Time etc alternatives for small businesses: Time etc vs Fiveafter
Time etc is the better pick when you have a steady stream of mixed tasks for a U.S.-based assistant and want to buy a set number of hours each month. We’re the better pick when one job repeats every week and you want it built into your own tools so nobody has to do it by hand.
Time etc matches you with a dedicated assistant who works from a monthly block of hours. We find the job most worth automating, build it in your accounts, and leave a person on your side approving what goes out.
Side by side
| At a glance | Time etc | Fiveafter |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | A dedicated U.S.-based assistant, matched to you. | One project, built and tested in your own accounts. |
| Price | 10 hours for $390 a month, up to 60 hours for $2,160 a month. Unused hours roll over. | Projects start as low as $250, plus the tools they run on. An optional retainer starts as low as $25 a month. |
| Getting started | A consultation, then a suggested assistant you can talk to before going further. | A free 30-minute intro and a free look at the real work, then a few weeks to build. |
| Best at | Ongoing help. Its own FAQ says it suits ongoing assistance better than one-off projects. | One repeating job, built once and kept running. |
| What you’re paying for | A block of a person’s time, every month. | A setup you keep, running in your own accounts. |
When Time etc is the better choice
- You want help with a mix of email, scheduling, research and admin every week.
- Your tasks change too often to be worth automating.
- You like knowing exactly how many hours you’re buying.
When we’re the better choice
- The same job lands every week: inquiries to sort, forms to turn into checklists, updates to pull into one note.
- You keep explaining that job to someone and paying for the hours it takes, when it could be built once.
- You want it in your own accounts, with a person approving anything that goes to a customer.
Using both
Plenty of the work an assistant does is judgment, and that’s worth paying for. If an automation handles the repetitive part and the assistant reviews what it drafts, the same block of hours goes further.
Not sure which fits? The intro call is free, and if an assistant is the better answer, we’ll tell you. Our prices are on the pricing page, and there are more comparisons on the compare page.
Sources
Facts about Time etc checked 18 Oct 2026.
Updated