# Handshake AI alternatives for licensing company data

> Handshake AI alternatives and competitors for a company licensing its records: micro1, Mercor, Troveo, Replay, Polyshares and SimpleClosure, on their own terms.

By Matt Burns, Vaultfish. Canonical: https://vaultfish.com/answers/handshake-ai-alternatives  
Published: 2026-09-03  
Updated: 2026-10-14

## The short answer

Handshake AI alternatives for a company with records to license are micro1, Mercor, Troveo, Replay, Polyshares and SimpleClosure. Handshake AI states $100K to $4M+ and asks for 20+ staff and 3+ years. The others differ on size floor, pay model and payment timing. All figures are self-reported.

[Handshake AI](/buyers/handshake-ai) runs a company-data program, and six other companies take the same kinds of records on different terms. Each row below comes from that company's own pages.

## What does Handshake AI's data program offer?

Handshake AI's [data partnerships page](https://joinhandshake.com/ai/data-partnerships/) states $100K to $4M+ per company. Its calculator example gives $383,083 to $896,969 for 100 employees and 10 years.

Another of its [pages](https://joinhandshake.com/ai/data-partnerships/referral) asks for 20+ full-time staff and 3+ years.

Its FAQ says payment typically comes 30 to 60 days after it accepts the de-identified dataset. It publishes no ownership terms. See [Handshake AI data partnerships](/answers/handshake-ai-data-partnerships) for what it says in full.

## Which companies compete with Handshake AI for company data?

Mercor, Troveo, Replay, Polyshares and SimpleClosure take records such as Slack, email, tickets and CRM history. micro1 lists SOPs, knowledge bases, CRM data and project histories. They split on size floor and pay.

**Handshake AI alternatives, side by side**

| Buyer or program | Minimum size | Stated range | Pay model | Payment timing | What you keep |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [micro1](https://vaultfish.com/buyers/micro1) | 30+ employees, US first | Tiers of $100K+, $500K+, $1M+ | Paid under the agreed partnership | Not published | Companies keep ownership |
| [Mercor](https://vaultfish.com/buyers/mercor) | None stated | Up to $300K, press report | One wire, no fees to you | 2 to 4 weeks after signing | Not published |
| [Troveo](https://vaultfish.com/buyers/troveo) | None stated, estimator from 20 | Six figures, per its page | Revenue share on each sale | On each sale | You own it, ownership stays |
| [Replay](https://vaultfish.com/buyers/replay) | Bands start at 20 employees | $10K to $1M+ by headcount | Upfront plus revenue share | Upfront, then on each license | License only, nothing transferred |
| [Polyshares](https://vaultfish.com/buyers/polyshares) | None stated | $100K to $2M+ | License fee, no commission | Net 30 to 60 after approval | You keep data, exclusive by default |
| [SimpleClosure Asset Hub](https://vaultfish.com/buyers/simpleclosure) | None stated, closing or operating | $10K to $100K per company, press | A percentage on a sale or license | Not published | Perpetual license to SimpleClosure |

_Every figure is the company's own claim unless marked press. Terms change, so confirm on each company's page._

## Which Handshake AI alternatives take a company with fewer than 20 staff?

Mercor and Polyshares state no minimum, and Troveo's estimator starts at 20. Replay's first band covers 20 to 50 employees. micro1 asks for 30+, so it fits a larger company than Handshake AI's floor.

Every floor and its source is in [do you qualify for an AI data program](/answers/ai-data-program-minimums).

## Which Handshake AI alternatives state when they pay?

Mercor typically wires payment within 2 to 4 weeks of signing, per its [data page](https://www.mercor.com/data/). Polyshares pays net 30 to 60 after approval. Replay pays upfront, then shares each later license, and Troveo shares revenue on each sale.

Our [Mercor vs Handshake AI](/answers/mercor-vs-handshake-ai) page compares those two programs line by line.

## How should a company choose between Handshake AI and its alternatives?

Match the program to what you hold and how you want to be paid. Years of Slack, email, tickets or CRM records fit the direct programs. A startup that is closing fits [SimpleClosure](/answers/is-simpleclosure-legit). Confirm you hold the rights first with the [rights check](/rights-check).

Then compare entity, terms and fees with the checklist in [how to choose an AI data buyer](/guides/how-to-choose-an-ai-data-broker). The [buyer directory](/buyers) records each firm's public terms.

micro1 may pay us a referral fee if a company we introduce goes ahead with it. [How we are paid](https://vaultfish.com/disclosure)

Have a lawyer read any contract before you sign. They like that.

_Vaultfish helps you run the process. We are not lawyers and this is not legal advice. If you need counsel who knows this area, we can point you to one._

## Sources

- [data partnerships page](https://joinhandshake.com/ai/data-partnerships/)
- [pages](https://joinhandshake.com/ai/data-partnerships/referral)
- [data page](https://www.mercor.com/data/)
- [Business Insider via AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/contractors-worked-openai-projects-handshake-050101409.html)