Café vs coworking: which should you choose?
A friendly atmosphere, comfort, easy access: plenty of factors come into play when you're looking for the ideal workspace. In this article, we compare two places where you can get work done: cafés with Wi-Fi and coworking spaces. Who will come out on top in this clash of the titans? And which will you pick for your next deep-focus work sessions? Read on to find out!
Café vs coworking: how they compare
1. Price
When it comes to cost, a café or coffee shop beats a coworking space. You only pay for what you order, and in return you can use the Wi-Fi and a power socket for as long as you like.
The price of a desk in a coworking space depends on many factors: its location (a big city or a smaller town), its facilities and services, and the types of workspace on offer (open-plan and/or private offices).
The good news is that more and more coworking spaces offer flexible plans (10-day packs, weekly passes, day passes...). This lets coworkers try out the space for a short period before committing long term.
🏆 The prize for the cheapest option therefore goes to the café with Wi-Fi.
2. Workspace availability
When you take out a coworking membership, the space keeps a workstation for you, sometimes 24/7. If you need to hold a meeting, chances are you can book a room to host your clients or partners.
In a café, it's a bit of a lottery. You might arrive at opening time and settle into your favourite spot, or turn up at 6 pm to find the place packed.
What's more, you'll have to work around the café's opening hours. If it closes at 6 pm and your project isn't quite finished, you'll have to wrap it up at home or the next day.
🏆 The award for the most reliable workspace in terms of availability goes to the coworking space.
3. Facilities
Coworking spaces offer a wide range of facilities. Most of them provide fully equipped meeting rooms for their coworkers. That's the case at our Panda Coworking space in Lyon 7th (7e arrondissement) - Jean Macé. Drinks (tea and coffee) are included in the membership price, as are a locker and a printer.
Some coworking spaces even offer a business address service and mail handling for professionals.
If you don't need all that and a simple Wi-Fi connection is enough, a café may do the trick. But be warned: cafés can't offer dedicated workspaces for freelancers and remote workers! They cater first and foremost to people who want a hot drink.
🏆 When it comes to facilities, coworking takes the top spot on the podium.
4. Noise levels
Working surrounded by background chatter isn't ideal, and in a busy café that can happen fast. Customers talk, orders keep coming, phones ring, music plays in the background, chairs scrape… In short, if you're after somewhere quiet, keep walking, all the way to… a coworking space.
If you're looking for a calm, studious place where you can concentrate at any time of day, a coworking space will suit you better. In the open-plan area, members keep their heads down, while conversations can start up in the shared common areas. And more and more managed (private) offices are popping up for maximum privacy.
🏆 The prize for the quietest workplace goes to the coworking space.
5. Atmosphere & professional networking
Let's round off our list of criteria for choosing between a café and a coworking space with two key points: the atmosphere and the opportunities to meet other professionals.
Coworking spaces are known as great places for networking. Professionals are encouraged to share ideas, collaborate and help each other out. These spaces regularly host networking events such as afterwork drinks, talks, training sessions…
You're more likely to grow your professional network and pick up strategic advice in a coworking space than in a café. Likewise, you'll find business partners, investors and co-founders more easily in a coworking space! Not to mention that more and more coworking spaces specialise in a particular sector (communications, the wine trade, law…).
In a café, encounters are more casual and less natural. You'll have to make the first move. And the people around you, often there with family or friends, won't necessarily be open to conversation.
🏆 The trophy for the best place to make professional connections goes to the coworking space.
Café vs coworking: our verdict
In the end, choosing between a café and a coworking space comes down to your needs and goals.
If you want to finish writing an article and the café round the corner is nearly empty, it can be nice to work from a café for a while and change your work environment. But if you want to get as much done as possible in as little time as possible, and meet other professionals along the way, coworking is by far the better option.
We hope this comparison has helped you choose between a Wi-Fi café and a coworking space.
And if you're looking for a coworking space in Lyon 7th - Jean Macé, Panda Coworking invites you to try it out for a free day.