Mercor vs Mindrift

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

MercorMindrift
Open roles297847
Median top rate$100/hr$100/hr
Middle half of rates$65/hr – $120/hr$100/hr – $100/hr
Highest advertised$450/hr$100/hr
Open worldwide65% of roles0% of roles
Hires most forScience & research, Software engineering, Medicine & healthcareLanguages & translation, Engineering, General (no specialty)
Kinds of work——
After you applyExpect an AI-led interview of 45–90 minutes, the longest of the major platforms. Most applicants are rejected; if you pass, work comes in intensive 2–8 week engagements.Onboarding is lighter than the top-tier platforms — a common entry point. Pay varies by task and region.
How it paysWeekly via Stripe—

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

Mercor

Frontier-lab SME placement at the highest pay tier in the market ($80–$200+/hr).

Mercor jobs and pay →Read our review

Mindrift

Toloka's freelance AI-trainer platform — the largest single pool of listings.

Mindrift jobs and pay →Read our review

Mercor vs Mindrift: questions

Which pays more, Mercor or Mindrift?
Mercor and Mindrift advertise about the same: a median top rate of $100/hr. These are the rates in open listings (262 on Mercor, 381 on Mindrift), not earnings; each platform sets individual pay after you apply.
Which has more open roles, Mercor or Mindrift?
Mindrift has more open roles: 847 against 297 on Mercor. Counts are refreshed daily from each platform's public listings.
How is applying to Mercor different from Mindrift?
Mercor: Expect an AI-led interview of 45–90 minutes, the longest of the major platforms. Most applicants are rejected; if you pass, work comes in intensive 2–8 week engagements. Mindrift: Onboarding is lighter than the top-tier platforms — a common entry point. Pay varies by task and region.

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