Talent / Freelance vs managed VA
Freelance or managed assistant: what you get for the money.
Both can be great. Here's how price, cover, quality checks and contracts compare, so you can pick the right one.
A UK freelance virtual assistant usually charges £25 to £35 an hour, so about 85 hours a month costs £2,125 to £2,975 (published 2026 guides). A dedicated, managed assistant from Renewminder Talent costs £690 a month for about the same hours, works only for you in your hours, and comes with a manager who checks quality and handles problems. Freelancers suit a few ad hoc hours or one specialist project.
Side by side
UK freelance rates from published 2026 guides; our prices are on our pricing page.
| Renewminder Talent | UK freelance VA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price for about 85 hours a month | £690 | £2,125 to £2,975 at £25 to £35 an hour |
| Works only for you in your hours | Yes, one named person | Often shared between several clients |
| Holiday and sickness | Days we can't cover come off your bill | Usually no cover |
| Quality checks | A Renewminder manager | You |
| AI tools and licences | Included, business accounts that don't train on your data | Usually your cost |
| If it doesn't work out | Tell your manager; we fix it or replace them | Find someone new yourself |
| Contract | UK company, data processing agreement as standard | Varies |
When a freelancer is the better choice
If you need a few hours a month, ad hoc, a specialist skill for one project, or someone in the same UK town who can meet you in person, a good freelancer is often the right answer.
If you need the same person every day, in your hours, with someone checking their work and covering when they're away, a managed assistant is usually better value.
Sources
Checked October 2026. Prices change, so check each provider.
- Teambuild Consultancy: How much does a virtual assistant cost? (UK freelance rates, 2026)
- Renewminder Talent pricing
Our prices
One monthly price per person, AI tools included. Or any hours from 10 a week, pro rata.
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Type your company's name and what you do. Your own page opens straight away: your inbox being answered live, what your agent would handle, their end-of-day handover and the price.
- Emails answered live, in your business's name
- AI drafts, and a person checks every reply
- The price and the trial week on the page
Questions
How much does a freelance virtual assistant cost in the UK?
Published 2026 guides put UK freelance virtual assistants at about £25 to £35 an hour.
What is a managed virtual assistant?
An assistant employed and supervised by a company, with a manager who checks quality, covers problems and is your first contact. You pay the company one monthly price.
Is a freelancer or an agency better?
A freelancer suits a few ad hoc hours or a specialist project. A managed assistant suits daily, ongoing work where you need the same person and someone checking quality.
Can I switch from a freelancer to Renewminder?
Yes. Your new assistant can take a handover from your freelancer during the trial week.