What Matterport does
Matterport is a 3D capture platform that produces immersive virtual walkthroughs. You capture a space with a Matterport camera (Pro2, Pro3, or compatible device), upload the data to Matterport's cloud, and the platform generates a navigable 3D tour that can be embedded in a website or shared via link.
The primary use case is real estate marketing. Agents and property managers use Matterport tours to let buyers and renters explore a property remotely. The output is a visual experience — not a technical document.
Matterport does produce a schematic floor plan as part of its output, but it is a simplified layout intended for orientation within the virtual tour. It is not a dimensioned floor plan in the professional sense and does not export to DXF, IFC, or other CAD formats without additional paid add-ons.
What mobile LiDAR scanning apps do
Mobile LiDAR apps like Metaroom use the LiDAR sensor in iPhone Pro or iPad Pro to capture room geometry directly. The output is a dimensioned 2D floor plan and 3D model, accurate to within 1%, exportable to DXF, IFC, PDF, Excel, RDF, and 30+ other formats.
The primary use case is professional building documentation. Architects, tradespeople, energy consultants, and engineers use LiDAR scanning apps to capture existing building geometry for renovation planning, as-built documentation, CAD workflows, energy audits, and lighting design.
The output is a technical document — a floor plan with dimensions, room areas, volumes, and ceiling heights — not a visual experience.
Side-by-side comparison
| Matterport | Metaroom (mobile LiDAR) | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary output | Immersive 3D virtual tour | Dimensioned 2D floor plan + 3D model |
| Primary use case | Real estate marketing, property showcase | Renovation planning, energy audits, CAD workflows, as-built documentation |
| Hardware required | Matterport Pro2/Pro3 camera (€3,000 to €7,000) or compatible 360° camera | iPhone Pro (12 Pro and later) or iPad Pro (2020 and later) |
| Floor plan output | Schematic layout (not dimensioned, not CAD-ready) | Fully dimensioned floor plan, CAD-ready |
| CAD export | Not included — requires paid add-on (Matterport for CAD) | DXF, IFC, and 30+ formats included |
| Accuracy | Varies by camera — Pro3 claims ±1 cm in ideal conditions | Within 1% (1 to 2 cm per wall) consistently |
| Scan time — 3-room apartment | 20 to 40 minutes on-site + cloud processing (hours) | 10 to 20 minutes on-site, export ready immediately |
| Subscription cost | From $65/month (Starter, 5 active spaces) | From €12.49/month |
| Hardware cost | €3,000 to €7,000 for Matterport camera | iPhone Pro (most professionals already own one) |
| Cloud dependency | Yes — all processing and hosting on Matterport cloud | Partial — scanning works fully offline, 3D model uploads to Metaroom cloud when internet is available |
| Works offline | No | Partial — scanning and Snapshot capture work offline; opening the 3D model and export require upload to Metaroom cloud first |
Cost comparison
Matterport requires a dedicated camera. The Matterport Pro3 costs approximately €7,000. The Pro2 costs approximately €3,000. Third-party 360° cameras compatible with Matterport are available from €300, but produce lower-quality results. On top of hardware, a Matterport subscription costs from $65/month for 5 active spaces — spaces that are no longer active must be deleted or paid for additionally.
Metaroom works on an iPhone Pro or iPad Pro that most professionals already carry. The subscription starts at €12.49/month. There is no hardware investment, no cloud hosting fee for stored scans, and no per-space limit.
For a professional who needs floor plans and CAD exports rather than virtual tours, the total cost of Matterport — hardware plus subscription — is significantly higher, and the output does not include the CAD formats needed for professional workflows without additional add-ons.
When to use each
You need a virtual tour
Real estate marketing, property showcase, remote property viewing, or any situation where an immersive visual experience is the deliverable. Matterport is the category leader for this use case.
You need a floor plan or CAD file
Renovation planning, energy audit, as-built documentation, electrical base plan, lighting design, or CAD/BIM input. Metaroom produces dimensioned floor plans and exports to DXF, IFC, RDF, and 30+ formats directly.
You need a tour and a floor plan
Some real estate professionals want both a virtual tour for marketing and a dimensioned floor plan for documentation. In this case, both tools serve distinct purposes and can be used on the same property.
Matterport and Metaroom are not direct competitors. They produce different outputs for different audiences. If your work requires a dimensioned floor plan, a CAD-ready DXF, or an IFC file for BIM — Matterport does not produce these by default, regardless of how much you spend on hardware.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Metaroom is a professional floor plan scanning app for architects, tradespeople, and energy consultants. It uses the LiDAR sensor in iPhone Pro or iPad Pro to produce a dimensioned 2D floor plan and 3D model, accurate to within 1%. Exports include DXF, IFC, RDF, PDF, Excel, and 30+ other formats. A 3-room apartment scans in 10 to 20 minutes. Scanning and export work offline. Subscription from €12.49/month.
