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Compare · AI training & evaluation · updated 13 Oct 2026Mercor vs micro1
Quick take
- micro1 pays more per hour in practice: about $88/h at the middle of its realistic range, against $83/h on Mercor.
- Mercor pays sooner: first money from 7 days, against 14 on micro1.
- Mercor is open in more places (worldwide, except Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria) than micro1 (most countries, not China, Russia, Iran, Venezuela and 5 more).
- Neither costs anything to start.
- Mercor is turbulent with grade A (official source); micro1 is open with grade B (reliable source).
Side by side
| Mercor Grade A: Official source Grade A means: Official source. The grade says how well-sourced this page is, not how good Mercor is. More in the glossary Turbulent status, as of 13 Oct 2026 Checked 4 days ago | micro1 Grade B: Reliable source Grade B means: Reliable source. The grade says how well-sourced this page is, not how good micro1 is. More in the glossary Open status, as of 13 Oct 2026 Checked 4 days ago | |
|---|---|---|
| Realistic pay | ≈ $16–150/h Realistic hourly equivalent | ≈ $25–150/h Realistic hourly equivalent |
| Advertised | $20–250/h what the platform says | — |
| Median listed rate | $75/h aitrainer.work (P. Romeo), 12 Oct 2026 | $65/h aitrainer.work, 12 Oct 2026 |
| At 10 h/week | ≈ $688–6,450/mo our estimate | ≈ $1,075–6,450/mo our estimate |
| First money | 7–60 days Days to weeks from application to first contract; first Stripe payout has a 7-day hold | 14–60 days Interview + up to 30 days pool review |
| Fees | None for talent; instant payout 1% (optional) | — |
| Cost to start | $0 | $0 |
| Hours | no minimum async (some projects set weekly caps or minimums) | no minimum async |
| Where it's open | Worldwide, except Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria | Most countries, not China, Russia, Iran, Venezuela and 5 more |
| Education | varies by listing; top rates need graduate degree, license or senior industry experience | varies; specialist roles need proven expertise |
| Status | Turbulent as of 13 Oct 2026 | Open as of 13 Oct 2026 |
| Grade | A · Official source 11 sourced facts | B · Reliable source 3 sourced facts |
| Checked | 13 Oct 2026 | 13 Oct 2026 |
| The catch | 2026: a reported data breach via a supply-chain attack on the LiteLLM library was followed by six proposed class actions (pending, allegations not proven). The platform collects ID documents and biometric data for verification, so the stakes of a breach are high | One interview attempt counts |
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
Mercor
- Advertised$20–250/h
- Median listed$75/haitrainer.work (P. Romeo), 12 Oct 2026
- Realistic range$16–150/h
micro1
- Median listed$65/haitrainer.work, 12 Oct 2026
- Realistic range$25–150/h
Who each one suits
Mercor
Pros
- Highest expert rates in the category
- Weekly pay via Stripe/Wise
- Passed assessments are reused across similar roles
Cons
- Projects can end without notice; large offboardings were reported in 2026
- Pay can be cut on renewal (Nov 2025: $21/h -> $16/h on a rehire offer)
- Monitoring software takes random screenshots
micro1
Pros
- High medians for credentialed fields
- No application fees
- Paid via Deel in USD
Cons
- One interview attempt counts
- Proctoring can fail capable people
- Talent-pool limbo, no status dashboard
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