Are Coworking Spaces Worth It?

Coworking spaces always look great on paper. I still remember my first one with its stylish desks, free coffee, people always happy to chat… basically the dream setup for any of us who're tired of working from home or yet another noisy café.

But are coworking spaces actually worth the money? Some nomads swear by coworking spaces. Others (me included, at times) end up paying for a membership they barely use.

In this guide, I want to share what coworking spaces actually offer (the good and the not-so-good) so you can figure out whether they’re the right move for you.

What Exactly Is a Coworking Space?

A coworking space is basically a shared office you can use without renting one long-term yourself. You walk in, grab a desk, open your laptop, and everything you need is already sorted: good Wi-Fi, decent chairs, coffee, meeting rooms, the whole thing.

They’re different from serviced offices (those are more like having your own private room), and of course different from a classic private office where you literally get your own lockable space.

In coworking spaces, you’ll usually see two types of seats:

• Hot desks: sit wherever there’s an empty spot that day.
• Dedicated desks: the same desk is yours every day — your chair, your setup, no one touching your stuff.

Memberships are flexible. I’ve bought plenty of day passes when I just needed a quiet space for a few hours, and I’ve also done monthly plans when I stayed longer somewhere and wanted a proper routine. Teams and bigger companies sometimes get their own packages too.

The Benefits of Using Coworking Spaces

A place to work that isn’t your house

One of the biggest perks is simply getting out of your home. Working where you sleep sounds convenient as a digital nomad or remote worker... until you realize your brain never fully switches into “work mode”.

A coworking space creates that separation. You leave the distractions behind (laundry, snacks, your bed calling you, etc.), and you get a cleaner mental shift. Just sitting at a proper desk around other people who are also working can help you focus in a way that’s hard to do at home. You can even do it at a coffee shop.

Cost-effective vs leasing a traditional office

Renting your own office comes with a long list of expenses: a lease, furniture, chairs, Wi-Fi, cleaning, utilities, security, and a dozen small things you didn’t plan for.

Coworking spaces cover all that into one membership. You pay monthly, and that’s it. No long-term contracts and no upfront setup costs. 

For example, a small office in most major cities can easily cost a couple of thousand dollars every month before you even add the basics. A coworking membership is usually a tiny fraction of that!

Networking and community

Coworking can give you something working from home rarely does: connections. You might meet potential clients, partners, or collaborators just by being in the same space.

Most places host events, workshops, or mixers, which make networking and socialize feel way more natural.

Amenities and support staff

One underrated benefit: someone else handles the boring stuff. You get reliable Wi-Fi, meeting rooms, printing, a receptionist, mail handling, and even sometimes IT support.

You never have to think about buying a router or calling an electrician when something breaks. Everything operational is handled for you.

Productivity and motivation benefits

Coworking spaces put you in an environment where everybody’s working. That atmosphere alone can help you stay on track and be productive.

It’s also less lonely than working from home everyday. The routine of “getting ready and going” can reset your motivation and make your days feel more structured.

The Downside of Coworking Spaces

Cost creep

While the base membership is usually reasonable, extras can add up fast. For example, meeting rooms are often not included and are charged by the hour.

Printing, lockers, mail handling, and event space might not be included either. If you’re not careful, you can end up paying more than you expected.

Privacy and distraction issues

Most coworking spaces are open, which means they might be noisy. You've got conversations, video calls, and people walking around.

Phone booths can definitely help, but they’re usually limited and sometimes fully booked. If your work requires confidentiality or long calls, this can be a real drawback unless you pay for a private space.

Availability and scheduling challenges

Meeting rooms often need to be booked days in advance, and not all memberships include 24/7 access. If the space gets popular, hot desks can fill up quickly during peak hours.

If you need a fixed schedule or have frequent meetings, this can become an issue.

Who Coworking Spaces Are Worth It For

Coworking spaces make the most sense for different types of people, depending on how they work and what they need. For freelancers who spend way too many days working alone, a coworking space can bring back a sense of routine and human connection. Having people around you who are also working can seriously change how motivated you feel.

They’re also great for early-stage startups that aren’t ready to commit to a long-term office. I’ve met plenty of founders who started with two or three desks and gradually scaled up as the team grew, all without dealing with leases or furniture or utility bills.

Then there are project-based teams. These are the groups that only need to come together during certain phases, such as sprints, launches, planning weeks. For them, coworking is ideal: you just show up, book a room if you need one, and get to work.

Remote and hybrid employees fit well into coworking spaces too. A lot of people love working from home… until they suddenly don’t. Having a space to focus a few days a week can give you the best of both worlds: privacy when you want it, and structure when you need it.

Even bigger companies use coworking spaces strategically. Instead of opening new offices, they sometimes give employees access to coworking hubs closer to home, which saves money and cuts down on commuting.

And if you’re someone who only needs a professional setting once in a while, a coworking membership or even a day pass can be way more cost-effective than renting random meeting rooms across the city.

Who Coworking Spaces Are Not Worth It For

Coworking spaces aren’t for everyone, and after using them in different countries, I’ve noticed a few situations where they just don’t make sense. For starters, if your work involves a lot of sensitive conversations, such as legal stuff, medical details, high-stakes negotiations, you’re probably going to feel uncomfortable in an open-plan space. Unless you pay extra for a private office, privacy is never fully guaranteed.

Budget is another big one. Even the cheaper coworking options add up fast, especially if you’re comparing them to the cost of sitting at home or at a quiet café. And once you factor in extras like meeting room credits or locker rentals, it can easily stretch a tight budget.

Some businesses also struggle with coworking spaces because there’s zero control over the environment. If you need a space that reflects your brand (your layout, your colors, your vibe) coworking won’t give you that freedom. It’s not ideal for client-heavy teams who want a consistent, branded feeling.

Then there are teams that need the same physical space every single day. If your group works in person full-time and needs guaranteed desks or rooms, coworking can become chaotic or even more expensive than just renting a private office outright.

And finally, there are industries that simply can’t work in shared environments at all. Highly regulated fields sometimes require secure servers, isolated networks, or strict compliance standards that most coworking spaces just aren’t built to support.

Ready to Try Coworking Spaces?

Join our global
digital nomad community

Join us for free

Written by Pamela Leon

Pamela is one half of Pame & Dami, a digital nomad couple from South America. Together, they’ve built a lifestyle around traveling the world while working remotely.

Why you can trust Freaking Nomads

Freaking Nomads is supported by you. Clicking through our links may earn us a small affiliate commission, and that's what allows us to keep producing free, helpful content. Learn more