HireTalent.lat vs South
Self-serve platform vs full-service staffing agency. Here's how they compare.
The Short Version
Self-serve platform where you search, contact, and hire pre-screened LATAM directly — with built-in tools for management, payments, and compliance. Transparent pricing, no agency markup.
Full-service LATAM staffing where they handle recruiting, screening, and often payroll for you. Build teams in 21 days or less with a hands-off approach.
At a Glance
Key differences between the two platforms
| HireTalent.lat | South | |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Self-serve platform | Full-service staffing agency |
| Talent pool | Pre-screened, searchable database | Curated by their team |
| Vetting | ID verification, skills testing, background investigation | Handled by South team |
| AI certifications | 80+ tools verified | Not available |
| Time tracking | Built-in | Depends on service package |
| Payments | Wise integration (bulk pay) | Often managed by South |
| Team management | Full suite (PTO, recaps, reviews) | Depends on service package |
| Trial tasks | Yes — paid test projects | Not specified |
| Compliance tools | W-8BEN, NDAs, contracts | Handled by South team |
| Pricing | From $0 (Free plan) | Not publicly listed |
| Paid plans | $88–$219/mo | Custom pricing |
| Control | Full control over hiring & management | South manages the process |
What Actually Matters
Beyond the feature checklist — here's what the differences mean in practice
Self-serve platform vs full-service agency
HireTalent.lat is a self-serve platform where you search, contact, and hire pre-screened talent directly — with built-in tools for management, payments, and compliance. You have full control over the process and transparent pricing. South takes a different approach — they're a full-service staffing agency that handles recruiting, screening, and often payroll for you. It's hands-off, but you're working through their team rather than directly with candidates.
Pre-screened talent with different access models
HireTalent.lat pre-screens every applicant before they appear on the platform — ID verification, skills testing, and background investigation. You get access to the full searchable database and contact anyone who matches your needs. South also vets their talent pool, but you work with their team to get matched with candidates rather than searching the database yourself.
AI-certified professionals
HireTalent.lat lets professionals earn verified certifications in 80+ AI tools — ChatGPT, Claude, Midjourney, Copilot, and more. These are tested and verified, not self-reported. When you search for someone who knows a specific AI tool, you know they actually know it. South doesn't currently offer AI tool certifications as part of their platform.
Trial tasks to test before committing
With HireTalent.lat, you can assign a paid trial task with a set scope and deadline, then review the actual work before making a full hire. It's a low-risk way to see how someone performs on real work. This is a built-in feature on the platform that you control directly.
Transparent pricing vs custom quotes
HireTalent.lat has transparent, public pricing: Free plan, $88/mo Employer plan, or $219/mo Team plan. No agency markup, no commission on worker pay. South uses custom pricing that isn't publicly listed — you'd need to contact them for a quote. This is common for full-service staffing agencies.
