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Virtual Executive Assistant Services Compared (2026)
Virtual Wizards side by side with BELAY, Boldly, Prialto, and Viva Talent: the model, the hours you get, what it costs, and who each one fits. Every comparison uses the provider’s public website, checked November 11, 2026.
The short version: managed and part-time services sell you hours of support every month. Virtual Wizards helps you hire a full-time executive assistant directly for a one-time $2,000 fee, and then you pay the EA’s salary and nothing else.
★★★★★
Rated on Google
BELAY
Boldly
Prialto
Viva Talent
Our pick
$2,000
one-time placement fee
~173 hrs
a month from a full-time EA
100%
of salary goes to your EA
6 months
free replacement guarantee
At a glance
Five executive assistant services, side by side
What you are actually buying from each one.
Service
Model
Talent location
Hours
Pricing
If it's not a fit
Virtual Wizards
Model
Direct hire: the EA works for you
Talent location
Latin America
Hours
Full-time (about 173 hours/month)
Pricing
$2,000 one-time, then salary (typically $1,500–$2,200/month) paid directly
If it's not a fit
6-month free replacement guarantee
BELAY
Model
Matched, managed fractional support
Talent location
United States
Hours
Many clients start at 10–20 hours a week
Pricing
Custom flat monthly rate, quoted after a scoping call
If it's not a fit
Right-Fit Guarantee: rematch at no extra cost
Boldly
Model
Premium part-time subscription
Talent location
North America and Europe
Hours
40–100 hours/month; up to 160 by custom quote
Pricing
$65/hour ($2,600/month for 40 hours)
If it's not a fit
Advertised lifetime satisfaction guarantee
Prialto
Model
Managed system: assistant, backups, Engagement Manager
Talent location
Latin America, Africa, and Asia
Hours
55 hours (fractional) or 165+ hours (full-time)
Pricing
$1,600/month fractional; from $3,600/month full-time
If it's not a fit
Managed by Prialto
Viva Talent
Model
Managed subscription
Talent location
10 Central and South American countries
Hours
Full-time
Pricing
$3,999 / $4,999 / $5,999 per month, billed quarterly
If it's not a fit
Rematching at no cost
Details from each provider’s public website, checked November 11, 2026. BELAY doesn’t publish a standard executive assistant rate. Confirm current terms in writing before you sign.
Head-to-head
Pick a comparison
Each page covers the model, the hours, the cost over two years, and who should choose which, with a cost calculator and a fit finder.
vs
BELAY vs Virtual Wizards
U.S.-based fractional executive support on a custom monthly quote, or a full-time Latin American EA you hire directly.
BELAY: best if your assistant must be U.S.-based and you need 10–20 hours a week.
Read the full comparison vs
Boldly vs Virtual Wizards
Senior part-time assistants at about $65 an hour, or a full working month of a dedicated EA.
Boldly: best if you want a 10–15-year veteran for part of the week.
Read the full comparison vs
Prialto vs Virtual Wizards
A managed system with backups and an Engagement Manager, or one dedicated EA who works for you.
Prialto: best if continuity matters more than anything.
Read the full comparison vs
Viva Talent vs Virtual Wizards
The same Latin American talent region: a managed subscription from $3,999 a month, or a one-time $2,000 fee.
Viva Talent: best if you want the vendor to manage and coach your EA.
Read the full comparisonCost
What two years of support costs
Published prices, two years, one assistant. The hours column matters as much as the price.
Option
Hours a month
Year 1
Year 2
2-Year Total
Virtual Wizards ($2,000 fee + $1,800/mo salary)
Hours a month
~173
Year 1
$23,600
Year 2
$21,600
2-Year Total
$45,200
Prialto full-time (from $3,600/mo + $250 setup)
Hours a month
165+
Year 1
$43,450
Year 2
$43,200
2-Year Total
$86,650
Viva Starter ($3,999/mo)
Hours a month
Full-time
Year 1
$47,988
Year 2
$47,988
2-Year Total
$95,976
Boldly, 40 hrs/month ($2,600)
Hours a month
40
Year 1
$31,200
Year 2
$31,200
2-Year Total
$62,400
Boldly, 100 hrs/month ($6,500)
Hours a month
100
Year 1
$78,000
Year 2
$78,000
2-Year Total
$156,000
BELAY
Hours a month
Custom
Year 1
Custom quote
Year 2
Custom quote
2-Year Total
No published EA rate
Assumptions: competitor figures use each provider’s published standard or starting prices (Boldly by ACH; Prialto’s “from” price and $250 setup fee, waived with a one-year agreement; Viva before any onboarding fee or backfill add-on). Virtual Wizards uses an illustrative $1,800/month salary within our typical $1,500–$2,200 range, plus the one-time fee in year one. Excludes optional bonuses and software. BELAY quotes custom pricing, so it has no published figure.
