Not sure whether you need a Matterport 3D tour or a Google Street View tour for your business, clinic, hotel or property? The question comes up every week at Panosphere 360, and the answer depends on your business objective.
The 30-second summary: Google Street View shines for Google Maps visibility and costs $100 more up front, but nothing afterwards (Google hosts it). Matterport 3D shines for immersion, precise measurements and floor plans. Many companies benefit from combining the two. Here are the details.
What is Google Street View for business?
Google Street View for business (formerly Google Business View) is the publication, by a 360° photographer, of 360° panoramas of your location on Google (the Google Street View Trusted photographer program, which Panosphere 360 was part of from 2015 to 2024, has ended; publication now goes through Google’s official tools). These panoramas are then published directly on:
- Google Maps (the yellow Pegman icon)
- Google Business Profile (your company profile)
- Google search results (sometimes shown in the SERPs)
The user can move around your store, see the interior, read your signs, and get a feel for the atmosphere, without ever leaving Google. It's a powerful driver of local conversions.
At Panosphere 360, we have been publishing tours on Google Maps since 2015: over 1,000 tours in Quebec.
What is a Matterport 3D virtual tour?
Matterport is a different technology. The camera (Matterport Pro3) uses a LiDAR sensor, a laser that measures every centimetre of your space in 3D. The result is an immersive virtual tour in which the user:
- Moves freely, like in a video game
- Views the building in "dollhouse" mode (a 3D cutaway)
- Consults an automatically generated 2D plan
- Measures distances (±20 mm at 10 m with the Pro3, according to Matterport)
- Can explore it in virtual reality with a VR headset
Matterport has become the standard in the real estate market in Canada.
Side-by-side technical comparison
Criterion
Google Street View
Matterport 3D
Sensor
360° panoramic camera
LiDAR + 360° HDR camera
Image quality
Good
Excellent (HDR, high resolution)
Precise measurements
❌ No
✅ Yes (±20 mm at 10 m with the Pro3)
2D floor plan
❌ No
✅ Automatically generated
Dollhouse view
❌ No
✅ Yes
VR/Oculus compatibility
Limited
✅ Native
Google Maps publication
✅ Native
✅ Yes, by Panosphere 360 (non-residential places): $200 more
Appears in Google search results
✅ Yes
Indirect (via your website)
Embed on your site
✅ Yes
✅ Yes (Matterport iframe)
Hosting
Free for life on Google
1 year included, then $150 per year
Business comparison
Dimension
Google Street View
Matterport 3D
Entry price (< 1,500 sq ft)
$495
$395
Delivery time
24 to 48 hours in most cases
24 to 48 hours in most cases
Google Maps visibility
✅ Huge advantage
Weak
Real estate buyer confidence
Good
✅ Excellent (market standard)
Site/insurance documentation
Limited
✅ Ideal (measurements and plan included)
Recurring costs
None
Hosting: $150 per year after the first year
Relevance for distance learning
Weak
✅ Excellent
Which one should you choose for your type of business?
Are you a real estate broker? → Matterport 3D
It is the default choice for real estate. Buyers expect to see a Matterport tour on premium listings. The 2D floor plan and precise measurements are qualification tools: in-person visits are better targeted and offers come in faster. According to Matterport, 74% of brokers using Matterport win more listings.
Are you a restaurant, shop or office? → Google Street View (and ideally both)
The Google virtual tour pays for itself within a few weeks through your Google Business Profile. Your potential customers get a feel for your business before they even click through to your website. It's a huge local conversion lever. If your business is high-end, adding a Matterport tour as an extra boost builds even more trust.
Are you a hotel or inn? → Matterport 3D (with Google as a bonus)
Travellers want to explore the rooms before booking, and Matterport meets this need perfectly. A presence on Google Maps through Street View is a plus, especially for the lobby and the restaurant.
Are you a clinic, school or medical practice? → Matterport 3D
Immersion reassures patients and parents. The 2D floor plan also helps with accessibility for people with reduced mobility. With automatic blurring, it complies with Quebec's Law 25 and the GDPR.
Are you in industry, construction or infrastructure? → Matterport 3D
The Matterport digital twin is used for as-built documentation, virtual audits, remote training and site archives. In this vertical, the ROI easily exceeds the cost of the service. We've done it for Hydro-Québec (Beauharnois Dam), the Ministère des Transports du Québec (roadside rest areas) and Bombardier (offices).
