micro1 vs AfterQuery: which should you pick?

Pick micro1 if you want an easier way in and live outside the US; it's built for STEM and domain experts. Pick AfterQuery if you want to be paid more often; it's built for ML and data scientists. Both hire software engineers.

micro1

Typical top rate: $90/hrPlatform says $15–135/hr
Highest live top rate: $400/hr
Open jobs: 347

Apply on micro1 Review of micro1

AfterQuery

Typical top rate: No public job listPlatform says $40–250/hr
Highest live top rate: Not enough data
Open jobs: 0

Apply on AfterQuery Review of AfterQuery

How do micro1 and AfterQuery compare?

micro1 is ahead on

Getting in
Hires worldwide
Open to India

AfterQuery is ahead on

Payout schedule

About the same

Steady work
Payout record

Can't compare yet: typical pay on live jobs. AfterQuery has 0 priced listings; a typical rate needs 5.

How we mark a row

A tick marks the better of the two only where one is plainly better for anyone: advertised pay, typical pay on live jobs, how easy it is to get in, steady work, the payout record and schedule, and where it hires. Pay rows need a gap of at least 10%, and the live-jobs rate needs 5+ priced listings on both sides (otherwise it's under "Can't compare yet"). The advertised-pay tick goes to the higher advertised top; a single live listing above it is shown as context, not counted. There's no overall score: a better payout record matters more than a payout day, so weigh the rows that matter to you.

"Hires worldwide" and "Open to India" are marked on listings posted in the last 4 weeks, so a pile of months-old posts can't win them. Payout method, time to apply, open jobs, recent posts and red flags are context, never a win. A count of red flags mostly shows how much has been written about a platform, so read the flags themselves below.

micro1 compared with AfterQuery, row by row
	micro1	AfterQuery
Typical top rate, live jobs	$90/hr, from 339 priced listings	No public job list
Highest live listing	$400/hr	Not enough data
Platform says (advertised range)	$15–135/hr	$40–250/hr
Getting in	Some screening (better)	Hard to get in
Steady work	Work is patchy	Work is patchy
Payout record	Some delays	Some delays
Payout schedule	Twice a month	Weekly (Fridays) for approved work (better)
Payout method	micro1 platform wallet (contractor payments)	Stripe
Hires worldwide	Yes, 40 open roles take any country (better)	Not on today's listings; says it hires in many countries
Open to India	Yes: 2 open roles name India and 40 are open worldwide; 211 more don't name a country (better)	No open role takes India, and the platform doesn't confirm it
Time to apply	~30–45 min: profile + AI interview	Weeks; interview + assessment
Open jobs on Rubric	347	Apply on their site (no public job list)
Posted in the last 4 weeks	252 of 347	Apply on their site (no public job list)
Red flags on record	3	3

What kind of work does each one hire for?

micro1

What it is: Recruiting company that vets experts with an AI interviewer (Zara) and staffs them on contract AI-training and evaluation projects for AI labs.
Fields: Coding, Math, Science, Medicine, Law, Finance, Writing, Languages, Video, Images, STEM, Audio
Best for: Software engineers, STEM and domain experts, Applicants outside the US

Red flags

Red flagWeeks of silence after the AI interview
Red flagContracts signed but no onboarding or tasks
Red flagProjects ending or changing scope without notice

AfterQuery

What it is: San Francisco data company that hires experts on project sprints to build datasets and evaluations for AI labs.
Fields: Coding, Math, Science, Medicine, Law, Finance
Best for: ML and data scientists, Lawyers, doctors and finance pros, Engineers

Red flags

Red flagApplications with no update for weeks or months
Red flagTasks waiting weeks for review before pay
Red flagHired then given no work

How do you apply to micro1 and AfterQuery?

micro1~30–45 min: profile + AI interview

Sign up and upload your resume
Apply to a specific opportunity
Do the AI interview with Zara on a computer (not a phone)
Take any skill assessment and verify your identity
Wait to be matched to a project and sign the contract

You'll need: Computer with webcam and mic for the AI interview; Relevant degree or work history for expert roles.

AfterQueryWeeks; interview + assessment

Apply to a specific expert role
Do an interview with the team or a recorded video interview
Pass the skills assessment
Sign the NDA, verify ID and set up Stripe
Join a project sprint when one opens

You'll need: Professional or graduate-level expertise; Stripe-supported country.

Common questions

Which pays more, micro1 or AfterQuery?

micro1 says $15–135/hr and AfterQuery says $40–250/hr. There are too few priced listings on AfterQuery to compare live pay yet.

Which is easier to get into, micro1 or AfterQuery?

micro1 is easier to get into (“Some screening” vs “hard to get in”).

Can you work on both micro1 and AfterQuery?

Yes. Both are contract platforms, and nothing stops you from being on several at once. Many people apply to both and work wherever there are tasks that week.