Mindrift and Terac approach the same market from different ends. Mindrift recruits generalists and experts at scale, states $15 to $30 entry-level and $60 to $100+ for experts, and pays on the 5th and 20th. Terac recruits verified professionals with a short AI interview, mixes AI output review with paid market research interviews and surveys, and pays once a project is completed; its homepage roles list $24 to $40 an hour worked. Mindrift suits ongoing task work. Terac suits short studies.
Quick verdict
Terac pays more on live listings: Mindrift $46/hr median (middle half $33 to $55, 103 distinct listed rates across 305 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)
Terac
$70/hr listed median · 52% higher
Faster Onboarding
Terac
Mindrift: Medium (per-project assessment) Terac: Fast (short AI interview)
Global Access
Mindrift
Mindrift: Global Terac: Set per study
Trustpilot Score
Terac
Mindrift: 4/5 Terac: 4.4/5
The Case for Mindrift
Mindrift is Toloka's platform for AI trainers. It states $15 to $30 an hour for entry-level work and $60 to $100+ for domain experts, and open listings have a $46 median. Specialised projects ask for a CV, an assessment and ID verification. Pay goes out on the 5th and 20th of each month through Payoneer or PayPal, and the platform is open worldwide except 17 sanctioned countries and about 35 unsupported territories.
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 | Mindrift | Terac |
|---|---|---|
| Typical Pay (Median) | $40/hr
Generalist median: $40/hr
Specialist median: $50/hr
| $30/hr
Generalist median: $30/hr
Specialist median: $90/hr
|
| Payment Schedule | Twice a month, 5th and 20th (Payoneer or PayPal) | Per project, on completion |
| Geo Accessibility | Global | Set per study |
| Onboarding Speed | Medium (per-project assessment) | Fast (short AI interview) |
| Top User Complaint | "Unpredictable project availability" | "Entry-level tasks pay very little ($2-$5/hr)" |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4/5 | 4.4/5 |
Mindrift
Mindrift is Toloka's platform for AI trainers, open worldwide except 17 sanctioned countries and about 35 unsupported territories. It states $15 to $30 an hour for entry-level work and $60 to $100+ for domain experts, and open listings have a $46 median. Specialised projects ask for a CV, an assessment and ID verification, and pay goes out on the 5th and 20th of each month through Payoneer or PayPal. Task availability varies by domain and language.
- ✓ States $15-$30/hr entry-level and $60-$100+/hr for experts
- ✓ Open worldwide except sanctioned countries
- ✓ Paid twice a month, on the 5th and 20th
💬 User Feedback
"Working on Mindrift has been a genuinely rewarding experience. Collaborating with experts from different domains has sharpened my problem-solving, improved my feedback clarity, and helped me understand AI training from multiple perspectives."
– Mujahid Munawar • Jan 15
"I never expected this platform and its projects to be so interesting, and even less that there would be a regular supply of tasks. Of course, availability depends on your domain, but overall the platform delivers engaging work consistently."
– Anastasia A. • Nov 4
Current Openings
3 latest listings from Mindrift
Freelance Web Designer
Freelance Web Designer
Freelance Graphic Designer
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
Mindrift vs Terac: common questions
- Which pays more, Mindrift or Terac?
- Terac pays more on live listings: Mindrift $46/hr median (middle half $33 to $55, 103 distinct listed rates across 305 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, Mindrift or Terac?
- Terac onboards faster. Mindrift: Medium (per-project assessment). Terac: Fast (short AI interview). Mindrift has no interview-rate data yet; Terac has no interview-rate data yet.
- Can I work on both Mindrift and Terac?
- Yes. Both are independent-contractor platforms with separate accounts and separate payouts (Mindrift: Twice a month, 5th and 20th (Payoneer or PayPal); 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.