Quick summary
Magic and BELAY are both fully managed services. Each one hires, trains, and replaces your assistant for you. 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 charges a fixed weekly rate. Full-time is $540 a week for 40 hours and includes Magic 24/7 at no extra cost (part-time is $270 a week for 20 hours). Both plans work out to $13.50 an hour.
BELAY quotes each client after a consultation, so the cost varies and you find out yours on the call. BELAY’s site says US-based assistants cost $30 to $75 an hour.
If you need an assistant based in the US, choose BELAY. If you don’t, Magic costs less and includes backup coverage.
What we found
- Magic costs less for the same number of hours. At around 1,000 hours a year, Magic runs $14,040. The same hours at the bottom of BELAY’s stated range come to $31,200.
- Magic includes backup coverage. Full-time plans come with Magic 24/7, a shared pool that picks up work when your assistant is unavailable. BELAY provides a dedicated assistant and doesn’t list a backup option.
- 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’s rate is the same on both plans and doesn’t change by client. Full pricing is on the pricing page.
| Magic plan | Hours a week | Price | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time, includes Magic 24/7 | 40 | $540/wk | $13.50 |
| Part-time | 20 | $270/wk | $13.50 |
Billing runs every four weeks and there’s no charge until you start working with your assistant.
BELAY prices each client individually. Here is what BELAY’s site says a US-based assistant costs:
“On average, U.S.-based virtual assistants charge $30 to $75 per hour. That translates to around $1,200 to $3,000 per month for part-time support. Simpler admin tasks like calendar management, email triage, or data entry tend to fall on the lower end. More specialized services like bookkeeping, marketing support, or executive-level assistance land higher.”
BELAY, How much does it cost to hire a virtual assistant in the U.S.?
That’s a range of more than two times. Where you land depends on scope, hours, and how specialized the work is, and you find out after the consultation.
Cost for the same hours
Magic’s part-time plan is 20 hours a week, or about 1,040 hours a year. The figures below use BELAY’s own stated rate for the same number of hours.
| Around 1,040 hours a year | Magic | BELAY |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly rate | $13.50, fixed on both plans | $30 to $75, BELAY’s stated range |
| Cost for the year | $14,040 | $31,200 to $78,000 |
The gap is about $17,000 at BELAY’s lowest stated rate and about $64,000 at their highest, depending on the quote you’re given. Client reports suggest a typical BELAY client pays nearer $42 an hour, or around $45,600 a year, though those figures are estimates and BELAY doesn’t confirm them.
Magic full-time is 40 hours a week, about 2,080 hours a year, at $28,080.
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 | $13.50 an hour, fixed on both plans | $30 to $75 an hour by BELAY’s own figures |
| Price | $540/wk full-time ($270/wk part-time) | Custom quote. Client reports estimate around $3,800/mo. |
| How you get a price | On the pricing page | Consultation, then a custom quote |
| 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 executive assistant, plus a 24/7 shared pool | Dedicated one to one |
| Backup coverage | Included with full-time, via Magic 24/7 | None listed |
| AI tools | Paid for by Magic, with training before they start | Assistants use AI and automation |
| Acceptance rate | Top 0.5% of applicants | Top 3% of US applicants |
| Replacement | Free, preferences carry over | Free rematch under the Right-Fit Guarantee |
| Commitment | No long-term contract, cancel anytime | Month to month, 30-day notice |
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.
Every Magic full-time 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.
BELAY provides a dedicated assistant during business hours. Their service list doesn’t include a backup or on-demand option, so you’d need to ask how they cover time off.
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 accepts the top 3% of US applicants.
Every Magic assistant goes through training on AI tools before their first task for you. We don’t have information on whether BELAY trains its assistants.
Contracts and cancellation
Both services run month to month with no long-term contract. BELAY asks for 30 days’ notice to cancel. Magic lets you cancel at any time.
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
If you need an assistant based in the US, choose BELAY. 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
If you’re willing to hire outside the US, choose Magic.
- Lower cost. $13.50 an hour, fixed on both plans. The same hours at the bottom of BELAY’s stated range cost more than twice that.
- More selective. Magic accepts the top 0.5% of applicants. BELAY accepts the top 3%.
- 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 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. The rate is on the pricing page and doesn’t change by client.
- 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 is $540 a week for a full-time assistant at 40 hours a week, which includes Magic 24/7 (part-time is $270 a week for 20 hours). Both work out to $13.50 an hour. Plans are billed every four weeks and there’s no charge until you start working with your assistant. See the pricing page.
How much does BELAY cost?
It varies by a significant amount. BELAY’s site says US-based virtual assistants cost $30 to $75 an hour, or $1,200 to $3,000 a month for part-time support. You need to get on a call for a custom quote. Client reports estimate a typical BELAY client pays around $3,800 a month for a little under 90 hours, roughly $42 an hour, though BELAY doesn’t confirm those figures.
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 accepts the top 3% of US applicants.
What happens when my assistant is on leave?
Every Magic full-time plan includes Magic 24/7, a shared pool of assistants who pick up tasks when your dedicated assistant is unavailable. BELAY provides a dedicated assistant during business hours and doesn’t list a backup option.
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 also runs month to month and asks for 30 days’ notice.
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, Magic costs less for the same hours and includes backup coverage and paid AI access.
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