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micro1 vs Mercor: comparing their company data programmes

By Ade Molajo · Updated · How we check figures

Quick answer

Both license company records to train AI, separately from the AI-trainer jobs they're known for. micro1 publishes three tiers from $100K–500K to $2M+ for companies with 30+ full-time staff. Mercor publishes a range for each of 24 business types, from $20K–$250K to $100K–$1.5M, with minimums from 5 staff. Mercor publishes faster payment timing; micro1's top tier goes higher. Many companies can apply to both.

$2M+ vs $1.5M
top of each published range
30+ vs 5+
smallest published minimum staff
2–4 weeks
Mercor's typical time from signing to payment
Both
many companies can apply to each

This page compares micro1's and Mercor's programmes for companies. Both are better known for hiring AI trainers; those jobs are a separate thing.

01The ranges, on one scale

micro1 and Mercor on one scale: micro1 publishes tiers from $100K to $2M and up for 30+ staff; Mercor publishes a range per business type, from $20K–$250K up to $100K–$1.5M.$0$500K$1M$1.5M$2M$2.5Mmicro1$100K–500K · $500K–2M · $2M+micro1.ai/data-partnerships · 30 Oct 2026Mercor$20K–$1.5M, by business typedata.mercor.com/refer · 30 Oct 2026
Each programme’s own published range, checked 30 October 2026. Ranges, not offers.

micro1 publishes one set of tiers for every company. Mercor publishes a range for each business type, so its spread is wider at the bottom: a call centre is listed at $20K–$250K, a law firm at $50K–$1.25M, a manufacturer at $100K–$1.5M. See Mercor's ranges by business type.

02The headline differences

micro1 and Mercor side by side: micro1 publishes three tiers for 30+ staff and pays within 30 days of invoice after approval; Mercor publishes a range per business type from 5 staff and pays by wire on delivery, typically 2–4 weeks after signing.micro1MercorPublished range$100K–500K · $500K–2M · $2M+A range per business type: $20K–$250Kto $100K–$1.5MMinimum size30+ full-time employeesVaries by type: 5 to 50 staffWhereUS first; strongest demand US, UK,CanadaMost types anywhere; some USHow data movesYou transfer the agreed dataYou link your tools; its pipelineextractsPaymentApproved within 30 days; paid within 30days of invoiceBy wire on delivery, typically 2–4weeks after signing
Each programme’s published terms, checked 30 October 2026.

03Every published term, side by side

micro1Mercor
Published rangeTiers: $100K–500K · $500K–2M · $2M+Per business type, from $20K–$250K to $100K–$1.5M
Minimum size30+ full-time employeesSet per type: from 5 staff (six types) to 50 (construction, SaaS, call centres)
WhereUS first, then other Western markets; strongest demand US, UK, CanadaMost types anywhere; law, medical and imaging US preferred; accounting US only
DataSOPs, knowledge bases, CRM, project histories, internal processes, codeSet per type, e.g. closed matters, project records, drawings, transcripts
How data movesYou transfer the agreed dataYou link your tools; nothing moves until you approve the scope
De-identificationmicro1 de-identifies; no need to anonymise firstAutomated extraction and anonymisation; no lab sees raw data
Ownership"Companies retain ownership of their underlying data"Not published
PaymentApproval within 30 days of transfer; paid within 30 days of invoiceBy wire on delivery, typically within 2–4 weeks of signing
FeesNone stated"No upfront costs, setup fees, or deductions"
Closed companiesDefunct Data PartnershipNot published
Referral reward$50,000 for deals up to $700,000, or 7.5% aboveSet per type: $25,000–$85,000, up to $100,000

Both programmes' own pages, checked 30–31 October 2026.

04How long each takes

micro1’s published timing: it has 30 days to review and approve the data after transfer, then pays within 30 days of your invoice.micro1ApplyCompany profile and datamanifestReviewApplication review and apartnership callContractAgree scope and termsDay 0Transfer the agreed dataWithin 30 daysmicro1 reviews and approvesthe data+30 daysPaid within 30 days ofinvoice
micro1’s published timing, checked 30 October 2026. Earlier steps have no published timeframe.
Mercor’s published process: pick your business type, link your tools, approve the scope, sign, then Mercor extracts and anonymises the data and pays by wire on delivery, typically within 2–4 weeks of signing.MercorApplyPick your business typeConnectLink your tools to MercorScopeApprove what is includedDay 0Sign the data licenceDeliveryExtracted and anonymised2–4 weeksPaid by wire on delivery
Mercor’s published timing, checked 30 October 2026.

05Which to apply to

micro1 or Mercor: closed companies have micro1’s Defunct Data Partnership; with 30+ staff you can apply to both; under 30, check whether Mercor lists your business type and size.YesYesNoYesNoNoStill operating?30+ staff?Apply to both andcompareMercor lists yourtype and size?MercorBelow both: see Mode’sminimumsmicro1 Defunct DataPartnership
From each programme’s published minimums, 30 October 2026. The programme decides.
  • Under 30 staff: Mercor, if it lists your business type at your size. micro1's minimum is 30 full-time.
  • Want paying quickly: Mercor publishes 2–4 weeks from signing.
  • Want ownership in writing: micro1 states you keep ownership; Mercor doesn't publish a statement, so ask.
  • Closed company: micro1's Defunct Data Partnership; Mercor publishes nothing for it.

Mode is the third programme, with the highest published ceiling and low minimums for law, accounting, finance and medical. See micro1 vs Mode and the full comparison.

06Check which you're likely to match

Our free fit check shows which programmes you're likely to match, with links to apply directly. The programme decides.

07Questions people ask

Are these the micro1 and Mercor jobs?

No. Both companies are best known for hiring experts to train AI models. This page compares their separate programmes that license data from companies.

Which pays more?

micro1's top tier is open-ended at $2M+, and Mercor's highest published range tops out at $1.5M. Mercor's ranges start lower and cover smaller firms. Both price each deal individually.

Which is faster?

Mercor publishes the faster timing: payment by wire on delivery, typically within 2–4 weeks of signing. micro1 publishes 30 days to approve the data, then payment within 30 days of invoice.

Can I apply to both?

As far as both programmes' public pages show, yes. Check exclusivity before you sign.

Sources

Check which programmes you’re likely to matchA few short questions, about a minute. Free, no sign-up. The programme decides who qualifies.trackimpact.io/data →