AfterQuery and the Handshake AI Fellowship both pay experts by the hour to improve AI models, and the deciding fact is where you live. Handshake AI takes only US-based applicants with valid work authorization, states $40 to $125 an hour, and pays weekly through Stripe after an ID check, a background check and an assessment. AfterQuery pays every Friday through Stripe in 95 countries, with a higher median listed rate, but work arrives in short projects rather than a steady queue. If you are in the US, both are open to you. If you are not, AfterQuery is the one you can apply to.
Quick verdict
AfterQuery pays more on live listings: AfterQuery $87/hr median (middle half $70 to $115, 172 distinct listed rates across 216 open listings) vs Handshake $80/hr median (middle half $75 to $100, 206 distinct listed rates across 210 open listings). Updated October 4, 2026. How we count.
Typical Pay (Median)
AfterQuery
$87/hr listed median · 9% higher
Faster Onboarding
Similar
AfterQuery: Medium (assessment, then project invitations) Handshake: Varies (ID check, background check, assessment)
Global Access
Limited to Specific Regions
AfterQuery: 95 Stripe payout countries (48 unsupported) Handshake: US only (valid work authorization; F-1 CPT/OPT eligible)
Trustpilot Score
Handshake
AfterQuery: /5 Handshake: 1.5/5
The Case for AfterQuery
AfterQuery hires through talent pools: each pool has one unpaid assessment, there is no pass or fail notice, and you hear back when a matching project opens. Projects typically run two to three weeks at 10 to 20 hours a week, and listed hourly rates have an $85 median. Pay lands every Friday for the prior week's approved work, through Stripe only, in the 95 countries Stripe pays out to, and the first payout has a 7-day hold.
The Case for Handshake
The Handshake AI Fellowship is open to US-based applicants with valid work authorization; F-1 students on CPT or OPT can qualify, STEM OPT is excluded. Onboarding includes an ID check, a background check and an assessment, and no prior AI experience is required. The fellowship page states $40 to $125 an hour, and payouts go out weekly through Stripe. A proposed class action filed in July 2026 alleges fellows are misclassified as contractors.
| Metric | AfterQuery | Handshake |
|---|---|---|
| Typical Pay (Median) | $76/hr
Generalist median: $76/hr
Specialist median: $87/hr
| $85/hr
Generalist median: $85/hr
Specialist median: $80/hr
|
| Payment Schedule | Weekly, every Friday (Stripe; Mon-Sun PT pay periods) | Weekly via Stripe, by Wednesday for the prior Mon-Sun week |
| Geo Accessibility | 95 Stripe payout countries (48 unsupported) | US only (valid work authorization; F-1 CPT/OPT eligible) |
| Onboarding Speed | Medium (assessment, then project invitations) | Varies (ID check, background check, assessment) |
| Top User Complaint | "Project-based — work arrives in bursts, not a steady queue" | "Employer spam" |
| Trustpilot Rating | /5 | 1.5/5 |
| Full-Time Commitment (35+ hrs/wk, from listings) | 2% (n=48) | Not enough tracked listings yet |
Interview, hours, contract-length, and timezone figures come directly from live job listings we track and manually verify, not platform marketing copy.
AfterQuery
AfterQuery hires ML researchers, PhD scientists and niche-domain professionals (COBOL, audit accounting, atmospheric modeling) as well as generalists. Hourly listings run $15 to $175/hr with an $85 median, legal, finance and quant roles reach $150 to $175/hr, and pay lands every Friday through Stripe. Each talent pool has one unpaid assessment, projects run 2 to 3 weeks at 10 to 20 hrs/wk and arrive in bursts, and payouts reach the 95 countries Stripe supports.
- ✓ Listed hourly rates have an $85 median, up to $175/hr
- ✓ Paid every Friday, with no fees from AfterQuery
- ✓ Niche domain coverage rare elsewhere (COBOL, EDA, climate ML, audit)
Current Openings
3 latest listings from afterquery
Legal Experts
Biology Experts
Medical Expert
Handshake
The Handshake AI Fellowship pays people with associate to PhD backgrounds to evaluate and improve AI models. It is open to US-based applicants with valid work authorization, and the fellowship page states $40 to $125 an hour. Onboarding includes an ID check, a background check and an assessment, and payouts go out weekly through Stripe. A proposed class action filed in July 2026 alleges fellows are misclassified as contractors; Handshake had not responded as of August 2026.
- ✓ Fellowship page states $40 to $125 an hour
- ✓ Weekly payouts through Stripe
- ✓ No prior AI experience required
💬 User Feedback
"I still freelance with them. They are kind, helpful and understanding. I am always paid on time and paid very well. The platform connects students with real employers who respect their time."
– Barbara D. • Dec 27
Current Openings
3 latest listings from Handshake
Management Consultant
Technical Professional
Robotics Engineering Expert
AfterQuery vs Handshake: common questions
- Which pays more, AfterQuery or Handshake?
- AfterQuery pays more on live listings: AfterQuery $87/hr median (middle half $70 to $115, 172 distinct listed rates across 216 open listings) vs Handshake $80/hr median (middle half $75 to $100, 206 distinct listed rates across 210 open listings). Updated October 4, 2026.
- Which is easier to start, AfterQuery or Handshake?
- Onboarding time is similar. AfterQuery: Medium (assessment, then project invitations). Handshake: Varies (ID check, background check, assessment). AfterQuery has no interview-rate data yet; Handshake has no interview-rate data yet.
- Can I work on both AfterQuery and Handshake?
- Yes. Both are independent-contractor platforms with separate accounts and separate payouts (AfterQuery: Weekly, every Friday (Stripe; Mon-Sun PT pay periods); Handshake: Weekly via Stripe, by Wednesday for the prior Mon-Sun week). Exclusivity, where it exists, is set per project in the agreement you sign, so check each project's terms before overlapping hours.
Both platforms are legitimate and widely used. The best choice depends on your background, goals, and location.