Marketplace freelancers look cheap until a deadline slips. Here is the honest side by side breakdown of an agency VA against a freelancer you find yourself.
| Compare | KeenlyVAs Virtual Assistant | Marketplace Freelancer |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | KeenlyVAs Virtual AssistantFrom $899 part time or $1,599 full time, flat and all included | Marketplace FreelancerOften $5 to $30 per hour, so a full month of support can swing from $800 to $4,800 |
| Vetting | KeenlyVAs Virtual AssistantEvery VA is screened, interviewed, and matched to your business | Marketplace FreelancerYou screen candidates yourself, with no reliable track record check |
| Reliability | KeenlyVAs Virtual AssistantDedicated backup coverage if your VA is out | Marketplace FreelancerOne person, no backup; if they vanish, the work stops |
| NDA protection | KeenlyVAs Virtual AssistantStandard from day one | Marketplace FreelancerOnly if you draft and chase the agreement yourself |
| Equipment and software | KeenlyVAs Virtual AssistantProvided | Marketplace FreelancerYou coordinate tools and access per freelancer |
| Payroll and taxes | KeenlyVAs Virtual AssistantNot your responsibility | Marketplace FreelancerNot your responsibility either, but invoicing varies per freelancer |
| Training and onboarding | KeenlyVAs Virtual AssistantAgency handles matching and onboarding within 48 hours | Marketplace FreelancerYou write the brief, hire, and train alone, often weeks |
| Time tracking | KeenlyVAs Virtual AssistantTransparent reporting on hours and tasks | Marketplace FreelancerYou trust manual reports or track them yourself |
| Replacement | KeenlyVAs Virtual AssistantReplacement guarantee if the fit is not right | Marketplace FreelancerStart the hiring process over |
| Management overhead | KeenlyVAs Virtual AssistantOne point of contact at the agency | Marketplace FreelancerYou manage the freelancer directly, alone |
A freelancer can be the right call for a one-off project with a clear scope. For ongoing support, the hidden costs are the same ones that plague any solo hire: no backup, no vetting, and your time spent managing. A KeenlyVAs VA costs a flat $899 to $1,599 per month with backup coverage, NDA protection, and replacement included, which usually lands cheaper than a full month of hourly freelancing once management time is counted.
Hire a freelancer when the job is a one-off with a fixed scope, like a single design or a short research sprint. For weekly, ongoing support, the agency model wins.
Partner with KeenlyVAs and let us handle the details, streamline your workflow, and keep your business moving forward.