Zirtual vs Stellar Staff (2026): Hour-Based Plans or a Full-Time Assistant?
Zirtual offers U.S.-based assistant plans from $599 for 12 hours per month. Stellar Staff Pro costs $1,999 per month for 160 hours with one dedicated full-time assistant, primarily from the Philippines. Zirtual may suit lighter workloads; Stellar Staff may suit businesses that need a full-time assistant.
Stellar Staff vs Zirtual at a glance
Zirtual is owned by PennSpring Capital and operated by PSC Zirtual Holdings, LLC in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Since February 2024 it has acquired Double, Delegated, Del.Trust (now Zirtual Paralegals), and the virtual assistant division of Virtual Gurus. Its assistant plans are Entrepreneur at $599 a month for 12 hours, Grow at $899 for 20, Small Business at $1,199 for 30 hours, and Team at $1,699 for 45. It also sells outbound calling and paralegal plans.
Stellar Staff places one dedicated full-time assistant, recruited primarily from the Philippines. Pro is $1,999 a month and Executive is $2,999, each for 160 hours. Zirtual offers U.S.-based support in hourly plans; Stellar Staff provides one dedicated full-time assistant. Which fits depends on how many hours you need and whether the assistant must be in the U.S.
Compare the model, not just the monthly price.
How do Zirtual's hourly plans differ from Stellar Staff's full-time plans?
Five practical factors reveal where the two services stop looking alike.
- Hours. Zirtual's assistant plans include 12 to 45 hours a month. Stellar Staff plans include 160.
- Price per hour. Zirtual's assistant plans work out to about $38 to $50 an hour. Stellar Staff Pro works out to about $12.50 per included hour.
- Location. Zirtual uses U.S.-based assistants. Stellar Staff recruits primarily from the Philippines.
- Hours and cancellation. Zirtual's unused hours do not roll over, and cancellation requires at least 24 hours' notice before renewal. Stellar Staff is month to month with 14 days' notice to cancel.
- Users. Zirtual plans cover one to four users, depending on the tier. Stellar Staff plans provide one dedicated assistant per plan.
Which option fits your business?
Stellar Staff
- Your workload requires a dedicated full-time assistant.
- You want one dedicated assistant rather than a block of plan hours.
- You want a lower hourly cost: about $12.50 on Pro.
- You want to interview 2 to 3 finalists before choosing.
Zirtual
- Your assistant needs to be in the United States.
- You need 12 to 45 hours a month.
- You want paralegal or outbound calling plans from the same company.
- You want plans that cover up to four users.
How do Zirtual and Stellar Staff compare on hours, pricing, and terms?
| Decision point | Stellar Staff | Zirtual |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | Founded in 2022 by Russell German | PennSpring Capital; PSC Zirtual Holdings, LLC |
| Headquarters | Newport Beach, California | Lancaster, Pennsylvania |
| Where assistants are based | Primarily the Philippines | United States |
| Hours | 160 a month | 12, 20, 30, or 45 a month |
| Monthly price | $1,999 Pro; $2,999 Executive | $599 to $1,699 |
| Hourly equivalent | About $12.50 on Pro | About $38 to $50 |
| Users | One dedicated assistant per plan | 1 to 4 users, by plan |
| Cancellation | Month to month; 14 days' notice to cancel | At least 24 hours before renewal |
| Selection | Top 0.1% of applicants; interview 2 to 3 finalists | Less than 2% of applicants hired, per an older Zirtual page |
| Search or onboarding timeline | The search takes 5 to 10 business days | Not published |
Which services does each provider sell?
Zirtual has grown by acquisition and now sells assistants, outbound calling, and paralegal support. Stellar Staff places full-time assistants across roles.
| Service | Stellar Staff | Zirtual |
|---|---|---|
| General and executive assistance | Pro and Executive plans | Four assistant plans, 12 to 45 hours |
| Calling and sales support | Full-time sales and customer service assistants | Outbound calling plans, $599 for 6 hours to $2,999 for 36 hours |
| Legal support | Full-time legal assistants | Zirtual Paralegals, $649 for 10 hours to $4,729 for 80 hours |
| Medical and real estate roles | Yes | Not listed on the pages reviewed |
| AI tools | Trained on AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Zapier) | Not specified on the pages reviewed |
| Bilingual option | +$200 a month | Not specified on the pages reviewed |
Zirtual pricing at each tier, next to Stellar Staff Pro
Per-hour figures are calculated from each published plan price.
| Plan | Monthly price | Hours | Per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zirtual Entrepreneur | $599 | 12 | About $50 |
| Zirtual Grow | $899 | 20 | About $45 |
| Zirtual Small Business | $1,199 | 30 | About $40 |
| Zirtual Team | $1,699 | 45 | About $38 |
| Stellar Staff Pro | $1,999 | 160 | About $12.50 |
Zirtual charges no setup fee, but unused hours do not roll over. Zirtual's terms restrict direct hiring during the subscription and for 12 months afterward. Unauthorized solicitation that leads an assistant to leave can trigger stated damages equal to the greater of $25,000 or a year of subscription fees. The terms include consent and jurisdiction exceptions; review the clause for your situation.
