A 24 hour virtual assistant is not one person. No one can work around the clock. You can get close with several assistants on shifts, or with a team that covers set hours and hands work over each day. Most small firms need cover for their own working hours, not all 24.
Searching for a 24 hour virtual assistant? Here is the honest answer first. No single person can work around the clock. What you can build is cover: a plan that makes sure the right work is done at the right time. This guide shows what is realistic, what it costs and how to choose the hours you really need.
Why a 24 hour virtual assistant cannot be one person
A full-time working month is about 160 hours. A month of round-the-clock cover is about 720 hours. That is several full-time people, plus cover for days off. Anyone who promises one assistant "24/7" is either selling a team or stretching the truth.
What you probably need instead
Ask a better question: which hours cost me money when nobody replies? For many firms the answer is simple.
- Your own working day: an assistant on your hours handles email, calendar and tasks while you work.
- The first hour of the morning: a clean inbox and a plan for the day, ready when you start.
- The end of the day: a hand-off note so nothing is dropped overnight.
An assistant who reviews the inbox at set times often gives you the speed you wanted, at a fraction of the cost.
How shift cover works
If you do need more hours, you can plan shifts. Our team works from Kerala, India, and we plan each shift around your time zone. For a US, UK, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand or UAE business, that means an assistant online during your working day, with the day or night hours that suit you. For longer cover, two or three assistants can work in turn and leave notes for each other.
What it costs
- One full-time assistant: from $5.62 an hour, which is 160 hours for $899 a month.
- Part-time: 80 hours for $500 a month.
- Pay-as-you-go: $12 an hour, with hours that never expire.
More shifts mean more people and more hours, so the cost grows with the hours you add. Start with the hours that matter most, and add more only if you see the need.
A simple example of 24 hour virtual assistant cover
Say you run an online shop with customers in Europe and the US. A single 24 hour virtual assistant would be impossible, but a plan with two shifts works. One assistant covers the early part of your day. A second covers the evening. At the end of each shift, they leave a short note: what was done, what is waiting and what needs your decision. You read two short notes instead of watching the inbox all day. If one assistant is away, the team lead covers the gap.
Before you add a second shift, count how many messages really arrive in the quiet hours. If it is a handful, one shift and a good auto reply will do the job.
Make out-of-hours work without extra staff
- Write an out-of-hours auto reply that says when people will hear back.
- Make short templates for common questions.
- Ask your assistant to check the inbox at set times, such as the start and end of your day.
- Use a shared task list, so nothing depends on memory.
Where AI helps
Your assistant is a real person. AI helps them sort messages, draft replies and summarise long threads faster. A person checks each reply, and a team lead reviews the work, so quality stays high without extra hours.
Not sure which hours to cover? Compare plans, read how offshore assistants cover your hours, or see pay-as-you-go virtual assistants. When you are ready, start for $1 and tell us your hours.
Frequently asked questions
Can one virtual assistant work 24 hours a day?
No. One person cannot work around the clock. To cover 24 hours you need several assistants on shifts, which also costs several times more.
How many hours does a full-time virtual assistant work?
A full-time dedicated MyRemoteVA assistant works 160 hours a month, for $899. We plan the shifts around your working day, so they are online when you need them.
Do I need round the clock cover?
Most small businesses do not. If your customers write at night, a morning review of the inbox is often enough. Cover only the hours where a delay costs you money.
What is a cheaper way to get fast replies?
Set clear rules and templates, ask your assistant to review the inbox at set times, and use an out-of-hours auto reply that says when people will hear back.
What is doing this yourself costing you?
Doing it yourself: $2,165 a month of your time.
The same hours at our $12/hr pay-as-you-go rate: $520. Dedicated plans start at $5.62/hr.
Simple maths from the numbers you enter. It assumes a VA can take on those hours.
Start for $1Written by the MyRemoteVA team. Search-trend figures come from Google Trends. Prices shown are our current plans. Last updated October 9, 2026. Questions or corrections? Contact us.