Quick verdict
Handshake pays more on live listings: Claru $13/hr median (middle half $7 to $21, 60 distinct listed rates across 60 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)
Handshake
$80/hr listed median · 540% higher
Faster Onboarding
Similar
Claru: Unknown (platform too new to have a first-hand onboarding report) Handshake: Varies (ID check, background check, assessment)
Global Access
Limited to Specific Regions
Claru: Remote-first; most annotation/RLHF/review roles are open globally, while the video-capture gigs are geo-tiered by country (US $15/hr, Canada $10/hr, LATAM $6-7/hr, parts of Asia $5/hr) Handshake: US only (valid work authorization; F-1 CPT/OPT eligible)
Trustpilot Score
Handshake
Claru: /5 Handshake: 1.5/5
The Case for Claru
Claru offers competitive rates with $10–$61/hr potential for generalists. Key strength: Backed by Reka AI, an existing frontier-model company. Primary user complaint: "Very new consumer-facing brand (scraped live for the first time 2026-09-20) with no third-party review history yet to check pay or payment claims against".
The Case for Handshake
Handshake offers higher pay with $85–$80/hr potential for generalists. Key strength: Fellowship page states $40 to $125 an hour. Primary user complaint: "Employer spam".
| Metric | Claru | Handshake |
|---|---|---|
| Typical Pay (Median) | $10/hr
Generalist median: $10/hr
Specialist median: $61/hr
| $85/hr
Generalist median: $85/hr
Specialist median: $80/hr
|
| Payment Schedule | Contract, paid via direct deposit (US) or international transfer (Wise/Payoneer) elsewhere; capture gigs are bi-weekly, annotation/review roles unspecified at listing level | Weekly via Stripe, by Wednesday for the prior Mon-Sun week |
| Geo Accessibility | Remote-first; most annotation/RLHF/review roles are open globally, while the video-capture gigs are geo-tiered by country (US $15/hr, Canada $10/hr, LATAM $6-7/hr, parts of Asia $5/hr) | US only (valid work authorization; F-1 CPT/OPT eligible) |
| Onboarding Speed | Unknown (platform too new to have a first-hand onboarding report) | Varies (ID check, background check, assessment) |
| Top User Complaint | "Very new consumer-facing brand (scraped live for the first time 2026-09-20) with no third-party review history yet to check pay or payment claims against" | "Employer spam" |
| Trustpilot Rating | /5 | 1.5/5 |
Claru
Claru is the annotation and data-capture brand of Reka AI. Live listings split into two tracks: flat-rate first-person video capture ($5-$15/hr, set by country) for everyday household, garage and garden footage, and $20-$100/hr annotation, RLHF and expert-review roles spanning code, law, physics and medical imaging. Every listing shows its hourly rate, pay is bi-weekly via Wise, Payoneer or bank transfer, and applications are reviewed within 3 to 5 business days. There's no independent review history yet.
- ✓ Backed by Reka AI, an existing frontier-model company
- ✓ Wide role spread from no-experience video capture to $55-$100/hr expert work
- ✓ Every listing shows its pay rate before you apply
Current Openings
3 latest listings from claru
Virtual Environment Tester
Gaming AI Feedback Specialist
Gameplay Annotation Specialist
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
Claru vs Handshake: common questions
- Which pays more, Claru or Handshake?
- Handshake pays more on live listings: Claru $13/hr median (middle half $7 to $21, 60 distinct listed rates across 60 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, Claru or Handshake?
- Onboarding time is similar. Claru: Unknown (platform too new to have a first-hand onboarding report). Handshake: Varies (ID check, background check, assessment). Claru has no interview-rate data yet; Handshake has no interview-rate data yet.
- Can I work on both Claru and Handshake?
- Yes. Both are independent-contractor platforms with separate accounts and separate payouts (Claru: Contract, paid via direct deposit (US) or international transfer (Wise/Payoneer) elsewhere; capture gigs are bi-weekly, annotation/review roles unspecified at listing level; 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.