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Time Etc Alternative: AI-Trained VAs at $1,600/Month
Time Etc is one of the more popular VA services in the US — and for good reason. They've been around since 2007, their VAs are US/UK-based college graduates, and the reviews are generally positive for basic administrative tasks. But if you've looked at their pricing recently, you know the hourly rate adds up fast. And if you've needed a VA who can work in GoHighLevel, build a Zapier workflow, or manage Shopify operations — you may have hit their ceiling.
Here's a direct comparison of what you get with Time Etc vs. Jarvis, and when each one makes sense.
How Time Etc Works
Time Etc operates on a prepaid hours model. You buy a bundle of hours (typically 10–40 hours/month) at $29–$39/hour depending on the plan, and draw from that pool for tasks. Their VAs are vetted graduates with admin experience. It's a clean model for low-volume administrative work — scheduling, email triage, basic research, data entry.
Where Time Etc falls short for growth-stage businesses:
- Pricing: 40 hours/month at $34/hr = $1,360/month — close to Jarvis pricing but for only half the hours
- No automation training — VAs complete tasks, don't build systems
- General admin focus — not deep on tools like GHL, Klaviyo, Shopify
- Hours-based model means you're watching a clock, not building leverage
Time Etc is best for executives who need occasional scheduling and correspondence help, not for business operators who need a full operational partner.
Jarvis vs. Time Etc: Direct Comparison
| Factor | Time Etc | Jarvis |
|---|---|---|
| VA location | US/UK-based | Philippines-based (AI-trained) |
| Pricing model | $29–$39/hour prepaid bundles | Flat $1,600/month (full-time) or $800/month (part-time) |
| 40 hrs/month cost | $1,160–$1,560/month | $800/month (part-time covers ~20 hrs/week) |
| Automation training | None | GHL, Shopify, Klaviyo, Make, Zapier, Claude |
| Unused hours | Hours expire or roll over (plan-dependent) | Full-time engagement, no hour tracking |
| Onboarding | Self-managed | J-Academy structured onboarding, weeks 0–1 |
| Best for | Light admin, scheduling, research | Operations, ecom, CRM, client comms, automation |
Wondering what 40 hours/week of delegation actually looks like? Download our free delegation checklist — it breaks down exactly which tasks to hand off first. Get it when you book your free call.
The Hours Model vs. The Engagement Model
This is a fundamental difference that matters more than pricing.
Time Etc's hours model means you're constantly rationing. Is this task worth my hours? Should I handle this myself to save for something more important? It creates a mental overhead that defeats the purpose of delegation.
Jarvis is a full engagement. Your VA works 40 hours/week (or 20, if part-time), and you stop counting. You stop triaging what's "worth" delegating. You start treating them like a team member who handles everything below your CEO pay grade — because that's what they are.
One business owner we work with summed it up: "With Time Etc I was always doing the math. With Jarvis I just send things and they disappear off my plate."
See what a full engagement looks like in practice at our process page.
When Time Etc Actually Makes Sense
Contrarian take: Time Etc is a good fit for a specific type of user — someone who needs 10–15 hours/month of help, has already documented their tasks, and doesn't want to commit to a full or part-time engagement. The hourly model works when volume is genuinely low and ad-hoc.
It breaks down when you need more than light admin. If your tasks involve CRM management, ecommerce operations, content scheduling, client communications, or anything that requires tool-specific training — Time Etc's general admin model won't get you there. That's where Jarvis operates. See the roles we place at roles we source.
Real Cost Comparison: 6-Month Horizon
Let's do the actual math on a founder needing 20 hours/week of support:
Time Etc (20 hrs/week = 80 hrs/month at $34/hr): $2,720/month × 6 months = $16,320
Jarvis part-time (20 hrs/week): $800/month × 6 months = $4,800
That's an $11,520 difference over 6 months — and the Jarvis VA arrives with automation training while the Time Etc VA does not. The math only goes further in Jarvis's favor at full-time hours.
Full pricing breakdown at our pricing page.
What Jarvis Does That Time Etc Doesn't
The biggest differentiator is automation. A Time Etc VA completes the task. A Jarvis VA completes the task and builds the system so that class of task never reaches you again.
Practical examples from active Jarvis clients:
- Coach at $45K/month: VA handles onboarding emails AND built an automated welcome sequence in GHL that triggers the same workflow hands-free
- Shopify brand at $80K/month: VA manages returns AND automated the refund approval workflow — average resolution time dropped from 2 days to 4 hours
- Consultant at $30K/month: VA handles LinkedIn DMs AND built a tagging system in GHL that segments leads by industry automatically
The automation is the compounding ROI. Learn more at our AI automation page and our case studies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Time Etc a legitimate VA service?
Yes. Time Etc has been operating since 2007 and has a solid track record for administrative support. It's a real service with vetted VAs — just not the right fit for businesses that need operational depth or tool-specific training.
Why is Jarvis cheaper than Time Etc for full-time hours?
Time Etc places US/UK VAs at US labor rates. Jarvis places Filipino VAs at $1,600/month flat. The offshore model allows a significantly lower price point while maintaining quality through rigorous pre-training on the tools US businesses actually use.
Does Time Etc train VAs on GoHighLevel or Shopify?
Not as part of their standard placement. Time Etc VAs are general admin specialists. If your business runs on GHL, Shopify, or Klaviyo, you'll need to train them yourself. Jarvis VAs arrive pre-trained on your stack.
What happens to unused Time Etc hours?
Hours typically expire monthly or roll over depending on your plan. Jarvis operates as a full engagement — no hour tracking, no expiry, no rationing decisions.
How long does it take to get started with Jarvis vs. Time Etc?
Both services take approximately 1–2 weeks to match and onboard. Jarvis's J-Academy onboarding means the VA is executing independently within 7–10 business days.
Can a Jarvis VA replace what I was using Time Etc for?
In almost all cases, yes. Email management, calendar management, research, data entry, client communications — a Jarvis VA handles all of these and more. The main exception is if you specifically require a US or UK-based contractor for legal or compliance reasons.
Ready to Stop Counting Hours?
Book a free 15-minute call and we'll show you what a full engagement looks like for your specific business. If Jarvis is the right fit, you'll know by the end of the call.