Compare · 8 min read
CubiCasa vs Matterport: Which Should You Buy?
CubiCasa and Matterport are both widely used in residential real estate, but they serve different purposes at very different price points. If you're deciding between them, the right answer depends on what you actually need to deliver to clients.
The short version
- Buy CubiCasa if you need affordable, fast 2D floor plans for MLS listings or appraisals. No hardware. Pay per scan.
- Buy Matterport if your market expects immersive 3D virtual tours and you can justify the hardware investment with volume.
- Buy both if you do high-volume luxury work where tours and floor plans are both expected.
CubiCasa vs Matterport: at a glance
| CubiCasa | Matterport | |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware required | No (any smartphone) | Yes (Pro2/Pro3 or compatible camera) |
| Upfront cost | $0 | $2,700–$5,900 |
| Per-scan cost | $4–$9 | $15–$35+ plus monthly hosting |
| Output | 2D floor plan | 3D tour + 2D floor plan |
| ANSI GLA | Add-on available | Not available |
| Floor plan accuracy | Good (1–3%) | Good (AI-derived) |
| Best for | Appraisers, agents, photographers | Luxury listings, tech-forward markets |
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Measure your floor plan →The core difference
CubiCasa is a floor plan tool. Matterport is a 3D experience platform that also generates floor plans. That distinction matters when deciding what to buy.
If your clients and their buyers need a 2D floor plan with accurate room dimensions for an MLS listing, an appraisal, or a property disclosure: CubiCasa delivers that faster and cheaper than Matterport. If your clients expect a virtual tour where buyers can walk through the home from their phone, Matterport is the standard.
Cost reality check
The Matterport Pro3 camera is ~$5,900. Add $69–$309/month for hosting active spaces plus $15–$35 per scan delivery. At low volume, a photographer would need many months of consistent bookings to break even on hardware alone.
CubiCasa has no hardware cost. At $4–$9 per scan, you can start generating floor plans on day one with your existing phone. For appraisers, the ANSI Z765 GLA add-on adds a small fee per property but is still far cheaper than any hardware-based solution.
Floor plan quality
Both tools produce floor plans accurate enough for MLS use and most appraisal applications. CubiCasa's output is a clean 2D plan with labeled rooms and exterior dimensions: exactly what most agents and appraisers need.
Matterport's floor plans are auto-generated from the 3D point cloud, which produces accurate geometry but can occasionally misread wall placement in complex spaces. Matterport floor plans are generally not used for GLA calculations in formal appraisals because they lack ANSI certification.
Who uses each
CubiCasa is used by residential appraisers, real estate photographers, and agents who need floor plans as part of a listing package. It's the practical, high-volume choice.
Matterport is used by photographers and agents serving luxury and upper-tier markets where 3D tours are expected. Many Matterport users also offer CubiCasa floor plans as a separate line item since Matterport's floor plans are not always sufficient for appraisal use.
Already have the floor plan?
If you already have a floor plan PDF from CubiCasa or Matterport and need to calculate or verify the GLA yourself, PlanSnapper lets you upload it, set the scale, and trace the perimeter to get an accurate square footage: without paying for an add-on report.
Related reading
- How to get square footage from a CubiCasa floor plan
- What is gross living area (GLA)?
- ANSI Z765 square footage standard explained
- Floor plan measurement tool for GLA calculation
- Matterport vs RoomSketcher: comparison
- Matterport vs Zillow 3d Home: comparison
- CubiCasa vs Matterport floor plans: which is better for square footage?
- FAQ: How to use CubiCasa, Matterport, or iGUIDE floor plans with PlanSnapper
- How to read a floor plan: symbols, scales, and dimensions
- Floor plan dimensions: how to read and use them for square footage
- Furniture floor plan: how to use one to verify room size
- Apex Sketch vs Cubicasa: comparison
- Canvas vs Cubicasa: comparison
- Canvas vs Matterport: comparison
- Cubicasa vs Canvas vs Iguide
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between CubiCasa and Matterport?
CubiCasa and Matterport are different tools with different strengths. The best choice depends on your workflow, budget, and whether you need features like 3D scanning, floor plan generation, GLA calculation, or design capabilities. This page breaks down a direct comparison.
Which is better for real estate appraisers: CubiCasa or Matterport?
Cubicasa and Matterport serve different workflows. Cubicasa is better suited for one use case while Matterport fits another: the right choice depends on whether you need field capture or office-based GLA calculation from existing floor plans.
Can CubiCasa and Matterport be used together?
Cubicasa and Matterport can complement each other in some workflows: for example, using one for field capture and the other for GLA calculation and reporting. Check the comparison table above for specific integration details.
How much does CubiCasa cost compared to Matterport?
CubiCasa and Matterport have different pricing models: one may charge per user, per project, or via annual subscription, while the other may offer a free tier or pay-per-use option. Check the comparison table above for current pricing details and which offers better value for your volume of work.
Which is easier to use: CubiCasa or Matterport?
Ease of use depends on your starting point. CubiCasa and Matterport each target different user types. If you are working from an existing floor plan PDF and need to calculate square footage quickly, a browser-based tool like PlanSnapper may reduce the learning curve entirely: no software installation required.
Do I need CubiCasa or Matterport if I already have a floor plan PDF?
If you already have a floor plan as a PDF or image, you may not need either tool. PlanSnapper lets you upload the PDF directly and trace walls in your browser to calculate GLA: no software installation required. Both CubiCasa and Matterport are most useful for creating sketches from scratch or capturing measurements in the field.
Which works better for calculating GLA: CubiCasa or Matterport?
Both CubiCasa and Matterport can support GLA calculation, but the workflow differs. One may require field measurement and sketch entry while the other may allow importing existing floor plans. If your starting point is an existing PDF or image floor plan, PlanSnapper provides a faster path: upload, trace, and get the GLA figure without entering either tool's workflow.
Can you export a floor plan from Matterport for use in an appraisal?
Matterport offers a 2D floor plan schematic export, but it uses interior dimensions and does not automatically apply ANSI Z765 exclusions. Appraisers who receive a Matterport floor plan PDF can upload it to PlanSnapper to retrace the exterior-equivalent perimeter and produce a GLA figure that meets appraisal standards.
Which is less expensive: CubiCasa or Matterport?
CubiCasa charges per scan (starting around $3-5 per floor plan) with subscription options for volume users. Matterport costs depend on the camera hardware and subscription tier, with monthly plans starting around $65 for hosting. For pure floor plan generation without virtual tours, CubiCasa is typically the lower-cost option.