Mindrift vs Outlier: countries, pay and payouts compared
By AI Global Work editorial team · Facts checked Nov 15 · live numbers update daily
Short answer
Mindrift (run by Toloka) and Outlier (run by Scale AI) offer similar expert AI training work but treat countries in opposite ways. Outlier publishes the countries it accepts; Mindrift publishes the places it doesn't. Outlier pays weekly, Mindrift every two weeks, and both pay only for projects you are given access to.
Platforms with open roles you can check today
From each platform's public listings, refreshed daily. Listed pay is not guaranteed earnings.
| Platform | Open roles | Median rate | Top rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| MercorExpert marketplace that places professionals on AI lab projects. Mostly hourly contracts, many with high rates for specialists.Pay: Set per role. Many listings describe weekly payouts via Stripe or Wise; some pay per task. | 368 | $78/hr | $350/hr |
| micro1AI recruiter (Zara) interviews applicants, then matches experts to AI training and evaluation projects across many fields.Pay: Hourly, paid twice a month. | 353 | $70/hr | $400/hr |
| Anyone AIHires subject experts, PhDs and developers country by country for AI training projects, with a rate listed on each role.Pay: Rate listed per role; confirm payment terms when you apply. | 216 | $40/hr | $150/hr |
| 10x TeamEuropean network placing professionals as freelance AI trainers for 8–20 hours a week. Rates are listed in euros.Pay: Freelance hourly rate in EUR, listed per role. | 125 | €124/hr | €375/hr |
| G2iEngineering network placing senior developers on AI training and evals work.Pay: Hourly contracts. | 29 | $150/hr | $200/hr |
| HumanSignalThe company behind Label Studio. Recruits contributors for data collection, annotation and expert AI-training projects in many countries.Pay: Project-based; confirm rates and payment terms when you apply. | 24 | $10/hr | $100/hr |
| AlignerrLabelbox's expert network. Large catalogue of project roles from generalist writing to specialist coding and science.Pay: Weekly. Some projects pay hourly, others per accepted task. | 23 | $25/hr | $100/hr |
| xAIHires AI Tutors directly, as temporary roles across subjects and languages.Pay: Hourly, as a temporary employee or contractor. | 20 | $35/hr | $50/hr |
| Scale AIRuns the Human Frontier Collective fellowships for senior experts (Outlier is its contributor platform).Pay: Hourly fellowship rates. | 17 | $300/hr | $300/hr |
| TeracSpecialist evaluation projects, especially for medical professionals.Pay: Hourly, rates listed per project. | 11 | $85/hr | $150/hr |
| Handshake AIFellowship program pairing students and experts with AI lab projects.Pay: Hourly fellowship pay. | 3 | $95/hr | $158/hr |
At a glance
- Who runs it: Mindrift is a Toloka platform. Outlier is operated by Scale AI.
- Countries: Outlier lists where you may work. Mindrift lists where you may not.
- Getting in: Mindrift asks for your CV and an assessment. Outlier uses skill screenings, ID verification and project assessments.
- Pay basis: Mindrift pays per completed task. Outlier pays hourly or per task.
- Payouts: Mindrift processes payments every two weeks. Outlier pays on Tuesdays through PayPal, Airtm or ACH.
- Status: both are contract work, not employment.
Which countries each accepts
People in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, India and the Philippines can use both. Switzerland and Taiwan are on Outlier's accepted list but on Mindrift's unsupported list. Nigeria, Kenya and Pakistan are not on Outlier's list, and Mindrift is closed to new registrations there. Bangladesh is on Outlier's list, while Mindrift is closed to new registrations there.
Pay
Mindrift says earnings run from $15 to $100+ an hour depending on project complexity and expertise, and shows the amount for each task before you start. Outlier sets rates by country and field; its own listings show $15 to $35 an hour for US writing work. Compare what each shows you for your own field once you are in.
If neither accepts your country
Look at platforms that publish their open roles with the countries each one accepts. The table on this page ranks the ones we track by open roles today.
Questions people ask
Is Mindrift or Outlier better?
They offer similar work. The practical differences are country eligibility and payout timing: Outlier pays weekly in its listed countries, and Mindrift pays every two weeks and blocks a shorter list of places.
Which pays more, Mindrift or Outlier?
Mindrift says $15 to $100+ an hour depending on expertise. Outlier sets rates by country; its listings show $15 to $35 for US writing work. Your field and country decide.
Can I use both Mindrift and Outlier?
Yes, if both accept your country. They are separate companies.
Which accepts more countries?
They work differently. Outlier lists the countries it accepts, around 115. Mindrift lists the places it can't support and accepts the rest, with new registrations closed in five more countries.