DedicatAide vs. Time Etc: Which Virtual Assistant Service Fits You?
If you've been comparing virtual assistant services, Time Etc has almost certainly come up — it's one of the most established subscription-based VA companies, known for hourly-block pricing and unused-hours rollover. You may also be looking at DedicatAide. Both are managed services that match you with a vetted assistant, so the pitch sounds similar on the surface. The pricing model, cost per hour, and how you get started differ more than it first appears.
This is an honest comparison. We'll only reference publicly reported information about Time Etc, and we'll be straight about which service fits which situation — because the wrong match wastes everyone's time.
The quick version
Time Etc sells fixed monthly hour blocks (10, 20, 40, or 60 hours) at a flat hourly rate, with unused hours rolling over on larger plans and no long-term contract. It's a straightforward, well-reviewed model built around US and UK-based assistants for general admin and executive support.
DedicatAide is a managed virtual assistant service built around flexible, AI-augmented delegation — human assistants supported by modern tooling, matched to you within about 24 hours, with plans starting lower and a free trial so you can test the fit before paying anything.
Neither is universally "better." The right choice depends on how many hours you actually need, your budget, and whether you want to try before you commit to a monthly block.
DedicatAide vs. Time Etc at a glance
| Factor | Time Etc | DedicatAide |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Fixed monthly hour blocks | Flexible, AI-augmented plans |
| Published pricing | Reported from ~$36/hr (10 hrs/mo) down to ~$30/hr (60 hrs/mo) | Plans from $60/mo; as low as $7/hr at scale |
| Entry commitment | Smallest published block is 10 hours/month | Starts smaller, scales with you |
| Free trial | Not advertised | Yes — 3 free hours, $0 due today |
| Typical time to match | Multi-step onboarding | ~24 hours |
| Unused hours | Roll over on 20-hour plans and above | Plan-based, no forced monthly block |
| Coverage | Business-hours support | 24/5 coverage (weekends on request at extra cost) |
Time Etc's rates above reflect third-party reviews and pricing roundups, not a figure DedicatAide independently verified on Time Etc's own site — always confirm current pricing directly with the provider before deciding.
Where Time Etc is genuinely a strong choice
Time Etc has built a solid reputation, and there are real situations where its model fits better:
- You want a simple, predictable hourly rate with no ambiguity about what you're paying per hour of work.
- You know exactly how many hours you need each month and want a fixed block with rollover protection so nothing goes to waste.
- You value an established, long-running provider with a large volume of public reviews to check before signing up.
If that describes your situation and you're comfortable committing to a monthly hour block from day one, Time Etc is a credible, well-regarded option. We'd rather point you there than sell you a mismatch.
Where DedicatAide is built to fit better
DedicatAide is designed for a buyer who wants to test delegation before locking into a fixed monthly spend:
- Try before you commit. We offer 3 free hours with $0 due today — you see real work from a matched assistant before choosing a plan size. How to test a virtual assistant before hiring covers how to get the most out of a trial like this.
- Lower entry point. Plans start at $60/mo, and at scale rates go as low as $7/hr — for founders who aren't ready to commit to a 10-hour-minimum block, that's a meaningfully lower bar to clear.
- Fast matching. Because our assistants are pre-vetted, we typically match you within about 24 hours.
- AI-augmented, human-led work. Our tagline is "built by humans, powered by AI" — assistants use modern automation and AI tooling to move faster on repetitive tasks, which is part of where the lower effective rate comes from at scale.
- Broader coverage. We provide 24/5 coverage, with weekend availability on request at extra cost.
The honest trade-off
The core trade-off comes down to two questions: do you already know your monthly hour need, and do you want to test before you pay?
Time Etc's fixed-block model rewards buyers who've already sized their delegation need accurately — you pay a flat, predictable rate and roll over what you don't use. If you're confident in that number, it's a clean, low-friction way to buy VA hours.
DedicatAide's model is built for buyers who haven't fully sized the need yet, or who want proof of quality before committing to a monthly spend. The trade-off is that our published entry-level rate applies at the plan level, and lower per-hour rates come with scale — read the full pricing page for exact numbers at your expected volume.
If you're also weighing whether an agency-managed VA beats going the freelance route, virtual assistant agency vs. freelance virtual assistant covers that fork in the road.
A simple way to decide
Ask yourself:
- Do you already know how many hours you need per month? If yes and you want a fixed, predictable block, Time Etc's model is a straightforward fit. If you're not sure yet, starting smaller and scaling up makes more sense.
- Do you want to test before you commit to a monthly plan? If seeing real output before paying matters, a free trial tips the decision — and Time Etc doesn't advertise one.
- What's your target hourly rate at scale? If you expect your delegation needs to grow, compare the effective rate at higher hour volumes, not just the entry-level price.
There's no wrong answer here, only a right fit. If you'd rather see the work before sizing a monthly commitment, the free-trial route is the lower-risk way in.
How DedicatAide's track record stacks up
We're a younger company than Time Etc, and we don't pretend otherwise. But since 2024 we've supported 250+ clients, saved them a combined ~50,000+ hours, and maintained a 4.9/5 average rating and 98% client retention — because ongoing management, not just the initial hour block, is what actually determines whether delegation sticks.
If you're weighing a managed VA against hiring in-house instead, virtual assistant vs. full-time employee breaks that comparison down too.
The bottom line
Choose Time Etc if you already know your monthly hour need, want a simple fixed-block rate, and are comfortable committing from day one. Choose DedicatAide if you want to test the fit for free first, start at a lower entry point, and scale your hours as your delegation needs become clearer.
Want to see what that looks like without spending anything? Explore our services, compare current plans, or start with 3 free hours, $0 due today — get in touch and we'll match you within 24 hours.