AI Training Guide · Step 3 of 11
Which AI Training Platform Is Right for You?
The right AI training platform depends on two things: your background and where you live. Platforms match people to projects on experience and results, and many listings only take people in certain countries, so start where you fit.
This guide covers the platforms DigiNo points people to, sorted by who they hire, so you apply where you fit instead of everywhere.
Start With Your Background
The Platforms Compared
| Platform | Who it hires | How you get in | How work and pay run |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercor | Experts and professionals. Each listing names the countries it hires in; Mercor says one that names none is open by default to the US, Canada, the UK and the EU, and there are some countries where it cannot onboard anyone | Profile, assessments and an AI interview; passing an assessment once can qualify you for several roles | Hourly contracts are the most common, paid weekly on Wednesday; some projects pay per completed deliverable |
| Ethos | Experienced professionals aged 18 or over, working as independent contractors | Screening questions for each project; Ethos uses AI tools to screen and match, and you can ask for a human review | Rates agreed for each project, paid on an agreed cycle or at project end, after you invoice |
| Your top pick in the AI Training Job Matcher | Depends on your answers | Answer two questions about your background and languages | Links you to the official listing of the platform that fits you |
Pay is set per listing and per project and changes with the field, so check the live listing before you apply.
Sources: Mercor public job listings, 2026-10-08, Mercor assessments, Mercor contracts, Mercor payments, Mercor referral policy FAQ, Mercor account and country FAQ, Ethos expert terms, r/outlier_ai thread.
Listed Mercor Pay by Field
Mercor shows an hourly range on most open listings, and the range moves a long way by field. Ethos agrees rates for each project instead.
| Field | Open listings | Listed hourly range | Range shown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Science (life, physical and social) | 62 | $60 to $110 | Middle half |
| Software engineering | 41 | $58 to $150 | Middle half |
| Languages and audio | 30 | $16 to $100 | Middle half |
| Other engineering | 29 | $45 to $120 | Middle half |
| Data analysis | 24 | $46 to $120 | Middle half |
| Finance | 21 | $60 to $150 | Middle half |
| Business operations | 21 | $60 to $115 | Middle half |
| Medicine and nursing | 19 | $60 to $180 | Middle half |
| Arts and design | 15 | $30 to $79 | Middle half |
| Law | 11 | $60 to $150 | Middle half |
| Mixed and generalist roles | 11 | $26 to $70 | Middle half |
| Humanities | 3 | $40 to $70 | Full range |
These are the hourly ranges the listings state, not what anyone will earn. Actual pay depends on the project, and a listing is no guarantee of work. Middle half means the lowest and highest quarter of listings in that field are left out, so one unusual listing does not stretch the range. Open listings counts every listing in the field; the range uses the hourly ones only.
Sources: Mercor public job listings, 2026-10-09.
How to Choose in Practice
- Check location rules first. Each Mercor listing states the countries it hires in, and Mercor publishes a list of places where it cannot onboard anyone, including Kenya, Pakistan and Ukraine. It does not sponsor visas.
- Match your strongest credential. Mercor matches people to roles on professional experience, past interview and assessment results, and the skills on their profile.
- Apply to two platforms in the same week, so a quiet week on one is covered.
- Read the requirements before you start an assessment. Mercor says most of its assessments allow only one submission.
Sources: Mercor public job listings, 2026-10-08, Mercor account and country FAQ, Mercor UK guide, Mercor instant offers, Mercor assessments.
Let the AI Training Job Matcher Pick for You
The AI Training Job Matcher asks two questions, your background and whether you speak a second language, then shows you where to start.
Which platform fits you?
Chat with DigiNo Toucan. Two questions, no CV needed.
Choosing an AI Training Platform FAQ
What is the best AI training platform?
It depends on your background and country. Mercor and Ethos are built for professionals in fields such as medicine, law, finance and engineering. If you are not sure, your top pick in the AI Training Job Matcher points you to the platform that fits your answers.
Should I join more than one AI training platform?
Trainers on Reddit say yes. Work on any one platform comes and goes with projects, so two platforms that fit you keep the work steadier.
Which AI training platforms hire outside the US?
Mercor hires in many countries. Each listing states where it hires, a listing that names no location is open by default to the US, Canada, the UK and the EU, and Mercor cannot onboard people in some countries, such as Kenya, Pakistan and Ukraine. Check the listing before you apply.
Which platform is best with no experience?
Mercor and Ethos mostly list roles for people with professional experience. If you do not have that yet, answer the two questions in the AI Training Job Matcher and start with your top pick.
How do I know which platforms fit me?
Answer two questions in the AI Training Job Matcher. It points you to the platform that hires people with your background.
