# How AI training data is priced

URL: https://aidataforsale.com/learn/ai-training-data-prices
Publisher: AI Data For Sale (Marketing Signals Ltd)
Updated: 2026-11-10

The pricing models used in AI data deals (per unit, flat fee, revenue share, milestones) with published price benchmarks for images, video, text and corporate data.

Author: Gareth Hoyle
Audience: Both

## In short

- AI data is priced per unit, as a flat fee, as a revenue share, or as milestones tied to delivery and acceptance.
- Per-unit prices are common for media; flat fees are common for corporate archives and codebases.
- Intermediaries reported by Reuters paid rights owners 20% to 30% of deal value in some cases.
- Published benchmarks give ranges, not prices; every deal is negotiated.

## Pricing models

- **Per unit.** Per image, minute, hour, word, document or task. Common for media and new collection.
- **Flat fee.** One price for a defined dataset. Common for archives, codebases and closed-company data.
- **Milestones.** Payments on signing, delivery and acceptance.
- **Revenue share.** A share of what an intermediary earns from reselling. A Defined.ai supplier in Brazil told Reuters it paid owners 20% to 30% of deal amounts ([Reuters via The Star](https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/04/26/inside-big-techs-underground-race-to-buy-ai-training-data)).
- **Ongoing.** Recurring fees for continuing data flows, such as Reddit's reported $60 million a year with Google ([The Decoder](https://the-decoder.com/reddit-signs-60-million-annual-training-data-deal-with-google/)).

## Benchmarks

See our [AI data prices](https://aidataforsale.com/ai-data-prices) page for every published figure with its source.

## Costs to subtract

Preparation, legal review, de-identification, transfer and any broker fees. A deal is only worth doing if the net figure justifies the risk.

## Questions

### Should I take a flat fee or revenue share?

A flat fee gives certainty; revenue share can pay more if the intermediary resells widely, but you take on their sales risk and lose visibility of who holds copies.

## Sources

- [Reuters via The Star: Inside Big Tech's underground race to buy AI training data (April 2024)](https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/04/26/inside-big-techs-underground-race-to-buy-ai-training-data)
- [The Decoder: Reddit signs $60 million annual training data deal with Google](https://the-decoder.com/reddit-signs-60-million-annual-training-data-deal-with-google/)
- [Bloomberg via The Star: YouTubers are selling their unused video footage to AI companies (January 2025)](https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2025/01/13/youtubers-are-selling-their-unused-video-footage-to-ai-companies)