Proxify vs Mercor: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Proxify (4.4/5) edges ahead of Mercor (3.7/5) overall. Proxify is the better choice for european companies that want a vetted ML or data engineer on European working hours. Mercor is the stronger option for AI labs and research teams that need specialist contractors in large numbers. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Proxify vs Mercor: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Proxify | Mercor |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2018 | 2023 |
| HQ | Stockholm, Sweden | San Francisco, California, USA |
| Team size | 5,000+ network members | 300–400 staff; large contractor network |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 3.7 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Senior-engineer interviews with live coding after an automated skills test | AI-run interviews and matching built for high-volume expert hiring |
| Pricing model | Hourly rate per developer billed monthly; full-time or part-time; rates on request | Contractor rate plus platform fee (about 30%, Sacra estimate) |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Python, PyTorch, TensorFlow | Python, PyTorch, OpenAI |
| Industries served | SaaS, Fintech, E-commerce, Media, Healthcare | AI labs, Technology, Finance, Legal, Healthcare |
Proxify vs Mercor: overview
Proxify
Proxify was founded in Stockholm in 2018 (one of its own pages says 2019) and matches companies with vetted developers across web, data, AI and DevOps. Candidates take Codility-based skills tests, then sit in-depth technical interviews with Proxify's senior engineers that include live coding and practical problems. The company quotes an acceptance rate of 1–3%, though the figure varies from page to page. Its network covers more than 5,000 professionals in over 90 countries, and it appeared on the Financial Times 1,000 list in 2025. Matching uses in-house AI tools alongside its hiring team.
Mercor
Mercor was founded in San Francisco in 2023 and uses AI interviews to screen applicants. It raised money at a $10 billion valuation in October 2025, mainly on the strength of supplying experts to AI labs for model training and evaluation. Product teams can hire engineers through it, but the platform is built for volume, and Sacra estimates its fee at about 30% of contractor pay. If you want two senior ML engineers for a year-long roadmap, look elsewhere. A firm that employs and manages its people fits that job better.
Services and capabilities: Proxify vs Mercor
| Capability | Proxify | Mercor |
|---|---|---|
| ML engineers | ✓ | ✓ |
| LLM / GenAI engineers | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI agent developers | ✗ | ✗ |
| MLOps engineers | ✗ | ✗ |
| Computer vision engineers | ✗ | ✗ |
| NLP engineers | ✗ | ✗ |
| Data engineers | ✓ | ✗ |
| Engineer-led technical screen | ✓ | ✗ |
| Fractional / part-time experts | ✓ | ✗ |
| Trial before commitment | ✗ | ✗ |
| Nearshore time-zone overlap | ✗ | ✗ |
| Direct hire option | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Proxify vs Mercor
| Framework / platform | Proxify | Mercor |
|---|---|---|
| PyTorch | ✓ | ✓ |
| TensorFlow | ✓ | N/A |
| LangChain | N/A | N/A |
| Hugging Face | N/A | N/A |
| OpenAI | N/A | ✓ |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | ✓ | N/A |
| Google Cloud | ✓ | N/A |
| Databricks | ✓ | N/A |
| Kubernetes | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Proxify vs Mercor
| Criterion | Proxify | Mercor |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Dedicated engineer, Fractional expert, Freelance contract | Freelance contract |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Proxify vs Mercor
| Dimension | Proxify | Mercor |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS, Fintech, E-commerce | AI labs, Technology, Finance |
| Best use cases | Adding a data engineer to a European fintech's analytics team, Hiring a Python ML developer for a recommender system | Hiring dozens of domain experts to evaluate a model, Adding a contract ML engineer for a research sprint |
| Typical project type | Dedicated engineer | Freelance contract |
Proxify vs Mercor: pros and cons
| Proxify | |
|---|---|
| + | Live-coding interviews with in-house senior engineers are part of the published process |
| + | Most of the network is in European time zones, which suits teams in the EU and UK |
| + | Grew fast enough to make the Financial Times 1,000 list in 2025 |
| - | AI is one of many skill areas, and there is no AI-specific test on the record |
| - | Acceptance-rate and network-size figures differ across the company's own pages |
| - | Developers are contractors on the platform, not Proxify employees |
| Mercor | |
|---|---|
| + | Fast access to a large pool of specialists |
| + | Well funded |
| + | Experienced with AI-lab evaluation and training work |
| - | AI interviews, not engineers, do the first screen |
| - | Fee of about 30% adds up over a long engagement |
| - | Founded in 2023, so a short track record with product teams |
Who should choose Proxify?
A typical fit: adding a data engineer to a European fintech's analytics team.
Senior-engineer interviews with live coding after an automated skills test. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in SaaS, Fintech, E-commerce, Media, Healthcare.
Who should choose Mercor?
A typical fit: hiring dozens of domain experts to evaluate a model.
AI-run interviews and matching built for high-volume expert hiring. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in AI labs, Technology, Finance, Legal, Healthcare.
Decision matrix: Proxify vs Mercor
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You want a working engineer, not a recruiter, to run the technical screen | Proxify |
| You need one specialist for a few days a week | Proxify |
| You need several engineers working as one team | Proxify |
| You want to test an engineer before committing | Neither publishes a trial; negotiate a short first term |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Proxify (Not published) vs Mercor (Not published) |
| Your team works U.S. hours | Neither lists Latin American engineers; confirm overlap hours in the contract |
| You may want to hire the engineer permanently later | Neither lists direct hire; agree conversion terms up front |
Use case fit: Proxify vs Mercor
| Use case | Proxify fit | Mercor fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adding a data engineer to a European fintech's analytics team | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Hiring a Python ML developer for a recommender system | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Hiring dozens of domain experts to evaluate a model | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Adding a contract ML engineer for a research sprint | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
Verdict: Proxify vs Mercor
Proxify (4.4/5) is the stronger overall choice for most AI Engineer Staffing projects. Senior-engineer interviews with live coding after an automated skills test.
Mercor (3.7/5) is worth a look if you need adding a contract ML engineer for a research sprint. If your situation matches that, Mercor is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Proxify vs Mercor FAQ
Is Proxify better than Mercor?
Proxify (4.4/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Proxify's strongest advantage: live-coding interviews with in-house senior engineers are part of the published process. Mercor's strongest advantage: fast access to a large pool of specialists.
How do Proxify and Mercor differ in pricing?
Proxify uses hourly rate per developer billed monthly; full-time or part-time; rates on request pricing. Mercor uses contractor rate plus platform fee (about 30%, sacra estimate) pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Proxify or Mercor?
Mercor is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each company before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Proxify and Mercor?
Proxify's primary differentiator is: senior-engineer interviews with live coding after an automated skills test. Mercor's primary differentiator is: AI-run interviews and matching built for high-volume expert hiring. They also differ in team size (5,000+ network members vs 300–400 staff; large contractor network), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (SaaS, Fintech vs AI labs, Technology).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.