Is it OK to work with Appen?

Appen is a technology services company that provides data for machine learning and artificial intelligence systems. They offer a variety of remote contractor opportunities, like search engine evaluation, data collection, content moderation, and more. Working with Appen can provide flexible income opportunities, but also has some drawbacks to consider.

What is Appen?

Appen was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Sydney, Australia. They have additional offices around the world, including in the United States, United Kingdom, China, and more. Appen connects contractors to short-term or ongoing artificial intelligence and machine learning projects for major technology companies. Some of their clients include Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and Amazon.

As a contractor with Appen, you’ll be trained on a specific project, like search engine evaluation or image tagging. Then you’ll complete small tasks like assessing search engine results, transcribing speech samples, or labeling images. The work is all done remotely through Appen’s online platform. Tasks can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour. Most projects involve working just a few hours per week.

Appen Contractor Job Opportunities

Appen has a wide variety of contractor roles available. Some examples include:

• Search Engine Evaluators – analyzing and providing feedback on search engine results
• Speech Data Collection – recording speech samples and transcriptions
• Image Moderators – reviewing images and videos for policy compliance
• Language Specialists – translating text samples between languages
• Salesforce Document Reviewers – analyzing and categorizing Salesforce documentation

The specific jobs available will vary based on your location and language skills. Appen is constantly adding new projects and opportunities as they partner with more technology companies. Most positions do not require any prior experience, just a computer, internet access, and ability to follow instructions.

Appen Pay Rate and Earning Potential

Appen pays contractors per task or hour worked, with pay rates varying by project. Some typical Appen pay rates include:

Appen does not allow contractors to work more than 20 hours per week on a single project. So most contractors work on multiple Appen projects at once to increase their earnings. It’s possible to make $500-$1,000+ per month, depending on the projects you complete and hours worked.

Appen Contractor Requirements

Appen has the following basic requirements to work as a contractor:

• Be 18 years or older
• Have a computer and internet access
• Be eligible to work legally in your country
• Pass a background check
• Complete all required trainings

Some projects also have additional requirements related to language skills, location, experience level, or other qualifications. Availability to work certain hours can also be required on some projects. Appen will provide full project details and requirements before you sign-up for contractor roles.

Appen Contractor Benefits

As an independent contractor, Appen does not provide benefits like health insurance or paid vacation. However, there are some advantages to working with Appen, including:

• Flexible schedule – Most projects allow you to set your own hours and work timeframe.
• Short term commitments – Many Appen projects require just 5-10 hours per week and you can leave at any time.
• Additional income – Provides supplemental income source along with a regular job.
• Global opportunities – Available to qualified contractors worldwide.
• Variety of projects – Can work on different types of projects to keep things interesting.

The flexibility and short time commitments make Appen a nice option for anyone looking for extra income without a long-term obligation. Appen also pays contractors weekly via PayPal, so you get access to your earnings faster.

Is Appen a Scam or Legit?

Appen is a legitimate company offering real opportunities for contractors. Here are some signs that Appen jobs are not a scam:

• Established company founded in 1996.
• Well-known technology clients like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft.
• Average contractor tenure is 18 months, indicating stable opportunities.
• Legitimate pay structure with weekly or monthly payments.
• Provides W-9 tax forms for US contractors.

Negative reviews of Appen often cite delayed payments or lack of project opportunities. However, the vast majority of experiences are positive. As long as you are diligent about completing work and tracking your time, you can earn real money with Appen.

Appen Contractor Complaints and Concerns

While most feedback about Appen is positive, there are some common complaints to be aware of.

• Long approval process – It can take weeks or months to get approved for projects after initially signing up.
• Lack of work – Projects can have lulls where there are not enough tasks available.
• Delayed payments – Some contractors report late payments or issues getting paid properly for their work.
• Tedious tasks – Work like search engine evaluation and content moderation can become repetitive over time.

Appen does advise that you may wait 1-2 months to start working after initially being accepted as a contractor. Having patience and persistence is important when getting started. Choosing a variety of project types can help reduce boredom as well.

