Where your hire lives changes how the work gets done. Time zones, communication style, cost and the size of the talent pool all differ by region, and no single market is right for every role.
Latin America (Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil) puts a hire inside your workday, which suits roles with tight feedback loops: live standups, same-day reviews and fast turnarounds. Asia-Pacific markets such as the Philippines sit many hours ahead of the US, so a hire usually works a shifted or overnight schedule, but they open up a very large pool of experienced people who have supported US companies for years. Each is a trade-off, not a verdict.
Different markets can work for different roles, and you give yourself the best chance of success by considering all of your options. GrowthAssistant hires in both the Philippines and Latin America and helps clients choose by role, so we have no reason to pretend one region is right for everyone.
This list is aimed at marketing, design, operations and admin hires. If you're hiring software engineers, you'll want a different shortlist. The providers offer different combinations of recruiting, managed staffing and virtual assistance, including specialized marketing roles. We'll say plainly what each does well and where it falls short.
What nearshore staffing is
Full-time remote workers, in your time zone, working as part of your team. For US companies that almost always means Latin America: Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil and Costa Rica.
Nearshore vs. offshore. Nearshore hires work normal business hours in their own country, so you get live meetings and same-day feedback. Offshore hires in Asia usually work a shifted or overnight schedule to overlap with US hours, and many roles run well on asynchronous handoffs. Neither is better in general. The right choice depends on how much live contact the role needs.
Cost is only one input, and the gap between regions narrows once you count turnover. Replacing someone costs recruiting time, onboarding and ramp-up. A hire who leaves at 18 months can cost more than one who stays three years at a higher monthly rate.
Nearshore staffing vs. outsourcing. Outsourcing hands off a project and gives you a deliverable back. Nearshore staffing means hiring a person who works under your direction every day. It's closer to hiring than to buying a service. If you are still deciding between building in-house and outsourcing, see our guide to in-house marketing vs. outsourcing.
One more thing to settle early is how the person is employed. Some agencies put hires on their own payroll, some use contractor agreements, and some place a hire onto yours. Treating a full-time worker as a contractor is a real legal risk, so ask each agency who the employer of record is.
Nearshore or offshore: choosing by role
Different markets can work for different roles. Start with how much live contact the job needs, then weigh the trade-offs below.
- Time zone overlap. Latin America gives you a shared workday for standups, reviews and quick questions. Philippines-based hires usually work a shifted or overnight schedule, so plan for written briefs and handoffs, or agree on a few overlap hours.
- Talent pool. Both regions have strong marketing, design and operations talent. Searching across both gives you more candidates to choose from.
- Cost. Rates differ by country, role and seniority. Compare like-for-like quotes instead of assuming a region is cheaper.
- Work style. Roles with fast feedback loops, such as paid social optimization during a launch, tend to benefit from overlap. Well-defined production work such as video editing or reporting often runs smoothly on async handoffs.
GrowthAssistant hires in both the Philippines and Latin America and helps clients choose by role. A Growth Assistant in the Philippines is still a strong hire when the work suits the schedule. Every Growth Assistant goes through the same seven-step sourcing and vetting process and completes AI certification before placement, wherever they live. Several agencies below also recruit in the Philippines. We compare them on vetting, support and terms, not on geography.
Eight questions to ask any agency
Ask all of them, and get the answers in writing if you can.
- Which countries will my hire actually live in? Several providers offer both nearshore and offshore hiring. GrowthAssistant, BruntWork, Doxa, Pearl and Somewhere recruit in the Philippines as well as Latin America, while Scale Army lists sourcing across South America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Confirm the country for your specific search.
- Do you specialize in my role? Ask what screening looks like for the job you're hiring, which skills are tested and whether the agency can share examples of similar placements.
- What share of applicants do you accept? A low rate points to a high bar, but only if a real screening process sits behind it. Most agencies won't share the number unless you ask.
- Who does the screening? Ask who designs and evaluates role-specific assessments, and how practical experience is checked.
- What happens after placement? Is there a dedicated account manager, and are they assigned before something goes wrong? What are the exact replacement terms, and what happens at month four?
- Is AI training ongoing? A one-time certification is standard in 2026. Ask what the training looks like six months in.
- What's your average tenure for this role? It's the best single measure of whether placements work, and few agencies publish it by role.
