Earning a little extra money each month can be a huge help, but it can be challenging to know where to begin. A lot of the online job opportunities out there are scams or require hours of tedious work for very little return.
You've heard of Appen as one of the best companies that offer flexible, remote work. You're not sure, however, whether it's worth your time and effort.
We understand what you feel. It's hard enough to find a legitimate way to make money from home, but it's even harder when you have to worry about being scammed.
If you're a parent who's looking for a way to make some extra money from home, or if you're a freelancer who's considering working with Appen, you may be wondering if Appen is worth it.
So, is Appen legit? In this blog post, we'll take a look at what it's like to work with Appen and whether or not the company is legitimate.
We reviewed official sources and gathered information from independent sites and real users so you won't be at risk of doing all the wrong things and in the end, not making money at all with Appen.
We'll also share some reviews from people who have worked with Appen in the past, as well as some tips to increase your chances to make more money with this company.
What is Appen?
Appen is a global technology company that works with some of the world’s largest companies to improve their products and services. The focus of the company is on AI, machine learning, and data science.
To ensure that their data is of the highest quality, Appen relies on workers from all around the world to do simple tasks. The data collected is then used to train algorithms and improve AI models.
The company has been in business for over 20 years and has a network of over 1 million people in 170 countries who work as part-time independent contractors.
If you qualify as an independent contractor for Appen, it can be a great opportunity to make some extra money.
Is Appen legit or not?
The question “Is Appen Legitimate?” has been asked many times on the internet. And we can understand why. With all of the work-from-home scams out there, it's hard to know which companies are worth your time and effort.
We did some research and found that Appen is a legitimate company that does indeed pay its workers for doing simple tasks. With Appen, you can apply for different jobs and projects as an independent contractor and get paid for the work that you complete.
Why do some people think that Appen is a scam?
You're probably asking if Appen is a scam because you’ve read some negative reviews about the company. And we don't blame you! It pays to be vigilant against shady online schemes.
While Appen is not a scam and is a legitimate company, there are two primary reasons why some people think that Appen is a scam:
1. Appen Recruitment Scam
Appen has already issued a warning on their website that some scammers are pretending to be Appen employees and trying to get personal information from people who are interested in working with Appen.
The Appen recruitment scam involves someone contacting you, usually through email, and offering you a job with Appen. They will then ask you for personal information, such as your social security number, credit card number, or bank account number, to “process your application.”
A scammer may even ask you for an Appen payment proof like a bank deposit or a credit card transaction in their fraudulent application process.
Some victims of these scams, therefore, write Appen complaints because they were tricked by someone who was pretending to be an Appen employee.
If you’re ever contacted by someone claiming to be from Appen, and they ask you for any sort of payment or personal information, do not give it. Appen will never ask you for payment or to provide these details before getting hired.
2. Low Pay
While Appen prides itself on providing fair pay, some remote workers feel that the rate is not high enough given the type of work to do. This sentiment is usually being shared by independent contractors who work on microtasks that pay on the lower end of the scale.
Some people who complain about Appen usually say that this job is not enough to shoulder their monthly expenses. This is because tasks and projects may not be as consistent as a traditional 9-5 job, which can make it difficult to rely on Appen as your only source of income.
What jobs does Appen offer to work from home?
Unlike other remote job sites that are specialized in just one type of job, Appen offers different types of jobs that you can apply for and qualify for. Depending on your skills, experience, and level of commitment, you can check out the different jobs available.
Some examples of the jobs offered at Appen include:
- Microtasks like Survey and Data Collector
- Social Media Evaluator
- Web Search Media Evaluator
- Transcription Jobs
- Translation Jobs
- Linguistic Specialties Jobs
How to qualify to work for Appen?
To work for Appen, you need to pass the general requirements. For some projects, you also have to qualify for the specific role you are applying for.
Here are the general requirements to join Appen as a contractor:
- You must be at least 18 years old.
- You'll need strong research abilities and analytical skills.
- You must have strong written communication and comprehension skills.
