Briggs Analyticsmicro1 vs. Mercor vs. Scale vs. Handshake: which pays companies more for data?
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Side by side
| micro1 | Mercor | Scale AI | Handshake AI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Published range | $100K+, $500K+, $1M+ | Not published | $10K to $1M+ ("illustrative") | $100K to $4M+ |
| Minimum size | 30+ employees | Not published | 40+ preferred, case by case | Not published |
| Where | U.S. first, then U.K., Canada | Not published | Not stated | Calculator covers U.S., Canada, Europe |
| Data | SOPs, knowledge bases, CRM, project histories, QA | Not published | Slack/Teams, email, docs, Jira/Notion, CRM, data warehouses | Industry records: underwriting, dispatch logs, production records, issue histories and more |
| Recurring income | Ongoing work across teams is a tier | Not published | Yes, designed for it | Not stated |
| Source | micro1 | data.mercor.com | scale.com | joinhandshake.com |
Handshake's own calculator shows $383,000 to $897,000 for a U.S. company with 100 employees and 10 years in business. Mercor's data page loads its terms only after sign-in, so we could not confirm them. Mercor was the $7.5 million backup bidder for Spirit Airlines' records (The Next Web), so it is an active buyer.
Which one fits
- Under 30 employees: none of these four publishes a fit. Look at Mode (law firms 6+, accounting and medical 10+) or Pewter (20+). See all buyers.
- 30 to 100 employees with years in the same tools: micro1, Scale and Handshake are all worth comparing.
- Heavy chat, email and ticket history: Scale lists the most systems by name.
- You want recurring income instead of one payment: Scale says it designs for it.
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See what my data is worth →How each handles privacy
- Scale anonymizes inside your own systems before anything leaves, and you approve each data package.
- micro1 agrees scope and redaction up front, removes personal information, can rewrite records, lets you review samples and deletes on request.
- Handshake has you set the scope and what's excluded, and your team approves terms before committing.
- Mercor does not publish its process.
Buyers beyond these four
Mode publishes $100K to $5M, Polyshares buys directly at $100K to $2M+ with an offer in one to two weeks, and Grepped advertises payment in as little as 7 days. A company that doesn't fit one buyer often fits another. Every company that pays for business data.
Before you apply anywhere, check your fit with every buyer first. Once you apply to one buyer you are in its process. Our estimate takes about a minute, never asks for a file, and tells you which buyers your company fits. It costs nothing. See which buyers fit your company.
Briggs Analytics is independent. Some buyers named on this page may pay Briggs Analytics a referral fee, and owners never pay us anything. Every figure comes from the buyer's own page or the source linked next to it, checked October 21, 2026. Buyers change their terms often, so confirm on their page before you sign. Disclosures
In short
- Handshake: $100K to $4M+. micro1: $100K+ to $1M+, 30+ employees. Scale: $10K to $1M+, 40+ preferred. Mercor: not published.
- Handshake's calculator shows $383K to $897K for a 100-person, 10-year U.S. company.
- Scale anonymizes inside your systems and offers recurring income.
- Under 30 employees, look at Mode or Pewter instead.
Questions owners ask.
Is micro1 or Mercor better for selling company data?
micro1 publishes its tiers and a 30-employee minimum. Mercor does not publish its terms publicly. Compare actual offers, since the published ranges are not quotes.
Which AI data buyer pays the most?
On published headlines, Mode ($100K to $5M) and Handshake ($100K to $4M+) are the highest. Your real number depends on size, years of records and the systems you use.
Can I apply to more than one?
Yes, until you sign. Once you sign, check the exclusivity terms, because an exclusive license stops you selling the same data again.
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