Coworking vs serviced offices: they're not the same thing
The difference comes down to privacy. A serviced office is a private, lockable office used only by your team. Coworking means renting a desk in a shared, open plan space alongside other businesses. So why do the two get mixed up? Most coworking spaces also offer serviced offices in the same building, so "coworking" often gets used as an umbrella term for the whole centre. Both are flexible, furnished and paid for with one monthly fee. But they suit very different ways of working, and choosing the wrong one can mean paying for privacy you don't need, or missing privacy you do.
What is coworking?
Coworking is a shared workspace where individuals and teams from different businesses work side by side. There are usually a few ways to join:
- Hot desk: use any available desk in the shared area
- Dedicated desk: your own desk in the shared area, kept for you
- Part-time membership: access one or two days a week, so you only pay for the days you use
Members typically share the kitchen, lounges and meeting rooms, and many spaces run regular events. It's social, flexible and the most cost-effective way into a professional workspace.
Most operators also provide phone booths for private calls and confidential conversations. These usually aren't bookable. They work on a walk-in, fair use basis, so they're ideal for the occasional private call but not for spending the day in. If confidential conversations are a big part of your day, that's a sign a private office may suit you better.
What is a serviced office?
A serviced office is your own private office inside a managed building. It's furnished, connected and cleaned for you, and your team has its own door, its own space and somewhere confidential to talk. You still enjoy the building's shared kitchen, lounges and community.
The office is yours permanently, so you pay the same monthly fee whether your team comes in every day or once a week. Our complete guide to serviced offices covers everything included.
Side by side
| Coworking | Serviced office | |
|---|---|---|
| Your Space | A desk in a shared, open plan area | A private, lockable office for your team |
| Privacy | Limited. Walk-in phone booths on a fair use basis | Full, ideal for confidential work |
| Access | Full-time, or part-time options such as one or two days a week | Yours permanently; the same monthly fee however often you come in |
| Typical Cost | About $250 to $500 a month for a hot desk, or $450 to $700 for a dedicated desk, excluding GST | About $650 to $1,100 per desk a month, excluding GST |
| Branding | Shared space, little room for your brand | Often room to add your own branding |
| Best for | Sole traders, freelancers, remote workers and small teams who value community | Teams who need privacy, client meetings and a consistent home base |
Which one suits your team?
Coworking is often the right fit if:
- You want the most cost-effective professional workspace
- Privacy isn't essential to your day to day work, and the occasional private call can happen in a phone booth
- You only need to come in a day or two a week
- You work solo or in a very small team
- You value community, networking and a lively atmosphere
A serviced office is often the right fit if:
You handle confidential client information or calls
Your team works together most days and needs its own space
You meet clients regularly and want a polished, private setting
You want a space that feels like your own
You don't have to choose just one
Many businesses get the best of both with a hybrid setup. For example, a business might take a serviced office for three people who are in every day, plus coworking memberships for two team members who only come in once a week. Everyone has a place to work, and the business only pays for the private space it actually uses.
Many buildings offer both, which makes a hybrid setup simple to arrange. Browse buildings that offer both.
Frequently asked questions
Is coworking cheaper than a serviced office? Per person, usually yes. Coworking trades privacy for a lower price.
Can serviced office tenants use the coworking areas? In many buildings, yes. Shared lounges, kitchens and breakout areas are often open to everyone in the building.
Can I book the phone booths in a coworking space? Usually not. Most phone booths are walk-in and shared on a fair use basis, so they suit the occasional private call rather than regular confidential work. Can I move from coworking into a serviced office later? Often, yes, and sometimes within the same building. It's a common step as teams settle into a way of working.
Are coworking spaces only for freelancers? No. Many businesses use coworking for remote staff, project teams or people who only come in occasionally.
Not sure which suits you?
Browse serviced offices and coworking spaces near you, or talk to us and we'll help you work out the right mix for your team, at no cost to you.