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micro1 and Mercor both screen you with an AI interview and then place you on paid AI training projects. The differences are in the details: micro1 pays twice a month through Deel and says no prior AI experience is needed, while Mercor pays hourly contractors every Wednesday and lists most roles for named professionals.
Every fact below comes from each platform's own pages, checked against our facts file on 2026-10-26. DigiNo earns a referral if you join micro1 or Mercor through our links, so we kept to what each side publishes.
micro1 vs Mercor Side by Side
| micro1 | Mercor | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | People with a skill to certify; no prior AI experience needed | Professionals such as doctors, lawyers, engineers, creators, operators and hobbyists |
| Countries | No country list on the pages we read | Most countries, with a published list of unsupported locations |
| Screening | AI interview with Zara, on demand, with a real-time result | Role-specific AI interview of about 20 minutes |
| Listed pay | $15 to $200+ an hour by task type (micro1 guide, 2026-10-17) | Law $60 to $120 an hour; Software engineering $62 to $150 an hour (middle half of hourly listings, 2026-10-24) |
| Practice and retakes | Free practice interviews, 18 minutes each; feedback if you do not pass | Free practice interview; up to three retakes |
| Typical hours | About 15 to 20 hours a week, part-time | Set per contract, with a weekly hours cap |
| Payday | Twice a month, around the 5th and 20th, in USD | Every Wednesday for hourly contractors, in USD |
| Payout method | Deel, which also runs the contract and ID check | Stripe Connect or Wise, assigned by region; no PayPal |
| Time to first project | Hiring manager review can take up to 30 days, with no promise of placement | Not stated as a set time; each listing has its own steps |
Sources: micro1 guide to AI training jobs, micro1 AI interview guide, micro1 expert FAQ, micro1 payroll policy, micro1 Deel page, micro1 dashboard statuses, Mercor experts page, Mercor account FAQ, Mercor AI interview, Mercor payments, Mercor contracts.
How You Get In
On micro1, every applicant takes a skill-based interview with Zara, its AI interviewer. It mixes open-ended and scenario questions, with a coding challenge for technical roles or a human data exercise for annotator roles. You get a result straight away, and you can apply to as many roles as you qualify for.
On Mercor, each listing has its own steps, and most include an AI interview of about 20 minutes. A free practice run does not count against you, and you can retake an interview up to three times. Our Mercor AI interview guide covers the format.
Sources: micro1 guide to AI training jobs, micro1 AI interview guide, Mercor AI interview.
Listed Pay on Each Platform
Both platforms publish rates. These are what their own pages stated, not what anyone will earn.
| Task type on micro1 | Listed at |
|---|---|
| General annotation, up to frontier expert projects | $15 to $200+ an hour |
| Generalist AI training roles on its Opportunities board | $10 to $60 an hour |
| Field on Mercor (middle half of hourly listings) | Listed at |
|---|---|
| Software engineering | $62 to $150 an hour |
| Medicine and nursing | $70 to $175 an hour |
| Law | $60 to $120 an hour |
| Mixed and generalist roles | $60 to $200 an hour |
Mercor listings show a rate per hour or per task, so check the role you want. A micro1 project pays one way: hourly, per task or a flat fee per approved task.
Sources: micro1 guide to AI training jobs, micro1 expert FAQ, Mercor job listings.
Getting Paid
micro1 runs a semi-monthly payroll through Deel. Work from the 1st to the 15th is paid around the 20th, and the rest of the month around the 5th.
Mercor pays hourly contractors every Wednesday through Stripe Connect or Wise, and you do not choose which. Stripe holds the first payout for seven days.
Sources: micro1 payroll policy, micro1 Deel page, Mercor payments.
Which One Fits You
- Pick micro1 if you are newer to AI training, want a part-time load of about 15 to 20 hours a week, and are happy to be paid twice a month through Deel.
- Pick Mercor if you have a professional background that matches a named listing and want a weekly payday through Stripe or Wise.
- Apply to both if you qualify. Each interview is separate, so a result on one does not carry to the other.
Ethos is a third option for experienced professionals, with project rates agreed in writing before you start. Compare it in our Ethos vs Mercor guide below.
Prefer Mercor? Read our Mercor review first, then apply from there.
Find AI Training Work That Fits You
Chat with DigiNo Toucan. A few quick questions, no CV needed.
Not sure which fits? The AI Training Job Matcher asks two questions and points you to our top pick. You can also compare Ethos vs Mercor and Mercor vs Handshake AI.
DigiNo earns a referral if you join micro1, Ethos or Mercor through our links. It costs you nothing and does not change your pay.
micro1 vs Mercor FAQ
Is micro1 or Mercor better?
It depends on your background. micro1 says no prior AI experience is needed and certifies you on one skill through its AI interview. Mercor lists most roles for named professionals. Many people apply to both.
Which pays faster, micro1 or Mercor?
Mercor pays hourly contractors every Wednesday through Stripe Connect or Wise. micro1 pays twice a month through Deel, around the 5th and the 20th.
Do micro1 and Mercor both use AI interviews?
Yes. micro1 uses Zara, its AI interviewer, and gives a real-time result. Most Mercor AI interviews take about 20 minutes and can be retaken up to three times.
Can I work for micro1 and Mercor at the same time?
Check each contract. micro1 says you are welcome to keep your regular day job, and its roles are part-time at about 15 to 20 hours a week. Mercor sets a weekly hours cap per contract.
Sources: micro1 guide to AI training jobs, micro1 AI interview guide, micro1 expert FAQ, micro1 payroll policy, Mercor AI interview, Mercor payments.
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