Updated May 23, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Woodbows offers Philippines-based dedicated VAs but its pricing at $699-$999/month for part-time is above the market rate for comparable offshore agencies.
- Stealth Agents provides equivalent dedicated Philippines VA support starting at $10/hr - significantly more cost-efficient at any engagement level.
- For full-time dedicated VAs, Stealth Agents at ~$1,600/month compares favorably to Woodbows' higher-tier pricing.
- The key factors when comparing: whether you need agency oversight, how important placement speed is, and your monthly budget ceiling.
- Direct Philippines hiring is the cost floor - approximately $5-10/hr - if you are willing to manage the relationship without agency support.
Woodbows is a Philippines-based virtual assistant agency that places dedicated assistants for ongoing business support. It operates in the same market as several competing agencies, and businesses typically evaluate alternatives when the pricing or service model is not the right fit.
Here is a straightforward comparison of Woodbows against its main alternatives.
Woodbows: Overview
Woodbows places dedicated full-time and part-time Philippines-based VAs with a focus on administrative and executive support. Their pricing sits in the mid-to-upper range of the Philippines agency market.
Typical pricing:
- Part-time (20 hrs/week): ~$699-$749/month
- Full-time (40 hrs/week): ~$1,099-$1,299/month
The effective hourly rate at full-time is approximately $7-$8/hr for the VA's labor, with the remainder covering agency overhead. Quality is generally good, with a reasonably fast placement process.
Best Woodbows Alternatives
Stealth Agents
What it is: Dedicated Philippines-based virtual assistants through an agency, with full-time and part-time options.
Pricing: Starting at $10/hr. Full-time (160 hrs/month) runs approximately $1,600-$2,000/month.
Comparison: Stealth Agents is slightly higher at full-time compared to Woodbows' lower full-time tier ($1,099), but offers dedicated service with agency oversight, a fast placement process (typically under a week), and strong English proficiency. For businesses that want agency-managed quality with clear escalation paths, Stealth Agents is a direct comparison.
At part-time, the comparison is closer. The key differentiator is the dedicated model - Stealth Agents' VAs are fully committed to a single client, which produces better context and continuity than split-attention models.
Best for: SMBs and founders who want dedicated dedicated support with agency backing.
MyOutDesk
What it is: Philippines-based dedicated VA service with US-based management.
Pricing: ~$1,750/month full-time.
Comparison: More expensive than Woodbows but with stronger operational structure. Known particularly in real estate and sales support.
Best for: Real estate and sales-heavy SMBs.
Virtual Staff Finder
What it is: One-time placement service for Philippines-based VAs. You hire and manage the VA directly after placement.
Pricing: ~$495 placement fee; you pay the VA directly ($5-10/hr).
Comparison: Significantly lower long-term cost than Woodbows. The trade-off is you manage the relationship entirely without ongoing agency support.
Best for: Business owners comfortable with direct VA management.
Direct Hiring (OnlineJobs.ph)
What it is: Direct hiring from Philippines' largest VA job board.
Pricing: $4-10/hr directly; platform subscription ~$70/month.
Comparison: Lowest total cost. Full responsibility for vetting, onboarding, and management.
Best for: Experienced VA managers who want maximum cost control.
The Decision
For most SMBs evaluating Woodbows:
- If Woodbows' pricing is the primary concern: Stealth Agents offers comparable agency-backed dedicated service. Direct hiring via OnlineJobs.ph is the cost floor.
- If placement speed matters: Stealth Agents and most established agencies have similar 5-10 day placement windows.
- If you want to avoid ongoing agency fees: Virtual Staff Finder's one-time placement model changes the cost structure significantly.
The Philippines agency market is competitive, and the quality difference between the established agencies (Woodbows, Stealth Agents, MyOutDesk) is smaller than the pricing differences suggest. Run the ROI calculation on your specific use case before choosing based on price alone.