Best Platforms to Sell Data to AI Companies — Routes Compared on Published Terms
The routes to sell data to AI companies are direct buyer programs (micro1, Mercor, Scale AI, Handshake AI), marketplaces (Datarade, Defined.ai), wind-down platforms, and multi-buyer introduction services like this one, which put one manifest in front of every buyer you fit. This site is published by the operator of that last route, and it is listed here as such — judge it on the same published terms as the others.
SellMyDataForAI.com helps U.S. companies with 20+ employees license their operating records — email, chat, CRM and project data — to AI labs and training-data buyers. Owners keep ownership of their data; valuation starts with a metadata-only manifest, and no raw data is shared to get an estimate.
How do the routes compare?
Direct programs quote one buyer's price and may be exclusive by design. Marketplaces ask you to package and describe a dataset yourself, for a published commission. A multi-buyer introduction trades a success fee for competition between buyers on one manifest.
| Route | Published terms | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| micro1 (direct) | Tiers $100K–$500K / $500K–$3M / $3M+; 30+ staff | One buyer's price |
| Mercor (direct) | $20K–$1.5M by industry, referral listings | One buyer's price, set by industry |
| Scale AI (direct) | $10K–$1M+, labelled illustrative by Scale | “Illustrative” means the range is not a quote |
| Handshake AI (direct) | $100K–$4M+ published | Ceiling is the top of a wide range |
| Marketplaces (Datarade etc.) | You package the dataset; Datarade publishes a 30% commission, less on paid plans | Personal data must already be anonymised; you do the packaging work |
| This service (multi-buyer) | $0 upfront; success fee only if a deal closes; one manifest, competing bids; you sign with the buyer | Published by the operator — that disclosure is the point |
Which route is right for you?
If you already hold a written offer, a second route costs nothing and tests its price. If you have not applied anywhere, comparison before any exclusive commitment is worth more than speed — buyers' own timelines are six to twelve weeks either way.
Whichever route you choose, read the mistakes page first. Every route shares the same failure modes, and they are all avoidable in the first week.
Start with your own fit check
Going to one buyer alone means negotiating against a single price. Start here instead: run the fit check and book the 7-minute interview, and one metadata-only manifest can be reviewed by the buyers you fit — so you compare real offers before you sign anything.
Questions owners ask first
Is this a sale or a license?
A license. You keep ownership of your records and keep using them in your business. A buyer pays for the right to use a de-identified copy for AI training, on terms — length, exclusivity, permitted use — that you approve before anything is signed.
Do I have to send my data to get an estimate?
No. The estimate and the first call use only what you describe: systems, years and rough counts. Buyers bid on a metadata-only manifest. Full data moves only after you sign a license directly with a buyer, and personal data is de-identified before transfer.
What does it cost me?
$0 upfront. There is no retainer and no listing fee. We are paid a success fee only if a deal closes — the terms are stated in writing before any submission is made.
How long does a deal take?
Buyers’ published timelines put most deals at six to twelve weeks from first contact to payment. That range comes from the buyers’ own pages, checked November 2026, and individual deals vary.