If like me, you have been bouncing around Frankfurt coffee shops looking for somewhere comfortable to work then you will have also been looking to the most affordable options for good co-working spaces. And I’m afraid it is not easy. I have tried out or visiting many of the options in Frankfurt and figured it was time to share!

I was resisting the urge to rent a full-time space somewhere, firstly because I don’t work everyday, I can still work from home when I’m lazy, and I sometimes need to travel for work. So considering I probably need only 10-15 days a month at most, a fixed office or desk for at least €500 sounds extreme. Some of the places I went had day passes, but always come with the downside of being limited to office hours (you get kicked out at 5 or 6pm) and you can’t go on public holidays or weekends. Evenings and weekends are actually the main times I need somewhere quiet to focus!

I ended up trying a one month at WeWork but more out of desperation with the other options but most likely will try somewhere different next time.

Quick summary

Best overall: WeWork
Best value monthly option: TechQuartier
Best free option: NIO House
Best professional alternative to WeWork: Industrious

Prices are all accurate at the time of writing, but no guarantees.

WeWork

Price: €359 + VAT/month
Day pass: €40
Day pass access: Regular workdays, 9:00–18:00

WeWork is the best place I found for a professional setup. There is a good range of coworking spaces, enough phone booths, and the technical setup is straightforward. The booking system is also clear and transparent, which matters more than you might expect.

The day rate is reasonable, but the limited access is annoying. You can only use it on normal workdays from 9–6, so it is not ideal if you need evenings or weekends.

Best for: A proper professional coworking base.

TechQuartier

Price: €185 + VAT/month
Day pass: No daily rate

TechQuartier is definitely the best value for money. The monthly price is much lower than most other options and the space is useful if you want a regular place to work. The only issue for me was the location at the Messe took longer to get to than the other more central locations.

The main downside is the lack of phone booths compared with the number of desks. If you have a lot of calls, this could be a problem, especially with people seeming to camp inside a booth once they get it.

The event schedule is a nice extra and the kitchens are the best stocked, partly because there is often leftover food or pizza from events. It has more of a student/start-up feeling than the more polished coworking spaces.

Best for: Affordable monthly coworking, especially if you do not need many private calls.

NIO House

Price: Free coworking
Seats: Around 40 coworking places
Meeting rooms: €10/hour

NIO House is probably the most useful free coworking option in Frankfurt. It is very convenient, just near Hauptwache, and has around 40 coworking seats in a modern, light environment.

The concept works well. You can book through the app either the day before or on the day itself if you are lucky. They also have meeting rooms for €10 an hour, which is very reasonable compared with most coworking spaces.

It is not a full replacement for a paid coworking membership if you need guaranteed space every day, but as a flexible free option in the city centre, it is hard to beat. Key drawback is the lack of phone booths. Fine for focused work but not a full-time option.

Best for: Free occasional coworking in a central location, but not if you are taking regular calls.

Industrious

Price: €289 + VAT/month
Day pass: €39
Day pass access: 8:00–17:00

Industrious is good value and still feels professional. It has enough seating for coworkers, good catering, and a more polished atmosphere than some of the cheaper options.

There was also a two-month discount available when booking a tour in advance, which makes it more attractive if the offer is still running.

The day pass is useful, but being kicked out at 17:00 feels early. That is fine for a short working day, but less useful if you want flexibility.

Best for: A professional monthly option that is cheaper than WeWork.

Collection at Four

Price: €499 + VAT/month
Day pass: €59
Other options: 10-day packages

Collection at Four looks tempting and is very professionally organised, but it really is not suitable for coworking.

The space seems mainly designed for private office rentals. Those offices are around the outside of the tower and have natural light. The coworking area is limited to around eight partitioned desks in a slightly dark internal corner.

There is also very little social space. For the price, it does not make sense as a coworking option.

Best for: Private office rental, not really coworking.

Regus

Price: From €23/day
Options: Day passes, 10-day passes and monthly passes

Regus looked like a good setup at first. The facilities seem good, the prices are reasonable, and the flexibility is appealing. I almost booked.

The problem is the number of negative reviews online about payment issues. People mention wrong amounts being charged, difficulty cancelling, poor customer service, and problems getting refunds after being overcharged.

This is a shame, because the facilities and pricing look competitive. I can’t even say that it is important to read the contract and cancellation terms. If you can’t rely on them to charge you fairly you can’t risk signing up.

Best for: Low-cost flexible access, but only if you are comfortable with the payment risk.

Mindspace Eurotheum Tower

Price: €399 + VAT/month
Day pass: €35
Other options: 4, 8 and 12-day packages

Mindspace in the Eurotheum Tower is a smaller space, but it is nicely set up. It seems mostly aimed at private office rental, but there is a comfortable coworking area for around 15–20 people, including some couches.

The main issue is private calls. There is nowhere suitable for them, so this is really only useful as a temporary or occasional solution.

It is also a little expensive and does not really make up for this with the space or services. I used for a couple of days before changing to something more comfortable.

Best for: Occasional coworking if you do not need phone booths.