18,500 Coworking Spaces in 172 Countries: How Coworker Mapped the Global Flex Work Revolution
66.5K
Monthly Visitors
$9.9M
Traffic Value/yr
DR 71
Domain Rating
18.5K
Spaces Listed
Leanne Beesley and Sam Marks discovered coworking in Hong Kong in 2015.
After years of working from home, cafes, and random public spaces, they walked into Garage Society—their first coworking space—and felt "reborn as professionals seeking community-based workspace."
But finding that first space had been hard. Coworking was exploding globally, yet there was no comprehensive directory. How were digital nomads, remote workers, and freelancers supposed to find workspaces in unfamiliar cities?
So Leanne and Sam built one. Today, Coworker lists 18,500+ coworking spaces across 172 countries. With 66,000 monthly organic visitors and traffic valued at $9.9 million annually, it's become the go-to resource for flexible workspace discovery worldwide.
The Challenge
In 2015, coworking was growing rapidly. WeWork was expanding. Independent spaces were opening in every major city. Digital nomads were traveling the world, looking for places to work.
But discovery was fragmented. Each space had its own website. Some were listed on Google Maps with varying accuracy. There was no unified directory where travelers could search, compare, and book coworking spaces globally.
The Financial Times called Coworker an "innovation to watch" in 2015—early validation that they were solving a real problem.
Directory Overview
| Website | coworker.com |
| What It Does | Directory and booking platform for coworking spaces worldwide |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Founders | Leanne Beesley, Sam Marks |
| Spaces Listed | 18,500+ |
| Countries Covered | 172 |
| European HQ | Barcelona, Spain (opened 2019) |
Key Metrics (Ahrefs, January 2026)
Monthly Traffic
66,537
Strong for a niche directory—location pages drive traffic
Traffic Value
$9.9M/year
$148 per visitor—high-intent commercial audience
Domain Rating
71/100
Solid authority for a focused directory
Referring Domains
4,650
Coworking spaces link to their listings
Traffic Sources
What The Numbers Tell Us
Remote Work Explosion Created Massive Demand: The global shift to remote work—accelerated by the pandemic—dramatically increased demand for flexible workspace options. Coworker was positioned perfectly to capture that surge.
Digital Nomad Movement Is Growing: Digital nomads need workspaces in unfamiliar cities. Coworker became essential infrastructure for location-independent professionals who can't scout spaces in advance.
Global Coverage Is a Moat: With 18,500 spaces in 172 countries, Coworker offers coverage that competitors can't quickly replicate. Each city added strengthens the network effect.
High Traffic Value Shows Commercial Intent: At $148 per visitor, Coworker attracts people ready to book workspace—not casual browsers. This makes the traffic extremely valuable for monetization.
Monetization: From Directory to Access Platform
Global Pass (Launched 2020)
A membership that provides access to thousands of coworking spaces under one subscription. Work from any Global Pass partner location with a single payment.
Space Listings & Premium Placements
Coworking spaces pay for enhanced visibility, featured listings, and premium placement in search results.
Booking Commission
When users book through Coworker, the platform takes a commission on the transaction.
Why This Model Works
Coworker evolved from "find a space" to "access any space." The directory becomes the acquisition funnel; Global Pass becomes the recurring revenue product. This transforms one-time visitors into ongoing subscribers.
Build Your Own Directory Success Story
Coworker turned personal frustration into a global platform. What problem have you experienced that could become a directory?
Get Weekly Directory Case Studies
SEO & Content Strategy
18,500 Location Pages: Every coworking space listing is a page that can rank for searches about that specific location. This creates massive long-tail coverage.
City-Level Pages: "Coworking space in [city]" searches hit dedicated city pages with comprehensive listings. Each of the 172 countries has multiple city pages.
Global Coverage Advantage: With spaces in 172 countries, Coworker captures long-tail searches in markets competitors ignore. The obscure destinations add up.
| Top Keywords | Volume | Position |
|---|---|---|
| coworking space | 14,000 | #4 |
| coworking | 9,600 | #6 |
| coworker | 15,000 | #3 |
| coworking spaces near me | 1,900 | #4 |
| cheap coworking space | 600 | #2 |
Key Lessons for Directory Builders
1. Personal Experience Drives Better Products
Leanne and Sam built Coworker because they experienced the problem themselves. That personal frustration led to authentic solutions they deeply understood.
2. Global Coverage Is a Moat
18,500 spaces in 172 countries isn't something a competitor can quickly replicate. Comprehensive coverage creates a defensible position.
3. Directories Can Evolve Into Platforms
Coworker started as a directory (find spaces) and evolved into a platform (access spaces via Global Pass). Directories don't have to stay directories.
4. Remote Work Trends Create Opportunities
Coworker launched in 2015, years before remote work went mainstream. Early positioning in a growing market pays off when the market explodes.
5. Location Pages Drive SEO
Every city, every space becomes a page that can rank for local searches. This location-based SEO strategy drives consistent, qualified traffic.
6. Recurring Revenue Beats One-Time
Global Pass transforms one-time visitors into monthly subscribers. Building recurring revenue makes the business more valuable and predictable.
Conclusion
A directory can be just the beginning.
Leanne and Sam started by solving their own problem—finding coworking spaces while traveling. That simple directory has grown into a global platform with 18,500 spaces in 172 countries.
But they didn't stop at listings. With Global Pass, they transformed from "find a space" to "access any space." The directory became a funnel; the platform became the product.
The core insight: What would your directory look like if it evolved beyond discovery into access, transactions, or subscriptions? Where could your directory go next?
Want More Directory Success Stories?
Get weekly case studies on successful directories, growth strategies, and actionable tactics delivered to your inbox.
Subscribe to Directory Gems
Sources: Ahrefs (traffic data, January 2026), Wikipedia, Financial Times, Digital Nomad Europe, AllWork.space.