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UPDATED OCTOBER 27, 2026 · 22 REVIEWS ANALYZED

Zirtual Reviews (2026): Pricing, Pros, Cons & the Best Alternative

Zirtual shut down in 2015 and came back under new owners. Its reviews look good at first glance, but very few are recent.

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22 reviews read · Oct 27, 2026
Zirtual reviews at a glance
Trustpilot
2.5/5
23 reviews
Clutch
–
No reviews yet
Trustpilot star breakdown
5 stars
73%
4 stars
5%
2–3 stars
0%
1 star
23%
Few recent reviews, and most 1-star reviews came from job applicants
Founded 2011 · Relaunched 2015 · U.S.-based assistants

Zirtual: our quick take

Zirtual has had a bumpy history. It shut down suddenly in 2015, was bought within days, and came back under new owners. Today it has a 2.5 on Trustpilot, and we didn't find it on Clutch.

Most of its reviews are 5 stars, but they're old. Very few were posted recently. Most of the 1-star reviews came from people applying for jobs there.

Plans run from $599 a month for 12 hours up to $1,699 for 45 hours (see the full Zirtual pricing breakdown).

Note: If you'd rather pick your own assistant, Remote CoWorker starts at $7.99 per hour.

See how Zirtual compares with the other top providers in our guide to the best virtual assistant companies.

Zirtual ratings on Trustpilot and Clutch

Review site
Zirtual
The alternative
Remote CoWorker
2.5/ 5
23 reviews
4.6/ 5
147 reviews
–
No reviews
4.8/ 5
213 reviews

We checked both companies' Trustpilot and Clutch pages in October 2026. We didn't find Zirtual on Clutch. The star breakdown covers the 22 Trustpilot reviews we could read.

What Zirtual reviews say

We read nearly all of Zirtual's Trustpilot reviews in October 2026. Most are a few years old.

  • Most are 4 or 5 stars
  • Most were posted in 2023 or 2024
  • Zirtual hasn't replied to any of them
✓
What the positive reviews show
  • Most reviews are 5 stars
  • The good ones are mostly from 2023 and 2024
  • Very few are recent, so they may not reflect the service today
!
What the 1-star reviews mention
  • Job applicants, not clients, left most of the 1-star reviews
  • One recent client says their assistant never finished the inbox project they signed up for
  • A client in July 2023 says the hours left in the month went unanswered after they cancelled

Recent reviews, in brief

★ September 2026 · Trustpilot
Says the assistant never finished the single inbox project they hired Zirtual for.
★ July 2023 · Trustpilot
Says the hours left in the month went unanswered after they cancelled.
We didn't find Zirtual on Clutch, so there's no Clutch rating to compare.

These are our summaries, not direct quotes. Zirtual hasn't replied to any of them. Read the reviews on Trustpilot

Is Zirtual right for you?

Zirtual is a good fit if you
  • Want a college-educated assistant in the U.S. who's passed a background check
  • Need a set block of hours each month, from 12 to 45
  • Like having an account manager handle the matching and workload
  • Could also use outbound calling or legal help
The alternative
Consider Remote CoWorker if you
  • Want to meet as many candidates as you like before hiring
  • Like knowing your rate up front (it starts at $7.99 per hour)
  • Need someone who'll feel like part of your team
  • Would like a free replacement if a hire doesn't work out within a year
  • Need to track tasks and KPIs without buying extra software
Free consultation · No signup fees · Pay only when you hire

Zirtual at a glance

The basics, from Zirtual's website and Wikipedia.

Founded
2011 · Shut down in 2015, then relaunched under new owners
Service model
One dedicated U.S.-based freelance assistant does about 95% of your work, with specialists for unique tasks
Plans
12 to 45 hours a month. Hours don't roll over.
Hiring
Account managers pair you with an assistant and manage the workload.
Contract and cancelling
Cancel any time, effective your next billing date · No prorated refunds
Pricing
From $599 a month for 12 hours
See the full pricing breakdown →

Zirtual company profile

Here's who runs it and how it's set up.

Zirtual
U.S.-based assistants
Freelance assistants
Relaunched in 2015
2011
Founded
Aug 2015
Shut down, then bought by Startups.co and relaunched
Dec 2023
Reported sale to PennSpring Capital (Wikipedia)
4
Virtual assistant plans, from 12 to 45 hours
Founder
MD
Maren Kate Donovan
Founded Zirtual in 2011
Business details
Services
Virtual assistants, outbound calling, virtual paralegals, legal assistants, marketing and bookkeeping assistants, and a virtual receptionist
Where assistants work
U.S. only. College-educated freelancers with relevant experience and a full background check
Ownership
Reported acquired by PennSpring Capital in December 2023. Its policies list PSC Zirtual Holdings, LLC, under Pennsylvania law
Review profiles
Trustpilot 2.5 (23 reviews) · Clutch (none found)

Zirtual's own claims: 2-hour response times.

