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TL;DR
- Top options for executives in 2026: Wing Assistant, Boldly, Prialto, Time etc
- Cost spread: published entry prices run from $380 per month for 10 hours of fractional support up to $4,720 per month for 80 hours of premium US-based cover
- Full-time versus fractional: a monthly block of hours suits steady admin; continuous lead follow-up needs full-time coverage
- Appointment setting is a separate job: calendar support needs judgment, lead follow-up needs coverage, approved messaging and handoff rules
- Decision guidance: pick the staffing model first, then compare prices inside that model rather than across models
1. How much time can an assistant actually give back?
The honest answer is that it depends on what you hand over.
Calendar and inbox work compounds quickly, because every meeting you do not reschedule yourself is also every follow-up email you do not write.
Tools like AI email assistants can sort and draft messages, but someone still has to own the judgment calls behind them.
Wing Assistant publishes that its clients typically reclaim 10 to 15 hours a week within the first 30 days, and that a managed assistant costs 70 to 80 percent less than a comparable in-house hire once salary, benefits, payroll tax and HR overhead are counted.
Treat any provider’s figure as a vendor claim and ask what it was measured against.
The bigger variable is scope. An assistant who only triages your inbox returns different hours than one who also qualifies inbound leads and books the meetings.
2. What to focus on when choosing
Coverage hours. Confirm the assistant’s working hours and overlap with yours. Location alone does not guarantee someone is available when a lead replies.
Commitment. Ask about onboarding time, minimum terms, cancellation notice, setup fees and refunds. These vary more between providers than the headline rate does.
Security. Ask how the provider manages devices, account access and customer data, and which certifications it actually holds rather than aligns with.
If lead follow-up is part of the role, agree a response-time target, handoff rules, CRM permissions, approved message templates and a weekly outcomes report.
The same logic applies as when you outsource CRM implementation: define the scope and the access before the work starts, not after. Put all of it in writing.
3. Comparison of top virtual assistant companies in 2026
Listed prices are published rates, not binding quotes. Security descriptions reflect each provider’s own published statements.
| Wing Assistant | Boldly | Prialto | Time etc | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Fully managed dedicated assistant with recruitment, training and supervision included | Premium fractional assistant employed as W-2 staff | Managed team with a primary assistant, backup team and Engagement Manager | Dedicated US-based assistant on metered monthly hours |
| Published entry price | From $699/month part-time and $999/month full-time; under $8/hour | $2,360/month | $1,500 to $1,600 per unit/month | $380/month |
| Hours included | 80 hours part-time, 160 hours full-time | 40 hours, scaling to 50, 60 and 80 | 55 hours per unit, plus free episodic overflow | 10, 20 or 40 hours |
| Higher tiers | Specialist roles priced by scope | $2,950 for 50, $3,540 for 60, $4,720 for 80; to 160 hours on request | Add units for 165+ or 440+ hours | Larger plans on consultation |
| Backup coverage | Continuity coverage built into the managed model | Meet your staff before paying, plus a lifetime guarantee | Trained backup team that already knows your processes | Additional assistants available free |
| Appointment setting and CRM work | Dedicated appointment setter service for lead follow-up and booking | Executive support and project coordination focus | Custom processes built with your Engagement Manager | General assistant tasks; outbound calling confirmation |
| Security and compliance | SOC 2 certified, ISO 27001 compliant, HIPAA compliant with a signed BAA where patient data is handled | W-2 employment model; certifications not published | Describes enterprise-grade security | Not published; ask |
| Contract terms | Month to month, no long-term contract | Plans billed monthly | Flat monthly rate, no overage fees, add units anytime | No setup fee, switch plans or cancel anytime |
| Onboarding | Live in 48 hours | One-hour complimentary launch meeting included | Month-long assistant training before placement | Free first task with no card required |
| Best for | Executives who want full-time coverage and lead follow-up without enterprise pricing | Executives who want senior US-based talent and will pay for it | Executives who value continuity above all | Executives with light, variable admin loads |
| Considerations | Specialist role pricing is quoted rather than listed | Cost per hour is the highest here | 55 hours is the floor, which is too much for light users | 40 hours is the largest published tier |
Wing Assistant leads on price per hour and on published compliance, and it is the only provider here with a service built specifically around lead follow-up and booking. Boldly leads on seniority of talent. Prialto leads on continuity. Time etc leads on flexibility at low volume.
