The Handshake AI Fellowship and Terac both pay experts for AI evaluation, and they package the work differently. Handshake AI pays hourly, states $40 to $125, and pays weekly through Stripe, for US-based applicants only. Terac mixes AI output review with paid market research interviews and surveys, its homepage roles list $24 to $40 an hour worked, and it pays once a project is completed after a short AI interview. Handshake AI suits ongoing hourly work. Terac suits short studies around another job.
Quick verdict
Handshake pays more on live listings: Handshake $80/hr median (middle half $75 to $100, 206 distinct listed rates across 210 open listings) vs Terac $70/hr median (middle half $40 to $90, 18 distinct listed rates across 28 open listings). Updated October 4, 2026. How we count.
Typical Pay (Median)
Handshake
$80/hr listed median · 14% higher
Faster Onboarding
Terac
Handshake: Varies (ID check, background check, assessment) Terac: Fast (short AI interview)
Global Access
Limited to Specific Regions
Handshake: US only (valid work authorization; F-1 CPT/OPT eligible) Terac: Set per study
Trustpilot Score
Terac
Handshake: 1.5/5 Terac: 4.4/5
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.
The Case for Terac
Terac pays verified professionals for two kinds of work: market research interviews and surveys, and reviewing AI outputs in their field for AI labs. It screens with a short conversational AI interview and usually wants undergraduate-level expertise or professional experience. Its homepage roles list $24 to $40 an hour worked, open listings vary widely by field, and payment terms are set before a project starts and paid on completion.
| Metric | Handshake | Terac |
|---|---|---|
| Typical Pay (Median) | $85/hr
Generalist median: $85/hr
Specialist median: $80/hr
| $30/hr
Generalist median: $30/hr
Specialist median: $90/hr
|
| Payment Schedule | Weekly via Stripe, by Wednesday for the prior Mon-Sun week | Per project, on completion |
| Geo Accessibility | US only (valid work authorization; F-1 CPT/OPT eligible) | Set per study |
| Onboarding Speed | Varies (ID check, background check, assessment) | Fast (short AI interview) |
| Top User Complaint | "Employer spam" | "Entry-level tasks pay very little ($2-$5/hr)" |
| Trustpilot Rating | 1.5/5 | 4.4/5 |
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
Terac
Terac pays verified professionals, such as software engineers, clinicians, lawyers, accountants and consultants, for two kinds of work: paid market research interviews and surveys, and reviewing AI outputs in their field for AI labs. It screens with a short AI interview, its homepage roles list $24 to $40 an hour worked, and specialist studies list higher. Payment terms are set before a project starts and paid on completion.
- ✓ Homepage roles list $24-$40 per hour worked
- ✓ Two work streams: AI evaluation and paid research interviews/surveys
- ✓ Short conversational AI interview, no prior AI experience required
Current Openings
3 latest listings from terac
Software Engineers: Paid Code Review for AI Agent Evaluation
Photography Evaluators: Paid Task on Image Quality and Brand Guidelines
LATAM Software Engineers: Coding Tasks for AI Evaluation
Handshake vs Terac: common questions
- Which pays more, Handshake or Terac?
- Handshake pays more on live listings: Handshake $80/hr median (middle half $75 to $100, 206 distinct listed rates across 210 open listings) vs Terac $70/hr median (middle half $40 to $90, 18 distinct listed rates across 28 open listings). Updated October 4, 2026.
- Which is easier to start, Handshake or Terac?
- Terac onboards faster. Handshake: Varies (ID check, background check, assessment). Terac: Fast (short AI interview). Handshake has no interview-rate data yet; Terac has no interview-rate data yet.
- Can I work on both Handshake and Terac?
- Yes. Both are independent-contractor platforms with separate accounts and separate payouts (Handshake: Weekly via Stripe, by Wednesday for the prior Mon-Sun week; Terac: Per project, on completion). 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.