Business Growth
5
min read
As we move into 2026, the landscape of remote work has fundamentally shifted. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), hiring a Filipino Virtual Assistant (VA) is no longer just a cost-saving tactic — it is a strategic growth decision.
The Philippines remains the global gold standard for offshore talent due to its high English proficiency, strong cultural alignment with Western markets, and a highly skilled, tech-savvy workforce.
However, where you hire your Filipino VA matters just as much as who you hire.
Depending on whether you want a hands-off experience or full control over recruitment, your choice of platform will shape cost, performance, retention, and long-term success.
This guide covers the best platforms to hire Filipino virtual assistants in 2026, categorised by how they serve your business.
A Filipino Virtual Assistant is a remote professional based in the Philippines who supports businesses with tasks such as:
Filipino VAs are highly sought after because they offer:
For SMEs, Filipino VAs represent one of the highest ROI hiring models in remote staffing today.
If you are an SME looking for a long-term partner rather than just a job board, boutique staffing agencies are the top choice in 2026.
These agencies specialise in offshore staffing for SMEs, offering personalised recruitment, cultural matching, and end-to-end support.
Linkers specialises in helping SMEs build long-term offshore teams in the Philippines through role scoping and compliance-backed remote hiring.
Unlike large volume agencies, Linkers focuses on:
The result: your VA is not just a task executor, but a strategic extension of your team.
Known for its “Top 1%” vetting process, Pearl Talent is ideal for businesses that need highly specialised talent and are willing to pay a premium for managed services and compliance.
A rising star in 2026, Somewhere offers a personalised approach to matching US and Australian companies with Filipino professionals, with strong emphasis on personality and aptitude testing.
Best for: SMEs who want to save time, reduce hiring risk, and ensure high-quality, long-term talent.
If you already have internal HR capability and want to avoid agency fees, direct marketplaces allow you to source and manage Filipino VAs yourself.
The largest and most well-known Filipino job board, with over 2 million resumes. It is fully DIY — you handle job posting, screening, interviews, contracts, and payroll.
A hybrid platform offering job listings plus payroll and compliance tools. It’s a good middle ground for founders who want direct hiring but need payment protection.
A newer alternative focused on transparency and reducing spam commonly found on large job boards.
Best for: Founders who enjoy recruitment and want the lowest possible monthly cost.
Managed service providers act as the Employer of Record (EOR). They handle compliance, payroll, benefits, and sometimes even physical office space.
One of the most established providers offering “staff leasing.” VAs receive office facilities, health insurance, and corporate perks, which often leads to strong loyalty.
Focused specifically on executive assistants. Athena trains VAs in high-level delegation, making them ideal for CEOs and founders.
Best for: Companies hiring 20+ staff or operating in regulated industries like finance or healthcare.
| Feature | Boutique (Linkers) | Marketplace (OnlineJobs) | Managed (Cloudstaff) |
| Vetting | Done for you | You do it | Enterprise-level |
| Cost | Transparent / flat | Lowest (salary only) | Premium |
| Speed | 7–14 days | Instant but noisy | 14–21 days |
| Retention | High | Variable | High |
| Support | Strategic partner | None | Corporate |
When hiring in the Philippines, you benefit from:
Most Filipino VAs are comfortable working night shifts aligned with US, UK, Singapore and Australian time zones.
In 2026’s global job market, job-hopping is common. Filipino professionals place strong value on stability and long-term employment.
English is a primary language of education, making communication smooth and professional compared to many other offshore regions.
This makes the Philippines the most reliable offshore hiring market globally for SMEs.
Choosing the right platform is the first step toward reclaiming your time, reducing operational cost, and scaling your business intelligently.
For most SMEs in 2026:
At Linkers, we help SMEs build high-performing offshore teams in the Philippines through a high-trust, personalised, and compliance-backed staffing model.
We support you with:
We don’t just place virtual assistants.
We help you build remote teams that last.
Because smart hiring is not a cost — it’s a growth strategy. 🚀
Linkers
