Comparison Guide

Trusty Oak vs. Magic

Two virtual assistant services with different models for getting work done. Here's an honest look at how they compare so you can choose the right fit for your business.

A quick overview

Magic and Trusty Oak both help busy professionals offload work, but they take different approaches to talent, pricing, and how you interact with your assistant. Magic offers dedicated assistants recruited from a global talent pool on weekly billing, plus a 24/7 on-demand option. Trusty Oak provides a flexible team of US-based EAs, Specialists, and Executives through a scalable monthly budget. Below is a side-by-side comparison to help you decide which model fits your needs.

Full-time assistants · Philippines-based · Flat monthly rate
Flexible team · US-based · Scalable monthly budget

Some of our US-based talent

Alyssandra Barnes Alyssandra B. Florida
Lauren Lyman Lauren L. New York
Kasi Bumgarner Kasi B. Virginia
Amanda Boyd Amanda B. Florida

Head-to-head comparison

Trusty Oak vs. Magic

Trusty Oak
Talent location
US-based
Global talent pool
Pricing model
$1,000/mo minimum budget
$1,080–$2,160/mo (billed weekly)
Contract commitment
3 months, then month-to-month
No long-term commitment
Talent types
EAs + Specialists + Executives
Dedicated assistants + 24/7 on-demand pool
Hours
Flexible, scale up or down
20 or 40 hrs/week fixed blocks
Pricing transparency
Minimums published on website
Published weekly rates
Onboarding
Custom Delegation Strategy Plan
Magic Match curated matching
Where your money goes
Majority of fees go directly to talent
Undisclosed split
Scaling
Spread budget across multiple talent
Add additional dedicated assistants

Trusty Oak leads in 6 of 9 categories. Want to see how it works for your business?

Book a Free Discovery Call

Which service fits you better?

Both are legitimate options. The right choice depends on what your business needs.

may be better if…
  • You need a full-time dedicated assistant working 40 hours per week
  • You want the flexibility to cancel anytime with no minimum commitment
  • You're comfortable working with talent from a global pool
  • You want 24/7 on-demand coverage for after-hours requests
  • Your work is primarily administrative and doesn't require specialized skills
is the better fit if…
  • You need a flexible mix of administrative, specialist, and strategic support
  • You want US-based professionals in your time zone
  • You prefer to start with a smaller budget and scale as needed
  • You value month-to-month flexibility after an initial commitment
  • You need more than an EA, like content creation, CRM management, or operational strategy
  • You want built-in oversight with weekly reporting and account management
  • You care about working with talent that's fairly compensated and invested in your success

Why businesses choose Trusty Oak

Real people, not ticket queues

You'll work with the same small team of people who know your business, not bots or rotating support reps. When you need something, you talk to a real person who already has context.

Three levels of talent

Access EAs, Specialists, and Executives from one monthly budget. No need to hire separately for admin, creative, or strategic work.

Flexible monthly budget

Start at $1,000/mo and scale up or down as your needs change. No long-term contracts after your initial 3-month commitment.

US-based professionals

Every team member is a vetted, US-based professional. No timezone gaps, no cultural misalignment, no language barriers.

Talent-first pay model

The majority of your budget goes directly to the people doing the work. That means better talent, lower turnover, and professionals who are genuinely invested in your success.

Built-in oversight

Weekly reporting and dedicated account management keep everything running smoothly so you can focus on your business, not managing your assistant.

"Trusty Oak has been a game-changer for our business. The flexibility to access different levels of talent through one budget has saved us time and money compared to hiring in-house."

Sam Baker CEO, Baker Strategy Group

Ready to see the difference?

Book a free discovery call to learn how Trusty Oak's flexible model can support your business, without the long-term commitment.