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Prialto vs Virtual Wizards for Executive Assistant Talent (2026)
The short answer: Prialto sells a managed assistant system: a primary assistant, backup assistants, an Engagement Manager, and documented processes, all run by Prialto. Virtual Wizards helps you hire one dedicated, full-time executive assistant directly, who becomes part of your team.
★★★★★
Rated on Google
Our pick
VS
Prialto
Executive assistant talent • Checked November 11, 2026
$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
Quick verdict
Which one fits you?
So the question is: do you need a system, or do you need a person?
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If you want a vendor to design your processes, keep backups trained, and manage continuity, Prialto is built for that.
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If you want a full-time EA who learns your business and works for you, at a lower annual cost, Virtual Wizards is built for that.
Our pick
Choose Virtual Wizards if
✓
You want one dedicated EA who knows your business, your people, and your preferences.
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You want a full-time EA at roughly half the annual cost of a full-time managed seat.
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You prefer to own the relationship, with no ongoing vendor or minimum term.
✓
You're comfortable setting up your own processes and backup plan.
Alternative
Choose Prialto if
•
Continuity matters more than anything. You want trained backups ready when your assistant is out.
•
You want an Engagement Manager to help design and improve your delegation processes.
•
You'd rather your assistant be employed and managed by a vendor.
•
You need fractional hours (55 a month) rather than a full-time person.
Disclosure: Virtual Wizards publishes this comparison. Prialto details come from Prialto's public pricing and company pages, checked November 11, 2026. Confirm current terms in writing before you sign.
Side by side
Prialto vs Virtual Wizards at a Glance
Virtual Wizards
Prialto
What you're buying
Virtual Wizards
A recruiting service: help hiring one dedicated EA who then works for you
Prialto
A managed service: primary assistant + backups + Engagement Manager + process design
Who employs the assistant
Virtual Wizards
You hire your EA directly
Prialto
Prialto (assistants are Prialto employees with benefits)
Talent location
Virtual Wizards
Latin America
Prialto
Service centers in Latin America, Africa, and Asia
Fractional option
Virtual Wizards
Not offered; full-time placements (part-time searches possible)
Prialto
$1,600/month for 55 hours
Full-time option
Virtual Wizards
$2,000 one-time, then salary (typically $1,500–$2,200/month) paid directly
Prialto
From $3,600/month for 165+ hours
Setup fee
Virtual Wizards
No setup fee beyond the placement fee
Prialto
$250, waived with a one-year agreement
Minimum commitment
Virtual Wizards
None after placement
Prialto
90 days per unit
Backup coverage
Virtual Wizards
Not included; you plan coverage
Prialto
Included; on the fractional plan, backup coverage "starts at 80%"
Process support
Virtual Wizards
You set processes; we support you through hiring
Prialto
Engagement Manager helps design and optimize processes
If it's not a fit
Virtual Wizards
6-month free replacement guarantee
Prialto
Managed by Prialto
Company profile
How Prialto Works
Prialto's company history dates its launch to 2009, when founder Eric Taussig started it in Silicon Valley as Prialto Personal Outsourcing with four Productivity Assistants in Guatemala City. (Taussig's professional profile dates his involvement to 2008.) The company is now based in Portland, Oregon, with service centers in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
Prialto isn't a recruiter that introduces a candidate and steps back. It hires, trains, and manages assistants as its own employees, and delivers support through a system:
1
A primary assistant who handles your day-to-day work
2
Backup assistants trained on your account
3
An Engagement Manager who helps design processes, troubleshoot, and improve how you delegate
4
Documented processes and ongoing training for continuity
Prialto's published pricing
Plan
Price
Hours
Effective Hourly Rate
Fractional dedicated assistant
Price
$1,600/month per unit
Hours
55 hours/month
Effective Hourly Rate
~$29.09
Full-time dedicated assistant
Price
From $3,600/month
Hours
165+ hours/month
Effective Hourly Rate
~$21.82
Enterprise
Price
Custom
Hours
550+ hours (10+ units)
Effective Hourly Rate
Custom
Other published terms:
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$250 setup fee, waived with a one-year agreement
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90-day minimum per unit
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Free occasional overflow instead of automatic overage billing
One discrepancy to check: Prialto's main pricing table shows $1,600 for the fractional plan, but other sections of the same page still mention $1,500. Ask which applies.
On backups: the fractional plan says backup coverage "starts at 80%." The full-time plan describes cross-trained backup support. Backups are a real part of the offer, but don't assume identical coverage on every plan during every absence. Ask what's covered for yours.
