Time etc review 2026: is this virtual assistant service worth it?

Time etc promises to give you your time back by handing the busywork to a real, experienced assistant. Unlike the offshore services that compete on price, its assistants are based in the US and the UK, which changes both the quality and the cost. We looked at whether the premium is worth paying.

What is Time etc?

Time etc is a virtual assistant service founded in the UK in 2007. You are matched with a dedicated assistant, an experienced professional rather than a call-centre temp, who handles tasks on your behalf. You buy a pool of hours each month and use them across whatever you need, from inbox management to research.

What they can do

Admin and scheduling

Calendar management, booking, data entry and the everyday admin that eats your day.

Email and inbox

Filtering, replying on your behalf and keeping your inbox under control.

Research

Market research, finding suppliers, gathering data and summarising it for you.

Social and content

Scheduling posts, light content support and keeping your channels ticking.

Customer and follow-up

Chasing quotes, following up leads and basic customer support.

Quality of assistants

This is the difference. Time etc assistants are vetted, experienced and native English speakers in your own time zone, so briefing them is quick and the work comes back right. For judgement-based tasks, where a cheap offshore VA would struggle, this matters a lot.

Pricing and value

There is a free trial task so you can test it before committing. After that you buy monthly hours, and the effective rate starts from around $32 an hour, dropping on larger plans. It is more expensive than offshore services, but for skilled, reliable help the value is strong, especially when an hour of your own time is worth far more.

Where it falls short

The model is hours-based, so if you do not use your hours in a month they can go to waste, and there is a monthly commitment. It is also not the tool for very high-volume, low-skill work, where a cheaper service makes more sense. And the premium price will not suit everyone.

Who should use Time etc?

Time etc is ideal for busy founders, executives and small teams who want to delegate real, judgement-based work to someone reliable, and who value quality and easy communication over the lowest price. If you only need cheap, high-volume admin, an offshore service may suit you better.

Frequently asked questions

Where are Time etc assistants based?

In the US and the UK. They are experienced professionals in your time zone, not offshore call-centre staff, which is the main reason Time etc costs more than budget services.

Is there a free trial?

Yes. Time etc offers a free trial task so you can see the quality of the work before you commit to a plan.

What can a Time etc assistant do?

Admin, scheduling, inbox management, research, social media, follow-ups and more. It is best for skilled, judgement-based tasks rather than very high-volume data work.