We have no paid links for either. Both are compared on the same criteria and dates.
Compare · AI training & evaluation · updated 13 Oct 2026DataAnnotation vs Handshake AI Fellowship
Quick take
- Handshake AI Fellowship pays more per hour in practice: about $78/h at the middle of its realistic range, against $30/h on DataAnnotation.
- DataAnnotation pays sooner: first money from 3 days, against 14 on Handshake AI Fellowship.
- DataAnnotation is open in more places (6 countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland and 2 more) than Handshake AI Fellowship (uS only (needs US work authorization)).
- Neither costs anything to start.
- DataAnnotation is turbulent with grade B (reliable source); Handshake AI Fellowship is turbulent with grade B (reliable source).
Side by side
| DataAnnotation Grade B: Reliable source Grade B means: Reliable source. The grade says how well-sourced this page is, not how good DataAnnotation is. More in the glossary Turbulent status, as of 13 Oct 2026 Checked 4 days ago | Handshake AI Fellowship Grade B: Reliable source Grade B means: Reliable source. The grade says how well-sourced this page is, not how good Handshake AI Fellowship is. More in the glossary Turbulent status, as of 13 Oct 2026 Checked 4 days ago | |
|---|---|---|
| Realistic pay | ≈ $14–45/h Realistic hourly equivalent | ≈ $30–125/h Realistic hourly equivalent |
| Advertised | $20–150/h what the platform says | $40–125/h what the platform says |
| Median listed rate | — | $80/h aitrainer.work, 1 Oct 2026 |
| At 10 h/week | ≈ $602–1,935/mo our estimate | ≈ $1,290–5,375/mo our estimate |
| First money | 3–30 days 1–2 h unpaid Starter Assessment; decision can take days to weeks | 14–45 days |
| Fees | none | — |
| Cost to start | $0 | $0 |
| Hours | no minimum fully async | no minimum async; some weekly hour caps |
| Where it's open | 6 countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland and 2 more | US only (needs US work authorization) |
| Education | bachelor's or equivalent experience (reported) | current students, graduates, PhD candidates |
| Status | Turbulent as of 13 Oct 2026 | Turbulent as of 13 Oct 2026 |
| Grade | B · Reliable source 6 sourced facts | B · Reliable source 3 sourced facts |
| Checked | 13 Oct 2026 | 13 Oct 2026 |
| The catch | One attempt only, no feedback | Proposed class action (filed 2026-07-20, N.D. Cal.) alleging misclassification, unpaid onboarding and hour caps; allegations only, not decided |
Pay figures are what platforms advertise or what workers report, each with its date. They are not typical or guaranteed earnings: yours depend on your skills, hours, location and how much work is available. Each figure has its source on the entry's page.
Advertised vs. reality same scale
DataAnnotation
- Advertised$20–150/h
- Realistic range$14–45/h
Handshake AI Fellowship
- Advertised$40–125/h
- Median listed$80/haitrainer.work, 1 Oct 2026
- Realistic range$30–125/h
Who each one suits
DataAnnotation
Pros
- Pays reliably; withdraw on demand via PayPal
- No meetings, no monitoring app
- Higher tracks for coders and STEM
Cons
- One attempt only, no feedback
- Dry spells of weeks
- PayPal only
Handshake AI Fellowship
Pros
- High hourly rates for students and PhDs
- Field-specific projects (STEM, finance, medicine, CAD)
- Weekly pay (reported)
Cons
- US only, with work-authorization limits
- Unpaid onboarding and hour caps alleged in a 2026 lawsuit
- Project availability varies by field
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