Appen Review – Scam or Legit? Truth Exposed!

Are you looking for an Appen review? But you may wonder if it is a scam.

Appen has received a number of awards, including the 2021 BIG Innovation Award for providing remote work opportunities to more than 1 million freelancers in over 170 countries. 

Appen, a data collection company, is known for using information (collected from its remote workers) to develop AI software.

From search engine evaluation to transcription and translation, freelancers can take on a wide range of administrative tasks. 

Perhaps this is the perfect opportunity for you to earn some extra money from home. Read on to learn more about Appen, a remote and flexible employment company.

​​As a disclaimer, I’m not affiliated with Appen. It means I’m not paid to write this review. So you can rest assured that you will get an honest and unbiased review from me.

At the end of this review, I’ll also tell you the best alternative to Appen that has enabled me to make a full-time passive income online.

What is Appen?

Appen is a data collection company that uses information (obtained through human interaction) to give machine learning applications more “human-like” behavior.

It does this by using both full-time employees and freelancers (that’s you) to perform various tasks online, such as reciting lines into a microphone or evaluating various forms of online media.

Although this type of work can be done from home, the pay is usually low, as is the case with many Internet “jobs” You need a quiet mind.

It is unclear whether or not Appen can provide that calm.

Maybe there are financial difficulties, children who need to be taken care of, or there is no work available. This causes a lot of restlessness.

Your goal is to achieve mental peace, and although Appen could be a source of money for this goal, you are better off generating income from various internet sources.

In addition to these approaches, taking paid online surveys on services like Survey Junkie is a fantastic strategy to improve your financial situation quickly. 

Inbox Dollars is another online way to boost your income by doing simple tasks like watching videos, using search engines and exploring websites.

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative

How Does Appen Work?

Your contributions to Appen (phrases, media ratings, etc.) are used to train AI systems to better mimic human language and thought patterns.

Even though artificial intelligence is getting better, you are still one step ahead of the game. Machines need your help to understand concepts like intent and ambiguity.

A reader only needs a few sentences (or even a few words) to understand the tone and emotion of a text when they pick it up and start reading.

A computer (or algorithm) only sees blocks of text with isolated words; it has a hard time grasping context and meaning.

Is Appen a Scam?

Appen is not a scam. You probably already know that most traditional companies do not provide their new employees with expensive equipment like Apple computers, iPhones and cash to pay for software. There’s definitely something wrong here, because they do not ask for sensitive information like debt or credit card numbers.

Whoever is doing this is posing as an Appen employee to steal sensitive information.

Appen’s website FAQ emphasizes that you are responsible for providing your own hardware.

Someone who tries to cheat you out of thousands of dollars by pretending to be from Appen and offering you expensive equipment and money for software is obviously not from Appen 

Appen was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Sydney, Australia. The company currently serves clients in 130 countries and uses the services of up to 400,000 independent contractors who work from home.

The company has a physical location and employs a full-time CEO.

Potential scammers have none of these characteristics because they are not scammers. They give false addresses, names of fictitious business managers and obscure phone numbers (nothing more than an e-mail).

As a rule, they also make hair-raising claims and demand payment in advance.

Not so with Appen. Appen tops Flexjobs.com’s list of the top 100 companies offering remote work.

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative

Appen Reviews

Much of the negative testimonials about Appen relate to poor customer service, low pay, and in some cases, a complete lack of pay.

Unpaid work is worse than low pay.

While we can’t verify the veracity of the claims, we can gain some insight into the complainants.

If you and Appen are exchanging emails back and forth, you should be paid for your time. 

Maybe you could charge them for every email they send you?

How long do you have to wait to receive payment when you reply to a message?

There may be additional attorney fees for each email, phone contact, etc. However, I doubt you can charge Appen for email correspondence as an independent contractor.

I know companies that do not respond to email because they do not care about their customers, but because the sender is inappropriate or offensive.

It’s also likely that productivity dropped when workers stopped getting paid.

This is not to say that the complaints made here are not valid, but the positive feedback should not be ignored either.

Misunderstandings about the dynamics between contractorand client are often the cause of problems of this nature.

Appen Employee vs. Appen Independent Contractor

Any person considered an “employee” by Appen is entitled to a wage and benefit package. And. like most traditional “jobs,” they have a supervisor to whom they report.

So this is new.

There is talk about independent contractor status at Appen, which is different in many ways from being an employee.

You will never be satisfied working for Appen (or anyone else) if you approach your work from home with an “employee mentality” because you are not their employee.

When you work as a freelancer or independent contractor, you are basically starting your own business. You are in the service business.

This transaction is between you and Appen, who is acting as a customer and purchasing a service from you. The client does not owe you anything other than what they paid you for your services.

Freelancers often complain that their “compensation” is inadequate, but savvy freelancers can supplement their income in many ways.

It can be used in conjunction with other methods of making money online, such as taking surveys with companies like Survey Junkie, simply surfing the web with Inbox Dollars, or even starting your own online business.

How To Apply For Projects?

Create an account with Appen. Select a territory and language to continue. To be recognised as an impartial appraiser, you may need to take and pass a qualification exam. Once you complete the course and pass the exam, you can access additional assignments.

For each project, you’ll receive a brief describing the details of how it’ll be completed. In certain situations, a qualification may be required. You’ll not be paid for your training, but you can expect to earn money once you’re done.

There are some very critical comments about Appen on the Internet. I’ve had a fantastic time so far as a search engine evaluator at Appen. 

After taking a test to determine my suitability for the project, I received an email confirming my participation within a week. 

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative

Appen User Reviews

Does working from home at Appen appeal to you, but you want to know what people who know the company say about it?

According to Glassdoor, Appen is a 3.8 out of 5 star company. Numerous employees like the independence they have by being able to set their own work hours. Others have noted that the task guidelines are somewhat strict, so be sure to read and follow them thoroughly.

