# DataAnnotation Alternatives: Sites That Pay for AI Training

> DataAnnotation alternatives compared: Outlier, Alignerr, Mindrift, Mercor, Handshake AI, CrowdGen and Prolific, with published pay, payouts and eligibility.

Canonical: https://origindatapartners.com/guides/dataannotation-alternatives
By: Origin Data Partners
Status: Published
Published: 2026-11-12
Updated: 2026-11-14
Sources checked: 2026-11-12

## Quick answer

Good DataAnnotation alternatives are Outlier (Scale AI, weekly pay, rate shown per project), Alignerr ($80 an hour stated average), Mindrift ($15-30 entry level, $60-100+ for experts), Mercor ($90 an hour average contracted rate), Handshake AI (US-based, invite-only elsewhere; up to $17 to $300 an hour by role), CrowdGen by Appen and, for short studies, Prolific (at least £6/$8 an hour). DataAnnotation itself pays $25-$50 an hour for general work and allows one Starter Assessment attempt.

## Key points

- DataAnnotation allows one Starter Assessment attempt and says it cannot reply to every applicant, so many people apply elsewhere while they wait.
- Mindrift is the easiest to start: anyone can pick up its All-access tasks. Mercor, CrowdGen and Alignerr suit people with a clear specialty.
- Prolific pays less per hour than expert AI work but is a steady source of short paid studies in most OECD countries.

## 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](https://www.dataannotation.tech/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.

| Program | Who runs it | Kind of work | Who it accepts | Published pay | How and when it pays | Countries |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| DataAnnotation | DataAnnotation | Rating chatbot answers, coding, STEM, professional and language tracks | Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience; one Starter Assessment attempt | $25-$50/hr general; $25-$40 multilingual; $40-$150+ coding; $40-$125+ STEM and professional | PayPal, within a few days of requesting | No country list in its FAQ |
| Outlier | Scale AI | Writing hard prompts, grading rubrics, rating and ranking AI answers | Undergraduate-level expertise at minimum; no AI experience needed | No rate published; you see the rate before each project, and it varies by location | Weekly on Tuesdays via PayPal, Airtm or ACH | "50 Countries" on its homepage; ID from your country of residence |
| Alignerr | Labelbox | Expert AI training jobs; some roles need no tech background | Applicants who meet skill and communication requirements; ID check through Persona | $80/hr stated average; listings up to $150/hr | Stripe Connect or PayPal, depending on location | Says it welcomes applicants "from around the world" |
| Mindrift | Toloka | Writing prompts, evaluating AI answers; open "All-access" tasks | Anyone can start All-access tasks; specialized projects need qualifications | $15-30/hr entry level; $60-100+/hr domain experts | Twice a month (5th and 20th) via Payoneer or Tipalti (PayPal) | Any country except a published exclusion list |
| Mercor | Mercor | Expert roles such as benchmark and evaluation work | Set per role | $90/hr average contracted rate | Weekly via Stripe or Wise (example listing) | Set per role |
| Handshake AI Fellowship | Handshake | AI project work by field | Based in the US with valid work authorization | Up to $17/hr (evaluation) to up to $300/hr (medical professional) | Weekly; payouts sent by Wednesday | US; elsewhere by invitation only |
| CrowdGen | Appen | Domain-expert evaluation and annotation | Most projects have a qualification process | Up to $95/hr linguists, $400/hr legal, $450/hr clinicians; rate depends on location and skills | Local currency via bank transfer, PayPal, Payoneer or Airtm | Global network; pay set by location |
| Prolific | Prolific | Research studies and surveys; some AI evaluation | 18+, living in a supported country; waitlist | At least £6/$8 an hour; £9/$12 recommended | PayPal; cash out from $6/£6 | Most OECD countries, except Turkey, Lithuania, Colombia and Costa Rica |

Sources for this table: [DataAnnotation: homepage and roles, read 12 Nov 2026](https://www.dataannotation.tech/); [Outlier: homepage, read 12 Nov 2026](https://outlier.ai/); [Alignerr: homepage (powered by Labelbox), read 12 Nov 2026](https://www.alignerr.com/); [Mindrift: homepage, read 12 Nov 2026](https://mindrift.ai/); [Mercor: homepage, read 12 Nov 2026](https://www.mercor.com/); [Handshake AI: fellowship program, read 12 Nov 2026](https://joinhandshake.com/ai/); [CrowdGen by Appen: homepage, read 12 Nov 2026](https://crowdgen.com/); [Prolific: participants, read 12 Nov 2026](https://www.prolific.com/participants).