What Prialto does well
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Continuity by design: trained backups and documented processes
✓
An Engagement Manager who helps you delegate better
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Assistants employed with benefits
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Fractional hours for leaders who don't need a full-time person
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More than 15 years of operating history
Company profile
How Virtual Wizards Works
Virtual Wizards takes the opposite approach: one person, fully dedicated to you.
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.
What stays with you
With a direct hire, the things Prialto builds into its service become yours: writing down processes, cross-training a backup (or planning around time off), and managing performance. Many founders already do this for their team, but it's a real trade-off. Be honest with yourself about it.
Compare
Do You Need a System or a Person?
If this sounds like you...
Better fit
"I can't afford any gap when my assistant is out."
Better fit
Prialto
"I want someone to help me figure out how to delegate."
Better fit
Prialto
"I only need about 2–3 hours of help a day."
Better fit
Prialto (fractional)
"I want one person who knows my business inside and out."
Better fit
Virtual Wizards
"I want my EA on my team, not a vendor's."
Better fit
Virtual Wizards
"I need full-time help and want to keep costs down."
Better fit
Virtual Wizards
"I already know what I want to hand off."
Better fit
Virtual Wizards
Cost
What Each Costs for Full-Time Support
Year 1
Year 2
2-Year Total
Prialto full-time (from $3,600/mo + $250 setup)
Year 1
$43,450
Year 2
$43,200
2-Year Total
$86,650
Virtual Wizards ($2,000 fee + $1,800/mo salary)
Year 1
$23,600
Year 2
$21,600
2-Year Total
$45,200
Two-year difference: about $41,450 per full-time assistant. If you sign Prialto's one-year agreement, the $250 setup fee is waived and the difference is $41,200.
Per hour: Prialto full-time works out to about $21.82 per allocated hour ($3,600 ÷ 165). A Virtual Wizards EA at $1,800/month for about 173 hours is about $10.40 per hour, or about $11.37 including the placement fee in year one.
Assumptions: Prialto uses its published "from" price; your quote may be higher depending on scope. Virtual Wizards uses an illustrative $1,800/month salary within our typical $1,500–$2,200 range. Figures exclude optional bonuses and software.
What the extra cost buys
Prialto's price includes things a direct hire doesn't: backups, an Engagement Manager, process design, and the assistant's employment and benefits. If you'd have to build all of that yourself, count it in. If you mainly need one excellent person, you're paying for a system you may not use.
Why people switch
Why Leaders Look for a Prialto Alternative
01
They want one person, not a team rotation.
Some executives prefer a single EA who knows every relationship and preference.
02
Cost at full-time scale.
$3,600+ a month is a significant recurring cost for one seat.
03
Commitment.
A 90-day minimum per unit and a vendor relationship that doesn't end.
04
They already have processes.
Leaders who know exactly what to delegate may not need an Engagement Manager.
Decision guide
Who Should Choose What
Our pick
Virtual Wizards is the better choice for founders and executives who want one dedicated, full-time EA who becomes part of the team, at about half the annual cost, and who are ready to manage that person directly.
Hire a dedicated executive assistant directlyAlternative
Prialto is the better choice for leaders and teams that value continuity above everything, want help designing how they delegate, or only need fractional hours, and are willing to pay for a managed system.
FAQ
Prialto vs Virtual Wizards: common questions
How much does Prialto cost?
Prialto's main pricing table lists $1,600/month for 55 hours (fractional) and from $3,600/month for 165+ hours (full-time). There's a $250 setup fee, waived with a one-year agreement, and a 90-day minimum per unit. Other sections of the same page still mention $1,500 for the fractional plan, so confirm current pricing.
Are Prialto assistants employees?
Yes. Prialto says its assistants are Prialto employees with benefits. With Virtual Wizards, you hire your EA directly.
Does Prialto include backup assistants?
Yes, backups are part of Prialto's service. On the fractional plan, backup coverage "starts at 80%"; ask what's covered on your plan.
When was Prialto founded?
Prialto's company history dates its launch to 2009 in Silicon Valley. Its founder's professional profile dates his involvement to 2008.
Is Prialto cheaper than hiring an EA directly?
For fractional hours, Prialto can cost less in total. For full-time support, a direct hire through Virtual Wizards costs about $23,600 in year one, compared with about $43,450 for Prialto full-time at its starting price.
What does Prialto's Engagement Manager do?
The Engagement Manager helps design and optimize your processes, troubleshoots delivery issues, and helps you delegate more effectively.
Keep reading
Related reading
Last verified November 11, 2026, from Prialto's public pricing and company pages. Prices, backup coverage, and commitments can change; confirm in a written agreement. Prialto is a trademark of its owner. Virtual Wizards is not affiliated with Prialto.
Hire a full-time executive assistant directly
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$2,000 one-time fee. 100% of salary goes to your EA. 6-month replacement guarantee.