Marketplace (Upwork, Fiverr): cheapest headline rate, but you source, vet, manage and cover gaps yourself. Direct freelancer: lowest ongoing fee, highest single-point-of-failure risk, you own payroll and continuity. Managed agency (how VirtuHire works): a vetted shortlist, a flat retainer, EOR handling payroll and compliance, and a replacement if it is not working. More per hour than a marketplace listing, far less total effort and risk.
The three models, by how they actually work
Marketplace (Upwork and similar). You post, sift applicants, interview and manage. Upwork's own guidance puts VA rates around $10 to $20 an hour (median about $13), with specialized VAs higher, plus a 5% client service fee. You own vetting, time-tracking, quality and backup. No one replaces a VA who disappears.
Direct freelancer. You source and contract directly, often the lowest ongoing fee. You handle payment, any compliance, performance management and continuity yourself. If they stop, you start over.
Managed agency (the VirtuHire model). A shortlist of pre-vetted candidates with one-way video intros, so you hear English and phone presence before interviewing. A flat monthly retainer (placements $1,200 to $2,800), no placement fee, employment and compliance through an EOR, and a 30-day no-cost replacement. You trade a higher per-hour cost for removed sourcing, management overhead and continuity risk.
Which to choose
| If you want... | Choose |
|---|---|
| The lowest headline rate and will manage it all yourself | Marketplace |
| A direct relationship and will own payroll, management and backup | Freelancer |
| A vetted, dedicated hire with payroll, compliance and backup handled | Managed agency |
For a direct cost comparison with Upwork specifically, see VirtuHire vs Upwork.
How hiring works (agency model)
A short intake call, a shortlist with one-way video intros, a deposit to confirm, then a flat monthly retainer with no placement fee, full EOR, and a 30-day no-cost replacement.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a VA agency, a marketplace, and a freelancer?
Marketplace (Upwork): the cheapest headline rate, but you source, vet, manage and cover gaps yourself. Freelancer: a direct hire with the lowest ongoing fee, but you own payroll, management and continuity. Managed agency: a vetted shortlist, a flat retainer, EOR and a replacement handled for you, for a higher per-hour cost and far less effort and risk.
Which is cheapest?
A marketplace or direct freelancer has the lowest headline rate (Upwork lists VAs around $10 to $20 an hour, plus a 5% client fee), but you absorb sourcing, management and backup. A managed agency costs more per hour and removes that overhead.
What happens if my VA quits?
On a marketplace or with a direct freelancer you start over. With a managed agency like VirtuHire there is a 30-day no-cost replacement, and payroll and compliance run through an EOR.
How is VirtuHire different from Upwork specifically?
See the VirtuHire vs Upwork comparison for the direct cost and model breakdown.
Related reading
- VirtuHire vs Upwork: the direct cost and model comparison.
- How to choose an offshore staffing company: the buyer checklist.
- How much does a virtual assistant cost in 2026: pricing by model and country.
- VirtuHire US pricing: the full role-by-role rate band.
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