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What are the best Upwork alternatives for a full-time VA?
If you want one person working full time on your business, rather than freelancers by the hour, the main alternatives to Upwork are a placement service like Rekruuto ($1,800 a month for most roles, from $2,500 a month for software developers, 14-day start, 1-week trial), a job board like OnlineJobs.ph, a one-time recruiter like Virtual Staff Finder, or a managed provider like MyOutDesk or Wing Assistant.
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| Option | How it works | Published price (October 2026) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upwork | A freelance marketplace. You hire freelancers by the hour or by the project. | Free to join. Clients pay a marketplace fee on payments to freelancers that depends on plan and payment method, and a contract fee may apply. | Projects with an end date, or a few hours from a specialist. |
| Rekruuto | One dedicated full-time hire in the Philippines. You manage the work. | $1,800 a month for most roles. From $2,500 a month for software developers. $2,500 a month for an AI Implementation Specialist. | A full-time seat that starts in 14 days, with a 1-week trial. |
| OnlineJobs.ph | A job board for Filipino workers. You recruit, hire, and pay them yourself. | Pro $69 a month or $299 a year; Premium $99 a month or $349 a year. Worker pay is separate. | Experienced hirers who want to recruit directly. |
| Virtual Staff Finder | Recruits and shortlists Filipino candidates. You employ the hire directly. | $695 one-time placement fee, plus the hire's salary. Optional Concierge from $349 a month. | Owning the employment relationship with no ongoing fee. |
| MyOutDesk | Full-time outsourced staff, with payroll, HR, and an account manager. | From $1,988 a month (Managed) or $2,500 a month (Specialized). | Teams that want a compliance and monitoring program. |
| Wing Assistant | A managed virtual assistant that Wing supervises. | General assistant $999 a month for 160 hours, or $699 for 80 hours. | General admin support managed by the provider. |
| Athena | A dedicated full-time executive assistant employed by Athena. | $3,000 a month, after an initial 90-day commitment. | Executives who want a delegation program around their EA. |
Prices and terms for other companies are as of October 2026, from each company's own pages (linked under Sources). Check their sites for current pricing.
Rekruuto: a full-time hire with a published price
We place one dedicated, full-time person based in the Philippines, who works your hours. Most roles are $1,800 a month, software developers are from $2,500 a month, and an AI Implementation Specialist starts at $2,500 a month. Hiring takes 14 days, and the first week is a trial with a replacement or refund. We accept only the top 2% of applicants, and Rekruuto is trusted by 100+ customers. See Rekruuto vs Upwork.
OnlineJobs.ph: recruit Filipino workers yourself
A job board and worker database. You post the job, screen, interview, hire, and pay the worker directly. Paid plans start at $69 a month. Best if you have time to recruit. See Rekruuto vs OnlineJobs.ph.
Virtual Staff Finder: a one-time recruiting fee
Virtual Staff Finder shortlists Filipino candidates within 10 business days for a one-time fee, then you employ the hire directly. See Rekruuto vs Virtual Staff Finder.
MyOutDesk and Wing Assistant: managed providers
MyOutDesk places full-time staff with payroll, HR, and an account manager included. Wing Assistant supervises a general assistant on a plan of 80 or 160 hours a month. See Rekruuto vs MyOutDesk and Rekruuto vs Wing Assistant.
Athena: executive assistants only
Athena places a dedicated, full-time executive assistant inside a delegation program, at $3,000 a month after a 90-day commitment. See Rekruuto vs Athena.
When might Upwork still be the better option?
Upwork is built for project work rather than a full-time seat:
- The work has a clear finish, such as a website build, a logo, or a one-time data cleanup.
- You need a rare skill for a few hours a month.
- You want to trial several freelancers on small paid tests before choosing one.
Most Rekruuto roles are $1,800 a month. Software developers are from $2,500 a month, and an AI Implementation Specialist starts at $2,500 a month. Hiring can start in 14 days. There is a 1-week trial: if you are not satisfied, we find a replacement or refund your money. You can pause or cancel with 2 weeks' notice.
All comparisons, including Rekruuto vs hiring locally, are on the compare hub.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Upwork for a full-time virtual assistant?
For a dedicated full-time hire, Rekruuto: we find and vet the person from the top 2% of applicants, for $1,800 a month for most roles and from $2,500 a month for software developers, with a 14-day start and a 1-week trial. A job board like OnlineJobs.ph costs less up front, but you recruit, pay, and replace the worker yourself.
Does Upwork charge clients fees?
Yes. Upwork's client pricing page lists a marketplace fee on payments to freelancers, which depends on your plan and payment method, and a contract initiation fee on some contracts. Check Upwork for the current rates.
Can I hire a full-time person on Upwork?
You can hire freelancers for ongoing hourly contracts on Upwork. You still screen, contract, and replace them yourself, and they may work for other clients too.
Sources
- Upwork client pricing
- Upwork Freelancer Service Fee
- OnlineJobs.ph pricing
- Virtual Staff Finder
- MyOutDesk pricing
- Wing Assistant pricing
- Athena pricing
More comparisons
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See what a U.S. hire costs with employer costs included, next to a full-time Rekruuto hire.
Offshore Hiring Costs 2026
Wages, employer costs, and 2026 minimum wages for the U.S., the Philippines, and Latin America, all sourced.