Reasons to consider Zirtual
Zirtual gives U.S.-based help at a modest monthly entry point. The Entrepreneur plan is $599 for 12 hours, and plans scale to 45 hours for teams of up to four users. There is no setup fee, and the plans are published in full.
Its acquisitions have widened the offer. Through Double, Delegated, Virtual Gurus, and Zirtual Paralegals, it now sells outbound calling and paralegal plans alongside assistants. For a firm that wants U.S.-based support shared across a few people, or legal support on a published plan, Zirtual covers needs that a single full-time hire may not.
When a full-time Stellar Staff assistant makes more sense
When your workload requires a full-time assistant, compare the total monthly price and the hours you expect to use. Stellar Staff Pro is $1,999 for 160 hours, about $12.50 an hour, and Executive is $2,999. Stellar Staff describes its cost as a third of a local hire.
You also choose the person. Stellar Staff recruits primarily from the Philippines and accepts the top 0.1% of applicants. Vetting includes 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. You interview 2 to 3 finalists.
Stellar Staff handles recruiting, payroll, HR, tracking, and replacements. Replacements are free, forever, on managed plans, and terms are month to month with 14 days' notice to cancel. Stellar Staff has placed 1,000+ remote hires since 2022.
Picking between Zirtual and Stellar Staff
Consider Zirtual if you need U.S.-based support within its published hourly plans, want to share plan hours across several users, or need paralegal or outbound calling services.
Consider Stellar Staff if your workload requires a dedicated full-time assistant and you want to interview 2 to 3 finalists. Pro costs $1,999 per month for 160 hours, about $12.50 per included hour.
Questions about Zirtual and Stellar Staff
Clear answers on pricing, hiring speed, replacements, specialization, and compliance.
How much does a Zirtual virtual assistant cost?
Zirtual's assistant plans are Entrepreneur at $599 a month for 12 hours, Grow at $899 for 20 hours, Small Business at $1,199 for 30 hours, and Team at $1,699 for 45 hours. Stellar Staff Pro is $1,999 a month for 160 hours.
Who owns Zirtual?
Zirtual's site says PennSpring Capital acquired the company, and its Terms name PSC Zirtual Holdings, LLC in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, as the operator. Its affiliated brands include Double, Virtual Gurus, Zirtual Paralegals, Delegated, and Service Center Pro.
Is Zirtual a U.S.-based virtual assistant service?
Yes. Zirtual says it uses U.S.-based assistants, so it fits buyers who need a U.S.-based virtual assistant. Stellar Staff recruits primarily from the Philippines.
Do Zirtual hours roll over?
No. Zirtual's plans do not carry unused hours into the next month. Stellar Staff plans are full-time, 160 hours a month with one dedicated assistant.
How do I cancel Zirtual?
Zirtual requires notice at least 24 hours before renewal, and cancellation takes effect at the next billing date. Stellar Staff is month to month with 14 days' notice to cancel.
Can I hire my Zirtual assistant directly?
Zirtual's terms restrict direct hiring during the subscription and for 12 months afterward. Unauthorized solicitation that leads an assistant to leave can trigger stated damages equal to the greater of $25,000 or a year of subscription fees. The terms include consent and jurisdiction exceptions; review the clause for your situation.
Which is cheaper for about 40 hours of work a month?
Zirtual's Team plan costs $1,699 per month for 45 hours, while Stellar Staff Pro costs $1,999 for 160 hours. Zirtual has the lower monthly price for that workload. Stellar Staff offers more included hours at about $12.50 per included hour, but those additional hours matter only if you expect to use them.
Is Zirtual a good option for legal work?
Zirtual Paralegals sells plans from $649 for 10 hours to $4,729 for 80 hours a month. Stellar Staff places full-time legal assistants on its Pro and Executive plans. The right choice depends on whether you need paralegal hours or a full-time assistant.
Stellar Staff
Stellar StaffZirtual
How we reviewed the providers
Zirtual's plans and pricing page, FAQ, Terms of Service, and acquisition announcements were reviewed on October 5, 2026. Stellar Staff details reflect its current plan and service terms. Sources: Zirtual plans and pricing, Zirtual Terms of Service, Zirtual on the Virtual Gurus acquisition, and Stellar Staff pricing. Zirtual does not publish a founding year on the pages reviewed. Confirm current plans with each company.