Walter vs. Athena: Who’s The MVP of Remote Staffing Agencies?
Remote hiring just got easier. See why Walter beats Athena in cost, candidate quality, support, and more when hiring from LATAM or the Philippines.
Think all remote staffing agencies work the same? Hate to break it to you, but nope.
Take Athena vs. Walter. Even though they both specialize in offshore staffing solutions, that’s pretty much where the similarities end.
Let’s compare the facts so you can make the smartest (and, dare we say, easiest 🤷) move for your business.
🧐 Walter vs. Athena: Which Remote Staffing Agency Is Right for You?
It’s no secret that remote hiring helps companies scale faster. So we’ve read the fine print and scanned the subreddits and reviews to see what Athena offers. Here’s what we found:
🐴 One-Trick Pony vs. Swiss Army Knife
Athena calls itself “the all-in-one platform designed to simplify delegation.”
Its sweet spot? Virtual Assistants (VAs) and Executive Assistants (EAs) from the Philippines. Full-time only, thanks.
Want someone short-term or looking beyond admin work? Athena kindly shows you the door.
✅ Walter’s a full-stack talent powerhouse. Need assistants, developers, marketers, designers, or customer service pros? Whether it’s a short-term project or a long-term teammate — we’ve got you.
We help you hire top-tier remote talent from Latin America and the Philippines across industries and within budget.
Whether you’re hiring a solo expert or building an entire remote dream team, our staff augmentation services give you exactly what you need, when you need it.
🥇 Candidate Quality: Potential vs. Proven
Athena banks on raw potential. If someone shows grit and enthusiasm, they’re in — even without prior experience. A quick bootcamp, some basic training, and boom: they’re on your team, ready or not.
✅ Walter checks receipts. We source professionals who’ve already crushed it in similar roles. Skills? Check. Credentials? Check. Resumes, references, and certifications? You bet.
We handpick talent tailored to your industry, so you get minimal ramp-up time and maximum ROI. Less babysitting, more results.
👉 Want top-tier talent and serious value? Here’s why remote hiring in Latin America and the Philippines delivers.
🎯 Candidate Matching: Algorithm vs. Human Expertise
Athena loves to hype its proprietary algorithm and matching pools. However, former clients often complain about mismatches. Turns out, fancy tech doesn’t always get your company’s vibe.
✅ Walter makes matching a conversation, not a calculation. We start with a Discovery Call — real humans, digging into your needs, goals, team dynamics, and future plans.
Then we put our remote hiring expertise to work. You’ll get a curated shortlist of candidates who actually align with your role, your culture, and your energy.
You hold the interviews. You make the final call. We just save you the countless hours (and headaches) it would have taken to get there.
💪 That’s how you effectively scale a startup with remote teams.
🧑💻 Athena Hires for You. Walter Helps You Hire. (Big Difference)
With Athena, your assistant isn’t really your assistant — they’re Athena’s employee. You’re paying the bill, but Athena calls the shots. This hands-off setup comes with major drawbacks:
- You lose control. You have to sit through Athena’s structured onboarding process before your assistant can join your team. Plus, they can pull your VA into surprise training sessions or meetings anytime they want, cutting into your hours.
- They’re not part of your culture. Your assistant stays on the outside looking in rather than seamlessly meshing with your crew.
- Higher risk of turnover. You can’t offer growth, incentives, or long-term engagement. So don’t be shocked if they bounce mid-project for something better.
✅ Walter’s just built different. We help you hire remote talent directly and handle the local compliance stuff so you don’t have to.
Once you make the final call on a candidate, they’re your employee and part of your team from day one. That means:
- Legit loyalty. Your hire works for you, not a third party. That direct relationship builds accountability, ownership, and staying power.
- Stronger culture. Because your hire isn’t siloed under another company, they can fully integrate into your workflows, team rituals, and values. They’re aligned and contributing to the mission, not just checking off the to-do list.
- Better results. When people feel seen, supported, and part of something bigger, they perform at a higher level. They’ll be more engaged, proactive, and motivated to help their team and your business move forward.
It’s the difference between outsourcing a task and investing in your future.
💸 Premium vs. Cost-Effective Remote Hiring
You can save up to 80% by hiring remote talent in the Philippines. But Athena must have missed that memo.
Like many nearshore and offshore remote work staffing agencies, Athena charges a flat monthly retainer. Theirs is $3,000/month for one assistant.
That’s a lot to drop for basic admin support — especially when only a fraction of it goes to the actual VA. That number looks even more inflated when you compare it to the highest-paying remote roles.
Worse? Former clients say Athena billed them for the first month before their assistant even began working. 🙃
✅ Walter keeps pricing simple, fair, and transparent. We’re not your basic remote work staffing agency.
We charge a one-time placement fee, and you pay your hire directly — so they earn what they deserve, and you control your budget. No hidden surprises or monthly bills.
👀 Psst! Curious about the cost savings of offshore staffing? Check out this guide on how much outsourcing really costs!
🤝 Templates vs. True Partnership
Athena says their pricing includes “world-class delegation coaching.”
Sounds fancy — but most founders and HR teams don’t have time to sit through lessons or follow another playbook. And according to some former clients, that “coaching” is basically a glorified template. But your mileage may vary.
✅ Walter doesn’t ghost you post-hire. Our team checks in monthly for the first six months to ensure things are running smoothly and your new hire is delivering the goods.
Not a perfect fit? No stress. Our 12-month replacement guarantee means we’ll find you someone new, free of charge. That’s real support — the kind that builds trust (and actually helps).
👉 Discover all the other ways Walter has your back!
🏆 Walter Does Remote Staffing Right
We’re not just another staffing agency for remote work. We’re your strategic partner in growth, cost savings, and sustainable team building.
Whether you want to hire from the Philippines or hire from LATAM, Walter gives you access to high-performing talent without the overhead. We’re talking:
✔️ Affordable solutions for small businesses, startups, and scaling teams.
✔️ Flexible staffing options across industries.
✔️ Vetted, experienced candidates ready to contribute from day one.
✔️ Human-led matching, ongoing support, and a risk-free 12-month guarantee.
✨ Your Next Best Hire Starts with Walter. Skip the hassle and bloated retainers. Start hiring remote talent the smart way — with Walter.
