DataAnnotation Alternatives: Sites That Pay for AI Training

DataAnnotation alternatives at a glance

DataAnnotation pays people to rate chatbot answers, write prompts and review code. It says it has "paid hundreds of millions of dollars to contractors since 2020" (DataAnnotation FAQ). The two reasons people look elsewhere are the wait after the Starter Assessment, which you can take only once, and gaps between projects.

The table compares the closest alternatives on what each one published on its own pages on November 12, 2026.

Sources for this table: DataAnnotation: homepage and roles, read 12 Nov 2026; Outlier: homepage, read 12 Nov 2026; Alignerr: homepage (powered by Labelbox), read 12 Nov 2026; Mindrift: homepage, read 12 Nov 2026; Mercor: homepage, read 12 Nov 2026; Handshake AI: fellowship program, read 12 Nov 2026; CrowdGen by Appen: homepage, read 12 Nov 2026; Prolific: participants, read 12 Nov 2026.

Sites like DataAnnotation, one by one

**Outlier.** Run by Scale AI, Outlier "connects experts with leading AI companies to provide human feedback" (Outlier). It asks for undergraduate-level expertise at minimum and says no AI experience is needed. It publishes no rate table: "Rates vary by expertise, project complexity, and location", and you see the rate before each project. It pays weekly on Tuesdays through PayPal, Airtm or ACH (Outlier FAQ). Our review: Is Outlier AI legit?.

**Alignerr.** Powered by Labelbox, Alignerr states "$80/hr Average pay" and lists jobs such as a finance and accounting expert at up to $150 an hour (Alignerr). Some roles say "no tech background needed". You verify your ID through Persona and are paid by Stripe Connect or PayPal depending on your location. Its FAQ says it welcomes applicants "from around the world", but its answer on visas also says it accepts only US IDs for verification, so check before you apply from abroad (Alignerr FAQ). Our review: Is Alignerr legit?.

**Mindrift.** Built by Toloka, Mindrift publishes "Entry-level: $15-30 per hour" and "Domain experts: $60-100+/hr" (Mindrift). Anyone can start on open "All-access" tasks; qualifications unlock better-paid specialized projects. It pays twice a month, on the 5th and 20th, through Payoneer or Tipalti (PayPal), and joining is free (Mindrift welcome page). Toloka's own tasks have moved there. Our reviews: Is Mindrift legit? and Toloka review.

**Mercor.** Mercor shows a $90/hr average contracted rate on its homepage (Mercor) and hires for named expert roles, each with its own requirements. Its contract listings state "Payments are weekly on Stripe or Wise" (Mercor listing). It suits people with a clear specialty more than generalists. Our review: Is Mercor legit?.

**Handshake AI Fellowship.** Posted rates run from up to $17 an hour for an AI evaluation specialist to up to $150 for a software engineer, but you "must be based in the U.S." with valid work authorization (Handshake AI); outside the US, "Participation is currently invite-only" (Handshake AI Help Center). Some role pages post more, such as "Medical Professional Apply now Up to $300/hr" (Handshake AI). Payouts go out weekly, by Wednesday afternoon (Handshake Help Center). Our review: Is Handshake AI legit?.

**CrowdGen (Appen).** CrowdGen is "the contributor platform of Appen". It lists domain rates up to $95 an hour for linguists, $400 for legal experts and $450 for clinicians, and says pay "is based on location and skills". Earnings are paid in local currency through bank transfer, PayPal, Payoneer or Airtm, and most projects have a qualification step (CrowdGen).

**Prolific.** A research-study platform co-founded at Oxford University in 2014. Researchers must pay at least £6/$8 an hour, and Prolific recommends £9/$12 or more (Prolific Help). You cash out to PayPal once you have $6/£6 (Prolific). It is open to adults in "most OECD countries", except Turkey, Lithuania, Colombia and Costa Rica, and new sign-ups go through a waitlist (Prolific FAQ). Our review: Is Prolific legit?.

Did not hear back from DataAnnotation? What to do next

DataAnnotation says that if you have not heard back, "your application is still under review or hasn't been accepted yet", and that it is "unable to provide direct responses for every applicant" (DataAnnotation FAQ). Since the Starter Assessment cannot be retaken, the practical step is to apply to one or two programs whose entry rules fit you:

• Want to start this week with no assessment wait? Mindrift lets anyone start All-access tasks, and Prolific sends studies once you are off its waitlist.
• Have a specialty? Mercor, CrowdGen and Alignerr hire for named roles with their own screening.
• In the US with work authorization? The Handshake AI Fellowship lists rates by role.
• Comfortable with simpler tasks? Remotasks and clickworker are covered in sites like Remotasks.

Which DataAnnotation alternative fits your background?

Each row uses only the requirements the programs publish.

What to check before you apply

• Payout method: DataAnnotation pays only through PayPal. Outlier adds Airtm and ACH, Mindrift uses Payoneer or Tipalti, Mercor listings use Stripe or Wise.
• Payout timing: weekly at Outlier, Mercor and Handshake AI; twice a month at Mindrift (5th and 20th); on request at DataAnnotation.
• Assessment rules: read the instructions before any one-shot test; DataAnnotation's cannot be retaken.
• Joining fees: none of these programs charges one. DataAnnotation's own FAQ lists "requirements to purchase starter kits" as a red flag (DataAnnotation FAQ).
• Other ways to earn from AI training: get paid to record your screen and apps that pay you to record chores.

Next step

Our Is DataAnnotation legit? review covers the company itself. If you are also weighing Scale AI's platform, see Outlier AI alternatives.

Tell us what you do. We'll send you the paid AI work that fits your field, wherever you live. It's free.

Origin Data Partners is independent of the programs on this page. A program may pay Origin when Origin introduces someone who joins it, which never changes what you are paid (how Origin is paid).