Published by Magic. Pricing and service information checked October 20, 2026 against the providers’ pages linked below. Confirm current terms with each provider.
Quick summary
Magic and BELAY are both fully managed services. Both help recruit and match assistants and provide ongoing support. Three things separate them: where the assistants are based, how the pricing works, and whether anyone covers the work when your assistant is away.
Magic’s Virtual Assistant plan is $360 a week for 40 hours ($9 an hour). Its Executive Assistant plan is $540 a week for 40 hours ($13.50 an hour) and includes Magic 24/7. Magic Teams is $540 a week per assistant, with custom hiring and training and discounts at scale.
BELAY quotes each client after a consultation, so the cost varies and you find out yours on the call. Ask BELAY for a quote covering your required hours and tasks.
Consider BELAY if a US-based assistant is a requirement. If you don’t, compare Magic’s Virtual Assistant and Executive Assistant plans; the Executive Assistant plan includes backup coverage.
What we found
- Magic publishes separate VA and EA prices. At 40 hours a week, a Virtual Assistant is $360 a week and an Executive Assistant is $540. BELAY provides a custom quote.
- Magic includes backup coverage. Full-time Executive Assistant plans come with Magic 24/7, a shared pool that picks up work when your assistant is unavailable. Ask BELAY to confirm its arrangements for assistant absences; those details are not specified in the sources reviewed.
- Magic pays for its assistants’ AI tools. Every assistant gets access to leading LLMs and training on how to use them, at no extra charge to you.
- BELAY hires in the US. Magic hires in the Philippines and Latin America. Every Magic assistant works US hours.
What you pay
Magic prices by plan: $360 a week for a Virtual Assistant and $540 a week for an Executive Assistant, each for 40 hours. Magic Teams is $540 a week per assistant, with discounts at scale. Full details are on the pricing page.
| Magic plan | Hours a week | Weekly equivalent | Hourly equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Assistant | 40 | $360/week | $9 |
| Executive Assistant, includes Magic 24/7 | 40 | $540/week | $13.50 |
| Magic Teams | Confirm team scope with Magic | $540/week per assistant; discounts at scale | Not specified on the pricing page |
Prices shown are for our standard plans, billed every four weeks. Weekly billing is also available through our sales team at different rates. Your quote confirms your hours, rate, and billing schedule. That is $1,440 per billing cycle for a Virtual Assistant, $2,160 for an Executive Assistant, or $2,160 per assistant for Magic Teams before any volume discounts. Four-week billing is not calendar-month billing. You only pay once you start working with your assistant and can cancel anytime. Part-time plans are also available; contact Magic for current rates and hours.
Sources: Magic pricing; BELAY pricing and service information. Checked October 20, 2026. Hourly and annual figures are calculated from the stated prices and included hours.
BELAY provides a custom quote. Its FAQ says support typically starts at 45 hours per month and runs month-to-month. Ask for a quote at the hours and scope you need.
Source: BELAY FAQ. Checked October 20, 2026.
Compare your quoted hours and invoice amount
Magic’s standard full-time VA plan costs $1,440 every four weeks for 160 hours. Its EA plan costs $2,160 every four weeks for 160 hours and includes Magic 24/7. Compare these with a BELAY quote for the same role and workload.
At unchanged rates over 52 weeks, the Magic VA plan totals $18,720 for 2,080 scheduled hours, and the EA plan totals $28,080 for 2,080 scheduled hours. A BELAY annual total depends on your quote.
No upfront cost
Meet your assistant before you pay anything
Talk to your assistant before you commit. You pay nothing until you actually start working with them.
Side by side
| Feature | Magic | BELAY |
|---|---|---|
| Rate | $9/hour VA; $13.50/hour EA at 40 hours a weekSource: Magic | Custom quote for the required hours and scopeSource: BELAY |
| Price | $360/week Virtual Assistant; $540/week Executive Assistant; $540/week per assistant for Magic TeamsSource: Magic | Custom monthly quote; support typically starts at 45 hours/monthSource: BELAY |
| How you get a price | Published by plan on the pricing pageSource: Magic | Consultation, then a custom quoteSource: BELAY |
| Talent based in | Philippines and Latin America | United States, across 48 states |
| Time zone | US hours | US hours |
| Employment type | Managed contractors | 1099 contractors |
| Model | Dedicated VA or EA; the EA plan includes a 24/7 shared pool | Dedicated one to one |
| Backup coverage | Included with the full-time Executive Assistant plan, via Magic 24/7Source: Magic | Absence coverage not specified in the sources reviewed; confirm in your quoteSource: BELAY |
| AI tools | Paid for by Magic, with training before they start | Assistants use AI and automation |
| Acceptance rate | Top 0.5% of applicants | A comparable acceptance rate is not specified in the sources reviewed |
| Replacement | Free, preferences carry overSource: Magic | Free rematch under the Right-Fit GuaranteeSource: BELAY |
| Commitment | No long-term contract, cancel anytimeSource: Magic | Month-to-month; confirm the notice period in your agreementSource: BELAY |
Backup when your assistant is away
Assistants take holidays, get sick, and go on leave. What happens to the work during those days is worth checking before you sign with either service.
Magic’s full-time Executive Assistant plan includes Magic 24/7, a shared pool of assistants who pick up tasks when your dedicated assistant is unavailable. You send the request and someone handles it.
