A dedicated, US/UK-based, native-English assistant with no contract — but is it the right fit for you? Here's our honest take after digging into the plans, the model, and the trade-offs.
Time etc is a managed virtual assistant service that's been operating since 2007 — making it one of the longest-running companies in the category. Its core pitch is simple and unusually clear in a crowded market: a dedicated, experienced, native-English-speaking assistant based in the US or UK, rather than a rotating pool of offshore workers.
You're matched with one assistant who learns your tools, your preferences, and the way you work. Over time that continuity is the whole point — the assistant gets faster and more useful the longer you work together, which is exactly what you don't get from task-marketplace or pooled models.
Time etc uses flexible monthly plans — the more hours you commit to, the lower the effective hourly rate. As of 2026, the published tiers look roughly like this:
| Plan | Approx. monthly | Effective rate | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 hours / mo | ~$360 | ~$36/hr | Testing the waters |
| 20 hours / mo | ~$660 | ~$33/hr | Light ongoing support |
| 40 hours / mo | ~$1,260 | ~$31.50/hr | Steady weekly workload |
| 60 hours / mo | ~$1,800 | ~$30/hr | Heavy delegation |
Figures are approximate and change over time — confirm the current rates on Time etc's site before signing up. For full context on what VAs cost across the market, see our virtual assistant pricing guide.
Getting started is refreshingly low-friction. You tell Time etc the kind of tasks you need help with, they match you with an assistant suited to that work, and you start delegating — by email, phone, or their app. Common tasks include inbox and calendar management, scheduling, research, data entry, travel booking, customer follow-ups, and general admin.
Because you're billed only for completed work and unused hours roll forward, there's little waste. If your needs change, you move up or down a plan without a contract renegotiation.
Time etc is the right call if most of these describe you:
If you mainly need rock-bottom pricing for back-office data work and don't care about timezone or accent, an offshore service will cost less. But for most US founders, solo professionals, and small teams, Time etc hits the sweet spot.
Time etc earns our top recommendation because it removes the two biggest risks of hiring a VA: the quality gamble and the contract trap. You get a vetted, experienced, native-English assistant, and you can walk away any month. That combination of quality and flexibility is rare — and it's why it sits at #1 in our ranking of the best VA services.
A dedicated, experienced assistant — no contract, no commitment beyond the month. See how much time you can hand off.
Get started with Time etc →Yes. Time etc has operated since 2007 and is one of the most established virtual assistant services available, with thousands of clients and a long public track record. It's a credible, stable provider.
In the US and UK. Assistants are native English speakers, which is a key differentiator versus cheaper offshore services and a real advantage for client-facing or sensitive work.
Yes — Time etc uses a dedicated-assistant model rather than a rotating pool, so your assistant learns your tools and preferences and gets more efficient over time.
No long-term contract. Plans are month-to-month, you only pay for completed work, and unused hours roll over, so you can scale up or down as needed.
Inbox and calendar management, scheduling, research, data entry, travel booking, customer follow-up, and general admin and operations support. It's best for general support rather than deep specialist or technical work.