Women may have superpowers, but there’s a limit to how much time even we can work from home. E-mails are harder to write when you’re staring at the pile of laundry still to be washed, conference calls are not as effective when made in pajamas, and a solo Friday happy hour is pretty much just “Bridget Jones’ Diary.”
Don’t worry; we’ve got your back. We’ve rounded up 10 of Boston’s co-working spaces and distilled them into one easy list. Pick an office, or try a few (most will let you work a trial day) and crush that to-do list.
Our guide to Boston’s co-working spaces to help you socialize and survive.
The Wing
Aiming to carry on the tradition of the women’s club movement of the 19th century, The Wing is a network of working spaces designed for women with their professional and personal needs in mind. In addition to luxe working spaces and amenities, The Wing offers members access to shower rooms, beauty rooms and a fully-stocked mothers room with breast pumps, milk bags, wipes, creams and a fridge.
The chic and inspiring interior design pays homage to the original women’s colleges of New England such as Wellesley and Smith College. Rich tones of hunter greens, deep yellows and navy blue complement The Wing’s custom plaid prints and wallpapers. A grand winding staircase connects the two-story penthouse space with 360-degree views of the city.
Tech amenities: Phone booths, printing area, charging stations
Freebies: Drip coffee, access to beauty room stocked with cosmetics, shower room with robes and slippers, community events and a woman-focused lending library.
$185 per month for Boston location; $250 for access to all national locations
WeWork
Since 2010, WeWork has curated a community of entrepreneurs, creators and anyone in between — across the globe, through private and shared workspaces. With 500 locations worldwide, members can work in a creative and inspiring environment with lounges, desks and collaborative conference rooms. Plus, custom art and lush indoor greenery add ambiance. Perhaps one of the best parts about WeWork is the calendar of community events that includes networking gatherings and catered lunch panels with distinguished speakers and presenters.
Tech amenities: Business-class printers, private phone booths, WeWork Member Network App
Freebies: Micro-roasted coffee, tea, fruit water, networking events, catered lunch events, wellness sessions, discounts on bedding and linens, gym memberships, travel and more.
different locations in Boston, one in Cambridge and at least three new ones opening soon.
$370 – $530 per month for hot desk (unassigned seating in communal space); $470 – $650 for dedicated desk; $760 – $2,090 for private office
The Yard
Located on the sixth floor of the formerly named John Hancock Tower, The Yard’s co-working space features floor-to-ceiling windows with plenty of inspiring views of Copley Square and lots of natural light. This Boston co-working space’s upscale environment with attentive customer service from on-site staff allows members to focus on their most high-priority tasks instead of spending time on the nitty-gritty such as booking conference rooms, setting up catering for a meeting, or sorting through mail.
Tech amenities: Apple TV capabilities, video conferencing, several high-speed WiFi networks, printing capabilities, wheelchair accessible
Freebies: Coffee and tea, on-site staff support, meeting rooms, 24/7 security, neighborhood discounts and perks, digital network through The Yard app, and on-site fitness and wellness events.
$400 per month for open coworking; $500 for dedicated desk; $725 for private office
Venture Lane
Venture Lane is a startup hub combining the best elements of a co-working space and a business accelerator. All vetted startup members are in the tech industry, based in Boston, have 1 – 15 employees and have an existing launched product while going through a high-growth phase.
Venture Lane provides access to resources, education, world-class experts and fosters an environment of entrepreneurialism. According to Venture Lane founder Christian Magel, the current community is comprised of 40 percent female members, 25 percent female-founded companies and 12 countries are represented.
Tech amenities: Unlimited high-speed internet and telecommunication, conference rooms with A/V equipment, phone booths and print and copy machines.
Freebies: Coffee, tea, onsite team support, and access to kitchen and lounge.
$400 per month for a hot desk; $500 for a dedicated desk with secure locker; $750 for a private office
Idea Space
Stylishly boutique, Idea Space provides freelancers, entrepreneurs and small businesses with a community of like-minded people in a shared, creative environment. Membership options are flexible, ranging from day passes, month-to-month billing or yearly commitments. Idea Space members enjoy 24/7 access, networking and educational events, and discounts to various services such as health insurance, Uber, dry cleaning and fitness gyms.
