Matterport, 360 tour or 3D walkthrough: what works for a new build
Matterport and 360 tours are great at showing what already exists; an off-plan project needs something built from the plans. What each option shows, when each fits and how to combine them.
To show a property that already exists, Matterport and 360 tours are the most direct option: you scan or photograph it and the buyer sees it as it is. For a new or off-plan build there is nothing to scan, so you need something built from the plans: 360 views made from renders, or a guided 3D walkthrough like Recorrido 3D.
Platform data comes from their websites and aggregators, checked in October 2026.
What is Matterport and what is it for?
Matterport is a platform that builds a digital twin of a finished space from a scan: with its 3D camera, compatible 360 cameras or a phone. The result is a tour where visitors jump from point to point and can see a dollhouse view of the space from outside.
It is a global reference for resale homes, rentals, offices and stores. What it does well: it shows the real property, with its dimensions and condition, and it is quick to produce once the space exists.
What is a 360 tour like Kuula?
Kuula, and similar platforms, build tours from panoramic images: each room is a 360 image the visitor drags around, with arrows to move to the next one. According to Kuula website, more than half of views happen on phones. The images can be photos or 360 renders, so they can be used for new builds too.
On Argentine listing portals the 360 tour is already familiar: MercadoLibre has a "Con tour virtual (360)" filter.
What changes between the options?
| Matterport | 360 tour (Kuula) | Guided 3D walkthrough | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source | A scan of the finished space. | 360 photos or 360 renders. | The project plans. |
| Works off-plan | No. | Yes, if made from renders. | Yes. |
| How the buyer moves | Jumps from point to point. | Jumps between points and drags the image. | Moves continuously with the scroll or a finger. |
| Shows building and floors | Only if built. | Only if added as views. | Yes: building on its block, floors with availability and units. |
| Furnished unit | As furnished in reality. | If the render furnishes it. | Yes, with the project finishes. |
Which one fits each case?
- A resale or finished property: Matterport or a photo-based 360 tour. Fast, and buyers know it from portals.
- A finished amenity or show unit: a 360 tour or a scan, to show it as it is.
- An off-plan building with few unit types: a guided walkthrough of each unit type, since one walkthrough serves every floor where that type repeats.
- A catalog of homes not built yet: a walkthrough from the plan, viewable by day and by night.
- A finished but empty unit: it depends; to show it furnished, a walkthrough or renders with virtual staging work.
Why a guided walkthrough and not just 360 views?
Because buyers who do not know the place get lost. In a 360 tour, to understand how the kitchen connects to the living room they have to find the arrow, jump and reorient. In a guided walkthrough they move as if walking, from the door to the balcony, and understand the layout effortlessly.
That is what Recorrido 3D does: the building on its real block, tappable floors with availability and every unit walkable continuously, photorealistic, on a phone. Try the demo of a 12-story building in Quilmes. I explain it in 3D virtual tours for real estate agencies and builders, and what each option costs in how much a 3D virtual tour costs.
Frequently asked questions
Does Matterport work for an off-plan building?
No. Matterport builds a digital twin by scanning a space that already exists, with a 3D camera, a 360 camera or a phone. If the project is off-plan, there is nothing to scan: you need a walkthrough built from the plans.
Can you make a 360 tour of something that does not exist?
Yes, if each 360 view is a render instead of a photo. Platforms like Kuula accept 360 renders. The visitor still jumps from point to point, as in a tour of a finished property.
What is the difference between a 360 tour and a guided 3D walkthrough?
In a 360 tour, each room is seen from a fixed point and the visitor decides where to jump. In a guided walkthrough like Recorrido 3D, the buyer moves continuously with the scroll or a finger, like walking, with nothing to hunt for.
Can they be combined?
Yes. It is common to use a 360 tour for spaces that already exist (a sales office, a finished amenity, the show unit) and a walkthrough from plans for the unit types still under construction.
If you have an off-plan project and show it today with plans or loose renders, send me one unit type and we will see how it would be walked through.