Quick verdict
Mercor $75/hr median (middle half $50 to $100, 1,361 distinct listed rates across 1,404 open listings); Sovrano AI has too few listed rates for a median (9 of 11 open listings state one). Updated October 4, 2026. How we count.
Typical Pay (Median)
Not comparable
Not enough rate data to compare.
Faster Onboarding
Similar
Mercor: Varies (AI interview, then a client match) Sovrano AI: Medium (application + domain assessment, then project matching, no fixed queue)
Global Access
Limited to Specific Regions
Mercor: 130+ countries via Stripe, plus Brazil, UAE, Nepal and Turkey via Wise Sovrano AI: Remote, EU-weighted: most roles require EU residency or a specific native language; a few are open globally
Trustpilot Score
Mercor
Mercor: 4.5/5 Sovrano AI: /5
The Case for Mercor
Mercor offers competitive rates with $75/hr potential for generalists. Key strength: Paid every Wednesday for the previous work week. Plan on a live interview: 98% of the Mercor listings we've tracked require one before you start (n=143). Most roles stay flexible: only 4% of listings (n=554) demand a full 35+ hour week. Contract length varies by domain: Business averages 3 weeks (n=31), while Languages runs closer to 23.5 weeks (n=64).
The Case for Sovrano AI
Sovrano AI offers competitive rates with $10–60/hr potential for generalists. Key strength: Rate is shown on every listing before you apply — no blind assessment. Primary user complaint: "Strict 'Zero-AI' policy on completing tasks, actively monitored — the platform states violations lead to instant bans".
| Metric | Mercor | Sovrano AI |
|---|---|---|
| Typical Pay (Median) | $75/hr
Generalist median: $75/hr
Specialist median: $75/hr
| – |
| Payment Schedule | Weekly, every Wednesday (Stripe or Wise) | Monthly, on approved work (pilot rates); the platform's general payment policy is still listed as unfinalized |
| Geo Accessibility | 130+ countries via Stripe, plus Brazil, UAE, Nepal and Turkey via Wise | Remote, EU-weighted: most roles require EU residency or a specific native language; a few are open globally |
| Onboarding Speed | Varies (AI interview, then a client match) | Medium (application + domain assessment, then project matching, no fixed queue) |
| Top User Complaint | "Strict activity tracking" | "Strict 'Zero-AI' policy on completing tasks, actively monitored — the platform states violations lead to instant bans" |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.5/5 | /5 |
| Interview Required (from listings) | 98% (n=143) | Not enough tracked listings yet |
| Typical Contract Length (from listings) | 3–23.5 weeks (n=121) | Not enough tracked listings yet |
| Full-Time Commitment (35+ hrs/wk, from listings) | 4% (n=554) | 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.
Mercor
Mercor hires professionals as contractors to train and evaluate AI models, with more open roles than any other platform we track. Fields run from law, medicine and finance to software, STEM and languages, and listed hourly rates have a $75 median. You apply with one AI interview and a one-time Persona ID check, and pay lands every Wednesday via Stripe or Wise.
- ✓ Paid every Wednesday for the previous work week
- ✓ More open roles than any other platform we track
- ✓ Homepage states an average contracted rate of $109/hr
💬 User Feedback
"Mercor was my first experience with training AI and working intensely in a remote setting. I've been around for six months plus and while nothing is perfect, Mercor is darned close. I've met some amazing colleagues and learned a tremendous amount about AI."
– Steven W. • Jan 22
"Out of all the AI training companies I've worked for, Mercor has the highest pay rates and the most available projects. Even though it can take a while to get accepted into a project, it's definitely worth the wait."
– B Maly • Jan 20
Current Openings
3 latest listings from Mercor
Multimodal Image Expert
Task Writer: Project Agentic-MME
Baseball Fan – Live MLB Game AI Evaluator (US)
Sovrano AI
Sovrano AI grew out of CareerOS, a 2024 Barcelona student-placement startup with 100+ university partners, and now pays graduates and domain experts for AI evaluation work. Listings range from native-language evaluation roles at the low end to expert roles paid by the hour for building finished slide decks, plus some per-case specialist work. Every listing shows its rate before you apply. It has no third-party reviews yet, and its FAQ still lists the general payment schedule as unfinalized.
- ✓ Rate is shown on every listing before you apply — no blind assessment
- ✓ Fully asynchronous, self-scheduled hours across most roles
- ✓ Native-language and verified domain-expert roles pay well above generalist crowd-work rates
Current Openings
3 latest listings from sovrano
AutoCAD Specialist
Marketing & Communications Expert – Slides / PPTX
Corporate Law Expert – Slides / PPTX
Mercor vs Sovrano AI: common questions
- Which pays more, Mercor or Sovrano AI?
- Mercor $75/hr median (middle half $50 to $100, 1,361 distinct listed rates across 1,404 open listings); Sovrano AI has too few listed rates for a median (9 of 11 open listings state one). Updated October 4, 2026.
- Which is easier to start, Mercor or Sovrano AI?
- Onboarding time is similar. Mercor: Varies (AI interview, then a client match). Sovrano AI: Medium (application + domain assessment, then project matching, no fixed queue). 98% of Mercor's 143 tracked listings require an interview; Sovrano AI has no interview-rate data yet.
- Can I work on both Mercor and Sovrano AI?
- Yes. Both are independent-contractor platforms with separate accounts and separate payouts (Mercor: Weekly, every Wednesday (Stripe or Wise); Sovrano AI: Monthly, on approved work (pilot rates); the platform's general payment policy is still listed as unfinalized). 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.