans | Backup assistant included; replacement terms not stated | A new search |
| Relative cost | A third of the cost of a local hire | No overhead cost to the client, per its site | Baseline |
If you need 40 hours a month or fewer, Virtual Assist USA's smaller packages cost less in total than any Stellar Staff plan. Once the work reaches full-time, Stellar Staff's flat price is far lower per hour, though the assistant works primarily from the Philippines rather than the United States.
Where Virtual Assist USA has the edge
Virtual Assist USA has a long record. It has offered assistant services since 2008, and its homepage cites 480K hours saved for clients across more than 60 industries. Its assistants are U.S.-based, and the company says they are W-2 employees who are background-checked, bonded, insured, and bound by NDAs. For healthcare clients, it describes HIPAA-certified assistants.
Its buying model suits light or uneven workloads. You can start with 20 hours, buy more when needed, and keep unused hours, since they do not expire. There are no onboarding fees, no monthly contract, and unlimited users on a package. Each client gets a dedicated assistant, a supervisor, and a backup assistant for vacations and sick days. Virtual Assist USA also sells website design, automations, custom coding, and fractional coaching, so one vendor can cover more than admin work.
How a full-time Stellar Staff hire compares with a prepaid hour bank
Virtual Assist USA sells time in blocks. Stellar Staff places one dedicated full-time assistant. Pro is $1,999 a month for 160 hours, about $12.50 an hour, and Executive is $2,999. At Virtual Assist USA's published prices, the same 160 hours would cost $6,712 in 40-hour packages. The tradeoff is location: Stellar Staff recruits primarily from the Philippines, while Virtual Assist USA staff work in the United States.
Selection works differently, too. Virtual Assist USA matches you with an assistant using DiSC assessments. Stellar Staff receives thousands of applicants a month and accepts the top 0.1%, screening 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 interview 2 to 3 finalists and choose. The search takes 5 to 10 business days.
The exit terms differ as well. Stellar Staff is month to month with 14 days' notice, replacements are free, forever, on managed plans, and Custom Recruitment can place a hire on your own payroll for a one-time fee starting at $4,999. Virtual Assist USA's agreement sets $55,000 in liquidated damages if you hire its staff during the agreement or within 12 months after it ends.
Who should hire Virtual Assist USA, and who should hire Stellar Staff?
Pick Virtual Assist USA if you need a U.S.-based assistant for 60 hours a month or less, you want hours that never expire, or you want web and consulting help from the same company. Read its non-solicitation clause before you sign.
Pick Stellar Staff if you have a full-time workload and want one dedicated assistant at a published $1,999 a month, a choice among 2 to 3 finalists, and month-to-month terms. You should be comfortable with an assistant based primarily in the Philippines.
Questions on Virtual Assist USA pricing, reviews, and hiring its staff
Clear answers on pricing, hiring speed, replacements, specialization, and compliance.
How much does Virtual Assist USA cost?
Virtual Assist USA sells prepaid packages: $885 for 20 hours, $1,678 for 40 hours, and $2,379 for 60 hours, or $47.25 an hour pay as you go. Hours do not expire, and paying by ACH, Zelle, or wire earns a 2% discount. Stellar Staff Pro is $1,999 a month for 160 hours with one dedicated assistant.
Is Virtual Assist USA legit, and what do reviews say?
Virtual Assist USA, LLC has operated since 2008 under founder and CEO Danielle Cuomo, and its homepage shows named client testimonials and case results. Its site does not display an overall star rating or review count, so read independent review sites before deciding. For comparison, Stellar Staff is the #2 VA agency on Clutch.
Are Virtual Assist USA assistants employees or contractors?
Virtual Assist USA's homepage describes its assistants as American, W-2 employees who are bonded and insured, and its company page calls this an onshore, employee model. Stellar Staff handles recruiting, payroll, HR, and tracking for its hires, who work primarily from the Philippines, and you direct the daily work. Confirm worker status in writing if compliance requires it.
What are some alternatives to Virtual Assist USA?
Alternatives to Virtual Assist USA include other U.S.-based services such as BELAY and Zirtual, hour-based plans such as Time Etc, and full-time offshore providers such as Stellar Staff. They differ on where the assistant lives, whether you buy hours or a full-time hire, and whether pricing is published. Stellar Staff Pro is $1,999 a month.
Can I cancel Virtual Assist USA at any time?
Virtual Assist USA has no monthly contract, and either side can end the agreement with written notice. Its agreement says services are prepaid, reserved time blocks need one week's written notice to change, and appointments canceled with less than 24 hours' notice are billed at half the scheduled time. Stellar Staff is month to month with 14 days' notice.
What happens if my Virtual Assist USA assistant is out or not a fit?
Virtual Assist USA says each client gets a backup assistant for vacations and sick days, plus a supervisor and access to a wider team. Its site does not state a formal replacement policy for a poor fit. Stellar Staff's managed plans include free replacements, forever, and you choose your hire from 2 to 3 finalists.
How fast can Virtual Assist USA match me with an assistant?
Virtual Assist USA's homepage says it matches clients with an assistant in one business day, and it says most small tasks are done within a business day or two. For Stellar Staff, the search takes 5 to 10 business days, and you interview 2 to 3 finalists before choosing a full-time assistant.
Can I hire my Virtual Assist USA assistant directly?
Virtual Assist USA's service agreement bars clients from hiring or contracting with its staff during the agreement and for 12 months afterward. It sets $55,000 as liquidated damages for a breach. Stellar Staff offers Custom Recruitment, a direct hire onto your own payroll, for a one-time fee starting at $4,999, as an option alongside its monthly plans.
Stellar Staff
Stellar StaffVirtual Assist USA
How we reviewed the providers
Virtual Assist USA details were reviewed on October 13, 2026 on the company's own website. Sources include Virtual Assist USA pricing, Virtual Assist USA service agreement, Virtual Assist USA company page, Virtual Assist USA homepage, Virtual Assist USA assistant services, Virtual Assist USA security page, and Stellar Staff pricing. Hourly equivalents and 160-hour totals for Virtual Assist USA are calculated from its published package and hourly prices. Prices and terms can change, so confirm them in writing with each provider before you sign.