For a 60-task job at $0.30, Hitworkers is cheapest at $19.80, followed by SproutGigs ($19.91), Microworkers ($20.10), RapidWorkers ($20.70) and Clickworker surveys ($25.20 before VAT). Platforms with a fixed fee per campaign become cheaper as the job grows.
- Hitworkers: flat 10%
- SproutGigs: 7% + $0.65 per job
- Microworkers: 7.5% + $0.75
- Clickworker surveys: 40% + VAT
Every platform shows its price in a different way: a percentage, a percentage plus a fixed fee, a fee per job approval, a deposit you cannot withdraw. The only fair comparison is one job, priced everywhere. So that is what this page does.
The fee models, side by side
| Platform | Fee | Fixed part | Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hitworkers | 10% | None | No fixed minimum |
| Microworkers | 7.5% | $0.75 per campaign | $10 first deposit |
| SproutGigs (ex-Picoworkers) | 7% classic, 10% express | $0.65 / $1.00 per job approval | Free deposits |
| RapidWorkers | 15% | None ($0.20 if you cancel) | $20 minimum |
| Clickworker marketplace | 40% on surveys + VAT | None | Prepaid |
Sources: each platform's official fee page, checked November 9, 2026. Links are in the FAQ below. Amazon Mechanical Turk is no longer in the list: it closed on September 30, 2026 (see the MTurk migration guide).
One job, five bills
The job: 60 tasks at $0.30, so $18.00 paid to workers.
| Platform | Calculation | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Hitworkers | $18 × 1.10 | $19.80 |
| SproutGigs classic | $18 × 1.07 + $0.65 | $19.91 |
| Microworkers | $18 × 1.075 + $0.75 | $20.10 |
| RapidWorkers | $18 × 1.15 | $20.70 |
| Clickworker (survey) | $18 × 1.40 + VAT | $25.20 + VAT |
At this size the three cheapest are within 30 cents. The ranking changes with volume: under $20 of tasks, Hitworkers leads clearly; above $22 SproutGigs' 7% takes over, and above $30 Microworkers does too.
The real job behind these numbers
Case study: 60 shoppers rate 15 product photos for $19.80
A useful job for any online store: before you reshoot a catalogue, ask buyers which photos make them want to buy. Sixty people scoring fifteen images gives you a ranking you can trust, for the price of a lunch.
Brief with scores and a reason
1. Open the photo gallery link given in your campaign data (15 product photos). 2. For each photo, give a score from 1 (would not buy) to 5 (would buy now). 3. Write one word explaining your score for the 3 photos you liked least. 4. Paste your 15 scores in order, then your 3 words.
The three words are your quality filter. A worker who rushes writes nonsense there, and you reject the proof.
5 minutes, 60 people
Fifteen photos is a five-minute job. $0.30 each, 60 workers.
$19.80 all in
$18.00 to the workers, $1.80 of fee. The same 60 tasks: Microworkers $20.10, SproutGigs $19.91, RapidWorkers $20.70, Clickworker's survey marketplace $25.20 before VAT.
How the ranking moves with volume
Fixed fees shrink as the job grows, so the cheapest platform depends on how much you spend per job. Same $0.30 tasks, different sizes:
| Task spend | Hitworkers | SproutGigs | Microworkers | RapidWorkers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $3 (10 tasks) | $3.30 | $3.86 | $3.98 | $3.45 |
| $9 (30 tasks) | $9.90 | $10.28 | $10.43 | $10.35 |
| $30 (100 tasks) | $33.00 | $32.75 | $33.00 | $34.50 |
| $150 (500 tasks) | $165.00 | $161.15 | $162.00 | $172.50 |
RapidWorkers has no fixed fee either, but its 15% keeps it behind on every row, and it asks for a $20 deposit before the first job.
What a task should cost
The fee is only part of it. What you pay workers matters more, and underpaying is the quickest way to get rushed work. Hitworkers suggests a floor per task length, and I find it reasonable:
| Task length | Suggested floor | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 2 minutes | $0.15 | Answer one question, visit one page |
| 5 minutes | $0.30 | Rate a set of photos, short survey |
| 10 minutes | $0.50 | Find a business on Maps and browse it |
| 20 minutes or more | $1.00 | Research task, store visit, written report |
The fees of each platform are detailed further on Microworkers fees and on the RapidWorkers alternative page.
Questions people ask before switching
Which micro-task platform is the cheapest?
It depends on the job size. Under about $20 of task spend, Hitworkers' flat 10% wins. On larger jobs, SproutGigs (7% + $0.65) and Microworkers (7.5% + $0.75) become cheaper.
Where do these fees come from?
From each platform's own pages: microworkers.com/faq.php, sproutgigs.com/pricing.php, rapidworkers.io/for-employers and Clickworker's marketplace support, all checked November 9, 2026.
What about Amazon Mechanical Turk?
It closed permanently on September 30, 2026, so it is no longer in this comparison. Before closing it charged 20%, or 40% for tasks with 10 or more assignments.
How much should I pay per task?
Around $0.15 for 2 minutes, $0.30 for 5, $0.50 for 10 and $1.00 for 20 minutes or more. Paying below that slows your campaign and lowers quality.
Can I get a discount on Hitworkers?
Code CHICO5 adds 5% extra credits to your top-up.