Full disclosure: this is our own company against Athena, so read it knowing who wrote it. We've tried to make it useful anyway. Athena's facts come only from athena.com and its careers site, all linked at the bottom, and there's a whole section on when Athena is the better pick.
At $3,000 a month, Athena and Ryz Labs charge the same for a dedicated executive assistant. The difference is what's attached to that number. Athena ties its $3,000 rate to a 12-month commitment and includes a delegation-coaching program; its EAs are overseas and work a schedule you set. Ryz offers $3,000 month to month, with assistants on US business hours, and can also place developers and product or project managers on the same team. If you want coaching and are sure you'll stay a year, Athena is a strong choice. If you'd rather not commit, or you'll need technical help too, Ryz is built for that.
Athena details are from athena.com and jobs.athena.com as we read them in November 2026. Ryz details are our current approved terms.
Athena runs a membership. You start with a survey about your priorities and delegation habits, Athena matches you with one EA and sends a package explaining the choice, and then you go through onboarding, which its FAQ says typically takes two to three weeks. Each EA works 40 hours a week over five business days with two consecutive days off. If you go on leave, Athena covers top-priority tasks with a temporary EA; if the relationship isn't working, it will "partner you with a different Athena EA if things don't improve."
The pricing is published and clear. You choose $3,000 a month on a 12-month commitment, labelled most popular, or $3,600 a month after an initial 90-day commitment, labelled most flexible. Full-year totals are $36,000 and $43,200. Details are in our Athena pricing guide.
Athena's FAQ says the EAs are overseas. Its careers site advertises executive assistant roles at hubs in Quezon City and Cavite in the Philippines, Guatemala City and Nairobi, and one posting describes the work as "often aligned to U.S. time zones."
We start with a conversation about what you want off your plate. From that one call you get three things back: a plan for the role, a monthly price and the names of the people we'd put on your team. Every candidate has been screened by our recruiters. You choose, and once you say go, people can typically start in under two weeks; some roles take three to six weeks.
Your executive assistant ($3,000 a month) or virtual assistant ($2,000 a month) works on your team, keeps US business hours including New York hours, and communicates in fluent English. Both are month to month. Ryz Portal, a client workspace for your team and requests, is rolling out to clients now.
The clearest gap: Ryz's $3,000 has no commitment beyond the month. Athena's $3,000 needs twelve months, and its no-year option is $3,600 for at least 90 days.
Ryz assistants work US business hours. Athena's EAs work a schedule you set; Athena says most members choose their own time zone, but some work asynchronously. If same-day turnaround on a 5 PM request matters, ask both providers exactly which hours are covered.
Ryz also places developers and product and project managers, and Fortune 500 engineering teams trust us with that work. If you're an owner with a website, an app or manual workflows that need building, your EA and your developer can work on one team.
Ryz's virtual assistant is $2,000 a month for owners who need dependable admin support rather than executive-level judgement. See EA vs VA to decide.
We'd point you to Athena in these situations, and we mean it:
The monthly figure is the same: $3,000 for a dedicated executive assistant. The difference is the commitment. Athena's $3,000 rate comes with a 12-month commitment; Ryz's is month to month.
We place people to a schedule, not a postcode: Ryz assistants work US business hours with fluent English. Ask on your first call where the specific people we propose are based, and we'll tell you.
No formal program. Athena's coaching is a genuine strength of its offer. Our plan step spells out what your assistant will take on first.
Athena's FAQ says onboarding typically takes two to three weeks. At Ryz, people can typically start in under two weeks once you say go; some roles take three to six weeks.
With Ryz, yes. We place executive assistants, virtual assistants, developers and product and project managers on the same team. Athena places assistants.
Your plan runs month to month, so you're not tied to a match that isn't working. Ask us on the first call how a change of person is handled, and get it in the plan.
Athena's pages were checked on November 14, 2026. Its terms may change, so confirm them before you choose.
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