- What will it cost, in writing? If it takes three sales calls to get a number, that tells you something.
What nearshore staffing costs
Here are indicative hiring costs and published provider examples for 2026. Roles, seniority, location and scope vary, so these are not like-for-like quotes.
US figures use salary data from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook; BLS data shows benefits made up 30.1% of private-industry compensation in March 2026.
For a mid-level paid social manager, content marketer or SEO specialist, the saving against a US hire runs $2,000 to $5,000 a month. That's $24,000 to $60,000 a year on a single role, provided the hire is properly vetted and supported. Evaluate the quote alongside role-specific vetting, post-placement support and evidence of retention.
Treat the table as a rough guide. A monthly rate, an hourly rate and a one-time placement fee aren't directly comparable, and the US figures are estimates, so check them against salary data for your role and city.
The eight agencies
1. GrowthAssistant: best for marketing and design hiring
GrowthAssistant places full-time hires in marketing, design and related roles: paid social, SEO, email, graphic design, video editing, marketing ops and growth analytics. Each hire works for one client only, 40 hours a week, on a schedule agreed with you and inside your tools and meetings. Hires are based in both the Philippines and Latin America, and GrowthAssistant helps you choose by role. See how a Growth Assistant works.
It was founded by Jesse Pujji, who built the performance marketing agency Ampush to $50M+ in revenue, and Adriane Schwager, who spent more than a decade recruiting for a multi-billion-dollar hedge fund.
They started it because they didn't think anyone screened marketing talent the way it should be done. Candidates go through a process built around the skills that matter for the role, not one interview applied to every function.
You describe the role and what success looks like in the first 90 days. GrowthAssistant then runs a fresh search instead of matching from a pool, and presents its top recommended candidate, usually within two to four weeks. The hire starts AI-certified with an account manager assigned from day one.
GrowthAssistant reports an acceptance rate of 1 in 400. Selection percentages are company claims and are not comparable across agencies, so treat the number as a question to ask, not a ranking. AI training continues after placement, with role-specific tracks and biweekly lessons. You can swap roles when business needs change, the replacement guarantee is 100% with no time limit, and GrowthAssistant reports average tenure above two years. Listed clients include HubSpot, DoorDash, Dr. Squatch, SoFi, Calm, Harry's, quip and Legacy Box. In its Legacy Box case study, Growth Assistants helped cut customer wait times from months to weeks without adding full-time headcount, and the case study reports that inbound volume tripled.
Where it falls short. The focus is marketing and design. If you need engineers, finance or legal hires, look at Near. Hiring takes two to four weeks, so it's the wrong choice for an urgent backfill. And at $3,500 to $4,500 a month (see GrowthAssistant pricing) it costs more than several agencies here.
Quick facts: Philippines and Latin America, by role | 2–4 weeks to hire | 100% replacement, no time limit
2. Near: broad coverage, fast shortlists
Best for: hiring across marketing, ops, finance and sales from Latin America.
Near (also called Hire With Near) is a recruiting and staffing company based in Austin, Texas. It places professionals across marketing, sales, finance, operations, customer support, engineering and other functions. Its direct-hire model uses a one-time placement fee, while its staffing model includes payroll, benefits administration and compliance in a monthly invoice.
Near advertises first candidates in 3 to 5 days and hiring in under three weeks. It reports filling 97% of roles and, in its llms.txt file, says 80% of placements stay two years or more. These are company-reported figures. Its G2 profile showed 4.8 out of 5 across 162 reviews on October 19, 2026.
Where it falls short. Exact fees require a custom quote. Some G2 reviewers, as quoted in a third-party review by Tecla, consider the fees high, although that does not establish a standard rate for every client. With direct hire, your company or EOR handles employment and payroll; the managed staffing model covers those responsibilities. Compare the full cost and support included in each proposal.
Quick facts: Latin America | Custom placement or monthly staffing fee | Under 3 weeks advertised | 180-day replacement guarantee advertised; confirm which model it covers
3. Pearl Talent: managed hiring with ongoing AI training
Best for: companies hiring across marketing, operations and executive assistance that want ongoing support and a published starting price.
Pearl places full-time remote professionals from Latin America, the Philippines and South Africa. Its current homepage says it selects the top 0.8% through a five-stage process and provides AI-certified talent before the start date. Managed services start from $3,000 per month, with the final rate depending on the role and seniority.
