Braintrust vs Handshake AI

Two AI-training platforms side by side, from the roles they have open today and what we know about how each hires and pays. Numbers refresh daily.

Side by side

BraintrustHandshake AI
Open roles52207
Median top rate$85/hr$125/hr
Middle half of rates$21/hr – $94/hr$125/hr – $125/hr
Highest advertised$150/hr$125/hr
Open worldwide2% of roles100% of roles
Hires most forLanguages & translation, Miscellaneous, General (no specialty)Engineering, Business & consulting, Science & research
Kinds of work——
After you applyYou apply with a Braintrust profile; accepted work is contracted and paid through the platform.Applications go through Handshake's career platform. Engagements are part-time and fixed-term — typically 10–20 hours a week.
How it paysThrough the Braintrust platform—

Rates are what open listings advertise (median of the top of each range), not earnings. How we measure pay

Braintrust

Freelance marketplace carrying AI-training projects from Outlier, DataMundi and a leading AI lab.

Braintrust jobs and pay →Read our review

Handshake AI

The Handshake AI Fellowship — structured part-time research engagements for academics.

Handshake AI jobs and pay →Read our review

Braintrust vs Handshake AI: questions

Which pays more, Braintrust or Handshake AI?
Handshake AI advertises more: a median top rate of $125/hr against $85/hr at Braintrust. These are the rates in open listings (23 on Braintrust, 2 on Handshake AI), not earnings; each platform sets individual pay after you apply.
Which has more open roles, Braintrust or Handshake AI?
Handshake AI has more open roles: 207 against 52 on Braintrust. Counts are refreshed daily from each platform's public listings.
How is applying to Braintrust different from Handshake AI?
Braintrust: You apply with a Braintrust profile; accepted work is contracted and paid through the platform. Handshake AI: Applications go through Handshake's career platform. Engagements are part-time and fixed-term — typically 10–20 hours a week.

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