When a Matterport Virtual Tour Might Not Be the Best Choice
Insights
When a Matterport Virtual Tour Might Not Be the Best Choice
Matterport virtual tours are one of the most well-known names in the world of 3D virtual tours. It offers powerful technology for scanning interior spaces and creating immersive, walkable experiences that look great online. For many use cases, like estate agents showcasing residential properties or small-scale commercial spaces, Matterport is an excellent tool. But it is not always the best fit for every project.
If your location is large, spread across multiple buildings, or you need customisation and flexibility, there are some important things to consider. In this post, we will look at the scenarios where a bespoke virtual tour may offer better results than a Matterport tour, and why choosing the right type of virtual tour matters.
Large, Complex or Multi-Site Locations
Matterport tours are best suited for enclosed spaces that allow a continuous walkthrough. If your site is made up of separate buildings, large outdoor areas, or is spread across multiple locations, Matterport becomes much more restrictive. There is no smooth way to navigate between distant areas, and each separate space typically requires its own standalone scan. Whilst Matterport tours can be linked internally, they will still appear as separate tours to the user, with the 3D dollhouse view only showing a single scan at a time.
A bespoke virtual tour is better suited for larger or more complex layouts. You can structure your navigation clearly, include maps and build a user journey that makes sense. Whether you have multiple departments, buildings, or even locations across different towns, a bespoke tour can bring it all together in one seamless experience.
You Want Full Design and Branding Control
Matterport has a very recognisable interface and limited options for design customisation. It prioritises consistency across all tours, but that can be a drawback if you want your virtual tour to truly reflect your brand.
With a bespoke 360 virtual tour, you have complete control over the look and feel; from menus, overlays and pop-ups to colour schemes and fonts. This gives you the freedom to create a virtual experience that matches your brand identity and complements your website and marketing materials.
You Need a Flexible, Editable CMS
One of the biggest limitations of Matterport is that you cannot easily edit or update the content yourself unless you have your own, expensive, Matterport subscription. If you need to change a video, update a link or update a Mattertag (Matterport Hotspots), you need to go back to your Matterport provider to edit content, or rescan the space if a section has been updated.
All of our bespoke virtual tours come with access to our Pxlbake CMS, which means you can keep your content current without needing to come back to us every time something changes. Add new Hotspots, edit Hotspots, or update navigation. This is especially valuable for schools, universities, venues or businesses that want to keep their content up to date throughout the lifespan of their virtual tour.
Hosting Costs can be Expensive!
As each Matterport scan needs it’s own hosting on the Matterport platform, if you have multiple locations, buildings, or there is no natural flow between the areas you want to showcase, hosting costs can quickly spiral. We try and capture all your spaces in as little scans as possible, but sometimes multiple scans are necessary. In these cases, a bespoke virtual tour is definitely the most cost effective option!
Final Thoughts
Matterport is a fantastic option for certain types of spaces, but it is not always the right solution for every project. If your location is large, spread out, or you need more creative control and functionality, a bespoke virtual tour offers greater flexibility.
We work with schools, colleges, venues, and organisations of all sizes to create bespoke virtual tours that are easy to manage, beautifully designed and tailored to your needs.
Not sure which type of tour is right for your space? Get in touch for a quick chat. We are happy to advise and help you choose the best solution for your goals and budget.
