How does compensation work at Mindrift?

The Mindrift community spans the world, including experts from every corner of the globe. To simplify our compensation process, we developed an internal currency called Base Units (BUs). 

We use BUs to calculate compensation for tasks based on the estimated amount of time it would take to complete, as well as the complexity. 

• 1 BU = 30 seconds completion time 

• 120 BUs = 1 hour time completion time 

How do we determine that? When we estimate the time needed for a task, we rely on our experience and historical data. And although a task can be more complex or simpler, and therefore requires more or less time in practice, the compensation remains the same.

If you find that a task consistently takes you significantly longer, you can inform your QA, the Support team, or simply decline the task.

Our payment process means you earn based on the number of completed tasks, not the time spent on them. Your hourly rate is then used to calculate your per task payment based on the number of BUs assigned. For example:

• Task A is set at 60 BUs: This means we’ve estimated this task will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.

• Your hourly rate is $15: Your compensation for Task A would be half your hourly rate. 

• Your payout for Task A would be $7.50. 

We assign a personal rate for each expert on the platform based on several different factors, including: 

• Your education and professional background

• Relevant experience in a specific domain

• Declared location 

• Language skills and overall task suitability

Why does my location matter?

AI Trainers often wonder why their location matters—after all, if everyone is completing the same tasks, shouldn’t everyone earn in the same currency? 

This is a common question and we’d love to offer some more transparency regarding regional differences. Mindrift payment rates are based on cost of living indexes for each region and are constantly being reviewed and updated. 

Cost of Living Index (Numbeo)

This is a payment structure used by many organizations and companies operating internationally. Spotify, for example, has varying subscription rates for different countries. Low-cost carriers like Wizz Air display prices in local currencies and tailor the cost of tickets to different regions. 

These types of payment and fee structures are used to account for: 

• Local market conditions

• Regulations and regional laws

• Purchasing power and average incomes

• Taxation

That’s why it’s so important to provide an accurate location during the onboarding process. False information or forged documents violate the trust, fairness, and conditions of the Mindrift platform. 

How does the review process affect my payments?

We review task submissions for quality, which takes 5 working days on average. This means payments aren’t instantly and automatically added to your balance. In extenuating circumstances, the review process might take up to a maximum of 30 days.

Here’s what happens after the review is complete:

• Accepted tasks: The payment will be added to your balance.

• Rejected tasks: These will be sent back to you with feedback for one round of revision. If your revision is accepted, you earn 100% of the task’s BU. 

If your revision is rejected, your submission is deemed unusable and will either be eligible for partial compensation or none at all—all details can be found in the project guidelines. 

It’s also important to note that not all rejected tasks are open to revisions. Sometimes, like in the event of a misalignment with the project requirements or a guideline violation, you won’t get the chance to redo a rejected task or get paid for your time. That’s why following instructions closely is critical!  

Why do other companies pay more for similar work?

You might have seen other companies claiming they pay up to $100 per hour (or more!)—so why are our rates sometimes lower? 

While we may not always offer the highest rates, we aim for transparency, respectful collaboration, and clear expectations. Payment rates are dependent on multiple factors and range widely across projects, tasks, and individual experts on the platform. We don’t advertise either end of the extreme—the lowest or highest rates for this reason. 

In general, payment rates can differ across similar platforms for many reasons, including:

• Some promote their highest possible rates in ads

• Some use different payment models (like per-task instead of per-hour)

• Clients may have varying expectations or budgets

• Task complexity differs—some companies pay more for highly specialized work

Mindrift operates in the fast-evolving field of AI training, where quality and clarity matter. The rate is always visible before you begin—so you can decide whether or not to participate.

Why does my friend have a different rate than I do?

We understand it’s natural to compare—but the context behind each profile matters. Your friend might be in a different domain, working on projects of different complexity, living in a different region, and many more reasons. 

Even when tasks are similar, rates may differ between contributors due to personal criteria like experience, education, and expertise.

Are payment rates fixed or can I increase my rate?

Since payment rates are determined by various individual factors, each case is unique. If you’d like to inquire about a payment rate increase, feel free to reach out to our Support team via the chat on the Mindrift platform. While increases aren’t guaranteed, we do our best to fairly and accurately make these decisions. 

Next stop: All about the project lifecycle

All set with payments and compensation? 

Next, take a few minutes to learn more about how the project lifecycle works at Mindrift and get a better understanding of everything from our talent pools to downtime and the nature of freelancing!