Outlier vs Mercor: countries, pay and how you get in
By AI Global Work editorial team · Facts checked Nov 15 · live numbers update daily
Short answer
Outlier suits people who want flexible task work and live in one of the countries on its list; rates are set by country and field. Mercor suits specialists who want a named role with a listed hourly rate; it pays weekly and can pay in 107 countries. The two country lists differ, so check both for where you live.
At a glance
- Who runs it: Outlier is operated by Scale AI. Mercor is an independent, venture-funded marketplace.
- How work is offered: Outlier qualifies you for projects after onboarding. Mercor lists individual roles you apply to, with the rate on the listing.
- Screening: Outlier uses skill screenings, ID verification and project assessments. Mercor uses an AI video interview of about 20 minutes, which you can retake up to three times.
- Pay: Outlier pays hourly or per task, with the rate shown before a project. Mercor roles are mostly hourly.
- Payouts: Outlier pays on Tuesdays through PayPal, Airtm or ACH. Mercor pays on Wednesdays through Stripe Connect, or Wise in four countries.
Which countries each accepts
Outlier publishes the countries you may work from. Mercor publishes the 107 countries it can pay. They overlap but are not the same. For example, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India, the Philippines, Egypt and South Africa are on both. Nigeria and Ghana are on Mercor's list but not Outlier's. Bangladesh is on Outlier's list. Kenya and Pakistan are on neither.
Pay
Outlier sets rates by country: its own listings show $15 to $35 an hour for US writing work and an average of $13.75 for coding in India. Mercor puts a rate on each role; the box at the top of this page shows the median and top rate across its open roles today. Listed pay on either is not guaranteed income, because work depends on projects.
Which to choose
- Choose by country first. If only one of them accepts where you live, that settles it.
- If you have a professional specialism, compare Mercor's listed roles in your field.
- If you want task work you can pick up around other commitments, Outlier's model fits better.
- Nothing stops you applying to both.
Questions people ask
Is Outlier or Mercor better?
It depends on your country and field. Mercor lists hourly roles for specialists and pays weekly in 107 countries. Outlier offers project work with rates set by country, in the countries on its published list.
Does Mercor pay more than Outlier?
For specialists, Mercor's listed hourly rates are often higher than Outlier's published general rates. Compare the listed pay for roles in your own field and country.
Which is available in my country?
Check both lists. Some countries are on both, such as the US, India and the Philippines. Nigeria and Ghana are on Mercor's list only, and Kenya and Pakistan are on neither.
Can I work on both Outlier and Mercor?
Yes, they are separate platforms. Check each platform's terms for any limits on the same project.
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