Learn · Real Estate · 7 min read

Part of: Floor Plan Measurement Tools: The Complete Comparison Guide

CubiCasa vs Matterport Floor Plans: Which Is Better for Square Footage?

Both CubiCasa and Matterport produce professional, to-scale floor plans that are widely used in real estate. Neither includes total square footage by default, but both can be used with PlanSnapper to get accurate GLA in minutes. Here's how they compare.

The short version

CubiCasa: Smartphone app, 15-minute scan, floor plan delivered in ~1 hour. Low cost. Primarily a 2D floor plan service, no immersive 3D tour.
Matterport: Dedicated 3D camera (or compatible smartphones), 20–60 minute scan, produces both an immersive 3D tour and a 2D floor plan. Higher cost. Standard in luxury and tech-forward markets.

For pure floor plan accuracy and cost efficiency, CubiCasa is typically the better choice. For listings that need an immersive 3D tour in addition to a floor plan, Matterport is the standard. Both produce floor plans accurate enough to calculate GLA with a measurement tool like PlanSnapper.

CubiCasa: how it works

CubiCasa is a smartphone app (iOS and Android). An agent, photographer, or appraiser installs the app, walks through the property holding their phone, and the app produces a 2D floor plan typically within 1–2 hours. No special hardware required.

The floor plan output is clean, to-scale, and labeled with room names and dimensions. CubiCasa also offers add-on services including ANSI-compliant GLA measurement, for an additional fee, they'll provide a certified square footage figure alongside the floor plan.

Pros

No special hardware, works on any modern iPhone or Android
Fast turnaround (1–2 hours)
Lower cost than Matterport (floor plan only services start under $20 in many markets)
Optional ANSI GLA add-on available
Floor plans are clean and consistently formatted, works well with PlanSnapper

Cons

No 3D tour, buyers can't virtually walk through the property
Accuracy on very complex layouts (curved walls, unusual angles) can vary
Less brand recognition than Matterport in some markets

Matterport: how it works

Matterport uses a dedicated 3D camera (the Pro2 or Pro3) or compatible smartphones with LiDAR (iPhone 12 Pro and later) to create a 3D digital twin of the property. The scan takes 20–60 minutes depending on home size. The output includes a fully immersive 3D tour that buyers can navigate, plus a 2D floor plan extracted from the 3D scan.

Matterport floor plans are to-scale and accurate. Like CubiCasa, Matterport doesn't include total square footage in the standard floor plan output, they offer a separate measurement service (Matterport Cortex) that provides square footage for an additional cost.

Pros

Immersive 3D tour is a powerful listing marketing tool
Strong brand recognition, buyers know and trust the "Matterport tour" experience
Very accurate floor plans, especially with the Pro3 camera and LiDAR
Widely used in luxury and high-end markets
Floor plans work well with PlanSnapper for GLA calculation

Cons

Higher cost, Matterport Pro camera is expensive; professional scanning services charge $150–400+ per shoot
Longer scan time than CubiCasa
Overkill if you only need a floor plan (not a 3D tour)

Floor plan accuracy: how they compare

Both services produce floor plans accurate enough for GLA calculation when used with a calibrated measurement tool. Independent testing and appraiser feedback generally puts both services within 1–3% of physical ANSI exterior measurement on standard homes.

Matterport has an edge on complex layouts (curved walls, unusual geometries) because the 3D point cloud capture is denser. CubiCasa performs well on standard rectangular and L-shaped layouts that make up the majority of residential homes.

For appraisal purposes, both are accurate enough to use as a GLA verification source , with the caveat that the appraiser is responsible for confirming the floor plan reflects current conditions and using above-grade perimeter measurement only.

Getting square footage from either service

Neither CubiCasa nor Matterport includes total square footage in their standard floor plan output. This is deliberate, both companies cite liability concerns with providing a square footage figure that might be used in a real estate transaction.

