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Viva Talent vs Virtual Wizards for Executive Assistant Talent (2026)
The short answer: Viva Talent and Virtual Wizards both connect you with full-time executive assistants in Latin America who work U.S. business hours. The difference is the relationship:
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Viva sells a managed subscription. You pay Viva from $3,999 a month, billed quarterly, and Viva recruits, trains, manages, and coaches your EA.
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Virtual Wizards helps you hire the EA directly. You pay a one-time $2,000 fee, then pay your EA's salary yourself, typically $1,500–$2,200 a month.
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Our pick
VS
Viva Talent
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?
Same talent region, same full-time model, different arrangement. Over two years, that difference adds up to tens of thousands of dollars per EA.
Our pick
Choose Virtual Wizards if
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You want a full-time LATAM EA at about half the annual cost.
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You want to hire the EA directly, set their pay, and keep the relationship.
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You'd rather pay once than every quarter.
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You can direct your EA's work yourself.
Alternative
Choose Viva if
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You want the vendor to manage your EA's performance, training, and coaching on an ongoing basis.
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You want a Customer Success Manager involved in the relationship.
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You're a scaling tech company that wants a structured, done-for-you program and is comfortable with quarterly billing.
Disclosure: Virtual Wizards publishes this comparison. Viva details come from Viva's public pricing and company pages, checked November 11, 2026. Read our full Viva Talent review for more background.
Side by side
Viva vs Virtual Wizards at a Glance
Virtual Wizards
Viva Talent
Model
Virtual Wizards
Direct hire
Viva Talent
Managed subscription
Talent
Virtual Wizards
Full-time EAs across Latin America
Viva Talent
Full-time EAs in 10 Central and South American countries
Hours
Virtual Wizards
Your U.S. time zone, confirmed per candidate
Viva Talent
Aligned with North American business hours
Pricing
Virtual Wizards
$2,000 one-time, then salary paid directly to your EA
Viva Talent
$3,999 / $4,999 / $5,999 per month
Billing
Virtual Wizards
Placement fee once; you pay salary on your own schedule
Viva Talent
Quarterly ($11,997 / $14,997 / $17,997 per quarter)
Renewal
Virtual Wizards
No ongoing contract with Virtual Wizards
Viva Talent
Renews on the quarterly or annual cadence chosen at signup
Management
Virtual Wizards
You manage your EA
Viva Talent
Viva manages performance, retention, training, and coaching
Customer Success Manager
Virtual Wizards
Not applicable; we support you through hiring
Viva Talent
Included
Training before start
Virtual Wizards
Screened for existing EA experience; you onboard to your systems
Viva Talent
4 weeks of Viva University
Vacation and leave backfill
Virtual Wizards
Not included
Viva Talent
Included on Enterprise; not included by default on Starter or Enhanced
If it's not a fit
Virtual Wizards
6-month free replacement guarantee
Viva Talent
Rematching at no cost
English
Virtual Wizards
C1+ screened
Viva Talent
C1–C2, per Viva
Company profile
How Viva Talent Works
Viva was co-founded by Adnan Khan and Fineas Tatar, who are co-CEOs, with headquarters in Toronto and a team across Latin America. It focuses on dedicated executive support for scaling companies, especially tech leadership teams, and says it serves more than 300 executives.
According to Viva's website:
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Each EA is full-time and dedicated to one client company.
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EAs work across ten countries in Central and South America, aligned with North American business hours.
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Every EA completes four weeks of Viva University before starting.
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Minimum qualifications include an undergraduate degree, two years of professional experience, and C1–C2 English.
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A Customer Success Manager supports each account, and Viva manages performance, retention, training, and coaching.
Viva's published plans
Plan
Monthly
Billed Quarterly
Executives Supported
Leave Backfill
Starter
Monthly
$3,999
Billed Quarterly
$11,997
Executives Supported
1
Leave Backfill
Not included
Enhanced
Monthly
$4,999
Billed Quarterly
$14,997
Executives Supported
Up to 2
Leave Backfill
Not included
Enterprise
Monthly
$5,999
Billed Quarterly
$17,997
Executives Supported
Up to 3
Leave Backfill
Included
All plans include a dedicated CSM, pre-pairing training, and no-cost rematching.
Two details founders should check
1. "CEOs, Owners, and Founders count as 2 users." Viva's pricing page says this, while also describing Starter as supporting one executive. The page doesn't explain how the two fit together. If you're a founder, ask in writing whether you qualify for Starter ($3,999) or need Enhanced ($4,999). That's a $12,000-a-year difference.
2. Leave backfill. Coverage for your EA's vacation or leave is only included on Enterprise. On Starter and Enhanced, Viva says it can be added or coordinated through your CSM. Ask what that costs.
