The best place to hire a virtual assistant depends on how much time and risk you can carry. Job boards cost least but need the most of your time. Marketplaces add choice. Agencies and managed services add cover and review. Match the option to your hours and your patience.
The best place to hire a virtual assistant is the one that fits your time, budget and risk. There are four common routes: job boards, freelancer marketplaces, agencies and managed services. None is best for everyone. This guide compares them on cost, speed, risk and who checks the work, so you can pick with clear eyes.
Best place to hire a virtual assistant: the four options
| Option | Typical cost | Your time needed | Who reviews the work | Cover if they are away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Job board or direct hire | Lowest hourly rate | High | You | None |
| Freelancer marketplace | Low to medium | Medium to high | You | Rarely |
| Virtual assistant agency | Medium to high | Medium | Varies | Often |
| Managed service | Medium, clear plans | Low | A team lead | Yes |
So what is the best place to hire a virtual assistant for you? If you have more time than money, start with a job board. If you have more money than time, choose a managed service. If you are unsure, a marketplace with a paid test is a fair middle step. The best place to hire a virtual assistant is also a place you can leave easily, so avoid long contracts at the start.
Where to hire a virtual assistant if you want the lowest rate
Job boards and direct hiring give you the widest pool at the lowest hourly rate. You write the ad, screen the people, run tests and train the winner. Then you manage them. If they leave, you start again. This route suits owners who enjoy hiring and have the hours to spare. It does not suit anyone who wants relief this week.
Freelancer marketplace: more choice, same workload
A freelancer marketplace lists many assistants with reviews and rates. It saves search time. It does not review the work or arrange cover. Quality ranges from excellent to poor. Read the reviews, ask for a paid test task and give only the access the task needs. Our guide to a virtual assistant vs a freelancer covers the trade-offs in more detail.
Virtual assistant agency or managed service
A virtual assistant agency screens people for you and often offers some cover. A managed virtual assistant service goes one step further. Trained people use AI to work faster, and a team lead reviews every task before it reaches you. You pay for hours or a plan, not for recruiting. This route costs more per hour than a job board, but it saves your time and lowers the risk of a bad hire.
Virtual assistant hiring checklist
Use this virtual assistant hiring checklist with any option:
- Write down the tasks and the hours before you look at any provider.
- Ask who reviews the work and what happens when something is wrong.
- Ask what happens when the assistant is sick or leaves.
- Run a small paid test task, not a long trial.
- Give access only to the tools the task needs.
- Check the contract length and whether unused hours expire.
- Keep your task briefs in your own folder so you can switch providers.
Our evaluation checklist has ten points to compare services before you pay.
What a managed service costs
At MyRemoteVA, a 3-hour block is $33 and pay-as-you-go is $12 an hour. The part-time plan is 80 hours for $500, and the full-time plan is 160 hours for $899, or $5.62 an hour. Unused hours roll over while your account is active. Prices are in US dollars. Use the cost calculator to see the lowest cost for your hours, and the guide to hiring a virtual assistant for the full process.
Helpful next steps
- Onboarding checklist — the first week with a new VA.
- How to write a task brief — hand off work clearly.
- Best virtual assistant services — how to compare providers.
- See pricing — from $12/hr pay-as-you-go to $5.62/hr full-time.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the cheapest place to hire a virtual assistant?
Job boards and direct hiring usually have the lowest hourly rates. You then carry the cost of finding, testing, training and covering for the person, and that cost is your own time.
Is a freelancer marketplace safe for hiring a virtual assistant?
It can work well, but quality varies. Check reviews, run a paid test task and keep access limited. The marketplace usually does not review the work for you.
What is a managed virtual assistant service?
A managed service supplies trained assistants and a team lead who reviews the work. It also handles cover when someone is away. At MyRemoteVA, pay-as-you-go is $12 an hour, and the full-time plan works out at $5.62 an hour.
How long does it take to hire a virtual assistant?
Self-hiring can take several weeks once you count posting, screening, tests and onboarding. A managed service can start with a small block of hours much sooner because the screening is already done.
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 18, 2026. Questions or corrections? Contact us.