Ask BELAY how it handles absences and what coverage your quote includes. Its FAQ describes a dedicated assistant and free rematching, but does not specify an on-demand backup arrangement.
AI tools
Every Magic assistant gets access to leading LLMs and AI tools, plus training on how to use them before they start working with you. Magic pays for the tools.
BELAY says its assistants use AI and automation to enhance rather than replace expertise. Their site doesn’t say which tools assistants get or who pays for them, so you’d need to ask on the call.
Vetting and training
Magic accepts the top 0.5% of applicants. BELAY describes its vetting process; the sources reviewed do not give a comparable acceptance rate.
Every Magic assistant goes through training on AI tools before their first task for you. Ask BELAY how onboarding and tool training apply to your engagement.
Contracts and cancellation
Magic has no long-term contract and lets you cancel at any time. Its standard plans are billed every four weeks, with weekly billing also available. BELAY describes its service as month-to-month; confirm the notice period in your agreement.
The other difference is when you commit. BELAY’s process is a sales call, then an agreement, then a discovery call. BELAY selects your assistant and introduces them at a kickoff call. With Magic you meet your assistant first, and there’s no charge until you start working together.
Why choose BELAY
Consider BELAY if a US-based assistant is a requirement. BELAY hires in the US, across 48 states.
Magic’s assistants are in the Philippines and Latin America. All of them work US time zones.
Why choose Magic
Consider Magic if an international remote assistant fits your needs and you want published plan prices and a dedicated weekly schedule.
- Published VA and EA rates. $9 an hour for a Virtual Assistant or $13.50 an hour for an Executive Assistant, each at 40 hours a week. Compare the plan that fits your work against your BELAY quote.
- Published selection standard. Magic selects the top 0.5% of applicants. Providers use different candidate pools and selection measures, so their percentages are not directly comparable.
- Trained on AI before they start. Every assistant gets access to leading AI tools, paid for by Magic, plus training on how to use them.
- Backup coverage included. Full-time Executive Assistant plans come with Magic 24/7, so work keeps moving when your assistant is away.
- US time zones. Every assistant works your hours.
- Clear pricing. Rates are published by plan on the pricing page, with standard four-week billing and a weekly option through Sales.
- Fully managed. Magic handles hiring, coaching, payroll, and replacements, and your preferences carry across if you change assistant.
What Magic clients say
★★★★★
“Magic has been fantastic from the start! They are with you constantly on the onboarding process, follow-up meetings, etc. And my assistant has FAR exceeded my expectations!”
Robert Clausen
★★★★★
“Had an amazing time working with Irish Colleen, who became a warm, intuitive, and proactive member of the team almost immediately from day one. She was really great at anticipating the needs of my business before I even had a chance to assign tasks.”
Kalo Catalyst
More at Magic reviews.
Common questions
How much does Magic cost?
Magic’s Virtual Assistant plan is $360 a week for 40 hours ($9 an hour). Its Executive Assistant plan is $540 a week for 40 hours ($13.50 an hour) and includes Magic 24/7. Magic Teams is $540 a week per assistant, with custom hiring and training and discounts at scale. The prices shown use standard four-week billing. Weekly billing is also available through Sales at different rates. Part-time plans are available; contact Magic for current rates and hours. There is no charge until you start working with your assistant. See the pricing page.
How much does BELAY cost?
BELAY provides a custom quote. Its FAQ says support typically starts at 45 hours per month. Ask for a quote matching your required role, hours, and tasks. See BELAY’s FAQ.
Where are Magic assistants based?
Magic assistants are in the Philippines and Latin America, and all of them work US time zones. BELAY hires in the US, across 48 states.
What can a Magic assistant do?
Magic assistants cover executive and administrative work across more than a hundred task types, including inbox and calendar management, travel, research, project coordination, bookkeeping support, and personal tasks. See what an executive assistant handles day to day. Magic isn’t built for senior specialist roles like a lead developer or designer.
How selective is Magic’s hiring?
Magic accepts the top 0.5% of applicants. Every assistant who gets through goes through training on AI tools before their first task. BELAY describes its vetting process; the sources reviewed do not give a comparable acceptance rate.
What happens when my assistant is on leave?
Magic’s full-time Executive Assistant plan includes Magic 24/7, a shared pool of assistants who pick up tasks when your dedicated assistant is unavailable. Ask BELAY to confirm absence coverage in your quote; the sources reviewed do not specify an on-demand backup arrangement.
Do Magic assistants use AI tools?
Yes. Every Magic assistant gets access to leading LLMs and AI tools, plus training on how to use them before they start. Magic pays for the tools. BELAY says its assistants use AI and automation, but doesn’t say which tools they get or who pays.
What happens if my Magic assistant isn’t the right fit?
Magic replaces them at no extra cost and your saved preferences carry over, so the new assistant starts with the same context. BELAY offers a free rematch under its Right-Fit Guarantee.
Can I cancel anytime?
Magic has no long-term contract and you can cancel at any time. BELAY describes its service as month-to-month; confirm the notice period in your agreement.
Which is better, Magic or BELAY?
It depends on whether you need someone based in the US. If you do, choose BELAY. If you don’t, compare Magic’s published plans with your BELAY quote. Magic’s Executive Assistant plan includes backup coverage and paid AI access.
Keep reading
Ready to delegate
See what a Magic assistant can take off your plate.
A dedicated, AI-trained Executive Assistant, fully managed, with Magic 24/7 included.
Book a free call →
No charge until you start working together.
