The Best Virtual Assistants and Where in the World to Find Them

The virtual assistant industry has exploded since 2020, making it easier than ever to find talented professionals anywhere in the world. This gives Australian businesses a massive advantage in terms of value that simply wasn’t possible even five years ago.

But here’s the thing – having too many options can actually make things harder. Yes, you can search for talent globally, but that doesn’t mean every country delivers the quality your business needs.

Let’s look at where to find the best virtual assistants in 2025, and why so many Australian, European, and North American businesses focus their searches on the Philippines.

Where to Find Virtual Assistants in 2025

You can find virtual assistants in virtually any country today, and your choice often comes down to specific skill requirements – particularly language skills.

Language matters more than ever as businesses expand globally. If you need support in Mandarin for your Chinese customers or German for your European operations, it makes sense to look for VAs in those regions. That said, multilingual virtual assistants are increasingly common everywhere.

For English-speaking virtual assistants, the biggest markets in 2025 include:

• United States
• United Kingdom
• Canada
• Australia
• India
• South Africa
• Pakistan
• Eastern Europe (particularly Poland and Romania)

• Philippines

At Virtual Done Well, we specialise in finding you the perfect Filipino VA for your business. Based out of Davao City, we’ve got decades of experience working with virtual assistants, both on our own businesses and for clients, saving you money in comparison to hiring an assistant in Australia or the US.

Why Hire Virtual Assistants Overseas?

If budget isn’t your main concern, hiring VAs in Australia makes plenty of sense. You’ll still save compared to traditional employment costs, and local VAs understand Australian business culture inside out.

But these advantages become less critical if you’re targeting international markets. For startups and small businesses watching their costs, virtual assistants from countries like the Philippines offer better value without sacrificing quality.

The economics are straightforward: VAs in developing nations charge significantly less due to lower living costs, while their skills often match or exceed those in developed countries. In 2025, with improved internet infrastructure and online training platforms, the skill gap has essentially disappeared.

What About Indian Virtual Assistants?

India has been a major outsourcing destination for decades, particularly for IT and software development. The country produces excellent virtual assistants, from general admin support to specialists in accounting, web development, and digital marketing.

However, many companies have shifted customer-facing roles from India to the Philippines over the past few years. This isn’t about capability – it’s about customer perception. Here’s what we’ve observed:

Communication challenges can arise with some Indian accents, particularly over the phone. This isn’t universal, but it happens enough to affect customer satisfaction scores.

Cultural communication styles sometimes clash. What’s considered direct and efficient in India can come across as abrupt to Australian customers – it’s purely a cultural difference, but perception matters in customer service.

Customer preferences play a role too. Many customers simply prefer speaking with someone who sounds more culturally familiar, fair or not.

These same issues can affect development teams, though many businesses work successfully with Indian VAs. The key is matching the right VA to the right role through careful selection.

Why the Philippines Dominates the VA Market

The Philippines has become the go-to destination for virtual assistants, and for good reason. Here’s what makes Filipino VAs stand out in 2025:

Exceptional work ethic – Filipino culture values dedication and loyalty, which translates directly into their professional approach.

Strong educational foundation – The Philippines produces over 600,000 college graduates annually, many with business and technical degrees.

Native-level English – As one of the largest English-speaking countries globally, Filipinos communicate fluently in both written and spoken English.

Neutral accent – Most Filipino VAs have minimal accent, making them indistinguishable from local staff on calls.

Western business familiarity – American influence means Filipino VAs understand Western business practices intuitively.

Cost-effectiveness – Filipino VAs typically charge 70-80% less than Australian VAs while delivering comparable quality.

The Philippines also leads in specific sectors. The country handles over 60% of global voice-based outsourcing, and major companies like Telstra, Amazon, and Microsoft maintain significant operations there.

The Win-Win Reality of Philippines Outsourcing

Here’s something important: when you hire Filipino virtual assistants through Virtual Done Well, nobody’s being exploited.

While the rates are much lower than Australian standards, they’re typically 2-3 times higher than average local salaries in the Philippines. Your VA earns an excellent living by local standards, you get exceptional value, and your customers receive better service.

In 2025, with remote work normalised and digital payment systems streamlined, working with Filipino VAs has never been smoother. Time zone compatibility with Australia (just 2-3 hours difference) means real-time collaboration is easy.

Making the Right Choice for Your Business

The “best” virtual assistant ultimately depends on your specific needs. If you need specialised technical skills, India might be your answer. For customer service and general business support, the Philippines consistently delivers the best results.

At Virtual Done Well, we’ve spent years perfecting our recruitment and training processes in the Philippines. We know what works for Australian businesses because we’ve been connecting them with top Filipino talent since our founding.

Want to see what our clients say about working with Filipino VAs? Check out our client testimonials and discover why businesses across Australia trust us to find their perfect virtual assistant match.

Ready to explore how a Filipino VA could transform your business? Get in touch with our team today.