Support includes a dedicated Customer Success Manager, payroll, compliance and structured check-ins. Its AI program extends beyond onboarding: placed professionals receive access to monthly webinars, mentorship and continued upskilling. Pearl currently advertises placement as early as 4 days and under a week.
Where it falls short. The starting price is not a fixed quote for every role. Its replacement wording also needs clarification: the pricing page and FAQ describe a 30-day guarantee, while a comparison table on the same page lists the replacement guarantee as free and unlimited. Ask which terms apply to your agreement. The pricing page describes a monthly retainer instead of a one-time placement fee.
Quick facts: Latin America, Philippines and South Africa | From $3,000/month | As early as 4 days advertised | Monthly service; confirm replacement terms
4. BruntWork: fast, flexible, month to month
Best for: businesses seeking hourly staffing across several functions, with no lock-in contracts.
BruntWork recruits in Colombia and the Philippines, among other markets, for customer support, sales, marketing, administration, finance and technical roles. Confirm what its hourly package includes.
BruntWork's homepage advertises full-time remote staff from $4 an hour, no lock-in contracts and hiring in under a week. It shows a 4.9 rating from more than 2,500 reviews across Trustpilot, Google Reviews and Glassdoor, a blended figure rather than Trustpilot alone. Its pricing and terms pages block automated fetching, so we could not re-verify its hourly range, selection rate or staff-change terms on October 19, 2026. Ask for them in writing.
Where it falls short. The advertised starting rate of $4 an hour is not a quote for every specialty or country. Ask for a quote covering the location, hours and experience you need, plus the terms for staff changes. Confirm a Latin American placement if nearshore coverage is essential.
Quick facts: Colombia and other global markets, including the Philippines | From $4/hour | Under a week advertised | Confirm staff-change terms
5. Scale Army: marketing, sales and ops with client-led management
Best for: companies building several functions while keeping day-to-day management in-house.
Scale Army recruits for marketing, sales, CRM, operations and technical roles. Its published sourcing focus includes South America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. It advertises top-1% talent and a hiring target of about 14 days, with payroll, compliance and monthly check-ins after placement. Buyout options let clients move a hire onto their own books.
Its pricing page lists average figures of $1,999 for a social media associate, $2,199 for a video editor and $2,999 for a PPC/media buyer, without stating the billing period; its homepage shows $3,499 for a paid media buyer. Confirm both in a quote. Prices vary by role; some non-marketing positions are listed below $2,000. A marketing-focused page reports 97% retention, but does not provide enough methodology to compare that figure directly with other agencies' tenure metrics.
Where it falls short. Scale Army says it does not manage the talent, by design, so daily management stays with the client (see the FAQ on its homepage and its pricing page). Payroll support and monthly check-ins do not replace an internal manager who sets priorities, reviews work and coaches the hire. Confirm the assigned support contact, replacement conditions and exact country in your proposal.
Quick facts: South America, with additional sourcing in Europe, Africa and the Middle East | Marketing examples from $1,999 (billing period unstated) | About 14 days targeted | Confirm replacement terms
6. Somewhere: direct hire or monthly staffing support
Best for: companies choosing between recruiting-only support and a monthly service with payroll and compliance.
Somewhere (formerly Support Shepherd) recruits across marketing, operations, customer service, finance, administration and other functions. Its network includes Latin America, the Philippines, South Africa and additional markets. The current homepage advertises top-1% remote talent; this is a company claim rather than an independently comparable acceptance measure.
Direct Hire charges a one-time fee that its FAQ puts at 25 to 35% of the hire's first-year salary, with a refundable search deposit credited toward the final invoice. Its pages advertise hiring in under 21 days and a six-month guarantee that includes a replacement hire. Talent On-Demand uses one all-inclusive monthly fee quoted per client, includes payroll and compliance, and advertises 10 days to hire with unlimited replacements during the contract period.
Where it falls short. Under Direct Hire, your company manages payroll, compliance and day-to-day performance after placement. Monthly plans require a quote, and published timelines differ across Somewhere's own pages. Compare the two models carefully if you need continuing operational support.
