What about Gartner's numbers?

Gartner research puts the cost at **$0.70 per AI interaction** versus **$8.01 for human-only service**. That's an 11x cost difference per task. Over hundreds of daily interactions, the savings compound fast.

Ready to try the cheaper option?

If you want VA-level support without VA-level costs — and without learning the tech yourself — that's exactly what the setup service covers.

OpenClaw vs Hiring a Virtual Assistant — Real Cost Comparison for 2026

OpenClaw handles 60–80% of typical VA tasks — email triage, scheduling, customer FAQs, daily briefings — at 97–99% less cost. A Philippines-based VA runs $21,000–$37,000/year. OpenClaw runs under $2,000/year including setup. The trade-off: AI can't make judgment calls, negotiate, or build relationships. For most small businesses, OpenClaw covers the repetitive work and a human handles the rest.