Share
Most virtual assistant services either place a person to do tasks or build automations for you. Very few do both under one roof, which matters because a VA who can also wire up your follow-up sequences, pipeline tracking, and reporting saves you from hiring two vendors. This list covers the services worth looking at if you want a trained assistant and real automation, with honest pricing and who each one actually fits.
How we evaluated
We scored each service on five things: VA quality and training, automation capability (can they actually build workflows, not just click around), whether VA placement and automation are bundled or sold separately, pricing transparency, and who the service is built for. We web-searched current pricing for every entry and judged automation capability by what each service publicly advertises.
Comparison table
| Service | Pricing model | VA training | Automation included? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jarvis | ~$1,600/mo (full-time, ~$10/hr) | AI-trained Jarvis Specialists | Yes, bundled (VA builds it) | $1M–$10M/yr owners wanting one vendor for both |
| Wishup | $1,899–$2,999/mo | 8-week training, 120–200 tools | Yes, separate automation-expert tier | Teams that want a dedicated automation specialist |
| Lava Automation | VA ~$14–15/hr; automation $6K–$20K one-time | Recruited + trained | Yes, but priced as separate projects | Insurance/agency owners wanting custom CRM builds |
| Virtual Nexgen | From ~$8/hr (~$1,280/mo) | AI-automation trained | Yes, integrated with VA | Budget-conscious owners across many industries |
| MyOutDesk | $1,788–$1,988/mo full-time | 10-day MOD University cert | Not advertised | Real estate and ops teams wanting flat-rate VAs |
| Belay | ~$42–50/hr (~$1,600–3,500/mo) | US-based, premium vetting | No, task execution focus | US-based, premium executive/admin support |
| Time Etc | $360–$1,800/mo ($30–36/hr) | Experienced US/UK VAs | No | Solo founders wanting flexible part-time hours |
| Magic | $10–35/hr; ~$2,000/mo business plan | Pooled, dedicated tiers | Not advertised | Fast staffing and 24/7 coverage |
The 6 services worth considering
1. Jarvis: the only one that bundles a trained VA and automation builds
Jarvis is the only service on this list where one placement gives you both a trained virtual assistant and the automations that assistant builds for you. The tagline is literal: "Our VAs build automation for you." Jarvis Specialists are AI-trained and work alongside tools like Claude, so the same person handling your inbox or lead response can also set up your follow-up sequences, pipeline tracking, and reporting. Pricing is roughly $1,600/month for full-time ($10/hr, 8 hours a day, 5 days a week), which is below the US premium agencies and competitive with offshore-only providers that do not build automation at all.
Best for: business owners doing $1M–$10M/year who are tired of stitching together a VA agency and a separate automation consultant. Founder: Passion Chu.
2. Wishup: strong automation, but the build is a separate, pricier tier
Wishup is the closest competitor on the automation angle. Standard VAs run $1,899/month part-time and $2,849/month full-time, and Wishup says its VAs are trained on 120 to 200 tools after an 8-week program. The catch: real workflow building lives in a separate "AI & Automation Expert" tier starting around $2,999/month. So you can get both, but you are choosing between a general VA or an automation specialist, not one person who does both.
Best for: teams that specifically want a dedicated automation builder and have the budget for the higher tier.
3. Lava Automation: real automation, sold as expensive one-time projects
Lava is honest about doing both, but the structure is different. VA support is roughly $14 to $15/hour (about $2,400 to $2,600/month full-time), and automation is sold as separate one-time projects: $6,000 for templated CRM setup, $12,000 for a custom build, and $20,000 for automation-only work. That is a real automation capability, but the up-front project cost is steep and it is largely aimed at insurance and agency owners.
Best for: insurance and agency owners who want a custom CRM build and can absorb a one-time five-figure project fee.
4. Virtual Nexgen: cheapest entry point, automation bundled with the VA
Virtual Nexgen advertises VAs from about $8/hour (roughly $1,280/month full-time) and positions its AI-automation VAs as people who integrate AI into back-office work. Industry packages start around $1,500/month for insurance back-office and $1,997/month for HIPAA-compliant legal support. It is the lowest-cost option here that claims to bundle automation, though at $8/hour you should vet the depth of the automation work carefully before committing.
