shift
Get Started
shift

$10 million paid out
for recording work.

Get started in minutes. Put on your headset and record with the Shift app.

Paid to recordersFor the everyday work they already do.
Operators recordingAt work and at home, worldwide.
Media outletsFeaturing Shift around the world.
Shift team in Times Square, with a Shift billboard behind them

NYC activation · With Shift operators

New York City

Shift in Times Square.

Record. Upload. Sell.

It just takes a few minutes to get started. Use your phone, download the Shift app, and record using a headset. We then buy accepted recordings.

Get Started
Download Shift on the App StoreGet Shift on Google Play

1. Open the app.
Start recording.

Open Shift and check your camera view before you begin. Keep your hands and the task clearly in frame.

Illustration of a hand holding a white phone displaying the Shift app’s Prepare to Record screen
Shift

2. Your phone.
Hands-free.

Mount your phone in the headset to capture your point of view, leaving both hands free for the work.

Shift headset with a phone secured in its recording mount

Every trade.
One recording app.

Cooking, building, repairing, making.
See how everyday skills become first-person recordings with Shift.

See if your work qualifies
Shift

Food preparation

How to sell your data to Shift.

Record your work, upload it for review, and sell accepted recordings to Shift.

  1. 01 / Record

    5 hours

    Example recording

    1. Record your work, hands-free.

    Record an eligible task with your headset and the Shift app. Keep your hands and work in view, then upload.

  2. Hand-tracking overlay illustrating a recording review02 / Review

    80% accepted

    4 hours accepted · 1 hour excluded

    2. We check each recording.

    We check task eligibility, video quality and privacy. Only the portions that pass are accepted.

  3. A bakery owner smiling while checking her phone03 / We buy your data

    $120

    Example purchase

    3. We buy your accepted recordings.

    Shift buys your accepted footage. Withdraw your available balance from the app to your linked bank account.

Frequently asked questions

Questions about recording, review or payouts? Start here, or talk to our team.

shift is a flexible contribution platform where eligible contributors can record short videos of everyday tasks to help train robotics and AI systems.

No. shift is not traditional employment. Individuals participate as independent contractors, and businesses participate under their applicable business terms.

Yes. You decide whether, when, and how often to accept available recording opportunities, subject to the applicable terms and the privacy, technical, and submission requirements for any opportunity you choose to accept. shift does not guarantee any minimum number of opportunities or any minimum earnings.

There is no fixed schedule. Some opportunities may have stated eligibility, timing, or submission requirements, which will be disclosed in advance if they apply.

You should record eligible tasks shown in the app or otherwise approved by shift. In general, recordings should clearly show the task being performed, especially the hands and task environment, while avoiding unnecessary capture of faces, personal information, or sensitive content.

Videos should clearly capture the approved task from the required perspective and follow the recording instructions provided in the app or setup materials. Submissions must meet shift's technical, privacy, and quality standards to be eligible for acceptance and payment.

Once your submissions are approved, the earnings are added to your balance in the Shift app. You can withdraw your available earnings at any time directly within the app, and the funds will be transferred securely to your linked bank account.

Compensation is based on the rates, rules, and eligibility criteria described in the app, setup materials, or applicable agreement. Only accepted submissions are eligible for payment unless otherwise explicitly stated. shift does not guarantee any minimum compensation, submission volume, or earnings.

Yes. As an independent contractor or business entity, you are responsible for your own taxes, filings, insurance, and other legal obligations unless otherwise required by law or explicitly stated in a written agreement. Inside of the app, contractors are required to fill out W-9s if they receive more than $600/year in payments.

shift uses privacy safeguards, including face and PII blurring tools and other review controls, to help protect privacy. Contributors must still follow recording instructions and avoid intentionally capturing personal information, sensitive materials, or bystanders whenever possible.

Recordings are processed to anonymize faces and remove personal information. After processing, the original video is deleted; only derived, anonymized task and motion data is retained. Participation is opt-in, and no audio is recorded unless expressly disclosed otherwise.

Videos are uploaded through shift's secure systems and go through privacy and processing controls designed to protect submitted data.

Yes - there's no commitment or lock-in. Take on as many or as few opportunities as you like, and step away whenever it suits you.

If company-provided equipment breaks or malfunctions, you may receive a replacement at the headgear pickup site, and must return the broken equipment.

If your application is approved, shift will contact you with next steps. Getting started may include a short orientation covering the app, privacy requirements, submission standards, payout setup, and equipment procedures.

Your work. Your way to record.

At your business, on the job or at home. Choose where you’ll record to find the right next steps.

A flower-shop owner recording while arranging flowers

I own a business

Bring your business to Shift and record the work you and your team do.

Choose business

A good fit for

  • Shop owners

  • Makers

  • Small business teams

A tradesperson measuring timber while wearing a recording headset

I record at work

Record your own hands-on work, whether you’re employed or self-employed.

Choose my job

A good fit for

  • Tradespeople

  • Employees

  • Independent workers

A home recorder preparing vegetables while wearing a recording headset

I record at home

Record the cooking, crafting and organizing already in your day.

Choose home

A good fit for

  • Cooking at home

  • Making and crafting

  • Organizing your home

Payout rates vary by task and apply only to recording hours reviewed and accepted by Shift. Advertised rates represent potential maximum earnings and are not guaranteed.