- Access to high-speed internet like DSL, cable, modem, etc.
- Desktop computer with Google Chrome browser or qualifying mobile devices like smartphones or tablets.
- Up to date anti-spyware and anti-virus software
To succeed as an Appen contributor, here are some qualities that could help:
- You're smart and curious.
- You enjoy online research.
- You're self-motivated and self-driven.
- You're organized.
How to sign-up for Appen
To sign-up as an Appen contractor, follow the steps below:
- Go to the Appen website and create an account: https://connect.appen.com/qrp/core/sign-up.
- You do NOT need to pay anything or to take any qualification exam to create an account with Appen.
- Once you’ve created an account, browse through the different projects and jobs that you can work on.
- When you find a project that you want to work on, click “Apply” and follow the instructions on how to complete the qualification process.
- After completing the qualification process, you'll be given access to the project and will start receiving tasks.
How long does it take to get hired at Appen?
It depends on the type of tasks or projects that you apply for. Usually, applying for microtask projects would take a shorter amount of time as compared to the other types of jobs. However, the availability of such tasks may not be as regular as shared by some Appen contributors.
Getting hired for a project can range from a few days, weeks, or even months. Again, it depends on your qualifications and available projects as well.
How long does my contract with Appen last?
Again, it depends on the particular project. Some flexible tasks are short and can be completed quickly.
If you get hired for a longer-term project, this can last for up to six months. Once this contract period is complete, you may or may not be renewed.
How much can you earn from Appen?
One of the most important pieces of information for freelancers is to learn how much they can potentially earn from a platform.
For Appen, the amount you can earn will depend on the task, project, and qualifications.
How much does Appen pay per micro task?
Microtasks are shorter and can be completed in a small amount of time as compared to the other types of tasks. The pay for such tasks is usually lower, with an average rate of $0.10 per task or $3 to $8/hour.
How much does Appen pay per hour?
As an Appen independent contractor, you can earn from $3 to $20 per hour. The exact amount will depend on the type of project or task that you are working on.
Higher-paying tasks are typically more difficult to qualify for and may require special skills or experience.
With lower tier projects, they may be easy to qualify for, but with so many contributors, there may also be more competition.
How many hours of tasks can I get per week with Appen?
This will depend on the availability of Appen jobs you’re matched for. Some Appen contributors on Reddit and Quora say that they get regular tasks, while some complain that the available workload is not enough.
The great thing about Appen is that it’s very flexible. You can work on tasks depending on your availability and adjust if you want to work more or fewer hours.
How do you get paid with Appen?
Payment with Appen is not automatic. Below are some things to take note of regarding the payment process.
- You have to send an invoice at the end of every month through connect.appen.com accounting.
- Your invoice should reflect all the hours you've worked for the approved projects assigned to you.
- Appen only processes invoices once a month and will be issued through the payment platform Payoneer.
- The Appen website states that you'll be paid within 30 days upon Appen receiving a valid invoice from you.
- Take note that Appen will not send a cheque in advance and you should never deposit a cheque to a third party even before getting hired.
Pros and Cons of Working for Appen
There are advantages and disadvantages to working with any company and Appen is no different.
Pros:
- Flexible work schedule
- Competitive pay rates with the potential to earn up to $20 per hour
- Can work from home
- Hires globally
Cons:
- It may be difficult to get regular tasks or get hired for a project.
- Can be repetitive and boring
- You need to invoice for payments and pay taxes on your own.
- It may not be reliable as a single source of income.
Conclusion: Is Appen legitimate?
Appen is a legitimate remote money-making opportunity. It's great for parents and freelancers who prefer to work from home and have a flexible schedule while earning extra income.
However, working for Appen as an independent contractor may not be a dependable full-time job as it can be difficult to get consistent tasks.
You can try signing up for Appen if you're looking to supplement your regular income or combine it with other side hustles.
Aidan has been writing about personal finance for over 6 years. Prior to this, he worked as a Corporate Finance Analyst where he specialized in Due Diligence, Company Valuations and more. He is a CFA charterholder.