Tips for Success as an Appen Contractor

If you want to maximize your success and earnings potential with Appen, keep these tips in mind:

• Take your time on initial training tasks to ensure high accuracy scores.
• Be reliable in tracking your work time and submitting it promptly each week.
• Communicate promptly with project managers if any issues come up.
• Have patience – it takes time to get established and build up your workflow.
• Work on multiple projects simultaneously to increase earnings.
• Set a schedule and stick to it to complete your weekly hours.

Appen contractors who consistently produce quality work and are responsive to their project managers tend to have the best experience. Don’t get discouraged by a slow start – it takes some time to get fully ramped up.

Pros of Working with Appen

Here are some of the key advantages of working as a contractor with Appen:

• Flexible schedule and ability to work from home.
• No long-term commitment required.
• Good entry level pay rates, with potential to earn $500+ per month.
• Gain experience with major tech companies and AI systems.
• Short training periods make it easy to start new projects.
• Can work as little as 5-10 hours per week on some projects.

For people looking for a side income source, Appen provides legitimate opportunities without taking up too much free time. The quick payments via PayPal are also a nice perk.

Cons of Working with Appen

Here are some potential disadvantages to keep in mind:

• No guaranteed number of work hours per week.
• Can experience payment delays in some cases.
• Limited career advancement opportunities.
• Tasks like search evaluation can become repetitive and boring over time.
• Need to be very self-motivated and work independently.
• No benefits like health insurance or retirement savings accounts.

Appen positions are best viewed as short-term supplemental income opportunities, not necessarily long-term remote jobs. Some weeks you may not have as much work available. But the flexibility and ease of getting started make it a nice low commitment option.

Is Appen a Good Work from Home Job?

For people seeking part-time, work from home opportunities, Appen can be a great option. The benefits like flexible scheduling, short-term commitments, and entry level training make it very accessible. However, full-time remote workers may find the variability in work hours and lack of career growth limiting.

Ultimately, Appen is best for:

• Students looking to earn extra money.
• Stay at home parents seeking flexible work.
• Retirees wanting supplemental income.
• Anyone needing a short-term, low commitment job option.

Appen contractors tend to use it as a side income source, not necessarily a full-time remote career. But it provides legitimate opportunities to earn money from home on your own schedule.

Alternatives to Working with Appen

Some alternatives to consider if you are looking for other legitimate work from home opportunities include:

• Amazon Mechanical Turk – Platform to earn money completing microtasks like surveys, data entry, QA tests, etc.
• Lionbridge – Similar to Appen providing AI training data, translation, and content moderation roles.
• Rev – Remote transcription and captioning jobs.
• Teaching English Online – Companies like VIPKid hire online English teachers.
• Customer Service – Remote customer service and support roles.

Make sure to fully research any company and opportunity before providing personal information or payment. There are scams out there, so stick to established programs with a proven history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Appen safe to work for?

Yes, Appen is considered a safe, legitimate company to work for as a contractor. They have been in business for over 25 years and work with major technology companies. As long as you take reasonable precautions with your personal information, Appen is a reputable source of remote work.

How quickly does Appen pay?

Appen pays its contractors weekly or monthly depending on the project. Payments are sent via PayPal, so you can typically access your funds within a few days of submitting your hours. Some contractors report payment delays, but regular payments are the norm.

Is Appen hiring worldwide?

Appen hires contractors worldwide, as long as you have the legal right to work in your country. Opportunities vary by location. The highest demand is often for English speaking contractors in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.

Can you get fired from Appen?

Yes, it is possible to get fired as an Appen contractor if you consistently fail to meet quality standards or performance minimums. You are required to achieve certain accuracy ratings on tasks. If scores drop too low, you may lose access to projects.

Is Appen a good job?

Appen provides legitimate work from home opportunities. The flexible schedule, short time commitments, and weekly pay make it a good option for supplemental income. It is less ideal for full-time remote work due to variability in task volume and lack of benefits.

Conclusion

Working with Appen can provide flexible earnings from home. The available projects offer entry level opportunities to gain experience with major technology companies. While some drawbacks exist like payment delays, most contractors have a positive experience. Appen is best viewed as supplemental income, not a full-time career.

To maximize your success, be reliable in tracking hours, communicate promptly, and work on multiple projects simultaneously. If you want short-term income on a flexible schedule, Appen provides access to legitimate work from home opportunities.