Sources: Zirtual's plans and pricing, FAQ, and terms of service pages, Wikipedia, and its Trustpilot profile.

Zirtual vs Remote CoWorker: Side-by-Side

We pulled these from each company's website in October 2026.

What you're comparing
Remote CoWorker
A dedicated assistant you pick yourself
Zirtual
U.S.-based freelance assistants on monthly hour plans
Signup fees
No signup fees
Not listed. Plans start at $599 a month.
Guaranteed skill match
Yes
Not listed. Account managers pair you with an assistant.
Workforce analytics software
Tasks, KPIs, progress tracking and performance visibility included.
Not listed on Zirtual's website.
Pricing
From $7.99 / hr
All-inclusive rate. Custom quote by role, experience and schedule, full-time or part-time.
From $599/mo
12 hours a month (about $50 per hour). Plans go up to $1,699 for 45 hours. Hours don't roll over.
Security
As published by each provider
PCI DSS Compliant
ISO 27001 Certified
HIPAA Compliance
SOC 2 Type II Certified
Not listed on Zirtual's website
No long-term commitment
No long-term contracts. Pay only when you hire.
Cancel any time, effective your next billing date. No prorated refunds.
Customer success manager
Dedicated Client Success Manager included.
Account managers pair clients and manage the assistant's workload.
10+ years in operation
Founded 2013. Over 10 years in operation.
Founded 2011, shut down in August 2015, and relaunched under new owners.
Reviews
Trustpilot 4.6 / 5 (147 reviews) · Clutch 4.8 / 5 (213 reviews)
Trustpilot 2.5 / 5 (23 reviews) · Clutch: not listed
Free VoIP service
Yes
Not listed on Zirtual's website.
24/7 IT support
IT support and 24/7 operations included in the all-inclusive rate.
Not listed.
AI specialist
Yes
Not listed.
Hire in 48 hours
Candidates sourced within 48 hours in most cases, with a hire usually within a week.
Not listed on Zirtual's website.
Unlimited candidate interviews
Interview as many candidates as you like
Not listed. Zirtual's account managers pair you with an assistant.

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Client Reviews

Zirtual Reviews: FAQs

Questions people often ask about Zirtual.

Is Zirtual legit?

Yes. Zirtual shut down in 2015 and came back under new owners. It's a real U.S. company, but it only has a 2.5 on Trustpilot.

What happened to Zirtual in 2015?

It shut down abruptly in August 2015. Startups.co acquired it within days and relaunched the service.

Who owns Zirtual now?

PennSpring Capital, which bought it in December 2023, according to Wikipedia. Its policies now list PSC Zirtual Holdings, LLC.

What do Zirtual reviews say?

Mixed, and mostly old. Most are 4 or 5 stars, but they date from 2023 and 2024. Most of the 1-star reviews came from job applicants.

How much does Zirtual cost?

From $599 a month for 12 hours, up to $1,699 for 45 hours (about $38 to $50 per hour). Hours don't roll over. Our Zirtual pricing page has the full breakdown.

Are Zirtual assistants based in the U.S.?

Yes. Zirtual says all its assistants are in the U.S., college-educated, and background-checked.

Are Zirtual assistants employees or freelancers?

Freelancers. Zirtual describes them as freelance Zirtual Assistants, with one assistant doing about 95% of your work and specialists helping on unique tasks.

Can I hire my Zirtual assistant directly?

Not without a big fee: at least $25,000, or a year of your fees if that's more. Its terms say this may not apply in some states, like California.

Can I cancel Zirtual at any time?

Yes, but give at least 24 hours' notice before your plan renews. You won't get money back for the rest of the month.

Can I interview Zirtual assistants before hiring?

Zirtual doesn't mention interviews. Its account managers pair you with an assistant.

What is a good Zirtual alternative?

If you'd like to interview candidates yourself, try Remote CoWorker. It starts at $7.99 per hour. BELAY and Time Etc are worth a look too.

Sources and how we keep this page accurate

This page is published by Remote CoWorker, a Zirtual competitor. Any facts and figures come from public sources, with dates on when sourced.

Last updated October 27, 2026. Spot something out of date? Let us know and we'll fix it.

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