Head-to-head
Mercor vs Prolific
Which pays more, which is easier to start, and which fits the work you want. Compared on real pay, work model, payout, and the roles open right now.
Mercor
ProlificMercor vs Prolific: the short answer
, AITraining.jobs lists 232 open Mercor roles (typical pay $55 to $150 an hour, median $75).
On pay, Mercor is benchmarked at $55-$150/hr typical (live median $75) and Prolific at $8–$150/hr; the two price work differently, so compare against your own hours.
Prolific is easier to start on (open to most people, but you must match each study's participant criteria to qualify), while Mercor is gated by a screen for a degree, professional expertise, or a skills test.
Both hire for Domain Experts, Coding, and AI Evaluation; Mercor also covers Math & STEM, Agentic & RL Envs, Red-Teaming, and Writing; Prolific also covers Studies & Surveys, Multilingual, and Data Annotation.
Mercor has 232 live roles in the feed right now; check Prolific's own site for its current openings.
Bottom line: Prolific has the lower barrier to entry, so it is the easier place to start; pick Mercor instead if its specific work fits you better.
| Mercor | Prolific | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical pay | $55-$150/hr typical (live median $75) | $8–$150/hr |
| Work model | Expert network · Expert credential marketplace | Research studies · Study pool + AI trainers |
| Kinds of work | Domain Experts, Coding, Math & STEM, Agentic & RL Envs, AI Evaluation, Red-Teaming, and Writing | Studies & Surveys, AI Evaluation, Multilingual, Coding, Data Annotation, and Domain Experts |
| How you get paid | Weekly via Stripe (1099 contractors). | Cash via PayPal only; ~£6/$6 minimum cash-out. |
| Where you can work | Global (45+ countries); many projects timezone- or country-restricted (US/UK/AU premiums). | Most OECD countries plus Croatia and South Africa; excludes Turkey, Lithuania, Colombia, Costa Rica. |
| Open roles now | 232 live | See platform |
| Worker sentiment | Glassdoor ~4.0/5; ~81% would recommend | Trustpilot ~4.4/5 (thousands of reviews) |
Pay shows each platform's live measured band where its feed has enough hourly-stated roles, otherwise our compiled benchmark. How we compile pay.
Best for people with a degree or professional skills who want vetted, higher-skill work.
232 open roles now →Some links on AITraining.jobs are referral links. If you sign up through one, AITraining.jobs may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes what a platform pays you.
Get new AI training jobs by email
The newest paid roles across every platform we track, with real hourly pay, in one weekly email. Free, and unsubscribe anytime.
We email new roles, not spam. One click to unsubscribe.
Mercor vs Prolific: common questions
Which pays more, Mercor or Prolific?
On pay, Mercor is benchmarked at $55-$150/hr typical (live median $75) and Prolific at $8–$150/hr; the two price work differently, so compare against your own hours.
Is Mercor or Prolific easier to get started with?
Prolific is easier to start on (open to most people, but you must match each study's participant criteria to qualify), while Mercor is gated by a screen for a degree, professional expertise, or a skills test.
Can you work on both Mercor and Prolific?
Yes. They are independent platforms, and many contributors join several at once to keep a steady flow of work, especially since both hire for Domain Experts, Coding, and AI Evaluation. Signing up for one does not affect the other.