Virtual Assistant hiring guide · Updated October 2026

Virtual Assistant on goLance vs. Upwork

Comparing where to hire a virtual assistant? Here is how hiring works on goLance, with live rates from 8,700+ virtual assistants and a cost calculator you can use for any platform. Use the checklist alongside each platform's published terms.

7.95%Shareable platform fee
$8Median rate on goLance
8,700+Virtual Assistants profiles
24–48hTypical time to hire

Key facts: hiring a virtual assistant on goLance

Updated October 2026
Platform fee
7.95%, shareable between client and freelancer
Who pays it
The client, the freelancer, or both, as agreed per contract
Virtual Assistants on goLance
8,700+ public profiles (October 2026)
Typical rate on goLance
$5 to $10 an hour, median $8
Applying to jobs
Free for freelancers
Vetting
Identity verification, skills assessment and portfolio review before listing
Contracts
Hourly with screenshot time tracking, or fixed-price with escrow
Typical time to first hire
24 to 48 hours
Live profiles

Meet virtual assistants on goLance

A selection of virtual assistants with public profiles on goLance, across rate ranges and countries. Select a profile to view it, or message candidates before you start a contract.

Cost calculator

Compare total cost on any platform

Enter the engagement once. goLance's fee is filled in; for any other platform, enter the client and freelancer fees from its current pricing page. We don't prefill other platforms' fees, because they change and can depend on the contract.

Median on goLance: $8

goLance

One 7.95% fee. Choose who carries it.

Freelancer carries allClient carries all
Monthly base
Platform fee
Client pays
Freelancer receives
Total fees over the term

Another platform

Enter its fees from that platform's own pricing page.

Monthly base–
Platform fees–
Client pays–
Freelancer receives–
Total fees over the term–

Platform fees only. Payment processing, currency conversion and withdrawal charges vary by method and are not included for either platform.

Comparison checklist

What to compare, row by row

How each part of hiring works on goLance, and the question to ask of any platform you are considering. Tick rows as you check them, then copy or print the list.

FeaturegoLanceWhat to check on any platform
Platform fee7.95%, shareable between client and freelancer
Who pays the feeClient, freelancer or both, as agreed
Applying to jobsFree for freelancers
Virtual Assistant screeningIdentity check, skills assessment and portfolio review before listing
Skill badgesHuAi (Competent, Proficient, Expert), earned through assessments
Messaging before contractFree, unlimited
Typical time to first hire24 to 48 hours
Payment protectionEscrow
Hourly work trackingTime tracking with screenshots
Global payments and tax150+ countries, 1099 generation
Security certificationsISO 27001 and AICPA
Hiring checks

What to check when hiring virtual assistants

Four checks that apply wherever you hire, and how goLance handles each one.

01

Identity and trust.

A virtual assistant may see your inbox, calendar and accounts. goLance requires identity verification before a freelancer is listed.

02

Access you can revoke.

Use a password manager and separate logins so access can be removed in minutes if the engagement ends.

03

Tracking that fits the work.

Agree on how hours are logged. goLance time tracking records work with screenshots on hourly contracts.

04

Long-term cost.

Assistant roles often last years. goLance charges one 7.95% fee, shareable between client and freelancer; project the full term on any platform you compare.

Rate snapshot · October 2026

What virtual assistants charge on goLance

Hourly rates from 8,700+ public goLance profiles. For tiers, filters and a budget planner, see the full virtual assistant rate guide.

All virtual assistants

Low end$5
Median$8
High end$10
Top 10%$20+
$0$23/hr

Low and high end are the 25th and 75th percentiles.

Where they are based

Philippines3,600+$6
India1,300+$10
Nigeria700+$10
Pakistan600+$10
Bangladesh550+$8
United States150+$18

Profiles and median hourly rate by country.

How it works

How hiring a virtual assistant works on goLance

Four steps from first post to first payment.

  1. Post a job, free

    Describe the work, budget and timeline. Posting a job on goLance is free.

  2. Shortlist and message

    Browse virtual assistants, compare profiles and rates, and message candidates before any contract starts.

  3. Start a contract

    Choose hourly with screenshot time tracking or fixed-price with escrow, and agree who carries the 7.95% fee.

  4. Pay and keep going

    Release payments as work is approved. goLance pays freelancers in 150+ countries.

How to choose for your project

goLance and Upwork are both established freelance marketplaces, and the right one depends on the work. Four practical tests help.

Price the same engagement on both

Use each platform's current published terms and count every fee on the client side and the freelancer side. The calculator above does the math.

Look at how candidates reach you

Check how freelancers are screened before they appear in your results and what each profile badge actually certifies.

Talk before you commit

Shortlist two or three virtual assistants and scope the work with them before you sign. On goLance you can message candidates before a contract starts.

Check terms on existing relationships

If you already work with a freelancer on another platform, read that platform's terms before moving the work.

Common questions

Where can I hire a freelance virtual assistant?

Common options are freelance marketplaces such as goLance and Upwork, specialist agencies, and referrals from your network. Marketplaces let you review profiles, rates and work history before you hire. On goLance you can message virtual assistants before a contract starts.

How much does a freelance virtual assistant cost per hour in 2026?

On goLance, most virtual assistants charge between $5 and $10 an hour, with a median of $8 (8,700+ public profiles, October 2026). Rates move with experience, country and specialization. The virtual assistant rate guide breaks them down.

How does the goLance fee work when hiring a virtual assistant?

goLance charges one 7.95% platform fee, and it is shareable. The client, the freelancer, or both can carry it, as you agree. On a $5,000 virtual assistant project the fee is about $398.

How do I compare goLance and Upwork for a virtual assistant project?

Price the same engagement on both platforms using each one's current published terms, and count every fee on both sides of the contract. Use each platform's own pricing and help pages, since any platform's terms can change. The calculator on this page does the math once you enter those figures.

How are virtual assistants on goLance vetted?

Every virtual assistant on goLance goes through identity verification, a skills assessment for Virtual Assistance, and a portfolio review before they are listed. Freelancers can also earn HuAi skill badges (Competent, Proficient, Expert) through advanced assessments.

How fast can I hire a virtual assistant on goLance?

goLance teams typically sign their first virtual assistant contract within 24 to 48 hours. You can message candidates before a contract starts, which shortens scoping.

Does a virtual assistant pay to apply for jobs on goLance?

No. Freelancers on goLance can apply to as many jobs as they want for free.

Can I bring a freelancer I already work with to goLance?

Read the terms of the platform where you first worked together before moving the relationship. Some marketplaces have rules about continuing work outside the platform for a period after the first contract.