Is DataAnnotation.tech Legit Or A Scam? I Put It To The Test

I've been seeing ads for a company called DataAnnotation.tech everywhere online. It says you can get paid to help train AI models in your spare time. It also claims you can earn $20+ per hour and that its members have already earned millions.

I decided to sign up and become a tester to see if this platform is legit. I completed my training assessment and have been waiting to hear about my first assignment for a couple weeks now. So I'm going to cover how this platform works, what you can expect, and then some testimonials from other real users.

Overall, this is an interesting microtask website. The hourly pay that's advertised is also super high for the industry. But actually getting work and paid out is a different story for many. Let's take a look!

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My Key Takeaways:

• DataAnnotation.tech pays you to help train AI models and LLMs
• You can sign up for free and don't need any prior experience
• Beginner tasks start at $20 per hour and expert tasks start at $40 per hour
• This is a flexible way to earn some extra money online
• Project spots are limited, so there's no guaranteed earnings, and many users never get work and make $0
• Because earnings are so unstable, this platform either works great for some or not at all for others

Is DataAnnotation.tech Legit?

Yes, DataAnnotation.tech is a legitimate site, but with a few caveats. It’s not a scam—it doesn’t ask for upfront payments, and many people report being paid for their work. You can find payment proof and plenty of positive testimonials online of people making $20+ per hour.

However, the platform operates more like a side hustle lottery than consistent gig work. You apply, complete a sample task, and then wait. Some users are accepted and start earning; others never hear back.

Personally, I took about 40 minutes to complete my test assessment after signing up. This is unpaid work. It's now been two weeks and I'm still waiting to hear back about potential projects. So, I've made $0 so far after a few weeks.

So it’s real and isn't some scam, but it’s not reliable.

What is DataAnnotation.tech?

DataAnnotation.tech connects remote workers to AI training jobs. Think of it as a platform that helps teach AI systems how to understand human language.

Tasks range from labeling text data to answering prompts that help refine large language models like ChatGPT. And the work is similar to some tasks you find on platforms like Appen and Amazon MTurk.

The company claims to offer flexible, work-from-home tasks to people around the world, no degree or special background required. It sounds like a dream for anyone trying to make extra money online—especially if you’re detail-oriented and tech-savvy.

How Does The Website Work?

You can sign up for DataAnnotation for free with your email. From there, here's how the platform works:

1. Submit An Application. This involves answering basic questions about your skills and availability.
2. Complete An Unpaid Trial Task. This is how DataAnnotation determines if you're a good fit for a tester. You can complete a general assessment, which opens up $20 per hour projects. Alternatively, complete advanced assessments for topics like coding, math, and science to earn $40+ per hour.
3. Wait For Approval. If you're accepted after completing the trial task, DataAnnotation notifies you via email
4. Start Work. You receive tasks and instructions via their partner platforms—most often through a third-party company like Remotasks or Scale AI.

It took me about 40 minutes to complete the unpaid, basic assessment. This opens $20 per hour projects if I end up getting accepted.

Here's a screenshot from my test assignment. A lot of it involved comparing responses from certain prompts and then explaining which one was superior, and why. Some tasks also involved fact-checking and explaining why a certain prompt response was lackluster.

Some of these questions were tricky and took a fair bit of Googling. DataAnnotation also explains how you aren't allowed to use ChatGPT or other AI tools to complete the assignment.

Again, it's been two weeks or so and I'm waiting to hear back. So for me, this has just been an unpaid assignment so far. I'll update this review if I get accepted or rejected from the platform.

Other than that, you can fill out your profile while you wait. I've listed the languages I speak, my skills, my previous work experience, and connected my LinkedIn account to DataAnnotation.

Hourly Pay & Earning Potential – What Should You Expect?

DataAnnotation.tech advertises $20–$40 per hour, and yes, some workers report making that much—if they get in.

Once you’re accepted, pay varies depending on the project. Some tasks pay per hour, others per task completed. Some annotators on forums like Reddit say they’ve earned up to $200–$500/month doing it part-time. A few full-time workers claim they made $1,000+, but that’s not typical.

There's no guarantee you get into the platform. There's no guarantee for steady work either. So overall, this platform is similar to other platforms like Clickworker or Lionbridge, and pay can be all over the place.

👉 Check out these ways to earn money online as a beginner.

Requirements To Sign Up

You don’t need a resume or college degree to join DataAnnotation.tech. However, there are some loose requirements or factors that can help your application:

• Strong English skills
• Having a high level of attention to detail
• A computer and stable internet
• Some roles prefer workers in the U.S. or Canada, but international applicants are often accepted too

And again, I suggest connecting your LinkedIn account and filling out your language and skills list after doing the unpaid trial task.

What Do Other Users Say? – Reviews From DataAnnotation.tech Members

If you look for reviews from members on various forums, Facebook groups, and Reddit, feedback is honestly pretty mixed.

Like I mentioned, some people make a lot of decent money with this side hustle. For others, including myself right now, the pay if a big fat $0.

Here are some reviews I've seen on various forums lately:

• “I was accepted in a week and made $25/hour doing simple writing tasks.”
• “Legit pay through Payoneer—took a while to start, but worth it.”
• “Applied three months ago and never heard back.”
• “I passed the test but haven’t been invited to a project yet.”
• “The work dried up after a few weeks.”

Most complaints come from users who dislike the long wait times. Once you’re in, pay is reliable as long as you land projects —but getting in is hit or miss.

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Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Legitimate and real-paying site
• High hourly rates, especially for math and coding projects
• Flexible hours and remote work
• No degree required to become a member
• You earn real cash, not gift cards

Cons:

• Unpaid application task can take a while
• You might never get accepted
• Limited or inconsistent work
• Little communication or updates
• Many negative reviews from users who never earn

What Are Some Good Alternatives?

Like I said, I'm going to update this review with my results if I ever get approved or disqualified from DataAnnotation.tech.

If you're in a similar boat, here are some other nifty platforms I recommend checking out

• Using sites like Appen or Remotasks
• Earning money with paid survey websites
• Making money with GPT websites
• Looking into transcription jobs
• Finding paid market research opportunities on Respondent or User Interviews

You can also watch a video I put out on some of the top microtask job sites out there for a few more options!

Is DataAnnotation.tech Worth It?

After seeing so many ads to join DataAnnotation.tech, I got pretty excited to sign up. And it isn't everyday you see a microtask platform advertising $20 to $40+ per hour.

So far, my results have been a bit disappointing. I'd be lying if I said otherwise. I totally get having an unpaid trial task. I just wish I knew my results faster than waiting two weeks.

Overall, this website will either work well for you, or you'll make nothing. Make of that what you will.

If you know how to code or know advanced subjects in math and science, I think DataAnnotation.tech is worth signing up for. And it's still worth it for general workers, as long as you have some realistic expectations and patience.

Thanks for reading!

Want more ways to earn? Checkout:

• The Best Sites Like Clickworker.
• The Ultimate Side Hustle Database.