Handshake AI alternatives for AI trainers
The best alternatives to Handshake AI right now are Mercor, Meridial, and micro1. Together they have 472 open jobs in the same work, mostly coding, STEM, and general knowledge. Handshake AI itself has 3 open jobs. The list updates every 5 minutes.
Handshake AI is the AI training program of Handshake, a career network for students and job seekers. Fellows write prompts, review AI answers, and label data for frontier AI labs, and it also posts remote red teamer roles. Fellows must live in the US, except invited fellows abroad. Reviewers say a hidden "active time" timer cut their paid hours after payday. Reviewers also report unpaid assessments and training, and Handshake says projects can end within days. In an alternative, look for clear time tracking and paid onboarding. If you live outside the US, look for a company that hires in your country.
10 Handshake AI alternatives, ranked

1. Mercor4.5 on Trustpilot
Organize your human intelligence to power the AI economy
- Same work
- 180 jobs
- Median pay
- $80/hr
- Entry level
- 23 jobs
- Pay schedule
- Weekly
STEM86
Coding56
Generalist38

2. Meridial1.5 on Trustpilot
The expert network built for frontier AI training
- Same work
- 173 jobs
- Median pay
- $37/hr
- Entry level
- 9 jobs
- Pay schedule
- Every two weeks
STEM85
Coding57
Generalist31

3. micro14.7 on Trustpilot
Leverage your expertise to train next-generation AI models
- Same work
- 119 jobs
- Median pay
- $73/hr
- Entry level
- 15 jobs
- Pay schedule
- Twice a month
Coding42
Generalist39
STEM38

4. Rise Data Labs
Put your expertise to work on frontier AI
- Same work
- 46 jobs
- Median pay
- $30/hr
- Entry level
- 1 job
- Pay schedule
- Weekly
STEM27
Coding15
Generalist4

5. RWS TrainAI1.8 on Trustpilot
Freelance, remote, part-time jobs to help train AI
- Same work
- 35 jobs
- Median pay
- $16/hr
- Entry level
- 51 jobs
- Pay schedule
- Per work order
Generalist35

6. Anyone AI4.6 on Trustpilot
Power AI with the world's human expertise
- Same work
- 35 jobs
- Median pay
- $50/hr
- Entry level
- 0 jobs
- Pay schedule
- Per project
Coding21
STEM14

7. Terac4.4 on Trustpilot
Join 160k+ registered experts earning by powering research and AI training
- Same work
- 32 jobs
- Median pay
- $60/hr
- Entry level
- 9 jobs
- Pay schedule
- After approval
Generalist19
Coding13

8. DataAnnotation3.9 on Trustpilot
Get paid to teach AI your expertise
- Same work
- 29 jobs
- Median pay
- $83/hr
- Entry level
- 1 job
- Pay schedule
- 7 days after the work
STEM16
Coding11
Generalist2

9. Prolific4.5 on Trustpilot
Join paid online studies, with a flexible schedule and real payouts
- Same work
- 28 jobs
- Median pay
- $30/hr
- Entry level
- 0 jobs
- Pay schedule
- Cash out once a day
STEM12
Generalist9
Coding7

10. Mindrift3.4 on Trustpilot
Get paid to train AI
- Same work
- 14 jobs
- Median pay
- $100/hr
- Entry level
- 12 jobs
- Pay schedule
- Twice a month, on the 5th and 20th
Generalist12
STEM2
How we rank
- Only companies with 10 or more open jobs on this site count, from live job boards, every 5 minutes.
- Each company ranks by its open jobs in the work Handshake AI hires for, weighted by how many Handshake AI jobs are in each field.
- Median pay is the middle of the hourly rates. Companies that pay per task show "Per task".
- Payment and reviews come from each company page, checked by hand.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best alternatives to Handshake AI?
Mercor, Meridial, and micro1 have the most open jobs in the same work as Handshake AI right now: 472 jobs in coding, STEM, and general knowledge and related fields. The list on this page ranks 10 companies and updates every 5 minutes.
Which Handshake AI alternative pays the most?
Mindrift has the highest median pay of the alternatives: $100 an hour, against $95 at Handshake AI. Pay depends on the field, so compare the work you do.
Which Handshake AI alternative is best for beginners?
RWS TrainAI has the most entry level jobs open now: 51. Entry level jobs ask for no degree, but often for strong writing or a second language.
Can I work for Handshake AI and another platform at the same time?
Most of these companies hire you as a contractor, not as an employee, so many people work on more than one platform. Read each contract first: some projects do not let you work on similar projects for other companies.
What is an AI trainer job?
AI trainers help companies improve AI models. You review and rate model answers, write example answers, find mistakes, or record voice and video data. Experts in law, medicine, coding, languages, and other fields teach models how a professional thinks. Most of this work is remote, flexible, and paid by the hour.
Are AI trainer jobs remote?
Yes. Every job on this site is remote, and most have flexible hours. Some jobs accept people from certain countries only, so check the 🌍 location on each job before you apply.
What skills or degrees do I need?
It depends on the job. Generalist jobs need clear writing and attention to detail. Expert jobs usually ask for a degree or work experience in the field, such as a law license or medical training. Language jobs need native or fluent skill in that language. Coding jobs need real programming experience.