Per hour: a Virtual Wizards EA at $1,800/month works out to about $10.40 an hour (about $11.37 with the placement fee in year one), compared with Boldly’s standard $65 and about $21.82 for Prialto full-time.
Decision guide
Which type of service fits you?
None of these is the wrong choice for everyone. Match the service to how you work.
Your situation
Better fit
You need a full-time EA every day, want the lowest cost per hour, and want the EA on your own team
Better fit
Virtual Wizards
Your assistant must be U.S.-based and you need about 10–20 hours a week
Better fit
BELAY
You want a 10–15-year veteran in North America or Europe for part of the week
Better fit
Boldly
You can’t afford any gap when your assistant is out and want help designing how you delegate
Better fit
Prialto
You are a scaling tech team that wants the vendor to manage performance, training, and coaching
Better fit
Viva Talent
How Virtual Wizards works
One dedicated EA, hired directly
Virtual Wizards is a direct-hire recruiting partner for Latin American executive assistants.
1
We scope the role: your inbox, calendar, travel, meetings, and projects.
2
We screen Latin American candidates for C1+ English, EA experience, tool fit, and availability in your time zone.
3
You get a shortlist, typically within 72 hours, and you interview and choose.
4
You pay $2,000 once.
5
Your EA works full-time, for you only, and you pay them directly. 100% goes to your EA.
6
If it doesn’t work out within six months, we replace them free.
Virtual Wizards isn’t a managed service. After placement, you direct the work, handle payment, and plan coverage for vacations and sick days. If you want a vendor to stay involved in the relationship, a managed service may suit you better.
FAQ
Comparing executive assistant services
Which executive assistant service is cheapest for full-time support?
Using published prices, a full-time EA hired directly through Virtual Wizards costs about $23,600 in year one ($2,000 fee plus an illustrative $1,800/month salary), compared with about $43,450 for Prialto full-time at its starting price and $47,988 for Viva Starter. Boldly’s largest standard plan (100 hours a month) is $78,000 a year. BELAY quotes custom pricing.
Which services use U.S.-based assistants?
BELAY provides U.S.-based assistants. Boldly’s assistants are based in North America and Europe, and its U.S. staff are Boldly employees. Prialto has service centers in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Viva Talent and Virtual Wizards place full-time EAs in Latin America who work U.S. business hours.
Which services include backup coverage?
Boldly includes a trained backup for vacation or sickness. Prialto includes backup assistants (on its fractional plan, backup coverage “starts at 80%”). Viva includes leave backfill on its Enterprise plan. BELAY advertises rematching; confirm temporary backup coverage. With Virtual Wizards, you plan coverage as you would for any direct hire.
Which services are part-time?
BELAY (many clients start at 10–20 hours a week), Boldly (40–100 hours a month on standard plans), and Prialto’s fractional plan (55 hours a month). Prialto also offers full-time support. Viva Talent and Virtual Wizards are full-time.
Why does Virtual Wizards cost less?
Virtual Wizards is a direct-hire recruiting partner, not a managed service. You pay a one-time $2,000 placement fee, then pay your EA directly, and 100% of what you pay goes to your EA. There is no recurring agency fee after placement.
What do the managed services include that a direct hire doesn’t?
Depending on the provider: backups, an Engagement Manager or Customer Success Manager, training before start, coaching and performance management, and the assistant’s employment. With a direct hire, you direct the work, handle payment, and plan coverage for time off.
What guarantee does each service offer?
BELAY: Right-Fit Guarantee, a rematch at no extra cost. Boldly: an advertised lifetime satisfaction guarantee that refunds the month’s fees. Viva Talent: rematching at no cost. Prialto manages fit as part of its service. Virtual Wizards: a six-month free replacement guarantee.
How current is this information?
Each comparison was checked against the provider’s public website on November 11, 2026. Prices, policies, and terms can change, so confirm everything in a written agreement before you sign.
Virtual Wizards publishes these comparisons. Details for BELAY, Boldly, Prialto, and Viva Talent come from each company’s public website, checked November 11, 2026. All are trademarks of their owners; Virtual Wizards is not affiliated with them. Pricing and policies can change; confirm everything in a written agreement.
Hire a full-time executive assistant directly
On a free 30-minute call you will…
✓
Map the inbox, calendar, travel, and projects you want to hand off
✓
See salary ranges for the EA you need
✓
Get a shortlist of vetted LATAM EAs, typically within 72 hours
$2,000 one-time fee. 100% of salary goes to your EA. 6-month replacement guarantee.