Tech amenities: Private phone booths, printing, copying and scanning services, meeting rooms equipped with video conferencing and HD monitors.
Freebies: Coffee, water, snacks, receptionist services, access to kitchen, networking events, and exclusive member discounts.
$100 – $350 per month; $500 for dedicated desk; $1,000 – $3,300 for private office
Cambridge Innovation Center
Like most co-working spots, the Cambridge Innovation Center offers flexible workspaces for small businesses, freelancers and creatives of all kinds — with a STEM twist. In true Kendall Square spirit, some of these Boston co-working spaces offer access to wet and prep chemical and biological laboratory spaces and lab equipment, in addition to the typical offices, conferences rooms and open workspaces you’d expect.
CIC also has locations nationally and internationally, and with a CIC pass you can have access to any of them. It’s a great option for those in travel-heavy industries.
Tech amenities: Internet, printing/copying, tech support, charging stations
Freebies: Stocked kitchens, global access, use of event space, 24/7 access, mailing address
$460 per month; $613 for dedicated team desks and tables; $1,225 for private offices
Make Shift Boston
Make Shift is a co-working space targeting socially minded creative professionals. The place is community oriented with a strong commitment to accessibility. It’s also welcoming to immigrants, people of color, people with disabilities and the LGBTQ community.
In an effort to make Boston’s co-working spaces more accessible, Make Shift offers a sliding payment scale based on your budget. You can also be a fully-fledged member like at a typical co-working space, or you can pay a lesser fee in exchange for helping out in shifts.
Tech amenities: Internet, charging stations, mic/projection equipment for events, printing
Freebies: 24/7 access, use of event space, lending library
$175-$250 per month; $75-$150 shift workers
Oficio
Consider Oficio your 50 Shades of co-working space, because it has options for every possible working arrangement. Sign up for a virtual office, which just accepts your mail and offers hourly room rentals in case of an on-site meeting. Or, pop into the space a few times a month to maximize productivity. Or, house an entire team in separate offices and desk spaces. Versatility is the name of the game here, so it’s a great option for expanding teams with a variety of needs.
Tech amenities: Internet, phone booths, copy/print/fax/scan equipment, charging stations, 3-D printing for some packages
Freebies: 24/7 access, coffee and espresso, filtered water, business mailing address, storage locker
$39 per 5 day pass; $99 per month; $299 dedicated workstation; $349 dedicated desk; $399 dedicated cubicle; $599–$1499 private offices depending on the number of people it needs to seat.
Industrious
Industrious is the largest premium flexible workspace provider in the U.S. with over 80 locations across 45 cities. So, it’s safe to say they’ve had a little experience with the co-working model.
Industrious offers a variety of chic, Insta-worthy workspaces, but it’s the amenities that take the cake. For example, locally sourced breakfast foods (pastries from Flour, bagels from Mamaleh), rooftop outdoor workspaces and happy hour networking sessions. A wellness room, available at all locations, was created with pumping mothers in mind.
Tech amenities: Internet, printing, charging stations, phone booths
Freebies: Craft coffee, artisanal pastries, afternoon snacks, fresh fruit and happy hour, a wellness room, member events and parties
$576 – $671 per month; $1,121–$6,399 dedicated offices, depending on size and location
Workbar
Workbar was one of the earliest of Boston’s co-working spaces. Today, it has locations all over Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, which makes it an ideal option for teams that are spread out in different areas of the city. Membership gets you into the open workspace at any location, and it comes with set hours of time to book meeting rooms each month.
Community events like a monthly lunch to welcome new members add a personal, fun touch without disrupting the productive environment.
Tech amenities: Internet, charging stations, printing/photocopying/scanning
Freebies: Unlimited snacks, 24/7 access, events, wellness rooms, meeting rooms
$139 per 5 day pass; $399 per month; $399–$599 dedicated desk depending on location
Reporting for this article by Celina Colby and Karen Morales