Appen is rated 3.5 stars on Indeed. When asked about working at Appen, one employee replied, “The benefits are flexibility and very easy work depending on the task. Ideal for people in their prime studying or raising children at home. A disadvantage is the low pay, which varies depending on the type of work. But better a little money than nothing.”

There is a user-generated thread on Reddit where people share their stories. Another reader commented, “I recently started Appen and find, at least for me personally, that it’s not worth it.” 

Both readers seem to have mixed feelings about the platform. The low pay and little responsibility make the job a lacklustre affair.

Appen Work at Home Jobs

Among the available posts, the social media evaluator is the most requested option, likely due to the similarity between the evaluation process and online surveys.

Minimum Qualification includes:

• Access to a computer (complete with sound card and speakers) and/or smartphone (no older than 3 years).
• High-speed internet access and a distraction-free (non-public) work environment are required.
• Excellent writing skills in English.
• Ability to use programs and applications, troubleshoot and follow instructions.

Work Schedule:

• Part-time social media evaluators work up to 20 hours per week.
• You can fit the work into your schedule because it is flexible.
• It is common to work 1-4 hours per day, 5-7 days per week.

Job Description:

A social media analyst from Appen gives his opinion on things like advertising, news feeds and search engine results.

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative

Other Appen Work at Home Jobs

Most of the remote jobs offered by Appen meet standard requirements and schedules (like the Social Media Evaluator position).

Crowdsourcing

Tasks range from analyzing information to transcribing interviews to researching user experiences.

Voice Data Collection

Use of a mobile app to read and record short utterances.

Annotator

Commentary on the content of the recorded text (various languages).

Help desk specialists, language engineers, and contract trainers are just a few of the positions available Monday through Friday from 9 to 5 at Appen.

How Much Does Appen Pay?

To get paid as an Appen Contributor, you must record the time you spend on each project and submit an invoice for your services. Hourly rates are used at Appen for both quick work and work that takes longer.

Hourly rates for common work at Appen range from $11 to $14, as stated on the company’s Glassdoor page.

Although pay is determined on a project-by-project basis, Appen’s code of ethics mandates that all workers receive at least the national minimum wage. 

Although federal laws may override lower state and local minimum wage requirements, this is not necessarily the case for United States citizens.

Upon submission of an invoice for work performed, contributors will be compensated in full. Once Appen receives a payout request, it takes 30 days to process the request and send payment via Payoneer or PayPal.

What Do You Need to Work for Appen?

To work at Appen, you only need to meet a few simple requirements. You must be at least 18 years old, have access to a computer with Google Chrome installed, and have a very fast Internet connection.

You may need a microphone and headphones for tasks like video commentary, surveys, and transcriptions.

Other than that, it’s easy to get accepted to Appen. Just sign up and start accepting jobs right away.

Pros and Cons of Working for Appen

Pros

• You will earn money by performing quick and easy tasks.
• There is no cost, and signing up is simple.
• No previous experience or aptitude tests are required to prove your skills.
• You will be paid by the hour and not by the project.
• You are adaptable and can create your own schedule.
• There are numerous opportunities available.

Cons

• You will be paid only once a month.
• Depending on the task, pay may be reduced at times.
• This is not a full-time, work-from-home job.
• As an independent contractor, you are responsible for your own taxes.

Appen Review: Final Verdict

People will complain about their jobs, whether they’re traditional 9-to-5 jobs or work-from-home jobs.

While you shouldn’t ignore the bad things people have said about Appen, you also shouldn’t let them stop you from taking advantage of a potentially fantastic opportunity (and learning experience).

There aren’t many opportunities to work from home, so you may feel like your options are limited.

It’s nerve-wracking to jump into the unknown.

For whatever reason – health, children, or an uncertain economy – inadequate financial security may keep you up at night more often than is healthy.

Making money on the internet could give you the financial security you need, but it’s not easy to do. Let me tell you the best way to make money online in the next section.

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative

Best Alternative of Appen to Make Passive Income

If you want to make a stable and secure stream of passive income, I would suggest you start an affiliate marketing business online.

Affiliate Marketing is perfect for anyone who is new to online business. 

In fact, of all the online business models I’ve tried, affiliate marketing is the easiest and most rewarding so far.  

In affiliate marketing, you can actually run your business almost with zero cost and achieve a steady and sustainable passive income to pay for your bills. You don’t need any initial capital and can even do it as a side hustle.

And if you really want to learn affiliate marketing and build a business from scratch, I’d recommend you to get started with the most reputable platform for affiliate marketing: Wealthy Affiliate.

Wealthy Affiliate is an all-in-one platform for building your affiliate marketing business from scratch. It offers you a free account (including a free website) with comprehensive training on SEO (free traffic methods), which enables you to get started with affiliate marketing right away without paying a penny.

But How Much Can You Earn with Wealthy Affiliate?

A 21-year old student from Wealthy Affiliate was able to earn $7,395 in just 1 week, which means he made more than $1k a day…all while using free traffic methods.

Wealthy Affiliate has existed for 15 years and there are many success stories in the past decade.

To give you more examples, here are some of the other inspiring success stories of Wealthy Affiliate members.

Where to Join Wealthy Affiliate?

Wealthy Affiliate has a very simple pricing scheme. It has free and premium membership.

If you want to feel about Wealthy Affiliate, you can sign up for the free starter membership here (no credit card required). You can select to be a free member with no time limit.

And as a starter member, you can get instant access to the community, live chat, over 500 training modules, 2 classrooms, networking, commenting, 1 free website, access to the keyword tool.

You can enjoy all these values without paying a penny. 

So I strongly recommend you to register a free account and see it yourself.

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative