Matterport Virtual Tour Vs Google 360 Tour

Virtual tours have become an essential tool for businesses looking to showcase their spaces online. Whether you’re in hospitality, education or retail, a well-executed virtual tour can make all the difference in engaging potential clients.

But when it comes to choosing between a Matterport virtual tour and a Google 360 tour, how do you decide which one is right for you?

Let's break it down.

The main distinction between Matterport and Google 360 tours lies in the level of interactivity and detail they provide. While both serve the purpose of digitally showcasing a space, they do so in slightly different ways.

Matterport Virtual Tours

These offer a high-tech, fully immersive experience. Using a specialised 3D camera and software, Matterport creates a detailed 3D model of your space. Viewers can virtually “walk” through the area, navigate room to room, and interact with various elements. Think of it as creating a digital twin of your property that people can explore at their leisure.

Pros:

• Highly immersive and interactive.
• Superior image quality and detail.
• Great for industries that need to showcase their property in the best light
• Provides added functionality like measurement tools and options to create multimedia annotations and interactive features

Cons:

• Are often more expensive to create.
• Requires specialised equipment and software.
• Hosting may come with additional costs.

Google 360° Tours

Google 360 tours offer a simple way to showcase your space online. Using panoramic photography and Google’s Street View technology, these tours provide a basic 360-degree representation of your property. Viewers can click and drag to navigate through rooms, offering a limited but useful virtual experience.

Pros:

• Affordable and quick to produce.
• Increases visibility on Google search and maps, boosting local SEO (although Matterport Tours can be uploaded to Google too)
• Simple and effective for small businesses like cafes, gyms, and retail shops.
• Easily integrated into Google My Business listings.

Cons:

• Less immersive than Matterport.
• Limited interactivity.
• No advanced options like interactive features, measurement tools or dollhouse views.