With the rise of the freelancing community in the Philippines, it’s no wonder that co-working spaces are also growing in number. All the better for those of us who need a physical workplace away from the distractions of home to concentrate and be more productive.
Coworking spaces in Metro Manila are basically shared offices that vary in amenities, but have the basics covered – speedy Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, and power outlets. Here are 7 that we’ve sussed out for you to consider for your temporary or long-term work needs.
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Image credit: @flyspacesasia
Clock In has a chill atmosphere that’ll make you feel as if you’re hanging out at a cafe rather than working at an actual office. They have multiple branches located in Makati, BGC, Pasig, Alabang, Quezon City, and even El Nido, Palawan, complete with modern design and brightly colored furniture that wouldn’t look out of place on an aesthetic Instagram feed.
Image adapted from @clockin_ph and @clockin_ph
Coworking seats in most locations start at P550 (~USD9.92)/day but if you need a more private office, you can get one at P15,000 (~USD270.56)/seat/month. For a taster, get a free day pass here.
Locations: Ayala North Exchange, Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Technology Center, Makati Stock Exchange, The 30th Corporate Center, Vertis North Corporate Center 1 in Quezon City, El Nido in Palawan, and ATC Corporate Center in Alabang
Opening hours: Varies; most locations open Mon-Fri 8am-5pm or 6pm
Contact: 7798 4400 | 0917 858 8326 (Ayala North Exchange)
7798 4400 | 0906 365 6083 (Makati Stock Exchange)
7798 4400 | 0917 834 9001 (The 30th Corporate Center, Pasig City)
7798 4400 | 0917 103 8352 (Vertis North Corporate Center 1, QC)
7798 4400 | 0917 580 4274 (Alabang) |
Clock In’s website | Facebook | Instagram
Image credit: @weremoteph
Despite the emergence of remote work and freelancers in the Philippines usually catering to clients in different time zones abroad, not all co-working spaces are open 24/7 – but WeRemote is.
Image credit: Weremote Philippines
It’s like a playground for freelancers where you can do more than just work on a laptop – many of their offices also come with photo and recording studios perfect for podcasters or videographers, game rooms for between-work breaks, private booths for calls, and even showers perfect for those who work out.
Rates start at P499 (~USD9) for a day pass and P4,999 (~USD90.17) for a 20-day pass including 24/7 access.
If you’re on the fence, try a free Wednesday coworking pass this August here. The new Makati branch at Kalayaan is also currently offering 25% off new signups.
Address: Ortigas, Alabang, BGC, and 4 Makati locations. Full list here.
Office hours: Mon-Fri 8.30am-5.30pm
Opening hours (for members only): 24 hours, daily (entry hours depend on your pass)
Contact: 917 623 3674 | 2 7216 3429
WeRemote’s website | Facebook | Instagram
Image credit: Paperwork PH
Paperwork PH was created by design professionals, so you should head here if you’re a creative working in the design field.
Design materials for your reference.
Image credit: Jules Verne Reyes
Interior designers and architects would appreciate its Materials Library that has catalogs, swatches, and samples to trigger their creativity. Every visitor is welcome to use the Materials Library, no matter how long their stay.
Image adapted from: Paperwork PH
Of course, it also includes all the necessities and more – a stocked pantry with a fridge, coffee, tea, and snacks, and a bookable meeting room with a projector, whiteboard, flipchart, smart TV. Plus, it’s a pet-friendly space – accompanied pets on leashes or in carriers are welcome to visit.
Prices start at P500 (~USD9.02)/day, P6,000 (~USD108.23)/month, and P25,000 (~USD450.94)/month – for a private office or suite. They also have an affiliate coworking space, Dragon’s Nest, also in QC with hotdesk rates starting at the same price.
Small businesses or solo creatives who work from home but need an occasional meeting space and a reliable place to collect mail can use its P3,000 (~USD54.11)/month virtual office service that comes with meeting room booking privileges.
Address: 403 F. Calderon, San Juan, 1500 Metro Manila
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8am-7pm
Contact: 956 932 3758
Paperwork PH’s website | Facebook | Instagram
Image credit: @firstcoworkingmnl
If you’re a fan of the historical Escolta in the City of Manila, you might want to check out FIRST. It’s a co-working space situated in the heritage neighborhood’s First United Building.
A modern space in a historical building.
Image credit: FIRST Coworking Community
The workspace has industrial and raw interiors furnished with wooden pieces and accents, with gigantic windows offering a lot of natural light.
An event in progress.
Image credit: FIRST Coworking Community
Sometimes, after usual working hours, the space transforms into an events space where people can hold seminars or parties.
Rates start at P400 (~USD7.22)/day and P6,000 (~USD108.23)/month, with discounts for long-term bookings.
