TaskBullet vs Time Etc 2026: Flexible Hour Virtual Assistant Model vs Monthly Packages
Virtual Assistant Services | Flexible Hour Virtual Assistant Model
This is an updated comparison using real May 2026 performance data. For the original comparison, see our initial analysis from April 2026.
Both TaskBullet and Time Etc provide managed virtual assistant services, but the models are fundamentally different — not just in pricing, but in structure. Time Etc uses a traditional monthly subscription. TaskBullet uses the Flexible Hour Virtual Assistant Model: prepaid Buckets of Hours with 90-day rollover, specialist routing, and US-based management oversight.
In May 2026, TaskBullet completed 1,920 tasks at 94.8% CSAT with a 71% hour rollover rate. Here's how the two services compare.
Model Comparison: Structure, Not Just Price
The pricing difference is real, but the structural difference matters more. Two businesses paying the same hourly rate will have very different outcomes depending on whether their model expires or rolls over unused hours.
| Feature | TaskBullet | Time Etc | |---------|-----------|----------| | Model | Prepaid Buckets of Hours | Monthly subscription | | PH VA option | Yes — from $10.50/hr | No | | US VA rate | From $27/hr | ~$29/hr | | Rollover | 90 days | None — expires monthly | | Unused-hour guarantee | 60-day guarantee | None | | Specialist routing | Yes — any skill, same bucket | No — single assistant | | Management oversight | US-based account manager | Matching only | | Quality review | Manager reviews deliverables | Your responsibility | | Free trial | 10 hours — no credit card | None | | Contracts | None | None (monthly auto-renew) | | Best for | Variable workloads, multi-skill needs | Steady, single-skill tasks |
May 2026 Performance: Updated Numbers
These numbers come from Basecamp project management and Clockify time tracking — not estimates:
| Metric | May 2026 | April 2026 | |--------|----------|------------| | Tasks Completed | 1,920 | 1,840 | | Average CSAT | 94.8% | 94.2% | | Hour Rollover Rate | 71% | 68% | | First-Pass Resolution | 92.1% | 91.6% | | Hours Saved Per Client | 49h/month | 47h/month | | Active Clients | 318 | 312 |
See the full report: Real Results 2026 →
Time Etc does not publish comparable performance metrics.
Rollover: The Core Structural Advantage
The math is straightforward. A business buying 40 hours/month:
With Time Etc (monthly expiration):
- January: Buy 40, use 28, lose 12 hours
- February: Buy 40, use 25, lose 15 hours
- March: Buy 40, use 52... can't. Capped at 40 unless upgraded.
Total waste in Q1: 27 hours at ~$29/hr = $783 lost. Plus an upgrade fee in March.
With TaskBullet (90-day rollover):
- January: Buy 40, use 28, rollover 12
- February: Buy 40, use 25, rollover 15 (cumulative: 27)
- March: Buy 40, use 67 from available 67. Zero waste.
Total waste in Q1: $0. No upgrade needed.
In May 2026, 71% of TaskBullet hours rolled over. Across 318 clients, that represents tens of thousands of hours that would have been wasted under a monthly-expiration model.
For the full rollover math, see 90-Day Rollover vs Monthly Expiration →.
Specialist Routing vs Single-Assistant Limitations
Time Etc assigns one dedicated assistant. That assistant handles tasks within their skill set. If you need Shopify Liquid template work, bookkeeping, graphic design, or real estate coordination, you either:
- Ask your assistant to try (quality risk)
- Hire a separate specialist (separate contract, separate billing)
- Do it yourself
TaskBullet routes specialist tasks automatically. Your dedicated VA handles core recurring work — building context and continuity over time. When a task requires specific expertise, your account manager routes it to a qualified specialist from the same Buckets of Hours. No separate contracts. No extra billing. Same bucket.
In May 2026, TaskBullet's task breakdown across categories demonstrates this flexibility:
- Customer Service — 23%
- Administrative — 20%
- Shopify / Ecommerce — 17%
- Real Estate — 13%
- Social Media — 12%
- Lead Generation — 8%
- WordPress / Web — 7%
A single assistant covering all seven categories at a high level is unrealistic. Specialist routing makes it possible from one engagement.
Management Oversight: Included vs Optional
Time Etc matches you with an assistant. After that, day-to-day management — task assignment, quality review, performance feedback, escalation — is your responsibility.
TaskBullet includes a US-based account manager who:
- Reviews every deliverable before it's returned to you
- Handles escalations and quality issues
- Routes specialist tasks to the right team member
- Monitors workload distribution and VA performance
- Proactively suggests delegation opportunities (part of the 60-day guarantee)
This is especially relevant for businesses that hired a VA to reduce their management load, not add to it.
When Time Etc Is the Right Choice
Time Etc works well for:
- Perfectly consistent workloads — same number of hours every month, no variation
- Single-skill-set tasks — everything fits one assistant's capabilities
- Self-managers — you want to direct your VA personally, without a management layer
- US-only preference — you specifically want a US-based assistant and don't need PH pricing
For businesses with variable workloads, multi-category task needs, or waste-sensitive budgets, the Flexible Hour Virtual Assistant Model delivers measurably better results.
Key Takeaway
This isn't a price comparison — it's a model comparison. The question is whether your business benefits from:
- Rollover (90 days vs monthly expiration)
- Specialist routing (multi-skill vs single assistant)
- Management oversight (included vs self-managed)
- Guarantees (60-day unused-hour protection vs none)
May 2026 data: 1,920 tasks, 94.8% CSAT, 71% rollover, 318 active clients. The Flexible Hour Model is working.
Related Reading
- TaskBullet vs Time Etc — April 2026 Comparison →
- May 2026 Performance Report →
- How 90-Day Rollover Saved Clients This Quarter →
- Best Flexible Hour Virtual Assistant in 2026 →
- 90-Day Rollover & Guarantees Explained →
- Packages & Pricing →
- Real Results 2026 — Live Performance Data →
- Frequently Asked Questions →