Mode vs micro1
Both pay companies for internal business records used to train AI. The main differences on their published terms are below; the real answer comes from putting both offers side by side.
Key differences
- Size rules differ: Mode — 50+ employees; micro1 — 30+ employees.
- Published ranges: Mode $100K–$5M, micro1 $100K–$2M (each buyer's own figure, not an offer).
- Company status: Mode accepts operating; micro1 accepts operating, closing, closed.
Side by side
| Mode | micro1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Pays a one-time amount for your records | Pays a one-time amount for your records |
| Who qualifies | 50+ employees | 30+ employees |
| Accepts | operating | operating, closing, closed |
| How it pays | upfront: Mode buys the agreed copy directly; the written agreement sets the amount and payment schedule before export. | upfront: micro1 says it pays in full once the delivered data is accepted; separately, it quotes licensing of agent trajectories as an annual figure. |
| Published range | Mode's own headline figure is $100K to $5M; its calculator is labeled indicative and illustrative, not a guaranteed offer. Not an offer. Source: data.mode.inc, as of October 2026. | micro1's own figures: headline $200K-$2M+, with payments typically $150K to over $2M. Tiers: $100K-$500K for qualified partnerships, $500K-$2M for large-scale or multi-team datasets, $2M+ for highly unique data; agent trajectories quoted at $1M-$2M a year. Its referral page lists company compensation of $100K-$2M+ for both operating and closed companies. Not an offer. Source: micro1.ai, as of October 2026. |
| When it pays | Mode says it generally expects about three months from first conversation to payment, depending on scope, rights review, contracting and export. | micro1 says it pays in full within 30 days of accepting the data. Its FAQ describes a 30-day review window after transfer, then an invoice, then payment within 30 days of the invoice. |
| Exclusivity | varies (set in the written agreement) | not stated |
| Data handling | The company's team signs in to approved systems (no passwords handed over) and Mode exports the agreed systems and date ranges into a secure workspace. Mode removes sensitive material and removes or transforms personal identifiers before onward delivery. AI developers do not get unfiltered records. Originals stay with the company. | The parties agree scope, security, anonymization and redaction rules up front. PII is removed where relevant, data runs in isolated pipelines with limited access, some data may be synthetically rewritten, the company can review samples, and data is deleted on request or at the end of the engagement per agreed terms. micro1 says the data is licensed only to labs and enterprises in the U.S. and allied countries, and the company keeps ownership of its data. |
| Good fit if | You run a business or nonprofit in the U.S., Canada, UK or Australia with 50+ employees (15+ for accounting, finance or medical firms, 10+ for law firms) and several years of records in common workplace tools. | You have 30+ staff, mainly English-language documentation, and well-kept procedures, CRM and project records. Closed companies with 30+ employees and substantial Slack or Teams history can apply through its program for closed companies. |
You can apply to both at once. Nothing you submit commits you, and two offers make it easier to judge either one. See comparing offers.
Mode: We may be paid: this buyer pays us a referral fee if a company we sent signs. You pay us nothing. Among buyers that fit your answers, buyers that pay us are shown first.
micro1: We may be paid: this buyer pays us a referral fee if a company we sent signs. You pay us nothing. Among buyers that fit your answers, buyers that pay us are shown first.
Sources
- Mode Data - Company data partnerships, accessed 2026-10-25
- Mode Data - Referrals, accessed 2026-10-25
- Mode Data - About, accessed 2026-10-25
- Mode - Company data (ai.mode.inc), accessed 2026-10-25
- micro1 - Data partnerships, accessed 2026-10-25
- micro1 - Company referral (lists Enterprise and Defunct Company Data Partnerships), accessed 2026-10-25
- micro1 - Sub-affiliate program, accessed 2026-10-25
- micro1 - Data payout estimator, accessed 2026-10-25
- micro1 referral portal: company data programs (operating and closed companies), accessed 2026-10-23