Is Ethos legit? Pay, payouts and red flags, with sources
London-based AI expert network (a16z-backed): one voice interview builds your profile; matched to expert calls, surveys and AI-data work.
Grade B: Reliable source. The grade says how well-sourced this page is, not how good Ethos is. How well-sourced a page or fact is. Not a rating of the company. More in the glossary
Updated Checked Checked: we looked again and it was still right. Updated: something changed. More in the glossary
London-based expert network backed by a16z ($22.75M Series A, May 2026). One AI voice interview builds your expert profile, which is then matched to paid expert calls, surveys and AI-data projects.
How much does Ethos pay?
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.
Note Median listed $80/h (n=289); company claims earning experts average £4,500/month extra (top 10% > £7,000).
- Median listed$80/haitrainer.work (P. Romeo), 12 Oct 20262
- Realistic range$60–225/h
Who can join Ethos?
Where it's open: Not published.
Regions: global
- Education
- professional experience
- Experience
- mid to senior
- Minimum age
- 18
Most platforms here require you to be 18 or older.
How to get accepted
- Prepare a crisp career story: companies, roles, markets, products
- Never share confidential information about current or former employers
Is Ethos legit?
What we can confirm
- Funding: $22.75M Series A led by a16z (2026-05-06) 1
What to watch
- Engagements are irregular
- The company's earnings claim (avg £4,500/month) is self-reported and only covers experts who earn
Lawsuits and complaints are allegations unless a court has ruled. We report their status with dates and sources and update it when it changes.
What people like
- Low-effort onboarding (one interview)
- Mix of expert calls and AI work
- High median listed pay ($80/h)
Alternatives to Ethos
- Mercor ≈ $16–150/h · first money 7–60 days
- Outlier ≈ $12–60/h · first money 7–30 days
- DataAnnotation ≈ $14–45/h · first money 3–30 days
- Handshake AI Fellowship ≈ $30–125/h · first money 14–45 days
The proof
Every fact on this page with its type, grade, date and source. Report an error
Sourced facts 3 facts · type · grade · as of
- Press & research Funding
$22.75M Series A led by a16z (2026-05-06) 1
- Marketing claim Earnings claim
Avg £4,500/month additional income for earning experts; top 10% > £7,000 1
- Press & research Median listed pay
$80/h (n=289) 2
Sources 2 sources · type
Grade B (reliable source) · checked 13 Oct 2026 · re-checked every 45 days · how grades work · report an error
Changelog
Every change to this page, newest first. In the full changelog
- added all
Keep exploring
On the ladder
Step 1 of 5 · Paid tasks. The platform finds the work and sets the pay. Fastest first money, lowest ceiling.
Where this leads
- Expert networks Uses the same skills: consulting, finance, accounting.
- AI roll-up / one-person holding company Uses the same skills: finance, accounting, business strategy.
- AI tools assessment for small businesses Uses the same skills: consulting, business strategy, sales.
Related
- Step 2 · Your skill Open status
Expert networks (GLG, AlphaSights, Guidepoint, Third Bridge, Arbolus …)
Paid 30–60 min calls and surveys for investors and consultants who need your industry knowledge; senior niche expertise earns $300–1,000+/h.
Realistic pay ≈ $100–400/hFirst money 7–120 daysCost to start $0Grade C: Self-reported Grade C means: Self-reported. The grade says how well-sourced this page is, not how good Expert networks is. More in the glossary Self-reported Checked 4 days ago - Step 1 · Paid tasks Open status
AfterQuery
Fast-growing YC startup paying working professionals to document how they reason through real cases.
Realistic pay ≈ $50–150/hFirst money 14–45 daysCost to start $0Grade B: Reliable source Grade B means: Reliable source. The grade says how well-sourced this page is, not how good AfterQuery is. More in the glossary Reliable source Checked 4 days ago - Step 1 · Paid tasks Turbulent status
Mercor
The largest expert marketplace for AI labs: hourly contracts for professionals, from generalists to doctors, lawyers and senior engineers.
Realistic pay ≈ $16–150/hFirst money 7–60 daysCost to start $0Grade 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 Official source Checked 4 days ago