Matterport vs 360° Photography: What Are the Differences and Which Should You Choose
Matterport, panoramic photography, 360° virtual tour: these terms are often used to describe immersive experiences, but they do not refer to exactly the same thing.
A 360° photo lets you look all around from a single viewpoint. A Matterport virtual tour goes further: multiple scan positions are connected so visitors can move through the space and understand its overall layout more easily.
Both solutions can therefore be relevant, but not necessarily for the same goals. So, Matterport or 360° photography: which should you choose to showcase your space?
What is a 360° photo?
A 360° photograph is a spherical panoramic image captured from a specific position.
Unlike a traditional photograph, the user is not limited to the photographer’s chosen framing. They can rotate the view horizontally and vertically to observe the entire environment around them.
The principle nevertheless remains that of an observation point : the user looks around from the position where the photograph was taken.
Try a 360° panoramic photograph
Click inside the image and rotate it. You can freely look around the environment, but your position remains fixed.
What is a Matterport virtual tour?
Matterport also uses immersive views, but the experience is not limited to a single panoramic photograph.
When a space is captured, multiple positions are recorded and organised to create an environment that visitors can navigate.
Visitors can then move from one room to another, follow the circulation routes and gain a more complete understanding of how the building is organised.
A Matterport virtual tour can also provide different representations of the space, including an overall 3D view commonly known as the Dollhouse view.
Explore a Matterport virtual tour
This time, do more than look around: click inside the space and move from one area to another.
Matterport vs 360° photography: what are the main differences?
The difference is not simply about image quality. It is mainly about how users can explore and understand the space.
An immersive viewpoint
Visitors can freely look around from the position where the panorama was captured.
A space you can explore
Multiple positions are connected so visitors can move through the different areas.
Which solution helps people understand a space better?
It depends on how much spatial information the visitor actually needs.
If the goal is simply to show the overall appearance of a room, a 360° photograph may be enough.
If visitors need to understand how several rooms connect, how people move through the building or how different spaces relate to one another, a Matterport virtual tour is generally much more suitable.
This difference is particularly important for buildings with multiple areas, floors or circulation routes.
When should you choose a 360° photo or 360° tour?
Panoramic photography is relevant when the main goal is to provide a visual impression of a place.
- show the overall atmosphere of a room;
- present a specific viewpoint;
- show the interior of a retail space;
- show a restaurant dining room or reception area;
- showcase a hotel room or hospitality space;
- present a place from a strategic position;
- enhance the visual presence of a business.
For this type of project, the simplicity of 360° photography can be an advantage: visitors can quickly access an immersive view of the location.
When should you choose a Matterport virtual tour?
Matterport becomes more valuable when understanding the space as a whole is important.
- let people tour a house or apartment remotely;
- present offices or multiple workspaces;
- document an existing building;
- help people understand circulation routes;
- present several rooms within the same experience;
- allow different stakeholders to view the site remotely;
- keep a structured digital representation of a space.
To learn more about this technology, see our dedicated page on Matterport virtual tours in Luxembourg .
Matterport or 360°: which solution suits your project?
For a retail space
If the main goal is to show the atmosphere of the store and a few key areas, a 360° tour may meet the need.
For a large showroom or a complex space where customers need to move around virtually, Matterport can provide a more complete experience.
For a restaurant
A 360° view can be particularly effective for presenting the dining room, décor and overall atmosphere before a reservation.
For a house or apartment
For a property with several rooms, the ability to move naturally from one space to another generally makes a Matterport virtual tour more suitable.
For offices
When several workspaces, meeting rooms and circulation areas need to be presented, a navigable representation makes the overall site easier to understand.
For a practice or public-facing venue
A 360° tour may be sufficient when the main goal is to reassure future visitors and let them discover the environment before they arrive.
Where does Google Street View fit in?
A 360° photograph can also be used in a project designed to present a business within the Google ecosystem.
The goal is then different: it is not necessarily to create a complete 3D representation of the building, but to let people visually discover the location when they search for the business.
This approach is particularly relevant for shops, restaurants, hotels, practices and other venues that customers visit in person.
You can find our different visualisation and virtual tour services on the Mat4luX Solutions page.
How do you choose between Matterport and a 360° tour?
The right question is not really “which technology is better?”, but rather: “what should the person viewing the tour be able to understand or do?”
Do they only need to look around the space?
If a few immersive viewpoints are enough to present the environment, 360° photography may be the right solution.
Do they need to move through it?
If moving between different areas is important, a Matterport virtual tour will generally be more appropriate.
Do they need to understand the building layout?
The more spatial organisation influences the decision, the more value a structured representation of the space provides.
Where will the tour be used?
Website, sales presentation, building documentation or the Google ecosystem: the distribution channel also helps determine the right solution.
FAQ: Matterport or 360° photography
Is Matterport simply a series of 360° photos?
No. Although the experience includes immersive views, a Matterport virtual tour organises multiple scan positions within a navigable environment so visitors can move through and understand the space.
Can you move around inside a 360° photo?
In a standalone 360° photograph, users can look in every direction but remain at the point where the image was captured. Multiple panoramas can, however, be linked together to create a 360° tour.
Which solution should you choose for a property?
When it is important to understand the room layout and move naturally from one room to another, a Matterport virtual tour is generally more suitable than a standalone panorama.
Which solution should you choose for a shop or restaurant?
A 360° tour can be particularly relevant when the main aim is to present the atmosphere and environment of a venue. For larger or more complex premises, Matterport can offer a more structured way to explore.
Are Matterport and Google Street View competing solutions?
Not necessarily. They serve different purposes. Matterport is particularly suited to structured exploration of a space, while publishing 360° content within the Google ecosystem is more focused on helping people discover a business.
Can several solutions be used for the same business?
Yes. Depending on the project goals, a Matterport virtual tour, traditional photography and 360° content can complement one another and be used across different channels.
Not sure which solution to choose?
Tell us what type of space you have, how you want to present it and who the tour is intended for. We can determine the solution best suited to your project.