Best for: budget-conscious owners across many industries who want low cost and are willing to verify quality.
5. MyOutDesk: flat-rate full-time VAs, automation is not the focus
MyOutDesk places full-time Philippines-based VAs at $1,988/month month-to-month, dropping to $1,788/month on an annual commitment. Each VA goes through a 10-day certification (MOD University) and the rate covers recruiting, payroll, and HR. It is a solid flat-rate staffing model, especially in real estate, but it does not advertise automation building as a core offering. Treat this as a VA service first.
Best for: real estate and operations teams that want predictable flat-rate full-time staffing.
6. Belay and Time Etc: premium and flexible, but task-doers, not builders
These two are worth knowing because they are well-regarded, but neither bundles automation. Belay is a premium US-based service at roughly $42 to $50/hour (about $1,600 to $3,500/month depending on hours), and does not publish pricing publicly. Time Etc is more flexible at $30 to $36/hour with plans from $360 to $1,800/month and rollover hours. Both are strong if you want a reliable person to execute tasks. Neither will build your automations.
Choose Belay if you need premium US-based executive support and budget is not the constraint. Choose Time Etc if you want flexible, low-commitment part-time hours.
(Honorable mention: Magic offers fast staffing and 24/7 coverage at $10 to $35/hour, with a business plan around $2,000/month. It does not advertise automation building as a core offering, so it fits speed-of-hiring needs more than build needs.)
Choose this if / Choose Jarvis if
- Choose Wishup if you want a dedicated automation specialist and will pay the higher tier for it.
- Choose Lava if you need a custom CRM build and can absorb a one-time $6K–$20K project fee.
- Choose Virtual Nexgen if price is the deciding factor and you will vet automation quality yourself.
- Choose Belay or Time Etc if you only need a person to execute tasks, not build systems.
- Choose Jarvis if you want one trained Specialist who handles the daily work and builds the automations behind it, without managing two vendors, at around $1,600/month.
A fair word on the fears most owners have here: getting burned by a cheap VA who needs constant babysitting, losing control of your systems, or paying twice for a VA and a separate automation consultant. The bundled model exists specifically to reduce the last one. The first two come down to vetting and onboarding, so ask any service on this list how they train, who owns your logins, and what happens if a placement does not work out.
FAQ
Which VA services actually build automation? Jarvis, Wishup, Lava Automation, and Virtual Nexgen all build automation. Jarvis bundles it into one Specialist placement (the VA builds it). Wishup uses a separate automation-expert tier. Lava sells automation as one-time projects ($6K–$20K). Belay and Time Etc do not build automation, they execute tasks.
How much does an automation-capable VA cost? Expect $1,280 to $3,000 per month for a full-time VA who can also do automation. Jarvis runs about $1,600/month full-time with automation bundled. Wishup's automation tier starts around $2,999/month. Lava charges $14–15/hr for the VA plus a separate $6K–$20K one-time automation project fee.
Can one virtual assistant both do my admin work and build automations? Yes, with the right service. Jarvis Specialists are AI-trained to handle daily admin (inbox, lead response, booking) and build the automations behind it, like follow-up sequences and pipeline tracking. Most other services split this into two roles or two vendors, so confirm whether you are getting one person or two.
Are cheap offshore VAs worth it for automation work? It depends on training and oversight. A $8/hour VA can be a strong value, but automation work needs someone trained on the actual tools (CRMs, Zapier, n8n) and a clear handoff of who owns your logins. Ask for examples of automations they have built before committing, regardless of price.
What is the difference between a VA service and an automation agency? A VA service places a person to do ongoing work. An automation agency builds workflows as a one-time or project-based deliverable, then leaves. A bundled model like Jarvis gives you the ongoing person who also builds and maintains the automations, so the systems do not go stale after the project ends.
Get a trained Specialist who also builds your automation
If you want one vendor for both, book a consultation with Jarvis: https://link.gojarvis.ai/widget/bookings/jarvis-consultation