Digital Nomad's WeWork Review [2024]: Are they worth it?

Whether you're a seasoned digital nomad or find yourself taking an important work call abroad, you'll want to have access to a good workspace while on the road. Airbnb wifi can be spotty, and cafes can be loud. You might struggle to get work done and slowly waste away your traveling time.

Co-living spaces such as Outsite are perfect for those who want to live and work from the same place, but that's not ideal for everyone. If you don't want to work from your accommodation, what you might be looking for is a coworking space. One flexible option is to use a WeWork office.

Want to know if WeWork is for you? Here's a rundown of all the WeWork membership plans and the amenities they offer to help you make an informed choice.

What is WeWork?

Founded in 2010, WeWork is an office space-leasing company that allows individuals or companies to rent space in any of their locations. You can book spaces by the hour, day, or long term if you know you'll be in a specific location for a while. 

While they're great for large office spaces, they're also perfect for digital nomads looking for a place to work while away from home.

To learn more about being a digital nomad, listen to these helpful digital nomad podcasts for inspiration, tips, and resources.

How much does WeWork cost?

Some spaces across WeWork locations offer an hourly rate. But even if they don't, all options will state "pricing available upon request." However, unclear pricing can make it challenging to budget your workspace in advance. WeWork isn't very forthcoming about its costs online, and even with some digging, they are sometimes unavailable without further inquiry.

Tip: If you're looking to join WeWork, Pilot's got a special offer for first time users like you I think you might like!

On-Demand Membership 

You can also use the WeWork app to book pay-as-you-go services, including hot desk day passes. This option will cost around $30 a day for access to a seat in the coworking spaces, although some locations may cost more. They call this an On Demand membership.

Reserved and Dedicated Desk Space Membership 

If you don't like the idea of hot desking, you can get a dedicated desk monthly membership to have your private desk. 

All Access Membership

If you're planning on using WeWork frequently, consider a monthly, All Access Membership. This option costs around $430 a month. Depending on the location, this membership tier grants unlimited access to coworking spaces at any WeWork worldwide. If you're planning on using WeWork daily, you can save money with the membership! 

You'll also have access to all the standard amenities WeWork spaces provide. Your first month will be prorated if you join after the 1st. 

What amenities does WeWork have?

While WeWork locations are all over the world, they have common amenities. Standard amenities include clean facilities, printers, and high-speed wifi. There are also tech services and meeting rooms at all sites. 

As a nice perk for using a WeWork space, facilities have complimentary filtered water, micro-roasted coffee, seltzers, and tea. Workspaces also have refrigerators, microwaves, and dishwashers. All WeWorks also have dedicated onsite staff to help run the office and answer any questions you may have.

Where can I find a WeWork?

WeWork offices are spread out all across the globe, meaning you can find one almost anywhere you travel. You'll need to search availability before reserving a space, but a WeWork can be found in the following countries:

• USA
• Argentina
• Australia
• Belgium
• Brazil
• Canada
• Chile
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Czech Republic
• France
• Germany
• China
• India
• Indonesia
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Japan 
• Malaysia
• Mexico
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Peru
• Philippines
• Poland
• Portugal
• Russia
• Singapore
• South Africa
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sweden
• Thailand
• UAE
• United Kingdom
• Vietnam

Some countries have more city options than others, so be sure to check online first if you plan to use WeWork while you travel!

WeWork Scandal

You might've heard of Apple TV's series WeCrashed, which is based on WeWorks' rise to fame and fall from glory. They're now getting back on their feet, but for a time, WeWork was unstable.

Without getting too deep into the legalese of things, WeWork's model was tenacious but risky. They would lease buildings and then have freelancers and digital nomads pay to rent the space. WeWork offered them free amenities, including free beer at one point. In many locations, this meant overcharging individuals to cover the lease. A conflict of interest arose when the founder was discovered to have purchased properties and leased them back to WeWork.

They also had a failed IPO in 2019 and, from that, had a change in ownership. Now, WeWork is owned by a Japanese Investment firm and is making strides to generate profit. 

Other co-living and coworking options

Suppose you like the idea of a coworking space but not the costs associated with WeWork. In that case, you could also explore co-living and coworking spaces to combine those two expenses. These are dedicated spaces where digital nomads stay and work so that you can get the best of both worlds. Examples include Selina, Landthere, or Zeus Living for longer-term stays.  

Either way, there's a new trend afoot, and the digital nomad world is opening up more and more! 

Is WeWork worth it?

If you're looking for a dedicated working space while you travel, WeWork could be worth exploring as an option. With locations worldwide, you're likely to find a spot wherever your destination is. Plus, you know that it'll be an environment designed for work.

That said, the cost associated with using WeWork spaces isn't always budget-friendly. A day pass could be a reasonable expenditure if only for a day here or there, but if you're going to be using it frequently, then costs will quickly add up. The monthly membership is also costly, so you need to use WeWork premises often to make it worthwhile.

Additionally, given that cost isn't readily available when researching, it is difficult to budget for how much a space might cost.

Our Rating: 3.8/5 

Pros

• Locations all over the world
• Convenient amenities & services
• Membership subscriptions or daily rates

Cons

• High membership fees
• Amenities aren't that extensive
• Pricing schemes aren't transparent
• Have to hot desk or get a subscription
  

Ready to (We)work?

Whether you're a seasoned digital nomad or a scarce traveler, you want to make provisions for your work before you hit the road. Exploring options like WeWork is a great way to ensure it's all sorted so you don't miss an important meeting! As you plan where you'll be going, you can input all of these details into Pilot.