Upwork vs Guru: Which One Is Costing You More Than You Think?
Client Reviews
What Our Clients Say
“Lindsay has been incredible. She handles the tactical work, which has freed me up to focus on bigger-picture initiatives.”
Chad Sublet
Business Owner
“We went from 300 hours a month to over 2,500 hours with Stealth Agents.”
Erika Giron
CEO, Horizon Pacific Staffing
“They have made a real difference in our day-to-day operations and truly feel like part of our internal team.”
Alex Behrens
Client since Oct 2024
“Gained time for sales and closed 3 clients within two days. Exceptional service.”
Aisha Wonderfull
CEO, Publishing Startup
“Outstanding service. Less than 24-hour VA placement. Fast, high-quality. I have hired multiple times.”
Owen Hone
Multiple Hire Client
“Great communication, efficient and proactive assistant, visible business growth.”
Sarah Jacoby
Client
“The team learned my brand and goals and transformed my business. My dream team.”
Martine Cadet
Client
“Lindsay has been incredible. She handles the tactical work, which has freed me up to focus on bigger-picture initiatives.”
Chad Sublet
Business Owner
“We went from 300 hours a month to over 2,500 hours with Stealth Agents.”
Erika Giron
CEO, Horizon Pacific Staffing
“They have made a real difference in our day-to-day operations and truly feel like part of our internal team.”
Alex Behrens
Client since Oct 2024
“Gained time for sales and closed 3 clients within two days. Exceptional service.”
Aisha Wonderfull
CEO, Publishing Startup
“Outstanding service. Less than 24-hour VA placement. Fast, high-quality. I have hired multiple times.”
Owen Hone
Multiple Hire Client
“Great communication, efficient and proactive assistant, visible business growth.”
Sarah Jacoby
Client
“The team learned my brand and goals and transformed my business. My dream team.”
Martine Cadet
Client
“We especially appreciate how diligent and pleasant Evy is. True pros.”
Rich Cochran
Client
“Agents tackled diverse tasks seamlessly and manager Charm consistently provides excellent talent matches.”
George Assi
2-Year Partner
“Stealth Agents provided me with a fantastic virtual assistant who has been an absolute asset.”
Lee Maasen
Business Owner
“VA George eliminated late-night documentation work, restoring my sleep and enabling proper business planning.”
Kevin Carabajal
Client
“Paolo is exceptional. Communicative, fast turnaround, quality work every time.”
Lynda Sunshine West
Client
“The easiest VA onboarding process. Communicative and helpful throughout.”
McKay Jaeckel
First-Time Hire
“Continuously impressed by professionalism, punctuality, attention to detail, and the kind family approach.”
Evan
Long-Term Client
“We especially appreciate how diligent and pleasant Evy is. True pros.”
Rich Cochran
Client
“Agents tackled diverse tasks seamlessly and manager Charm consistently provides excellent talent matches.”
George Assi
2-Year Partner
“Stealth Agents provided me with a fantastic virtual assistant who has been an absolute asset.”
Lee Maasen
Business Owner
“VA George eliminated late-night documentation work, restoring my sleep and enabling proper business planning.”
Kevin Carabajal
Client
“Paolo is exceptional. Communicative, fast turnaround, quality work every time.”
Lynda Sunshine West
Client
“The easiest VA onboarding process. Communicative and helpful throughout.”
McKay Jaeckel
First-Time Hire
“Continuously impressed by professionalism, punctuality, attention to detail, and the kind family approach.”
Evan
Long-Term Client
Trusted By Over 2,000+ Businesses
4.7★
83 reviews
Trustpilot
4.8★
80 reviews
4.9★
51 reviews
BBB
5.0★
28 reviews
As Featured In
BloombergInc.EntrepreneurBusiness InsiderYahoo FinanceSound Familiar?
The Problems Holding You Back
Every hour spent on tasks you could delegate is an hour not spent growing your business. Here is what we hear most.
Fee Stacking
Upwork's 20% service fee gets baked into rates. Guru charges membership fees plus transaction fees. By the time you add it up, "affordable" freelancers are anything but.
You're the Manager
Platforms give you tools to hire: not to manage. Every check-in, revision request, and accountability conversation falls on you.
Talent Reliability Varies
Top freelancers on Upwork and Guru are often overbooked. You compete for their attention alongside dozens of other clients.
