DataAnnotation vs Remotasks
Honest head-to-head: pay rates, payout speed, modalities, and what real contributors say. Plus a third option worth knowing about before you commit to either.
What is DataAnnotation
What is DataAnnotation?
DataAnnotation is Surge AI's contributor-facing brand. It owns the unbranded category term 'data annotation' on Google and pays well per task — but acceptance windows are long, the waitlist is unpredictable, and bans land with no explanation.
What is Remotasks
What is Remotasks?
Remotasks is Scale AI's older contributor brand. Onboarding was historically friendly — but in 2024 the company shut down or restricted contributors in Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, and several other emerging markets. Trustpilot rating is now 2.1 and active contributor sentiment is hostile.
| Criterion | DataAnnotation | Remotasks |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $20–$40/hr | $5–$15/hr |
| Payout speed | 7 days | 7 days |
| Payment methods | PayPal | PayPal |
| Modalities | text, code, expertise | text, video, photo |
| Audience | US-leaning | Asia-leaning |
| Trustpilot | 4.2 / 5 | 2.1 / 5 |
Sources: DataAnnotation and Remotasks's public sites, Trustpilot, public Reddit threads. Numbers refresh quarterly.
Third option
Before you pick DataAnnotation or Remotasks, read this
Crowtado is a third option that often fits contributors comparing DataAnnotation and Remotasks. It's phone-first, covers audio + video + photo modalities, pays $18–$40/hr, and payout requests start at $10.
Compare Crowtado directly to either platform:
Crowtado is in this list because we wrote the page, but it's also an honest fit for the specific overlap between DataAnnotation and Remotasks.
FAQ
DataAnnotation vs Remotasks — what to know first.
DataAnnotation or Remotasks — which pays more?
DataAnnotation's top range ($20–$40/hr) is higher than Remotasks's ($5–$15/hr) for premium tiers. Remotasks can match for specific categories. Check the per-brief rate before starting either platform.
Which is more reliable, DataAnnotation or Remotasks?
Both have public reliability complaints. DataAnnotation: waitlist forever — applied months ago, no response.. Remotasks: banned in my country with no warning; account locked and unpaid balance forfeited.. Public Trustpilot ratings: DataAnnotation 4.2, Remotasks 2.1.
Is there a better option than DataAnnotation or Remotasks?
Crowtado is the third option worth comparing. It pays $18–$40/hr with payout requests starting at $10, supports 15 languages natively, and publishes its account-policy on the trust page. Whether it's better depends on your modality and geo — see the comparison table on this page for the side-by-side.
Can I work on DataAnnotation and Remotasks at the same time?
Both DataAnnotation and Remotasks allow contributors to work on other platforms — that's standard in the data labeling category. Tax reporting becomes the main complication; track payouts from each platform separately and consult a tax pro for thresholds in your country.
Compare all three
Two minutes to enlist with Crowtado. Up to $40/hr. Payout requests from $10.