Gaussian splatting vs Matterport vs 360° tours: which virtual tour for real estate?
DARK · 2026-10-29
Virtual tours are not all the same. The three common formats — 360° panoramas, mesh-based 3D scans like Matterport, and Gaussian splatting — differ in how you move, how real things look, and what they can capture. Here is a practical comparison.
360° panorama tours
A set of spherical photos or renders linked by hotspots. You look around from fixed points and jump between them. They are simple, light and work everywhere — but movement is discrete and the sense of space between points is lost.
Mesh-based 3D scans (Matterport-style)
A camera captures the space and software builds a textured 3D mesh plus panoramas. You get a dollhouse view, floor plans and measurements, which are useful for existing homes. Glass, mirrors, plants and fine detail are hard for meshes, and the dollhouse look is less photographic.
Gaussian splatting
The scene is reconstructed as millions of small soft points with color and transparency, rendered in real time in the browser. You move continuously anywhere, and reflections, foliage and water keep their real look. It can be captured from a real place or produced from renders of a design that isn't built yet.
Which one when
Use the format that matches the question the buyer has.
- Existing home, need floor plans and measurements → mesh scan
- Quick, light tour of many rooms → 360° panoramas
- Most realistic feeling of the space, glass, views, gardens → Gaussian splat
- Unbuilt project → renders + walkthrough, and a splat or real-time tour from the 3D model
Combining formats
The strongest listings often combine them: renders for the hero images, a splat for the feeling of the space, and a 360° tour or floor plan for orientation — all linked from one property website.
