Appen vs DataAnnotation for AI trainers
Appen has 61 open AI trainer jobs with a median pay of $14 an hour. DataAnnotation has 113 open jobs with a median of $83 an hour. Both numbers come from live job boards and change every 5 minutes.
Appen, through its CrowdGen platform, offers short projects for one language and one country, such as speech recording and search rating. DataAnnotation offers tasks such as rating chatbot answers and checking AI code. To join Appen, you apply to a project and pass its qualification test. DataAnnotation starts with a Starter Assessment of about 1 hour, which you can take only once. Appen pays once a month, by the 14th, to a bank, PayPal, Payoneer, or other methods. DataAnnotation pays through PayPal, about 7 days after the work. On Trustpilot, DataAnnotation has 3.9 and Appen 1.4. Appen fits speakers of many languages. DataAnnotation fits people who want flexible hours.
Side by side
| Detail | Appen | DataAnnotation |
|---|---|---|
| Open jobs | 61 | 113 |
| Median pay | $14/hr | $83/hr |
| Middle half | $1–35/hr | $33–83/hr |
| Jobs at $50/hr or more | 3 | 70 |
| Entry level jobs | 42 | 1 |
| Founded | 1996 | 2020 (Surge AI) |
| Founders | Julie Vonwiller (CEO: Ryan Kolln) | Edwin Chen (CEO of Surge AI) |
| Headquarters | Sydney, Australia | San Francisco, USA |
| Funding | Public on ASX (APX) | Self-funded ($1.2B revenue in 2024) |
| Workers | Independent contractors | Independent contractors |
| Payment | Bank, PayPal, or Payoneer | PayPal |
| Paid | Monthly, by the 14th | 7 days after the work |
| Reviews | 1.4371 on Trustpilot | 3.91,973 on Trustpilot |
Which one is for you
- DataAnnotation pays more per hour overall: a median of $83, against $14 at Appen.
- DataAnnotation has more open jobs right now: 113, against 61 at Appen.
- DataAnnotation pays more for languages work.
- Only Appen has voice & video jobs open now.
- Only DataAnnotation has coding, STEM, medical, legal, and finance jobs open now.
- For a first AI training job, Appen has more entry level openings: 42, against 1 at DataAnnotation.
Median pay by category
How hiring works at Appen
- Apply to a project on Appen's job board or on crowdgen.com. Most projects are for one language and one country.
- If Appen selects you, CrowdGen sends an email to create your account. Complete your profile and use Google Chrome with no extensions.
- Most projects have a qualification test, which you must do on your own. Some projects also have quotas by age, gender, or region.
- Set up your payment method: confirm your address, verify your phone, and pick a payout method. Some projects ask for 10 or more hours a week.
How hiring works at DataAnnotation
- Sign up on dataannotation.tech and take the Starter Assessment for your track, such as general, coding, math, or a language. It takes about 1 hour, and you can take it only once.
- Wait for the result. DataAnnotation says it replies in a few days, but many workers say they waited weeks or months, and some never hear back.
- If you pass, take the longer Core assessment or a specialist test, then verify your identity with a government ID and a selfie.
- Projects then show on your dashboard. Pick the ones you want. More specialist tests unlock better-paid projects.
See 61 Appen jobsMedian $14/hrSee 113 DataAnnotation jobsMedian $83/hrFrequently asked questions
Which pays more, Appen or DataAnnotation?
DataAnnotation pays more right now: a median of $83 an hour, against $14 at Appen. Pay depends on the field, so compare the category you work in.
Which is better for beginners, Appen or DataAnnotation?
Appen has more entry level jobs open now: 42, against 1 at DataAnnotation. Entry level jobs ask for no degree, but often for strong writing or a second language.
How do Appen and DataAnnotation pay?
Appen pays through Bank, PayPal, or Payoneer, monthly, by the 14th. DataAnnotation pays through PayPal, 7 days after the work. See each company page for the details.
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.