## Sites like DataAnnotation, one by one

**Outlier.** Run by Scale AI, Outlier "connects experts with leading AI companies to provide human feedback" ([Outlier](https://outlier.ai/)). 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](https://outlier.ai/faq)). Our review: [Is Outlier AI legit?](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/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](https://www.alignerr.com/process)). 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](https://www.alignerr.com/faqs)). Our review: [Is Alignerr legit?](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/is-alignerr-legit).

**Mindrift.** Built by Toloka, Mindrift publishes "Entry-level: $15-30 per hour" and "Domain experts: $60-100+/hr" ([Mindrift](https://mindrift.ai/)). 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](https://mindrift.ai/welcome)). Toloka's own tasks have moved there. Our reviews: [Is Mindrift legit?](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/is-mindrift-legit) and [Toloka review](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/toloka-review).

**Mercor.** Mercor shows a $90/hr average contracted rate on its homepage ([Mercor](https://www.mercor.com/)) and hires for named expert roles, each with its own requirements. Its contract listings state "Payments are weekly on Stripe or Wise" ([Mercor listing](https://work.mercor.com/jobs/list_AAABoVBme63yIgVpzitF4Y_k/computer-power-users-automation-builders-must-own-macbook)). It suits people with a clear specialty more than generalists. Our review: [Is Mercor legit?](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/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](https://joinhandshake.com/ai/)); outside the US, "Participation is currently invite-only" ([Handshake AI Help Center](https://ai-support.joinhandshake.com/articles/32245223383703)). Some role pages post more, such as "Medical Professional Apply now Up to $300/hr" ([Handshake AI](https://joinhandshake.com/ai/opportunities/medical-professional-ai-trainer/)). Payouts go out weekly, by Wednesday afternoon ([Handshake Help Center](https://support.joinhandshake.com/hc/en-us/articles/32263614087575-Handshake-AI-payments-processing)). Our review: [Is Handshake AI legit?](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/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](https://crowdgen.com/)).

**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](https://participant-help.prolific.com/en/article/f66985)). You cash out to PayPal once you have $6/£6 ([Prolific](https://www.prolific.com/participants)). 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](https://www.prolific.com/participants-frequently-asked-questions)). Our review: [Is Prolific legit?](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/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](https://www.dataannotation.tech/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](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/remotasks-alternatives).


## Which DataAnnotation alternative fits your background?

Each row uses only the requirements the programs publish.

| Your background | Start with | Why |
| --- | --- | --- |
| No degree | Mindrift All-access tasks, Prolific, Alignerr roles marked "no tech background needed" | DataAnnotation and Outlier ask for degree-level or equivalent expertise; Mindrift does not for All-access tasks |
| Bachelor's degree | Outlier, Mindrift, Alignerr | Outlier's minimum is undergraduate-level expertise |
| Licensed professional | CrowdGen, Mercor, Alignerr, Mindrift (medicine, consulting) | CrowdGen lists up to $400 (legal) and $450 (clinicians); Mindrift lists up to $100 an hour for licensed US physicians |
| Coder | Mercor, Alignerr, Handshake AI (US), Mindrift coding | Handshake lists up to $150 for software engineers; Mindrift up to $5,400 a month for coding |
| Outside the US | Mindrift, CrowdGen, Outlier, Prolific (OECD countries) | Handshake AI is US only; Prolific excludes Turkey, Lithuania, Colombia and Costa Rica |


## 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](https://www.dataannotation.tech/faq)).
- Other ways to earn from AI training: [get paid to record your screen](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/get-paid-to-record-screen-ai-training) and [apps that pay you to record chores](https://origindatapartners.com/physical-ai/apps-that-pay-you-to-record-chores).


## Next step

Our [Is DataAnnotation legit?](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/is-dataannotation-legit) review covers the company itself. If you are also weighing Scale AI's platform, see [Outlier AI alternatives](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/outlier-ai-alternatives).

[Tell us what you do](https://origindatapartners.com/experts#inquiry). 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](https://origindatapartners.com/referral-disclosure)).


## Questions and answers

### What are the best DataAnnotation alternatives?

Outlier, Alignerr, Mindrift, Mercor, Handshake AI (US only) and CrowdGen by Appen for AI training work, and Prolific for short paid studies. Alignerr states an $80 an hour average and Mercor a $90 an hour average contracted rate; Mindrift publishes $15-30 an hour entry level and $60-100+ for domain experts.