To get GLA from either service's floor plan:

Download or screenshot the floor plan from the listing or service portal.
Upload it to PlanSnapper.
Trace the exterior perimeter of the above-grade living area (auto-detect handles most standard CubiCasa and Matterport plans).
Set scale from any room dimension visible on the plan.
Get GLA in under 2 minutes. Add separate polygons for garage, below-grade, or ADU areas.

Works with CubiCasa, Matterport, iGUIDE, and any to-scale floor plan. Try PlanSnapper →

Which should you use?

The decision usually comes down to what the listing needs:

Need a 3D virtual tour for marketing + a floor plan? Matterport. It's the standard for this use case.
Need a floor plan only, for an appraisal, a quick listing, or a measurement job? CubiCasa. Lower cost, faster turnaround, no hardware needed.
Appraiser wanting to verify GLA on a comparable with an existing scan? Use whatever floor plan is in the MLS listing, both work with PlanSnapper equally well.
Budget-constrained listing that still needs a professional floor plan? CubiCasa. The iPhone workflow is significantly cheaper than hiring a Matterport photographer.

Quick comparison

	CubiCasa	Matterport
Hardware	Any smartphone	Pro camera or LiDAR iPhone
Scan time	~15 min	20–60 min
Turnaround	1–2 hours	1–4 hours
Output	2D floor plan	3D tour + 2D floor plan
Includes sq ft?	No (add-on available)	No (add-on available)
Typical cost	$15–50 (floor plan)	$150–400+ (full shoot)
Works with PlanSnapper	✓ Yes	✓ Yes
Best for	Floor plan only	Full marketing package

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between CubiCasa and Matterport?

CubiCasa generates 2D floor plans from a smartphone camera scan, a fast and low-cost workflow. Matterport creates immersive 3D digital twins with floor plan data as a byproduct, requiring either their dedicated camera or a compatible 360 camera, at significantly higher cost.

Which is more accurate for square footage: CubiCasa or Matterport?

Both platforms achieve roughly 1 to 2% accuracy in ideal conditions. Matterport's LiDAR-based hardware (Pro2, Pro3) tends to produce more consistent results in complex layouts, while CubiCasa relies on the phone camera and image processing algorithms.

Which tool is better for real estate listings?

CubiCasa is faster and cheaper, making it practical for routine listings. Matterport is the industry standard for luxury and premium listings where a 3D walkthrough adds significant marketing value. For most listings, CubiCasa's floor plan output is sufficient.

How much does CubiCasa cost compared to Matterport?

CubiCasa floor plans typically cost $15 to $50 per property when ordered as a standalone service. Matterport scans, requiring a professional photographer and either the Pro2 or Pro3 camera, commonly run $150 to $400 or more per shoot. CubiCasa is significantly cheaper for buyers who only need a 2D floor plan.

Can I use CubiCasa or Matterport floor plans to calculate ANSI Z765 GLA?

Yes. Both CubiCasa and Matterport produce to-scale floor plans that can be used with a measurement tool like PlanSnapper to calculate ANSI Z765-compliant GLA. Upload the floor plan, trace the exterior perimeter of the above-grade living area, set scale from any labeled dimension, and get a compliant GLA figure in under two minutes.

Do CubiCasa and Matterport floor plans include total square footage?

Neither service includes total square footage in their standard output. Both cite liability concerns with providing a square footage figure for real estate use. CubiCasa offers an ANSI-compliant GLA add-on for an extra fee. Matterport offers a separate measurement service called Matterport Cortex. For most users, uploading the floor plan to PlanSnapper is faster and cheaper.

How long does a CubiCasa scan take compared to a Matterport scan?

A CubiCasa scan takes about 15 minutes in the field, with the floor plan delivered in 1 to 2 hours. A Matterport scan takes 20 to 60 minutes depending on home size, with the 3D tour and floor plan available within 1 to 4 hours. CubiCasa is faster to capture and has a shorter turnaround time.

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