Also ask about onboarding fees. The main pricing table doesn't list one, but one of Viva's service pages mentions a one-time onboarding fee.
What Viva does well
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A structured, fully managed program: recruiting, training, coaching, and retention handled for you
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Pre-start training through Viva University
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A Customer Success Manager as an ongoing point of contact
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A focus on scaling tech companies, with support for multiple executives on higher plans
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Rematching at no cost
Company profile
How Virtual Wizards Works
Virtual Wizards recruits from the same broad talent region, but you hire the EA directly.
1
We scope the role with you.
2
We screen 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, and you pay them directly. 100% of what you pay goes to your EA.
6
If it doesn't work out within six months, we replace them free.
What stays with you
You're the manager. You onboard your EA to your systems, set priorities, give feedback, and plan coverage for vacations. If you want a vendor to take on coaching and performance management, that's what Viva's subscription is built for.
Cost
Same Talent Region, Different Cost
Both companies give you a full-time Latin American EA. Here's what each costs over two years, using published prices.
Year 1
Year 2
2-Year Total
Viva Starter ($3,999/mo)
Year 1
$47,988
Year 2
$47,988
2-Year Total
$95,976
Viva Enhanced ($4,999/mo)
Year 1
$59,988
Year 2
$59,988
2-Year Total
$119,976
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 against Viva Starter: $50,776 per EA. Against Enhanced, which is the plan founders may need: $74,776.
Assumptions: Viva figures are published monthly prices × 12, before any onboarding fee or backfill add-on. Virtual Wizards uses an illustrative $1,800/month salary (our typical range is $1,500–$2,200), plus the one-time fee in year one. It excludes optional bonuses and software.
What the extra cost buys
To be fair, Viva's price isn't just the EA's pay. It includes four weeks of training before the EA starts, a Customer Success Manager, ongoing coaching and performance management, rematching, and backfill on Enterprise. If you'd otherwise have to provide those yourself, factor that in.
The question to ask yourself: would I rather pay about $25,000 more a year for managed support, or manage a great EA myself? For founders who are already directing their EA's work every day, the management layer often duplicates what they're doing anyway.
Why people switch
Why Founders Look for a Viva Alternative
01
Cost at full-time scale.
About $48,000 a year is a lot for one EA when the same talent pool is available through direct hire.
02
Quarterly billing and renewals.
Plans renew on the quarterly or annual cadence chosen at signup, which is less flexible than paying an EA directly.
03
The founder pricing question.
If founders count as two users, a solo founder may land on the $4,999 plan.
04
Ownership.
Some leaders want their EA to be part of their team, not part of a vendor's program.
Decision guide
Who Should Choose What
Our pick
Virtual Wizards is the better choice for founders and executives who want the same kind of full-time LATAM EA, are ready to manage them directly, and want to spend roughly half as much doing it.
Hire a full-time LATAM executive assistant directlyAlternative
Viva is the better choice for tech leadership teams that want a fully managed, done-for-you EA program, value pre-start training and a CSM, and are comfortable paying for that layer every quarter.
FAQ
Viva Talent vs Virtual Wizards: common questions
How much does Viva Talent cost?
Viva publishes three plans: Starter at $3,999/month (one executive), Enhanced at $4,999/month (up to two), and Enterprise at $5,999/month (up to three). All are billed quarterly.
Does Viva bill monthly?
No. Prices are shown per month but billed quarterly, and plans renew on the quarterly or annual cadence chosen at signup.
Is Viva Talent cheaper than hiring an EA directly?
No. A full-time LATAM EA hired directly through Virtual Wizards costs about $23,600 in year one (including the $2,000 fee), compared with $47,988 for Viva Starter.
Does Viva cover my EA's vacation?
Leave backfill is included on the Enterprise plan. On Starter and Enhanced, it isn't included by default, but Viva says it can be added or coordinated through your Customer Success Manager.
Are Viva and Virtual Wizards EAs from the same countries?
Both recruit across Latin America. Viva lists ten Central and South American countries; Virtual Wizards recruits across the region based on your role and time zone.
Can I hire my Viva EA directly?
Viva's public pages don't specify conversion or direct-hire terms. Ask before you sign. With Virtual Wizards, your EA already works for you directly.
Keep reading
Related reading
Last verified November 11, 2026, from Viva Talent's public pricing and company pages. Plan details, user-count rules, fees, and renewal terms can change; confirm in a written agreement. Viva Talent is a trademark of its owner. Virtual Wizards is not affiliated with Viva Talent.
Hire a full-time executive assistant directly
On a free 30-minute call you will…
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Map the inbox, calendar, travel, and projects you want to hand off
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See salary ranges for the EA you need
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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.