South alternatives: where each wins.
South hires Latin American professionals for US companies on one flat monthly rate that covers pay, payroll and compliance, and publishes no price. These are six alternatives, what each charges where it says, and where each one is the better buy. Checked November 2, 2026.
Where South wins.
One invoice that covers pay, payroll and compliance, no deposit, free to interview, and a 120-day guarantee. Model: one flat monthly rate (pay and South’s fee together), or a one-time headhunting fee. No price published. “Rates vary by role and seniority”, confirmed per role.
Stay with South when
- You want one monthly invoice and no payroll or compliance work of your own.
- The hire is full-time and you value a 120-day guarantee with no deposit.
- You would rather not employ the person yourself, even through an employer of record.
Look elsewhere when
- You want to see your hire’s salary and the fee separately; Near publishes salary ranges and splits the two.
- You plan to keep the hire for years and would rather pay one fee than a monthly rate; HireLATAM and Vela charge once.
- The seat is senior and the right person already has a job, so a candidate pool will not reach them; Vela headhunts.
Six alternatives, priced.
Prices as each vendor publishes them, checked November 2, 2026. Where there is no published price, it says so.
| Vendor | Model and price | Where it wins | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| HireLATAM | Flat one-time placement fee$3,500 per hire: $500 to start the search, $3,000 when you hire. Optional payroll admin at $149 a month. | Price on any seat paying more than $17,500 a year: the fee is flat, so it is the smallest one-time fee in this table for most professional salaries. | hirelatam.com/pricing, checked November 2, 2026 |
| Near | One-time direct-hire fee, or a monthly staffing invoice (salary plus Near’s fee)No fee published; quoted on a call. Publishes salary ranges by role, salary only. | Both models under one roof, the longest fixed direct-hire guarantee here, and published salary ranges. | hirewithnear.com/pricing, checked November 2, 2026 |
| Athyna | All-in hourly rate (pay, sourcing, vetting, support and payroll)No rate card published. Homepage examples of placed roles: Executive Assistant $18 an hour, Client Success Manager $24, Project Manager $23. | Nothing upfront and a single hourly number that already includes pay and payroll. | athyna.com · athyna.com/comparison/athyna-vs-hirewithnear, checked November 2, 2026 |
| LatHire | Fixed one-time direct-hire fee, or an all-in monthly staffing rate (contractor of record)Staffing: $1,899 a month average per hire, all fees included. Direct-hire fee not published. | A published all-in monthly number and a 30-day trial on direct hire. | lathire.com/pricing, checked November 2, 2026 |
| Virtustant | All-in hourly rate, month to month, no placement feeFrom $7 an hour (virtual assistant, customer service) to $8.50 (executive assistant, bookkeeper). Keeps $1 of every $10 billed. | Published hourly rates, a disclosed margin, no placement fee and an unlimited replacement guarantee. | virtustant.com/pricing, checked November 2, 2026 |
| Vela | One-time placement fee; headhunted, already employed professionals20% of year-one base, charged when your hire starts. A $1,000 deposit starts the search and credits to the fee. $36,000 base → $7,200. | Senior professionals who already have the job, reached by headhunting rather than a pool, with nothing owed after the one fee. | hirevela.com/faq, checked November 2, 2026 |
Search terms
- Day 7First vetted profile
- 21 daysThree vetted candidates
- 20%Of year-one base, when your hire starts. A $1,000 deposit credits to it.
- 90 daysReplacement at no charge
Questions.
Short answers. The long ones happen on the call.
What are the best alternatives to South?
It depends on what you want to change. Near for both a direct-hire and a staffing option with published salary ranges; HireLATAM for a flat $3,500 fee; Athyna for an all-in hourly rate; LatHire for a $1,899 monthly average all-in; Virtustant for support roles from $7 an hour; Vela for headhunted senior professionals at 20% of year-one base, once.
How much does South charge?
South publishes no price. Its pricing page says rates vary by role and seniority and confirms an exact rate for each role. It charges one flat monthly rate that includes pay and its service, or a one-time fee for headhunting. Checked November 2, 2026.
What is a good South alternative for senior operations hires?
If the person should be on your own team, a one-time fee is usually the better buy over a long hire. Vela headhunts senior operations, customer success and project management professionals who already have the job: 20% of year-one base, three vetted candidates in 21 days, a 90-day replacement.
Which costs less, a monthly rate or a one-time fee?
A monthly rate costs less in the first months and more over a long hire. The placement fee vs staffing markup calculator shows the month a monthly fee passes a one-time one for any salary.
Related guides.
- Placement Fee vs Staffing MarkupA one-time fee or a monthly markup: a calculator, the break-even month, and when staffing is the better buy.
- What Latin American Recruiting Agencies Charge in 2026Seven vendors, their published prices and models, each with its source and the date we checked it.
- Athyna AlternativesWhere Athyna wins, and six other ways to hire in Latin America, priced where the vendor publishes a price.
- All hiring guidesEvery comparison and every seat we search for.
Senior hires, one fee.
Tell us the seat. We headhunt who already does it.