The best sites like DataAnnotation depend on what you bring. If you have years in a profession, start with Mercor and Ethos. If you want general rating and writing work, Outlier, Alignerr, CrowdGen, Mindrift and OneForma are the closest matches.
This is a short list on purpose. It covers nine platforms, each checked on its own pages on 2026-10-12. For each one you get the kind of work, who it suits and how you get in. Not sure where you fit? Start with our top pick in the AI Training Job Matcher.
DigiNo earns a referral when you sign up to Mercor, Ethos or our top pick through links on this page. Applying through them costs you nothing and does not change your pay.
How We Picked
- Each platform publishes how it works on its own site, and we read those pages on 2026-10-12.
- Each pays people to train or check AI, the same core work as DataAnnotation.
- Each says how you get in, whether by assessment, interview, profile match or invitation.
- Platforms whose official pages we could not load today were left out, even if Reddit mentions them.
We do not list pay here. Rates change by project, field and country, and every platform below shows its rate on the listing or before you start a task.
What DataAnnotation Offers, for Comparison
DataAnnotation pays contractors to evaluate chatbot responses, compare outputs, flag factual errors, write prompts and review code. Work is split into general, multilingual, coding, STEM and professional tracks.
You get one Starter Assessment with no retakes, and the result arrives by email within a few days. The baseline is a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience, fluent English and reliable internet. Pay goes out through PayPal.
So a good alternative should offer similar rating and writing work, a clear way in, and a second source of tasks when one queue goes quiet.
Sources: DataAnnotation FAQ, 2026-10-12.
The Short List at a Glance
| Platform | Best for | How you get in |
|---|---|---|
| Mercor | Professionals and experts | Profile, AI interview and assessments |
| Ethos | Experienced professionals aged 18 or over | AI-screened profile and project screening |
| Outlier | People with at least an associate degree | Skill screenings and ID check, then project onboarding |
| Alignerr | Specialists applying to listed jobs | Resume, job application, ID check, some interviews |
| Handshake AI | US-based students and professionals | Apply, verify identity, get matched |
| CrowdGen by Appen | Domain experts, no technical skills needed for most projects | Apply, get verified, pass a project qualification |
| Prolific | Existing Prolific participants with strong records | Invitation to a two-part AI Task Assessment |
| Mindrift | Beginners who want to start on open tasks | Sign up, then qualifications for specialized projects |
| OneForma | Language speakers and people outside the US | Five-minute profile, then project matching |
| Our top pick | Not sure which fits? | Answer two questions in the AI Training Job Matcher |
The Platforms, One by One
Mercor
Mercor lists expert roles across science, software and other engineering, languages and audio, data analysis, finance, medicine and nursing, business, design and law. You can browse roles before you make an account.
Most applications include an AI interview of about 20 minutes. You only do each interview once, and the result carries over to other roles that use it. Passing an assessment once can also put you in the running for several roles.
Mercor works with people in most countries and publishes a list of places it cannot support. Hourly contractors are paid every Wednesday through Stripe or Wise.
Sources: Mercor public job listings, 2026-10-12, Mercor account and country FAQ, 2026-10-12, Mercor AI interview, 2026-10-12, Mercor assessments, 2026-10-12, Mercor payments, 2026-10-12.
Ethos
Ethos matches experienced professionals to client projects. A project can be a call, a survey, a written report, a set of tasks, or review and annotation of documents and data.
You must be 18 or over and legally able to work as an independent contractor where you live. Ethos uses AI tools to screen and match experts, and you can turn down any project without a penalty.
The rate and payment method are agreed in writing before each project. Pay runs on an agreed cycle or at the end of the project, once your invoices are in.
Sources: Ethos expert terms, 2026-10-12.
Outlier
Outlier is run by Scale AI. Depending on your field, you write prompts, rank AI outputs and improve model responses.
You need at least an associate degree. Onboarding takes 30 to 90 minutes: set up an account, choose your areas of expertise, pass skill screenings and verify your ID. Bring a valid ID and phone from your country, a current resume and a LinkedIn profile.
Outlier does not sponsor visas. Pay runs weekly on Tuesdays through PayPal, Airtm or bank transfer.
Sources: Outlier FAQ, 2026-10-12.
Alignerr
Alignerr is powered by Labelbox. You sign in with Google, upload a resume that fills in your profile, then apply to listed jobs. Each listing shows its requirements and expected pay.
Next comes an ID check through Persona. Some jobs add an AI interview or a domain assessment. Approved people sign a contract and set up payment through Stripe Connect or PayPal. It is freelance work, not a full-time job.
