Amazon Mechanical Turk (Mturk) is one of the most popular online short task sites. It’s flexible, there’s lots of easy work, you can get paid daily, and signing up is a breeze.
Most people would agree that you’re not going to break the bank working on Mturk, but it’s one of the best online “escape eggs” for freelancers – one of those things that’s good to have access to when you really need it!
Many people who like to use Mturk start looking for sites similar to it, hoping to gain access to even shorter tasks and earn more money.
People outside the US may also need an alternative to Mturk, as it is not possible to get a bank transfer from Mturk if you are not in the US.
I think it’s safe to say that there isn’t anything exactly like Mturk, but there are some short task sites you can use that are quite similar to it. I already know some of the most reputable ones, listed below.
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1 – Microworkers
This is probably the most popular Mturk alternative. Microworkers is open to workers around the world, making it a decent option if you’re outside the United States. I’ve barely used this site myself, but they’ve been around for years and I know they charge a fee.
Microworkers offers many different tasks. Some of the most popular include writing reviews, keyword research, and engaging on various sites. You will generally find many works published at Microworkers. Salary varies depending on the task and no flat hourly rate is published. Your income will depend on the tasks offered to you and how quickly you complete them.
To get started, you will need to complete an online KYC (Know Your Customer) identity verification process before you can withdraw your winnings.
Minimum withdrawal amounts are $9 for Airtm, PayPal, Skrill and Onto; $10 for payment; and $20 for Payoneer. Payments are processed twice a week, every Wednesday and Sunday.
Go here to register on Microworkers.
2 – Prolific
The people on Beer Money Reddit are continually singing the praises of Prolific. You can join as a research participant and earn fair money for very simple work including studies and tasks. This is in many ways similar to Amazon Mturk.
The platform guarantees a minimum of $8 per hour, and some studies pay $20 or more per hour with additional bonuses. You can withdraw once you have at least $6 in your account, and after your first four payments, withdrawals are instant via PayPal. They pay cash only, no gift cards or points.
One thing to know up front: Prolific uses a waiting list system. Once you sign up, they will invite you as soon as task availability becomes available in your area. Wait time varies, but it’s worth getting on the list now as the platform has a real reputation among on-site workers.
Prolific is open worldwide. Go here to join the Prolific waiting list.
3 – Click worker
This short task site is very popular in the work from home community and is open worldwide. Available tasks include everything from simple research, marking, writing, application testing, surveys, and audio recordings. Their UHRS tasks are particularly popular among workers and tend to be better paid than the standard task pool.
UHRS stands for Universal Human Relevance System and involves evaluating the quality and relevance of search results and web content, similar to what TELUS Digital offers below.
Payments are made via PayPal, Payoneer, ACH, SEPA and direct bank transfers. They pay every week.
Salary varies depending on the type of task since Clickworker does not publish a flat hourly rate. Your income depends on how quickly you work and the tasks available to you. UHRS tasks in particular are worth prioritizing once you’re qualified, as they tend to offer the best return on your time.
Go here to register on Clickworker or read the Clickworker reviews.
4 – TELUS Digital
TELUS Digital (formerly Lionbridge) is a site that is almost always looking for people to work from home as “reviewers.”
Although the work is task-based, getting accepted here is more complex than with Amazon Mturk. You will evaluate online search results to improve their quality, analyze and evaluate content for relevance to search terms, and review language for grammar, tone, and cultural relevance. Your work helps improve the quality of a major search engine by rating web content using your PC and smartphone.
The requirements to get started are minimal and it is a very entry-level job. You can work on your own schedule for a minimum of 10 hours per week and up to 25 hours. Pay is currently around $17 an hour, based on current data, and TELUS Digital pays by direct bank deposit every two weeks.
One thing to be aware of is that times are not guaranteed from week to week. Task availability fluctuates based on project needs, so view this as additional income rather than a reliable primary source.
Go here to apply to TELUS Digital.
5 – Data annotation
DataAnnotation is one of the most powerful Mturk alternatives available today and is worth signing up if you have good writing or technical skills. The platform pays you to rate chatbot conversations, evaluate AI-generated content, review code, and provide feedback that helps train large language models.
Pay ranges from $25 to $30 per hour for general writing and review tasks, and $50 to $100 per hour for expert work in fields such as coding, law, medicine, finance and STEM fields.
Payments are made weekly via PayPal. No degree is required, but strong English writing skills are necessary for the general track, and specialized knowledge unlocks the highest paying projects.
The application process involves an introductory assessment. If you don’t hear back within two to three weeks, it usually means you haven’t been accepted for this round, although you may be able to reapply later.
Task availability can be inconsistent, so it works best as one of several revenue streams rather than just one.
Go here to apply to DataAnnotation.
6 – Outlier (AI scale)
Outlier is run by Scale AI, a well-known AI infrastructure company, and works similarly to DataAnnotation. You will evaluate and rank AI-generated responses, write prompts, and provide feedback to improve large language models.
Pay for general duties starts around $15 per hour and can go up to $25 or more. Positions specializing in coding, math, science, law, or medicine can pay $25 to $50 an hour or more. Payments are made weekly.
A few things to keep in mind before applying: Job availability is inconsistent and may go silent for periods of time without warning. Getting accepted requires passing a qualifying assessment, and the process can take one to five hours before you earn your first dollar.
For people with specialized skills, this is currently one of the most accessible and highest-paying remote work options in the world of AI training.
7 – Swagbucks
Swagbucks is more of a rewards site than a true task site, and it pays significantly less than the options above. It’s included here because it’s widely used and actually paid, and it can be a decent way to earn something during downtime without much effort.
Swagbucks will pay you to complete short tasks, take surveys, play games, watch videos, and much more. You earn points that you can redeem for gift cards or PayPal cash.
The minimum withdrawal through PayPal is $25, so it takes some time to prepare a withdrawal.
Go here to sign up for Swagbucks.
8 – Addicted to investigations
Similar to Swagbucks in terms of earning potential, Addicted to Investigations is a well-established survey and task platform that pays you to share your opinions. It won’t replace Mturk, but it’s easy to use, has a clean interface, and consistently gets good ratings from users for their actual payments.
You earn points for each completed survey or task, which can be redeemed for PayPal cash or gift cards. The minimum withdrawal is $10, which is more accessible than some other platforms.
Survey Junkie is open to US, Canadian and Australian residents.
Go here to sign up for Survey Junkie.
Be careful about the tasks you accept
I also want to point out that almost anyone can post a job on these sites.
For this reason, be very careful about the tasks you accept! If something seems unethical, scamor if you think it might cause you to receive a lot of spam, you should probably ignore it.
Looking for other ways to make money online?
If you want even more flexible remote work options beyond job sites, my non-phone jobs page offers a wide range of options that are worth browsing.
If you prefer something that pays more per session and involves sharing your opinions with real companies in a research setting, Respondent worth the detour. Many studies pay $75 or more for an hour of your time, which is significantly higher than most task platforms. This is a different type of opportunity but fits well with the sites listed above.
These sites work best when you use a few together rather than relying on just one! Job availability on any platform can be unpredictable, so having two or three in your rotation gives you more consistent earning options overall.
Good luck!
Anna Thurman is a work-from-home blogger and mom of two. She has been researching and reviewing remote jobs for over 15 years. His findings are published weekly here on Real Ways to Earn.