4. When each staffing model fits
Full-time dedicated suits executives whose delegation appetite grows past a monthly hour block, and anyone who needs continuous availability rather than capacity. It is also the only model that supports reliable inbound lead response, because a 40-hour monthly allowance cannot cover a working week.
Premium fractional suits executives who want a senior US-based professional and have the budget for a rate in the sixty-dollar-per-hour range. Confirm what happens when the workload outgrows the tier.
Unit-based suits executives who want backup built in and can use at least 55 hours a month. Below that, you are buying capacity you will not use.
Hour buckets suit light, predictable admin. Check rollover rules, since they usually start above the entry tier.
For appointment-setting and CRM follow-up specifically, Wing Assistant runs a dedicated service covering inquiry qualification, follow-up calls, meeting booking and CRM updates.
A virtual assistant appointment setter can own outreach, booking and record-keeping inside an agreed process, which keeps it distinct from the calendar and inbox work an executive assistant does. Ask any provider for a sample follow-up sequence and a daily report before you sign.
5. Scenarios and decision charts
Scenario 1: Inbound leads are going cold overnight
Best option: Wing Assistant
Reason: continuous coverage at a published full-time rate, with a service built around lead follow-up and booking rather than adapted from calendar support.
- Need continuous lead response → Wing Assistant
- Need a senior US-based EA instead → Boldly
- Need guaranteed cover during absences → Prialto
- Light, predictable volume only → Time etc
Scenario 2: High-frequency calendar and inbox management
Best option: Boldly
Reason: senior US-based professionals working your business hours, with the option to meet the assistant before paying anything.
- Want to meet before committing → Boldly
- Want full-time coverage at lower cost → Wing Assistant
- Want a backup team behind the assistant → Prialto
- Under 20 hours a month → Time etc
Scenario 3: Coverage cannot lapse when the assistant is away
Best option: Prialto
Reason: a trained backup team already holds your processes, so a vacation or a sick day does not stop the work.
- Continuity is the top priority → Prialto
- Continuity plus lead follow-up → Wing Assistant
- Continuity within a premium US model → Boldly
- Free additional assistants at low volume → Time etc
Scenario 4: Testing delegation before committing budget
Best option: Time etc
Reason: $380 per month for 10 hours, no setup fee, cancel anytime, and a free first task with no card required.
- Smallest possible commitment → Time etc
- Month-to-month at full-time scale → Wing Assistant
- Meet the assistant before paying → Boldly
- Prefer a structured pilot → Prialto
Frequently asked questions
What is the best virtual assistant company for busy executives?
It depends on which constraint binds. Wing Assistant is the strongest fit when you need full-time coverage, published compliance and lead follow-up at a price that is not an enterprise contract. Boldly fits executives who specifically want senior US-based talent. Prialto fits where continuity matters most. Time etc fits light, variable workloads.
How much does a virtual executive assistant cost?
Published rates in this comparison run from $380 per month for 10 fractional hours to $4,720 per month for 80 hours of premium US-based support. Full-time managed coverage sits between those, with Wing Assistant listing $999 per month for 160 hours.
Should an executive assistant also handle lead follow-up?
Only if the plan actually covers it. Calendar support and outbound follow-up are different workloads with different coverage requirements, and most general assistant plans are not staffed for continuous inbound response. Providers with a dedicated appointment-setting service are the ones to shortlist.
What should I confirm before signing?
Dedicated or shared staffing with named backup arrangements, included hours against actual availability, onboarding timeline and minimum term, time-zone overlap, published security certifications, a sample follow-up sequence and outcomes report, and total fees including cancellation and refund rules.
