# micro1 vs Mercor vs Handshake vs Turing: company data buyers compared (2026)

> Compare micro1, Mercor, Handshake AI, Turing and Scale AI: published payouts, size minimums, countries, language and payment timing.

Canonical: https://origindatapartners.com/guides/company-data-buyers-compared
By: Origin Data Partners
Status: Published
Published: 2026-10-25
Updated: 2026-10-26
Sources checked: 2026-10-25

## Quick answer

Several AI data companies now pay businesses for operational records. micro1 publishes the highest tiers ($100K to $2M+) but wants 30+ staff, English records and prefers US companies. Handshake AI advertises $100K to $4M+ from 20+ staff and 3+ years. Mercor publishes about $20K to $1.5M by company type, accepts most countries and covers all processing costs. Turing pays up to $1M in one payment for a full operating record and is the fastest. The right buyer depends on your size, location, language and record types.

## Key points

- Under 30 staff: Handshake AI, Mercor or Turing.
- Outside the US, UK and Canada: Mercor and Turing are the most open.
- Closed company: Turing, micro1 Defunct Company, or a wind-down marketplace.

## At a glance

Published terms as read in October 2026. Programs change often; confirm on each buyer's page. For brokers, marketplaces and advisors, see [services to sell company data compared](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/company-data-brokers-compared).

| Buyer | Published payout | Size minimum | Countries | Language | Payment |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [micro1](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/micro1-company-data-partnerships) | $100K to $2M+ | 30+ full-time staff | Global referrals; US, UK, Canada strongest | Mostly English | Within 30 days of invoice, after 30-day review |
| [Handshake AI](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/handshake-ai-data-partnerships) | $100K to $4M+ | 20+ full-time staff, 3+ years | Open to companies outside the US | Not stated | Milestones per agreement |
| [Mercor](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/mercor-data-monetization-program) | About $20K to $1.5M by company type | Per listing | Most listings: anywhere | Not stated | Wire on delivery, typically 2 to 4 weeks |
| [Turing](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/turing-project-lazarus) | Up to $1M; code $10K to $100K+ | None published | Most regions; US, UK, Canada, EU strongest | English code comments | One payment, often under 2 weeks |
| Scale AI | $10K to $1M+ (illustrative) | 40+ preferred | Not stated | Not stated | Not published |


## Which buyer fits your company

| Your situation | Usually the best fit |
| --- | --- |
| US company, 30+ staff, years of SOPs, CRM and tickets | micro1, then Handshake AI and Mercor |
| 20 to 30 staff, 3+ years | Handshake AI, Mercor |
| Call center or BPO with recorded calls | Mercor call center listing |
| Closed startup with code, tickets and Slack | Turing, micro1 Defunct Company |
| Company outside the US, UK and Canada | Mercor, Turing |
| Manufacturing, legal, logistics or insurance | Mercor and Handshake AI both name these industries |


## What moves the offer, whichever buyer you choose

Raw volume matters least. See [what company data is worth](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/company-data-value).

- Linked records: a ticket tied to the email thread and the outcome is worth more than loose documents.
- Years of history and number of connected systems.
- Niche or regulated industries that are hard to replicate.
- Clean rights: no customer contract, vendor API or employee-privacy conflicts.
- Exclusivity, which buyers price well above shared rights.


## Next step

Origin Data Partners is independent and is not affiliated with any program named here. We help owners compare buyers and find the best fit for their records. [See what your data is worth](https://origindatapartners.com/check-fit).


## Questions and answers

### Which company pays the most for business data?

On published numbers, Handshake AI ($100K to $4M+) and micro1 ($2M+ for highly unique data) advertise the highest ceilings. Actual offers depend on records, rights and terms, and default online estimates are much lower than the ceilings.

### Can a small company sell its data to AI labs?

Yes, but options narrow below 20 to 30 employees. Handshake AI starts at 20 full-time staff, Turing has no published minimum, and Mercor sets size guidance per listing.

### Should we talk to more than one buyer?

Usually yes. Each buyer prices from its own model, and published estimates for the same company can differ widely. A comparison protects you from accepting the first anchor.

### Do these buyers charge fees?

None of them publish a fee charged to the company. Mercor states it covers extraction, anonymization and transfer costs.

## Sources

- [micro1: Data partnerships](https://www.micro1.ai/data-partnerships)
- [Handshake AI: Data partnerships](https://joinhandshake.com/ai/data-partnerships/)
- [Mercor: Monetize your data](https://www.mercor.com/data/)
- [Turing: Project Lazarus](https://lazarus.turing.com/)
- [Scale AI: Data partnership](https://scale.com/data-partnership)

## Related reading

- [Best services to sell company data to AI: brokers, marketplaces and advisors compared (2026)](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/company-data-brokers-compared)
- [Mercor data monetization: what it pays, who qualifies and how it works](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/mercor-data-monetization-program)
- [micro1 Company Data Partnerships: payouts, eligibility and how it works](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/micro1-company-data-partnerships)