9 Best Virtual Coworking Platforms to Get More Done Working Remotely
The transition to remote work has been revolutionary, yet it has its own challenges. Working from home comes with distractions, which can disrupt even the most disciplined remote workers.
Virtual coworking platforms bridge this gap, providing you with a space to escape distractions, boost focus, and avoid social isolation.
How Does It Work?
Virtual coworking platforms facilitate an online environment where individuals can join others in a shared virtual space to work independently on their projects. These platforms often provide video and text chat features to communicate intentions before focusing on tasks, promoting a collective atmosphere of productivity without direct collaboration. Some platforms offer one-on-one pairing, while others organise small groups with a facilitator.
What are the Benefits?
Virtual coworking spaces can help enhance your focus and supercharge your motivation through a structured setting and collective work environment. Working alongside others is a subtle anchor and motivator, keeping you tethered to the task at hand and nudging you away from distraction. Online coworking also combats the isolation of remote work by providing light social interaction, which can alleviate feelings of loneliness.
Here are the nine best virtual coworking platforms that offer unique solutions to enhance productivity and foster community for those working from afar.
Deepwrk
Deepwrk is a platform designed specifically for ADHD adults to focus better, work smarter, and achieve more together. It facilitates hour-long, host-guided sessions that provide a supportive and encouraging environment where members complete their tasks in the presence of others. The platform combines gamification rooted in behavioural science with a sense of community to make even the most challenging and tedious tasks more enjoyable and easier to complete
2. Focusmate
Focusmate is a virtual coworking platform designed to help users accomplish a wide range of tasks, from desk work to physical exercise, all within the accountability of a partner's presence via camera. It connects individuals with community members globally, fostering a productive environment where you can 'favourite' partners for future sessions.
3. Flow Club
Flow Club is an online community for remote, independent, and neurodiverse workers. It facilitates online coworking sessions led by members of the community. The platform has native video capabilities and a built-in to-do list.
4. Flown
Flown offers different focus sessions, such as Flocks, Portholes, and Awe Walks, catering to various working styles and needs. Members can dive into a session at any time or schedule in advance, setting intentions and sharing goals in a community celebrating each other's achievements.
5. Caveday
Like Flown, Caveday offers immersive group sessions ranging from one to three hours. Utilising Zoom, participants are divided into breakout rooms to declare their intentions at the start and review their progress at the end, creating a structured and supportive environment.
6. Groove
Groove is a coworking app for creative entrepreneurs, offers 50-minute, on-demand coworking sessions. The platform aims to build a global community of freelancers and creatives — "Groovers," who support and motivate each other towards achieving their goals. The application process is designed to integrate newcomers into the fold smoothly, ensuring that every member is aligned with the community's ethos of commitment and unity.
7. Cofocus
This online platform facilitates a global network of remote workers, fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose. The process is straightforward: choose a time slot, and Cofocus pairs you with a coworking partner. This approach makes your day more productive and adds an element of surprise and diversity to your workday.
8. Spacetime Monotasking
Spacetime Monotasking provides a 24/7 virtual coworking lounge, offering a communal space for those seeking social accountability to tackle long-procrastinated tasks or fully engage with new projects. The emphasis on monotasking allows individuals to dedicate undivided attention to a single task within a defined period, effectively training focus and minimising distractions. Participants can book sessions in advance and join Zoom-hosted group sessions.
9. LifeAt
LifeAt is a dynamic solution for those seeking to enhance their work-from-home experience. The platform provides flexibility to join or create coworking and study rooms where real-time interaction, screen sharing, and idea exchanges are encouraged. It's highly customisable, allowing users to adjust their virtual work environment to fit their preferences, featuring tools like the Pomodoro timer, task lists, calendar sync, and video conferencing.
Final Thoughts
These virtual coworking platforms represent the best remote coworking solutions, each with its unique approach to enhancing productivity and facilitating community. Whether through body doubling, group sessions, or 1-on-1 connections, they provide the tools for freelancers, entrepreneurs, and remote workers to excel.