Compare EA services

How to choose an executive assistant service

Picking the right EA service depends on a handful of factors that vary widely from one founder or executive to the next. Before you compare pricing pages, take stock of what you actually need day-to-day.

Hours per week. Some services sell blocks of 10 hours a month, while others require 20 or 40. If you only need light calendar management and travel booking, a 10-hour plan keeps costs down. If your EA will own inbox management, project coordination, and vendor communication, budget for a larger block or a full-time dedicated assistant.

Complexity of tasks. Scheduling and data entry are table stakes. But if you need someone who can draft SOPs, manage a CRM pipeline, or coordinate across multiple time zones, you want a managed service that vets for those skills rather than a marketplace where you screen candidates yourself.

Communication style. Think about how you prefer to delegate. Some people want a Slack channel with instant back and forth. Others prefer to batch instructions in a Monday morning email. The best fit depends on whether the service assigns a dedicated assistant (same person every day) or rotates coverage across a team.

Growth trajectory. A solo founder who plans to hire a chief of staff in six months has different needs than a CEO who wants permanent EA support for the next three years. Look at contract length, cancellation terms, and whether the service can scale hours up or down without penalty.

Understanding EA pricing models

Executive assistant services fall into four broad pricing models, and the differences affect both cost and experience.

Managed services pair you with a vetted assistant and handle training, quality control, and replacement if needed. They typically charge between $1,500 and $5,000 per month depending on hours and assistant seniority. The premium pays for reliability and lower management overhead on your end.

Fractional services assign a single experienced EA who splits time across a small number of clients. Pricing usually ranges from $2,000 to $4,000 per month for part-time coverage. This model works well when you need senior-level judgment without full-time hours.

Marketplace platforms let you browse profiles, run interviews, and hire directly. Monthly costs can be as low as $500 for offshore assistants or as high as $3,000 for US-based talent. You get more control over selection but take on more of the vetting and management yourself.

Direct hire services recruit and place a full-time or part-time assistant on your payroll. You pay a placement fee (often one month of salary) plus the assistant's ongoing compensation. This makes sense at scale when you want someone fully embedded in your organization.

US-based vs remote assistants

Location is one of the most common filters people apply when shopping for EA services, and for good reason. It affects pricing, availability, and communication.

US-based assistants typically command higher rates, starting around $25 to $35 per hour for managed services. The advantages include native English fluency, cultural familiarity with American business norms, and overlapping work hours. For executives who need someone on calls, drafting client-facing emails, or coordinating with US-based vendors, a domestic assistant often reduces friction.

Remote assistants based in Latin America, the Philippines, or other regions usually cost less, with rates starting around $8 to $15 per hour through managed platforms. Many offshore EAs are highly skilled and college-educated, and the best services invest heavily in training and quality control. The tradeoff is that time zone gaps can slow down real-time collaboration, and cultural nuances in business communication may require more explicit instructions upfront.

Some services offer a blended model, pairing you with a US-based point of contact backed by an offshore team. This can give you the best of both worlds: domestic-level communication with lower overall costs.

Questions to ask before signing up

Most EA services offer discovery calls or free consultations, but the information you get depends on the questions you ask. Here are the ones that matter most.

• What happens if my assistant quits or is a bad fit? Ask about replacement timelines and whether there is a backup assistant during transitions. Some services guarantee a replacement within 48 hours; others leave you hanging for weeks.
• How are assistants vetted? Look for specifics beyond “rigorous screening.” How many applicants make it through? Is there a skills test? Background check? Trial period?
• What tools do you support? If you live in Notion, Slack, and Google Workspace, make sure the service trains assistants on those platforms rather than forcing you onto their proprietary dashboard.
• What is the minimum commitment? Month-to-month plans give you flexibility but sometimes cost more per hour. Quarterly or annual contracts often come with discounts, but make sure the cancellation policy is reasonable.
• Can I see a sample onboarding process? A strong onboarding experience sets the tone for the entire relationship. Services that invest in structured onboarding (intake forms, kickoff calls, tool setup guides) tend to deliver better results in the first month.
• How do you handle sensitive information? If your EA will access your email, calendar, or financial accounts, ask about NDAs, data security policies, and access controls.

The right EA service should make your work life easier from week one. Use the comparison table above to narrow your options, then book calls with your top two or three picks to find the best fit.