Verified
Ethos suits experienced professionals who want to agree a rate for each project and turn down any project without penalty. Mercor runs separate listings for a wide range of professionals, screens with an AI interview of about 20 minutes, and pays hourly contractors every Wednesday.
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 Ethos or Mercor through our links, so we kept the limits of both in here.
Ethos vs Mercor Side by Side
| Ethos | Mercor | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | Experienced professionals; Ethos says its network has 150,000+ professionals | Doctors, lawyers, engineers, creators, operators and hobbyists |
| Countries | You must be entitled to work as a contractor where you live; Ethos chooses which countries it pays | Most countries, with a published list of unsupported locations |
| Screening | Recorded AI voice interview, reviewed by AI and people | Role-specific AI interview of about 20 minutes, up to three retakes |
| Listed pay | $70 to $100 an hour across 69 open roles (2026-10-21) | Law $60 to $120 an hour; Software engineering $62 to $150 an hour (middle half of hourly listings, 2026-10-24) |
| Kinds of work | Consultations, surveys, written reports, tasks, and review and annotation | Project-based and one-time listings |
| Typical hours | Flexible, 5 to 20 hours a week on the listings we checked | Set per contract, with a weekly hours cap |
| Payday | The cycle agreed for each project, such as weekly or monthly, or at the end | Every Wednesday for hourly contractors |
| Payout method | Revolut or Wise | Stripe Connect or Wise, assigned by region; no PayPal |
| Time to first project | No standard timeline, from a few days to several weeks | Not stated as a set time; each listing has its own steps |
Sources: Ethos expert terms, Ethos privacy policy, Ethos opportunities, Ethos listing, r/askethos wiki by Ethos support, Mercor experts page, Mercor account FAQ, Mercor AI interview, Mercor payments.
How You Get In
Ethos screens you with a voice interview. It records and transcribes the call, uses AI to ask follow-up questions and evaluate your answers, and adds human review. Before any project you complete a mandatory tutorial.
On Mercor, most listings 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: Ethos privacy policy, Ethos expert terms, Mercor AI interview.
Listed Pay on Each Platform
Both publish rates. These are what the listings stated on the day they were checked, not what anyone will earn.
| Roles on Ethos | Listed at |
|---|---|
| All 69 open expert roles | $70 to $100 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 |
On Ethos, the rate for each project is confirmed in writing before you start and only changes with your consent. Mercor listings show a rate per hour or per task.
Sources: Ethos role listings, Ethos expert terms, Mercor job listings.
Getting Paid
Ethos pays through Revolut or Wise on the cycle agreed for the project. Send your invoice within three days of finishing, or pay can be delayed or lost. Cancelled projects and unapproved prep time are unpaid.
Mercor pays hourly contractors every Wednesday through Stripe Connect or Wise, and Stripe holds the first payout for seven days. Mercor says it never asks talent for any payment or fee.
Sources: Ethos expert terms, Ethos privacy policy, Mercor payments, Mercor pay policy.
Which One Fits You
- Pick Ethos if you have years in your field and want rates agreed up front, the freedom to decline projects, and payment through Revolut or Wise.
- Pick Mercor if your background matches a named listing and you want a weekly payday through Stripe or Wise.
- Apply to both if you qualify. Ethos makes no promise of work, so a second platform keeps options open.
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 see how micro1, our other lead, compares in micro1 vs Mercor, or read our guide to choosing an AI training platform.
DigiNo earns a referral if you join micro1, Ethos or Mercor through our links. It costs you nothing and does not change your pay.
Ethos vs Mercor FAQ
Is Ethos or Mercor better?
It depends on your background. Ethos suits experienced professionals and agrees a rate per project in writing. Mercor runs separate listings for a wide range of professionals. You can apply to both.
Which pays more, Ethos or Mercor?
Both publish rates. Ethos lists an hourly rate on each of its open roles, and the range on 2026-10-21 is in the table above. Mercor shows a rate on each listing, per hour or per task. Listed rates are not earnings.
How do Ethos and Mercor pay you?
Ethos pays through Revolut or Wise on the cycle agreed for each project. Mercor pays hourly contractors every Wednesday through Stripe Connect or Wise.
How long does Ethos take to review an application?
Ethos support says there is no standard timeline. A decision can take a few days or several weeks.
Sources: Ethos expert terms, Ethos privacy policy, Ethos role listings, r/askethos wiki by Ethos support, Mercor AI interview, Mercor payments.
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