Quick facts: Latin America plus global sourcing | Custom one-time fee or monthly plan | Under 21 days direct hire; 10 days on demand (advertised) | Replacement coverage depends on model
7. Doxa Talent: direct employment with HR and IT support
Best for: companies that want professionals employed by the provider, with benefits and ongoing HR support.
Doxa Talent, which lists an office in Boise, Idaho, recruits in Colombia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Kenya. Its “Conscious Outsourcing” model directly employs professionals through Doxa, with benefits and career development. Clients direct the daily work while Doxa provides employment administration, company-issued equipment and a dedicated Team Lead.
Doxa covers marketing, finance, operations, support and technical roles. Its homepage advertises a shortlist within 7 to 10 business days and a hire onboarded within three weeks of the first call. Pricing is all-inclusive and role-based; we could not re-verify its pricing and role pages on October 19, 2026, so request a written rate.
Where it falls short. Ask which nearshore markets are available for your position, what the all-inclusive rate covers, and which replacement terms apply. Confirm the advertised three-week timeline for your specific search.
Quick facts: Colombia plus other global markets; confirm country availability | Role-based quote | Hire within 3 weeks of first call advertised | Confirm replacement terms
8. Wing: managed assistants and specialized role options
Best for: businesses that want a managed service for administrative or specialized support, with plans based on role and experience.
Wing offers general virtual assistants as well as marketing, SEO, sales and technical roles. Its Latin American coverage includes Mexico, Colombia and Costa Rica. Selected services advertise matching or a start within 48 hours, with a Customer Success Manager and access to Wing Workspace.
A general virtual assistant is advertised at $999 per month full-time on Wing's homepage. We could not re-verify published prices for its marketing or SEO roles on October 19, 2026, so treat those as quote-based and confirm them in writing. A general assistant and a specialist marketing hire are different services, not interchangeable quotes.
Where it falls short. Selection and pricing vary by service, so confirm whether you can interview candidates before committing. For a paid social, SEO or email marketer hire, ask about the assessment, seniority and ownership expected. Wing's terms of service (Section 22, checked October 19, 2026) bar clients from approaching its assistants outside the normal course of day-to-day operations, or forming a contractual relationship with them, during the engagement and for up to three years afterward. Review it before committing.
Quick facts: Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica and broader LatAm | Price varies by role, location and hours | 48 hours advertised for selected services | Confirm replacement terms
How the eight compare
CO Colombia, MX Mexico, AR Argentina, BR Brazil, CR Costa Rica, PH Philippines. Provider information and review ratings were last checked on October 19, 2026; see Sources and verification below. Selection percentages are company claims and do not share a verified common methodology.
GrowthAssistant reports average tenure above two years, Near reports 80% retention beyond two years, and Scale Army publishes a 97% retention claim on a marketing page. These measures are not directly comparable. GrowthAssistant also lets clients swap roles when business needs change.
Which one to pick
For most marketing and design hires, we'd start with GrowthAssistant. Its offer includes role-specific vetting, an account manager from the start and training that continues after placement. We also wrote this guide, so talk to at least one other agency before you decide.
- Compare lower published marketing rates: Scale Army and Wing. Match the role, location, seniority and hours before comparing quotes.
- Recruiting with in-house management: Somewhere Direct Hire or Near Direct Hire. Your team takes responsibility for employment administration after placement.
- Several functions with ongoing support: Near's staffing model, Pearl Talent, BruntWork or Somewhere Talent On-Demand. Compare the support and replacement terms in each proposal.
- Need someone within days: Pearl advertises as early as 4 days, Wing advertises 48 hours for selected services, and BruntWork advertises under a week. Confirm availability for your role; speed alone does not establish screening quality.
- Want provider-employed professionals with benefits: Doxa Talent.
- Need managed administrative or specialized assistance: Wing, with the plan and interview process confirmed before purchase.
Sources and verification
Provider figures were checked against the pages below on October 19, 2026. They are company claims unless noted, and they change often.
- Near: homepage, llms.txt, G2 reviews, Tecla review
- Pearl Talent: homepage, pricing
- BruntWork: homepage; its pricing and terms pages block automated access and were not re-verified
- Scale Army: homepage, pricing
- Somewhere: homepage, Direct Hire, Talent On-Demand
- Doxa Talent: homepage; its pricing and role pages could not be loaded and were not re-verified
- Wing: homepage, Latin America page, terms of service
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