Built-in team management tools
HireTalent.lat includes time tracking, PTO management, performance reviews, automated invoicing, Wise payments, and compliance tools (W-8BEN, NDAs, contracts) — all built into the platform. South's team management offerings depend on the service package you choose, and some features may be managed by their team rather than through a self-serve platform.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
The full breakdown across hiring, screening, management, and payments
| Feature | HireTalent.lat | South |
|---|---|---|
| Finding Talent | ||
| Talent search & filtering | South curates matches | |
| AI-powered matching | ||
| Job posting | Handled by South | |
| Direct candidate contact | Unlimited (anyone who applies) | Through South team |
| Candidate bookmarks | 10–Unlimited | |
| Video & voice profiles | ||
| Team building timeline | You control pace | 21 days or less |
| Screening & Verification | ||
| Pre-screened talent | ||
| ID verification | Handled by South | |
| Background investigation | Handled by South | |
| Skills testing | Handled by South | |
| AI tool certifications (80+) | ||
| Trial tasks before hiring | ||
| AI-generated interview questions | ||
| Team Management | ||
| Time tracking | Depends on package | |
| Daily standups & recaps | ||
| PTO management | Depends on package | |
| Performance reviews | ||
| Analytics & reporting | Depends on package | |
| Slack integration | ||
| Ongoing HR support | Yes (full-service) | |
| Payments & Compliance | ||
| Integrated payments | Wise (50+ countries) | Managed by South |
| Bulk team payments | Managed by South | |
| Invoice generation | Auto from time logs | Managed by South |
| W-8BEN collection | Managed by South | |
| Contract management | Managed by South | |
| NDA management | Managed by South | |
| Payroll services | Yes (full-service) | |
Pricing Comparison
| HireTalent.lat | South | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | ||
| Transparency | Public pricing on website | Custom quotes (contact sales) |
| Free plan | Yes ($0) | No |
| Mid-tier pricing | $88/mo (Employer) | Not publicly listed |
| Top-tier pricing | $219/mo (Team) | Not publicly listed |
| Commission on worker pay | None | Not specified |
| What You Get | ||
| Talent search access | Full searchable database | Curated by South team |
| Hiring control | Full control | Managed by South |
| Time tracking | Built-in | Depends on package |
| Team management | Full suite (PTO, reviews, recaps) | Depends on package |
| Payments | Wise integration (you control) | Managed by South |
| Compliance | Self-serve tools (W-8BEN, contracts) | Managed by South |
| Payroll services | Not available | Yes (full-service) |
| Ongoing HR support | Self-serve platform | Yes (full-service) |
Which Platform Is Right for You?
Different tools fit different needs — here's the honest breakdown
Choose HireTalent.lat if...
- You want full control over hiring and prefer to evaluate candidates yourself
- You need transparent pricing with no hidden costs
- You want hiring AND management in one platform (time tracking, payments, PTO, reviews)
- You need AI-savvy workers certified in specific tools
- You want to test candidates with paid trial tasks before committing
- You prefer a self-serve platform over working through an agency
Choose South if...
- You want someone else to handle recruiting and screening for you
- You prefer a hands-off approach where the agency manages the process
- You need to build a team quickly (21 days or less) without doing the legwork
- You value ongoing HR and payroll support from the staffing provider
- You're comfortable with custom pricing and working through a sales process
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HireTalent.lat cheaper than South?
HireTalent.lat has transparent pricing starting at $0 (Free plan), $88/mo (Employer), or $219/mo (Team). South uses custom pricing that isn't publicly listed. Generally, self-serve platforms like HireTalent.lat cost less than full-service agencies because you're handling the recruiting and management yourself. But if you value the hands-off approach, the extra cost of an agency may be worth it.
What does "full-service staffing" mean?
South is a full-service staffing agency, which means they handle recruiting, screening, and often payroll and HR for you. You tell them what you need, they find and vet candidates, and they may manage ongoing employment logistics. It's hands-off but less transparent than a self-serve platform.
Can I switch from South to HireTalent.lat?
Yes. Create a free account and start searching our talent pool immediately. If you already have a team, you can bring them over — even if they're not on HireTalent.lat yet. Just provide their name and email to add them to your management tools (time tracking, payments, PTO). It works for anyone, regardless of where you originally found them.
Does HireTalent.lat take a cut of worker pay?
No. HireTalent.lat uses a subscription model with no commission on what you pay your workers. South's commission structure isn't publicly disclosed — you'd need to ask them directly.
Which platform is better for hiring virtual assistants?
Both platforms can help you hire VAs in Latin America. If you want speed and simplicity — verified VAs you can trust on day one, with built-in tools to manage them — HireTalent.lat is the better fit. If you prefer someone else to handle all the recruiting and ongoing HR for you, South's full-service approach works well.
How does HireTalent.lat screen talent?
Every applicant goes through a screening process before being approved — including ID verification, skills testing, and a background investigation by our team. South also vets their talent pool, but they handle it internally as part of their agency service rather than showing you the full database.
Ready to Try the Difference?
Create a free account and see pre-screened, AI-certified {region.id === 'lat' ? 'LATAM' : ''} talent for yourself. No credit card required.