Compare Trusty Oak to the alternatives

See how we stack up against other options.

Trusty Oak
Other staffing services
Hiring in-house
Matching
Personally matched via custom Delegation Strategy Plan
Algorithmic or self-serve search
You source, interview, and vet candidates yourself
Talent quality
Top US-based EAs, Specialists, and Executives
Offshore or entry-level task-doers
Depends on your recruiting ability
Support
Dedicated account management with weekly reporting
Rotating freelancers or short-term contractors
You manage everything
Flexibility
Scale budget up or down monthly
Fixed plans or long-term contracts
Fixed salary regardless of workload
Talent variety
EAs + Specialists + Executives from one budget
Executive assistants only
One hire, one skill set
Speed to start
Matched within days of onboarding
Varies widely
4–8 weeks (or longer)
Overhead
Scalable monthly budget starting at $1K/mo
Flat monthly fees ($3K+)
Salary, benefits, equipment, taxes
Risk
3-month commitment, then month-to-month
6–12 month contracts
Locked into the wrong hire

Head-to-head comparisons

Detailed breakdowns against specific competitors.

Trusty Oak vs. Athena

  • Talent location: US-based vs Philippines-based
  • Pricing model: $1,000/mo minimum budget vs $3,000/mo flat rate
  • Contract commitment: 3 months, then month-to-month vs 12-month annual contract
  • Talent types: EAs + Specialists + Executives vs Executive Assistants only
Trusty Oak leads in 8 of 9 categories
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Trusty Oak vs. BELAY

  • Pricing model: $1,000/mo minimum budget vs Custom pricing (not published)
  • Contract commitment: 3 months, then month-to-month vs 6-month minimum contract
  • Talent types: EAs + Specialists + Executives vs VAs, Bookkeepers, Social Media Managers
  • Hours: Flexible, scale up or down vs Fixed monthly hour blocks
Trusty Oak leads in 8 of 9 categories
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Trusty Oak vs. Freelancer

  • Service model: Managed staffing service vs Self-service freelance marketplace
  • Talent location: US-based vs Global (mostly overseas)
  • Talent vetting: Rigorous vetting and personal matching vs Self-reported profiles and reviews
  • Account management: Dedicated account manager + weekly reporting vs None — you manage everything
Trusty Oak leads in 8 of 10 categories
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Trusty Oak vs. Magic

  • Talent location: US-based vs Global talent pool
  • Pricing model: $1,000/mo minimum budget vs $1,080–$2,160/mo (billed weekly)
  • Talent types: EAs + Specialists + Executives vs Dedicated assistants + 24/7 on-demand pool
  • Hours: Flexible, scale up or down vs 20 or 40 hrs/week fixed blocks
Trusty Oak leads in 6 of 9 categories
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Trusty Oak vs. Upwork

  • Service model: Fully managed service vs DIY freelance marketplace
  • Talent location: US-based vs Global (varies by freelancer)
  • Talent vetting: Rigorously vetted and personally matched vs Self-reported profiles; you vet candidates yourself
  • Account management: Dedicated account manager included vs None; you manage everything
Trusty Oak leads in 7 of 9 categories
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Trusty Oak vs. Wing

  • Talent location: US-based vs Primarily Philippines-based
  • Onboarding: Custom Delegation Strategy Plan vs Standard matching and workspace setup
  • Where your money goes: Majority of fees go directly to talent vs Undisclosed split
  • Scaling: Spread budget across multiple talent vs Add additional dedicated assistants
Trusty Oak leads in 4 of 9 categories
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Trusty Oak vs. Zirtual

  • Talent types: EAs + Specialists + Executives vs Executive Assistants only
  • Hours: Flexible, scale up or down vs Fixed monthly hour blocks
  • Onboarding: Custom Delegation Strategy Plan vs Standard onboarding
  • Where your money goes: Majority of fees go directly to talent vs Undisclosed split
Trusty Oak leads in 5 of 8 categories
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