The Old Standard: Matterport
Matterport has been the dominant 3D tour technology for real estate since around 2015. It works by scanning a property with a dedicated 360° camera that captures depth data, then stitching those scans into a navigable 3D model.
What Matterport does well: - Reliable, predictable results - Floor plan generation - Dollhouse view for property overview - Wide agent familiarity
Matterport's limitations: - Navigation is hotspot-based — you click a dot on the floor to teleport between positions - The rendering feels "digital" — surfaces look flat and textures are low-resolution - Glass, mirrors, and shiny surfaces often fail to capture correctly - The equipment is expensive and the scanning process is slow
The New Generation: Gaussian Splat
Gaussian Splatting is a rendering technique developed in academic research around 2023 that uses a swarm of tiny, transparent 3D ellipsoids (called "Gaussians") to reconstruct a scene from a set of photos or video frames.
What makes it different:
Photorealism — Because it's reconstructed from real photographs, the output looks like a photograph. Reflections, textures, light fall-off, and surface materials all render accurately.
Free-roam navigation — Instead of clicking hotspots, buyers move freely through the space using mouse or touch, like a first-person video game.
No specialized equipment — Our operators capture the scene with standard camera equipment, which means faster setup and less disruption to your listing appointment.
Which Should You Use?
For most residential listings, Gaussian Splat is the better choice today. The photorealism creates an emotional connection that flat Matterport scans can't match, and free-roam navigation keeps buyers engaged longer.
Matterport still has a place for: - Commercial properties where precise floor plan measurements are needed - Properties where the client specifically requires Matterport format for their CRM
Talk to us about your specific listing and we'll recommend the right approach.