Are you a museum, event venue or cultural venue? → Custom virtual tour
Beyond a standard capture, these places benefit from an enhanced tour with interactive hotspots, a logo, a menu and embedded videos. The Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium and the Maison de Radio-Canada are two examples in our portfolio.
The myth to debunk: "Matterport is replacing Google Street View"
False. The two technologies are complementary, not competitors:
- Google Street View = acquisition channel (Google Maps visibility)
- Matterport 3D = activation tool (immersion + conversion)
For many B2C businesses in Montreal, the right answer is to combine the two. You get Google visibility AND premium immersion that converts leads. The combined cost follows the grid: publication on Google Maps adds $200 to the Matterport capture, i.e. $595 under 1,500 sq ft and $695 up to 2,500 sq ft.
How much does it really cost?
Here are our actual 2026 prices by floor area. Our prices are published in full transparency (no misleading "starting from" amounts):
Area
Matterport 3D
Google Street View
Up to 1,500 sq ft
$395
$495
1,501 – 2,500 sq ft
$495
$595
2,501 – 3,500 sq ft
$595
$695
3,501 – 4,500 sq ft
$695
$795
4,501 – 5,500 sq ft
$795
$895
5,501 – 6,500 sq ft
$895
$995
6,501 – 7,500 sq ft
$995
$1,095
7,501 – 8,500 sq ft
$1,095
$1,195
8,501 – 9,500 sq ft
$1,195
$1,295
9,501 – 10,500 sq ft
$1,295
$1,395
Over 10,500 sq ft or custom project
Quote
Quote
For the complete price list and a personalized quote, see our 360° virtual tour prices page.
How to choose in 5 minutes: our decision matrix
Answer these 5 questions to guide your choice:
1. Your main objective: to be found on Google Maps (→ Google), or to impress visitors already on your site (→ Matterport)?
2. Do you need precise measurements (real estate, architecture, construction)? If so → Matterport is a must.
3. Do you have an active Google Business Profile? If so → Google Street View gives it a direct boost.
4. Your budget: publication on Google Maps adds $200 to the Matterport capture, i.e. $595 instead of $395 under 1,500 sq ft. Doing both can be decided at capture or later, for the same price.
5. Your vertical: real estate/hotel/clinic/industrial → Matterport. Restaurant/retail/office → Google first.
FAQ: frequently asked questions
Can a Matterport tour be converted into a Google Street View tour?
Yes. Panosphere 360 publishes Matterport tours of non-residential places on Google Maps: $200 more, at capture or for a Matterport tour already delivered. The panoramas then appear in Street View, without the 3D dollhouse view.
How long does a Matterport tour stay online?
One year of Matterport hosting is included in our packages. Beyond that, hosting costs $150 per year (more for very large models) to keep the tour online on Matterport servers.
Can a Google Street View tour disappear from Google Maps?
It's very rare. Google keeps published tours indefinitely, unless the owner deletes the business listing. If your business closes and Google removes the listing, the tour disappears with it.
Which technology has the best SEO impact?
Google Street View has a direct impact on local SEO: your Google Business Profile is more complete (no ranking is promised). Matterport has an indirect impact (time spent on the site, reduced bounce rate), which also helps SEO.
And what is a simple 360° photo?
It's an economical alternative: 1 to 3 static 360° photos (no free navigation). Ideal for a 360° Facebook post, a simple property listing or an event visual. Prices on request.
Our recommendation
If you manage a local service company in Montreal (restaurant, clinic, gym, hall): start with Google Street View to boost your Maps visibility. You can add a Matterport later once the ROI is proven.
If you are a real estate broker or a hotel: start directly with Matterport. That's what the market expects.
If you are in industry, institutions or education: Matterport for documentation, without hesitation.
Want personalized advice for your situation? Request your free quote within 24 hours or call us at 514 262-9248.
To go further
- 📖 What is a virtual tour? — definition, types of tour and uses
- 💰 How much does a 360 virtual tour cost in Quebec in 2026? — a complete breakdown of prices
- 🏢 Matterport 3D service in Montreal — our main page on 3D technology
- 🗺 Google Street View service — for businesses
- 🎯 Panosphere 360 Portfolio — 83 projects including Loto-Québec, Hydro-Québec, HEC Montréal