Sources: Alignerr process, 2026-10-12, Alignerr FAQ, 2026-10-12.
Handshake AI
Handshake AI is a fellowship that pays students, professionals and experts hourly to train AI models. No AI experience is required.
It is open only to people based in the US with a work authorization Handshake can support. F-1 students eligible for CPT or OPT may qualify; STEM OPT is not supported.
Sources: Handshake's AI page, 2026-10-12.
CrowdGen by Appen
CrowdGen is the contributor platform of Appen, a data company founded in 1996 and listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. It matches experts in fields such as accounting, finance, law, medicine, languages and software to projects in their field.
You apply, get verified, then pass a qualification for most projects. CrowdGen says most projects need domain knowledge rather than technical skills. Earnings are mostly stated in US dollars and paid in your local currency through bank transfer, PayPal, Payoneer or Airtm, and it never asks you to pay to join.
Sources: CrowdGen by Appen, 2026-10-12.
Prolific
Prolific is a research platform, and its AI taskers group gets AI evaluation studies: reviewing outputs for accuracy, fact-checking and giving detailed feedback.
You cannot apply to the group directly. Prolific invites participants with high approval rates and strong past performance to a two-part AI Task Assessment. Failing it does not affect your account, and the group is still being rolled out.
Sources: Prolific AI taskers, 2026-10-12.
Mindrift (Formerly Toloka)
Toloka's tasks have moved to Mindrift. It says people can join from any country, subject to its published eligibility rules, and it is free to join.
You start on tasks open to every member, such as judging AI responses, labeling content and rating search results. Qualifications then open specialized projects. Pay arrives twice a month through Payoneer or Tipalti, for tasks that are completed and accepted.
Sources: Toloka to Mindrift, 2026-10-12.
OneForma
OneForma is a Centific company. Its profile takes about five minutes and needs no resume, then it matches you to projects in annotation, data collection, judging, transcription and translation.
It supports people in more than 100 countries, and each listing names the countries it is open to. Some data collection projects are in person. Pay runs twice a month with no fees.
Sources: OneForma, 2026-10-12.
Which One Should You Try First?
- Professionals with years in a field should try Mercor and Ethos, then our top pick.
- Generalists with a degree and strong English fit Outlier and Alignerr.
- US-based students and recent graduates can apply to Handshake AI.
- Newcomers outside the US can start on Mindrift and OneForma.
- Prolific participants should watch for the AI Task Assessment invitation.
Apply to two that fit in the same week. If you are not sure, the AI Training Job Matcher asks two questions and points you to a platform. We also reviewed Alignerr, Clickworker and Remotasks on their own.
What Trainers on Reddit Say
We read recent threads in r/AiTraining_Annotation and r/DataAnnotationTech that ask for sites like DataAnnotation. The same points come up again and again.
- Sign up to several platforms. Eligibility changes by country and by project, so one platform alone leaves gaps.
- People disagree on which platforms are for beginners. Some professionals report faster acceptance on expert platforms than on generalist ones.
- Applications can sit pending for a long time, and rules on where you live can change mid-project.
- Ignore anyone offering paid access or help by DM. Apply on the platform's own site.
Sources: r/AiTraining_Annotation thread, r/AiTraining_Annotation thread, r/AiTraining_Annotation thread, r/AiTraining_Annotation thread, r/DataAnnotationTech thread.
Which platform fits you?
Chat with DigiNo Toucan. Two questions, no CV needed.
New to AI training? Read what an AI trainer does, check how to spot a fake AI training job, or see our review of whether DataAnnotation is legit.
Sites Like DataAnnotation FAQ
What is the best alternative to DataAnnotation?
It depends on your background. Mercor and Ethos suit experienced professionals. Outlier and Alignerr are the closest match for general rating and writing work. If you are not sure, the AI Training Job Matcher asks two questions and points you to your top pick.
Which DataAnnotation alternatives accept people outside the US?
Mercor works with people in most countries and publishes a list of places it cannot support. OneForma says it supports more than 100 countries, and Mindrift says people can join from any country under its eligibility rules. Handshake AI is US only.
Do these platforms charge a fee to join?
No. CrowdGen, Mindrift and OneForma state that joining is free, and DataAnnotation says it charges no signup fee. Anyone asking you to pay for access or a referral is not the platform.
Should I sign up to more than one AI training platform?
Yes. Trainers on Reddit say work on any one platform comes and goes with projects, and eligibility changes by country, so two platforms that fit you keep the work steadier.
