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.
Comparison Guide
Nacho vs. Athena
Two popular staffing services, two different approaches. Here's an honest look at how they compare so you can choose the right fit for your business.
A quick overview
The short version
Athena is the better fit if you want one dedicated, full-time Executive Assistant at a known flat rate and you're comfortable with Philippines-based talent on a 12-month contract. Nacho is the better fit if you want US-based talent in your time zone and one budget you can flex across administrative, specialist, and strategic work. Athena publishes $3,000/mo for a full-time EA working 40 hours a week. Nacho starts at a $1,000/mo Talent Budget covering Executive Assistants at $40/hr, Specialists at $65/hr, and Fractional Executives at $125/hr, with a 3-month initial commitment and month-to-month after that. Below is a side-by-side comparison to help you decide which model fits your needs. Both services also appear in our roundup of the best virtual assistant companies.
Full-time Executive Assistant · Philippines-based · $3,000/mo flat 
Flexible team · US-based · Scalable monthly budget Some of our US-based talent
Run the numbers
Nacho vs. Athena, head to head
| Criteria |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Talent location | US-based | Philippines-based |
| Pricing model | $1,000/mo minimum budget + $300 onboarding plan | $3,000/mo flat rate |
| Contract commitment | 3 months, then month-to-month | 12-month annual contract |
| Talent types | EAs + Specialists + Executives | Executive Assistants only |
| Hours | Flexible, scale up or down | Full-time (40 hrs/week) |
| Pricing transparency | Minimums published on website | Published flat rate |
| Onboarding | $300 Delegation Strategy Plan | Generic onboarding |
| Where your money goes | Majority of fees go directly to talent | Majority of fees go to the company |
| Scaling | Spread budget across multiple talent | Add additional full-time assistants |
Nacho leads in 8 of 9 categories. Want to see how it works for your business?
Book a discovery callThe honest take
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 dedicated, full-time Executive Assistant for 40+ hours per week
- You're comfortable working with Philippines-based talent across time zones
- You prefer a single flat monthly rate over hourly billing
- You can commit to a 12-month contract
- Your work is primarily administrative and doesn't require specialized skills
is the better fit if… - You'd rather not commit to 40 hours a week or a 12-month contract before you know your real volume
- 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
The difference
Why businesses choose Nacho
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.
Helping owners & execs
10+ yrs of matching fractional professionals
100% US-based fractional talent network
100K+ hours returned to clients
$10M+ saved through delegation
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Nacho found me the best EA of my life!
Noah Kagan, Chief Sumo & CEO, AppSumo -
Our fractional COO from Nacho has been an incredible addition to our team. We're so grateful for her warmth, care, and how seamlessly she's stepped in.
Dorly Roy, Creative Director, Golden Light Creative -
Nacho took the time to understand my needs and matched me with an exceptional Executive Assistant who's become invaluable. The process was thoughtful, seamless, and supportive from start to finish.
Melissa Dotson, President/Owner, Rieke Interiors -
I tried hiring a full-time assistant on my own, and it was an epic fail. Using Nacho instead was one of the best investments I've made in my business.
Felicia Reed, Owner, Felicia Reed Photography -
Nacho has figured out what the small business owner needs to thrive. The day I hired Nacho was the day when my personal productivity and job satisfaction began to soar.
Kathy Schwartz, Founder, SmallBizBrands -
Nacho has become a trusted extension of my business, consistently connecting me with skilled professionals for everything from design and marketing to CRM support and AI projects.
Amy Wolfgang, Owner + Executive Leadership Coach, Coach Wolfgang -
When our ambition outpaced our bandwidth, Nacho connected us with someone we work with every week who's just as passionate about our projects as we are and truly feels like part of the team.
Kara Timmins, Sr. Marketing Manager, Western Growers
Keep comparing
Compare other services.
See how Nacho stacks up against other virtual assistant options.
Ready when you are
Want to see the difference?
Book a free discovery call to learn how Nacho's flexible model can support your business, without the long-term commitment. If the fit isn't right, the Nacho Guarantee means we re-match you for free.