Address: Units 502 & 506 First United Building, Escolta, Manila 1006
Office hours: 8AM-9PM, Monday to Friday
Opening hours (for members only): 24 hours, daily
Contact: (02) 715 7896
FIRST Coworking Community’s Facebook | Instagram
Launchpad Commercenter.
Image credit: Launchpad Coworking
Launchpad Coworking has two branches for all of our South friends out there – Commercenter and One Griffinstone. Not just your regular coworking spaces, they also offer members the use of their secretarial services from legal to accounting, all the better if you’re a solopreneur and need help with the nitty-gritty.
Launchpad One Griffinstone.
Image credit: Launchpad Coworking
Rates start at P500 (~USD9.01) a day and P4,500 (~USD81.12) a month at the Commercenter branch and P550 (~USD9.83) a day and P5,000 (~USD89.34) a month at One Griffinstone, including free 3-hour parking, lounge and pantry access with free-flow coffee and unlimited internet, and Launchpad-hosted on-site events.
Launchpad Coworking at Commercenter
Address: Unit 214-215, 2/f Commercenter Alabang, Commerce Avenue cor. East Asia Drive,
Filinvest Corporate City, Muntinlupa 1780
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9am-7pm | Sat 10am-5pm (Closed on Sundays)
Contact: (02) 8 776 3321 | 956 395 8065 (Globe)
Launchpad Coworking – One Griffinstone
Address: 5th floor, One Griffinstone Commerce Avenue cor. Spectrum Midway, Filinvest Corporate City, Muntinlupa 1780
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9am-7pm | Sat 10am-5pm (Closed on Sundays)
Contact: (02) 8 847 9850 | 961 1437 836 (Smart) | 915 7311 943 (Globe)
Launchpad’s website | Facebook | Instagram
Small event spaces at Space 1851.
Image adapted from @space1851mnl and @space1851mnl
Space 1851 may be a small office compared to some of the others in this list owned by larger orgs, but it still packs in the perks a coworking space should have.
Firstly, while hotdesking is now par for the course at most spaces, small-group meeting locations can be tricky to book elsewhere as you may have to vie for a space with more long-term members.
But here, from P8,000 (~USD142.82) for 4 hours, you can get a 20-25 person conference room with projector, smart TV, pantry and lounge use, and coffee for your guests for ad-hoc off-site huddles or events. The central location in Malate ensures accessibility for your attendees as well.
Image adapted from @space1851mnl and @space1851mnl
Regular coworking rates start at P450 (~USD8.05) for a day pass and P5,000 (~USD89.46) for a one-month unli visit pass. Tenants get a free flow of coffee, pantry and locker use, and if you’re a small business looking to hire your first employees, private offices for 2-3 are also available for rent. These start from P14,000 (~USD250.19) a month with all WiFi and utilities fees included, and photocopier, printer, and scanner access.
Address: 2F, 1851 Pilar Hidalgo Lim, Malate, Manila, 1004 Metro Manila
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
Contact: 935 818 7130
Space 1851’s Facebook | Instagram
Image credit: work.able
If all you need is a no-frills hotdesk for the day, we’d recommend work.able’s at P250 (~USD4.46) – with free coffee, WiFi, and local calls, and access to paid locker rental and printing and scanning services.
Image credit: work.able
Add in the fact that its Ortigas location is in a Grade A office building with security, a soundproof call booth and modern furnishings, and are used by tenants such as Hansgrohe and Dusit Thani – so you’ll know that even though the hotdesks are affordable, the management is also experienced at running coworking spaces in Metro Manila.
The Quezon City location at Exxa and Zeta Towers is in a prime office surrounded by shopping and eating options too, with a back-up electricity generator so you won’t have to worry about power cuts mid-call.
Permanent desk plans (from P550, ~USD9.82/day), private offices (from P12,000, ~USD214.35/desk/month) and meeting room rentals (from P350, ~USD6.25/hour) are available too. Tenants can even get mail and packages delivered to them at the front desk, so you could even use this space as your office address.
Address: Ortigas location: Cyberscape Gamma, Topaz and Ruby Roads, Ortigas Center, Pasig City
Quezon City location: Exxa and Zeta Towers Bridgetowne, C-5 Road, Ugong Norte, Quezon City
Opening hours: Mon-Fri, 7am-7pm (Closed Saturdays and Sundays)
Contact: 2 8888 2253
work.able’s Facebook | Instagram
Some people might think it’s counterintuitive to travel somewhere to work as a freelancer when you’re supposed to be home-based. But sometimes home environments aren’t conducive, you need faster internet, or you just really need to get out of the house and be around other people whether you’re speaking to each other or not.
Try one of these coworking spaces in Metro Manila soon to get a new, inspiring spot to focus, or to run into like-minded people.
Freelancers should also check out:
Cover image adapted from: @firstcoworkingmnl, @space1851mnl, Weremote Philippines and Jules Verne Reyes
This article was updated by Xin Tian Koh in August 2022.
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