Handshake AI vs Outlier: which is better for AI training work?
Handshake AI is for US students and graduates, with fellowship rates set by your education. Outlier is open in many more countries and to any background, but pay starts lower.
Side by side
How Handshake AI and Outlier compare on the things that decide whether the work is worth it.
US-based bachelor's, master's and PhD students and graduates with valid US work authorization.
Generalists and specialists: writers, coders, STEM graduates and domain experts, in many languages.
An application based on your academic background, then assessments for each project.
Skills assessments and onboarding courses for each project. Your pay tier depends on your track record.
Hourly. Handshake lists $50 to $125 an hour for fellows, set by education and expertise; generalist projects pay less.
Hourly. Generalist work is often $15 to $35 an hour; expert projects can pay $50 to $150 an hour, plus bonus missions.
Paid directly by Handshake, not by the AI lab, as a part-time contractor.
Weekly, on Tuesdays, through PayPal, ACH bank transfer or Airtm.
Remote, for people based in the US only.
Remote, in many countries. What you can work on depends on the project and where you live.
Run by Handshake, the career network for students and graduates (MOVE fellowship program).
Run by Scale AI. Meta bought a 49% stake in Scale AI for $14.3B in June 2025.
US only, and projects often cap how many hours you can work each week.
Projects open and close often, and starting rates are low until you move up a tier.
Live numbers
From the open tasks humaven tracks on each platform, updated every 6 hours. Listed rates are the ranges the platforms post.
10
Not tracked yet
$105–$105/hr
Not tracked yet
$175/hr
Not tracked yet
Science & maths, Engineering, Finance
Not tracked yet
Which should you choose?
You don't have to pick one. Most people apply to both and take the work that comes first.
Choose Handshake AI if
- You're a US-based student, recent graduate or PhD researcher
- You want clear rates set by your education level
- You want part-time work that fits around study
Choose Outlier if
- You're starting out and want the easiest way in
- You write well in a language other than English
- You like short, flexible tasks and weekly PayPal payouts
Handshake AI vs Outlier: questions
Which pays more, Handshake AI or Outlier?
Handshake AI: Hourly. Handshake lists $50 to $125 an hour for fellows, set by education and expertise; generalist projects pay less. Outlier: Hourly. Generalist work is often $15 to $35 an hour; expert projects can pay $50 to $150 an hour, plus bonus missions. Rates depend far more on your field and the project than on the platform.
Is it easier to get accepted on Handshake AI or Outlier?
Handshake AI: An application based on your academic background, then assessments for each project. Outlier: Skills assessments and onboarding courses for each project. Your pay tier depends on your track record.
How do Handshake AI and Outlier pay you?
Handshake AI: Paid directly by Handshake, not by the AI lab, as a part-time contractor. Outlier: Weekly, on Tuesdays, through PayPal, ACH bank transfer or Airtm.
Can I work on Handshake AI and Outlier at the same time?
Yes. Both treat you as an independent contractor, so you can apply to and work on both, unless a project's contract says otherwise. Many people do, since each platform's projects start and stop.
How many Handshake AI and Outlier tasks are open now?
Handshake AI has 10 open tasks in our tracker, and we don't track Outlier tasks yet. Browse every open task or see the ones you're most likely to get.
More comparisons
See every platform at a glance, or another matchup.
Mercor vs micro1
Both pay experts by the hour for AI training work. Mercor suits senior specialists after the highest rates and weekly pay; micro1 hires at a wider range of levels and pay, mostly open worldwide, and pays twice a month.
Compare →Mercor vs Outlier
Mercor is built for specialists and pays higher hourly rates. Outlier has far more ways in for generalists and multilingual writers, with lower starting pay that rises as you move up its tiers.
Compare →micro1 vs Outlier
micro1 vets you once, with an AI interview, then places you on hourly contracts. Outlier gates each project with its own assessments and pays weekly by tier, with more entry-level work.
Compare →Mercor vs Handshake AI
Mercor hires experienced professionals worldwide at high rates. Handshake AI is built for US students, graduates and PhD researchers, with part-time fellowships.
Compare →micro1 vs Turing
Both began as ways to hire remote engineers. micro1 now hires across many fields through an AI interview; Turing still leans toward software engineers and coding assessments.
Compare →Tasks by expertise
Open AI training tasks for your field, from every platform.
Sources
Facts are from each platform's own pages and press coverage, checked October 2026. Live numbers come from the tasks humaven tracks, updated every 6 hours.
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