No Real Vetting
Profiles are self-reported. Skills tests are optional and easy to game. You don't know what you're getting until the project is underway.
Escalating Costs Over Time
Upwork's fee structure rewards long-term relationships: but freelancers use that leverage to raise rates once they're embedded in your workflow.
That's where Stealth Agents comes in. We handle the work so you can focus on growth.
Scope of Work
What Your VA Handles
Upwork dominates market share. Guru promises more control. But both charge escalating fees, offer inconsistent talent, and leave you doing the management yourself. Find out which wins: and what most businesses switch to next.
- Executive & Admin Support
- Customer Service
- Lead Generation & CRM
- Content & Social Media
- Finance Support
- Project Coordination
Why It Works
Built for Results
No Freelancer Marketplace Risk
We employ and manage your VA directly. No platform dependency, no fee escalation, no bidding wars for talent.
Structured Vetting Process
Every VA passes skills assessments, reference checks, and structured interviews before joining our roster: not just profile reviews.
Dedicated Account Management
Your account manager monitors performance, handles escalations, and replaces your VA if needed: without you having to re-post or re-interview.
Institutional Knowledge Retention
Your VA learns your business over time and carries that context forward. No re-onboarding cycle every time you need support.
Flat, Predictable Pricing
One monthly rate. No service fees, no per-task billing, no surprise charges. Budget confidently every month.
48-Hour Placement
Skip weeks of job posts and interviews. We match you with the right VA in 48 hours: fully briefed and ready to start.
Simple Process
How It Works
From your first call to your VA starting work, the whole process takes less than 48 hours.
Is This For You?
This Service Is Perfect For
Our upwork vs guru: best virtual assistant platform in 2026 [full comparison] are built for professionals who need reliable, skilled support without the overhead of full-time hires.
- Small business owners overwhelmed by admin tasks
- Entrepreneurs scaling without in-house hires
- Agencies needing reliable back-office support
- Executives who want to reclaim 20+ hours per week
- E-commerce sellers managing multiple stores
- Real estate professionals juggling clients and paperwork
Transparent Pricing
Starting at $10/hr - Full-Time from $1,500/mo
No hidden fees. No long-term contracts. Scale up or down anytime. Every plan includes a dedicated Campaign Manager and our money-back guarantee.
Ready to Stop Doing It All Yourself?
Book a free 30-minute consultation and get matched with a pre-vetted VA within 48 hours.
Our Track Record
Why Stealth Agents
Every Stealth Agent passes multi-stage screening including skills testing, background checks, and communication evaluation. We reject over 99% of applicants so you only work with professionals who are ready to contribute from day one.
See the Difference
Stealth Agents vs. Other VA Providers
| Feature | Other Providers | Stealth Agents |
|---|---|---|
| Vetting Process | Self-reported skills | Multi-stage screening, top 1% hired |
| Management | You manage everything | Dedicated Campaign Manager included |
| Training | DIY onboarding | Pre-trained on your tools and workflows |
| Replacement | Start over from scratch | Free instant replacement guarantee |
| Availability | Inconsistent hours | USA timezone, reliable schedules |
| Quality Assurance | No oversight | Ongoing QA and performance reviews |
We Get It
Common Concerns, Answered
Is my data secure with a remote VA?
Every Stealth Agent signs a comprehensive NDA before starting. We use enterprise-grade security protocols, encrypted communication channels, and strict access controls. Your data is as safe with us as it is in-house.
What about training and onboarding?
Your dedicated Campaign Manager handles the entire onboarding process. We pre-train your VA on your tools and workflows so they can contribute from day one. Most clients are fully onboarded within 48 hours.
What if it doesn't work out?
We offer a free replacement guarantee and a money-back guarantee. If your VA is not the right fit, we will match you with a new one at no extra cost. There are no long-term contracts, you can scale or pause anytime.
How do I communicate with my VA?
However you prefer: Slack, email, Zoom, phone, or your existing project management tools. Your VA adapts to your workflow, not the other way around. USA timezone coverage means real-time collaboration during your business hours.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore More
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Ready to Hire a Upwork vs Guru: Best Virtual Assistant Platform in 2026 [Full Comparison]?
Free 30-minute consultation. Matched with a pre-vetted assistant within 48 hours. Book a call to get started.