Crowdsourcing Showdown: Amazon Mechanical Turk vs Crowdflower

Crowdsourcing has become an increasingly popular way for businesses and individuals to outsource small tasks to a global workforce. Two of the most well-known crowdsourcing platforms are Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) and Crowdflower. While both platforms offer similar services, there are some key differences between them that may make one more suitable than the other depending on the specific needs of the user. In this article, we will compare and contrast MTurk and Crowdflower, examining the types of tasks available, the level of control that requesters have over the tasks and workers, and the pay rates for tasks. By the end of this article, readers will have a better understanding of the similarities and differences between these two popular crowdsourcing platforms, and be better equipped to choose the one that best meets their needs.


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Overview of Amazon Mechanical Turk

Amazon Mechanical Turk is a crowdsourcing platform that allows businesses and individuals to outsource small tasks to a global workforce. Workers on MTurk can earn money by completing these tasks, which can include tasks such as data entry, surveys, and content moderation. To use MTurk, workers can create an account and browse available tasks, selecting those that match their skills and interests. The pay rate for tasks on MTurk can vary widely, and workers are typically paid upon completion of the task.

While MTurk can be a useful source of supplemental income, it may not be a reliable or sustainable option for full-time work. Workers on MTurk should carefully evaluate the pay rate and time required for each task before accepting it, and may need to develop specialized skills or knowledge to complete certain types of tasks.


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Crowdflower: Transitioning to Figure Eight and Appen

Amazon Mechanical Turk vs Crowdflower

Crowdflower, known as Figure Eight before being acquired by Appen, is another crowdsourcing platform. Crowdflower is a crowdsourcing platform that allows businesses and individuals to outsource small tasks to a global workforce. The platform is focused on data enrichment tasks, such as image tagging and sentiment analysis. Users can create and manage their own tasks, set their own pay rates, and communicate directly with workers. Crowdflower also offers a managed service, with a team of experts who can help users design and manage their tasks.

To use Crowdflower, users can create an account and browse available tasks, selecting those that match their skills and interests. The pay rate for tasks on Crowdflower can vary widely, and workers are typically paid upon completion of the task. Overall, Crowdflower is a useful platform for those looking for specialized data enrichment tasks and a more managed service.

Amazon Mechanical Turk vs. Crowdflower: A Comparative Analysis

Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) and Crowdflower are both crowdsourcing platforms that allow businesses and individuals to outsource small tasks to a global workforce. While there are some similarities between the two platforms, there are also some key differences that may make one platform more suitable than the other depending on the specific needs of the user.

One of the main differences between MTurk and Crowdflower is the type of tasks that are available on each platform. MTurk is known for offering a wide variety of tasks, including data entry, surveys, and content moderation. Crowdflower, on the other hand, is focused more on data enrichment tasks, such as image tagging and sentiment analysis.

Another difference between the two platforms is the level of control that requesters have over the tasks and the workers. MTurk allows requesters to create and manage their own tasks, set their own pay rates, and communicate directly with workers. Crowdflower, on the other hand, offers a more managed service, with a team of experts who can help requesters design and manage their tasks.

The pay rates for tasks on MTurk and Crowdflower can also vary widely. While both platforms offer the ability to set pay rates for tasks, the rates may be influenced by factors such as the complexity of the task and the availability of workers.

Overall, the choice between MTurk and Crowdflower will depend on the specific needs of the user. MTurk may be a better option for those looking for a wide variety of tasks and more control over the task design and worker communication. Crowdflower may be a better option for those looking for a more managed service and specialized data enrichment tasks.

Looking Beyond: Alternatives to MTurk and Crowdflower

For those seeking alternatives to Amazon Mechanical Turk and Crowdflower, there are other options available. Below are five alternatives to these platforms.

UpWork

Upwork is a freelancing platform that allows businesses and individuals to hire freelancers for a wide variety of tasks, including data entry, content writing, and graphic design. Users can post job listings and receive proposals from freelancers, and can communicate directly with freelancers to manage the project.

Clickworker

Clickworker is a crowdsourcing platform that offers a wide variety of tasks, including data entry, web research, and content creation. Users can create an account and browse available tasks, selecting those that match their skills and interests. The pay rate for tasks on Clickworker can vary widely, and workers are typically paid upon completion of the task.

Microworkers

 Microworkers is a crowdsourcing platform that offers a wide variety of tasks, including data entry, surveys, and social media tasks. Users can create an account and browse available tasks, selecting those that match their skills and interests. The pay rate for tasks on Microworkers can vary widely, and workers are typically paid upon completion of the task.

Amazon Mechanical Turk vs Crowdflower

FAQs

What is Amazon Mechanical Turk?

Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) is a crowdsourcing marketplace operated by Amazon, where individuals and businesses (known as Requesters) can hire remote workers (Workers) to perform tasks that require human intelligence (Human Intelligence Tasks or HITs).

What is Crowdflower?

Crowdflower was a crowdsourcing platform that facilitated the completion of microtasks by a distributed workforce. The platform has transitioned into Figure Eight and was later acquired by Appen.

Can I earn a living on Amazon Mechanical Turk or Appen?

While it’s technically possible to earn money on these platforms, the earnings may not be sufficient to replace a full-time job income. However, they are great sources for supplemental income.

Can these platforms replace traditional employment?

While they offer a flexible way to earn money, these platforms are usually seen as supplementary income sources rather than replacements for traditional employment due to the variability in task availability and pay.

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