### What sites are like DataAnnotation?

Sites that pay you to rate and write AI answers: Outlier (Scale AI), Alignerr (Labelbox), Mindrift (Toloka), CrowdGen (Appen), Mercor and the Handshake AI Fellowship. They differ in who they accept, how they pay and which countries they cover.

### Can I retake the DataAnnotation Starter Assessment?

No. DataAnnotation's FAQ says you can only take the Starter Assessment once, with no retakes. If you are not accepted, apply to another program.

### How does DataAnnotation pay compared with Outlier?

DataAnnotation publishes starting rates ($25-$50 an hour general, $40-$150+ coding) and pays through PayPal within a few days of a request. Outlier publishes no rate table, shows each project's rate before you start and pays weekly on Tuesdays via PayPal, Airtm or ACH.

### Is there a DataAnnotation alternative for people without a degree?

Mindrift lets anyone start on its All-access tasks, some Alignerr roles say no tech background is needed, and Prolific studies need no degree. DataAnnotation's own baseline is a bachelor's degree or equivalent real-world experience.

### Is CrowdGen the same company as Appen?

Yes. CrowdGen describes itself as the contributor platform of Appen, so applying to CrowdGen is how individuals work on Appen projects. It pays in local currency by bank transfer, PayPal, Payoneer or Airtm, at rates that depend on location and skills. For Appen as a company, see the [Appen review](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/appen-enterprise-data-review); the table above lists the closest alternatives if Appen projects are slow.

## Sources

- [DataAnnotation: homepage and roles](https://www.dataannotation.tech/)
- [DataAnnotation: FAQ](https://www.dataannotation.tech/faq)
- [Outlier: homepage](https://outlier.ai/)
- [Outlier: FAQ](https://outlier.ai/faq)
- [Alignerr: homepage (powered by Labelbox)](https://www.alignerr.com/)
- [Alignerr: onboarding process](https://www.alignerr.com/process)
- [Alignerr: FAQ](https://www.alignerr.com/faqs)
- [Mindrift: homepage](https://mindrift.ai/)
- [Mindrift: welcome page for Toloka users](https://mindrift.ai/welcome)
- [Mercor: homepage](https://www.mercor.com/)
- [Mercor: example contract listing](https://work.mercor.com/jobs/list_AAABoVBme63yIgVpzitF4Y_k/computer-power-users-automation-builders-must-own-macbook)
- [Handshake AI: fellowship program](https://joinhandshake.com/ai/)
- [Handshake Help Center: Handshake AI payments processing](https://support.joinhandshake.com/hc/en-us/articles/32263614087575-Handshake-AI-payments-processing)
- [CrowdGen by Appen: homepage](https://crowdgen.com/)
- [Prolific: participants](https://www.prolific.com/participants)
- [Prolific: participant FAQs](https://www.prolific.com/participants-frequently-asked-questions)
- [Prolific Participant Help: underpaying studies and minimum rate](https://participant-help.prolific.com/en/article/f66985)

## Related reading

- [/experts](https://origindatapartners.com/experts)
- [Is DataAnnotation Legit? Pay, Reviews and Checks (2026)](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/is-dataannotation-legit)
- [Outlier AI Alternatives: 8 Sites With Published Pay (2026)](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/outlier-ai-alternatives)
- [Sites Like Prolific: Paid Studies and AI Training Work](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/prolific-alternatives)
- [Is Mercor Legit? Reviews, Pay and Company Data Deals](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/is-mercor-legit)
- [Get paid to record your screen for AI training: for individuals and for businesses](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/get-paid-to-record-screen-ai-training)
- [Apps that pay you to record chores and everyday tasks for AI (2026 list)](https://origindatapartners.com/physical-ai/apps-that-pay-you-to-record-chores)
- [Is Alignerr Legit? Pay, Reviews and What to Check (2026)](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/is-alignerr-legit)
- [Appen Jobs and CrowdGen by Appen: Pay, Is It Legit? (2026)](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/crowdgen-appen-review)
- [Outlier vs DataAnnotation: Pay, Tests and Payouts Compared](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/outlier-vs-dataannotation)
- [DataAnnotation Assessment: Tracks, Time and Requirements](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/dataannotation-assessment)
- [No Tasks Available in AI Training? What Programs Say](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/ai-training-no-tasks-available)