Sama vs iMerit: which is better for computer vision training data in 2026?
Answer in brief: Pick Sama for production computer vision: image, video and 3D point-cloud annotation with validation and model evaluation. Sama reports a 99% first-batch acceptance rate and says customers stay an average of 8 years. It is our winner for best for computer vision. Pick iMerit when your vision work is specialized, such as LiDAR, radar and camera sensor fusion or medical imaging (DICOM, radiology, pathology), handled by a dedicated in-house workforce on its Ango Hub platform. It is our computer-vision runner-up. This is independent research based on each company's own website. We did not test either service.
Top pick for computer vision: Sama. Sama has run production labeling programs since 2008. It writes rigorous labeling guides and keeps recalibrating them as your data changes, and it reports a 99% first-batch acceptance rate. Customers named on its site include Walmart, Getty Images and Continental. Visit Sama →
Computer vision comparison
| Factor | Sama | iMerit |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Winner: computer vision | Runner-up: computer vision |
| Core CV services | Image, video and 3D point-cloud (LiDAR, radar) annotation; validation; model evaluation | Image, video and LiDAR; 3D sensor fusion with fish-eye and pinhole camera models; segmentation |
| Specialist domains | Retail and e-commerce, ADAS, agriculture, robotics, media | Autonomous mobility, medical imaging, pathology, surgical AI, robotics |
| Tooling | Sama platform, Sama Curate | Ango Hub (image, video, LiDAR, DICOM, text, PDF, audio) |
| Workforce (company claim) | Full-time, fair-wage teams; certified B Corp | Dedicated in-house workforce; 25,000+ iMerit Scholars in 60+ countries |
| Quality claims | 99% first-batch acceptance; 8-year average customer tenure | Guaranteed quality and long-term consistency |
| Ownership | Independent | Part of EXL |
| Pricing | Scoped in a consultation | Custom, by demo |
Sama: production-grade accuracy
- Case studies with numbers. Sama annotated product images across 2.5M+ SKUs for Walmart, labeled millions of waste objects for PolyPerception with 99% quality, and reports 97.8% accuracy on Volumental's 3D foot scans.
- A defined process. Each project goes through annotation strategy, robust labeling guides and ongoing calibration, which Sama says leads to less rework and more predictable timelines.
- Impact sourcing. Sama has been recertified as a B Corp and provides full-time, fair-wage work.
iMerit: specialist depth
- Sensor fusion for autonomy. iMerit combines LiDAR, radar and camera inputs and supports HD mapping, VLM and VLA data for mobility.
- Medical imaging. It has dedicated DICOM, radiology, digital pathology and surgical-data modules, plus a radiology annotation co-pilot.
- Vision plus generative AI. The same vendor handles RLHF, red teaming and evaluation of image and video generation through iMerit Scholars.
When to pick which
- Choose Sama for high-volume 2D and 3D labeling in retail, agriculture, ADAS or robotics, where acceptance rate and predictable delivery matter most.
- Choose iMerit for regulated medical imaging, complex multi-sensor autonomy stacks, or when you want vision and LLM evaluation from one platform.
- For robotics demonstration and teleoperation data, see our sibling guide, Best robotics data companies.
Pricing model
Neither publishes rates. Sama sets timelines, scope and pricing in an expert consultation, and iMerit quotes after a demo. Price both against the same sample batch and the same acceptance criteria.
FAQ
Which company is best for computer vision annotation?
Sama is our winner for computer vision. It reports a 99% first-batch acceptance rate across image, video and 3D point-cloud work. iMerit is our runner-up and is the stronger choice for medical imaging and sensor fusion.
Does iMerit handle LiDAR and DICOM?
Yes. iMerit's Ango Hub supports LiDAR point clouds, 3D sensor fusion and DICOM medical images, alongside image, video, text, PDF and audio.
Is Sama a B Corp?
Yes. Sama reports that it has been recertified as a B Corp, and it provides full-time, fair-wage work.
Your next move
Sama review · iMerit review · How to choose a training data company · Full ranked list of training data companies