Athena and VAConnect both give you one dedicated executive assistant. The differences are price, minimum commitment and hours. Athena lists one full-time EA at $3,000 a month on an annual plan, or $3,600 a month on its monthly plan after an initial 90-day commitment. VAConnect executive assistant packages are $1,288 (40 hours), $2,188 (80 hours) and $3,880 (150 hours) a month, month-to-month.
Athena figures come from athena.com/pricing, checked on 21 October 2026. Check their page for current terms before you decide.
Athena vs VAConnect at a glance
| Athena | VAConnect | |
|---|---|---|
| Published price | $3,000 a month on an annual plan or $3,600 a month on the monthly plan, for one full-time EA | $1,288, $2,188 or $3,880 a month for 40, 80 or 150 hours |
| Commitment | Annual plan, or monthly plan after an initial 90-day commitment | Month-to-month, with one month’s notice either way |
| Hours | Full-time | Part-time or full-time packages |
| Employment | Athena says its EAs are vetted, trained, equipped and employed by Athena | We place and manage South African professionals |
| Selection | Athena says it receives 30,000 to 60,000 applications a month and accepts about 1% | Every candidate sits a role simulation (the Boiler Room) and needs 80% or higher to reach your shortlist |
| Support after the start | A Partnership Manager, plus EA performance management | Two success managers, plus replacement at no extra fee if the fit cannot be fixed |
| Not included | See Athena’s terms | Calling costs, platforms and travel |
When Athena is the better fit
Athena makes sense if you already know you want a full-time assistant, you are happy with an annual plan or a 90-day start on the monthly plan, and you want the assistant employed and equipped by the provider. Athena also states it is SOC 2 Type II certified, which matters if your security team asks for that report.
When VAConnect is the better fit
VAConnect fits if you want to start with 40 or 80 hours and grow, or you would rather not sign up for 90 days before you have seen the work. You get one dedicated assistant, a shortlist backed by Boiler Room results, and support from two success managers after day one. Clients typically meet their assistant within about two weeks of the strategy call.
See what our executive assistants handle on the executive virtual assistant page, compare every package on the pricing page, or read how to hire a virtual assistant in the USA.
Questions buyers ask
How much does Athena cost?
Athena’s pricing page lists one dedicated, full-time executive assistant at $3,000 a month on an annual plan, or $3,600 a month on its monthly plan after an initial 90-day commitment (checked 21 October 2026).
How much does a VAConnect executive assistant cost?
$1,288 a month for 40 hours, $2,188 for 80 hours or $3,880 for 150 hours, month-to-month. Calling costs, platforms and travel are not included.
Can I start part-time?
With VAConnect, yes: the 40-hour and 80-hour packages are part-time. Athena’s published plan is for one full-time EA.
What happens if the assistant is not the right fit?
Athena says your Partnership Manager works on the issue first and will match you with a different EA if things do not improve. At VAConnect, two success managers support the seat, and if the fit cannot be fixed we replace the assistant at no extra fee.