Matterport Virtual Tour Software

Matterport rumor: New hosting fees – here are potential solutions

Are Matterport users soon going to pay more than they bargained for?

A recent rumor, attributed to Dan Smigrod, the Founder and Managing Editor of We Get Around Network, suggests that Matterport might soon introduce hosting charges for archived models, potentially generating millions in annual recurring revenue. While this is just a rumor and not officially confirmed, it has stirred up concerns among Matterport users. In light of the potential impact of this change, it’s worth understanding the context behind the potential move so you can decide for yourself how likely it is, as well as enable you to explore possible solutions.

The Context

Matterport’s rumored decision to charge for hosting archived models could be an attempt to reduce their expenses associated with Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud storage. Moreover, it could be a response to the company’s underestimation of the costs involved in hosting millions of archived models when it launched its new pricing in 2019. The lack of incentive for users to delete models and the growing number of spaces under management might have contributed to the financial strain on the company.

Possible Solutions

  1. Delete archived models: To minimize the impact of possible hosting charges, you could consider deleting any unnecessary archived models. This way, you would only be charged for the models you actively use and host on the platform.
  2. Upgrade to an annual contract before May 9, 2023: By upgrading to an annual contract before the rumored announcement, you might be able to delay the potential new hosting charges and other pricing changes for 12 months.
  3. Explore alternative services: If hosting charges for archived models do become a reality, it might be worth looking into other platforms that offer unlimited tours and similar features. One such service is TeliportMe, which recently introduced the 3D dollhouse feature for unlimited tours, providing a viable alternative for those who might be considering a change.

Conclusion

While the rumors of Matterport introducing hosting charges for archived models are not yet confirmed, it’s essential to stay informed and consider possible alternatives. Understanding the context behind the potential move can help you make informed decisions about your future usage of the platform. Whether it’s deleting unused models, upgrading your contract, or exploring other platforms like TeliportMe, taking proactive steps can help you navigate any potential changes to the Matterport pricing structure. Remember to keep an eye out for official announcements from Matterport and stay prepared for any updates to their service offerings

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  • Selfhosting is the only way to give your customers a fair price. Business models like Matterport always lead to dependency. 2016 i‘ve bought a Panono and it made me go later for Xphase and Pano2VR.

    • It really depends on your usecase and your expertise, most software today are not self-hosted and for good reason. It does run the issue of “dependency” and your POV is absolutely valid but for the majority of the virtual tours out there the customer is not expecting a very long hosting time. Realestate tours hardly stay relevant for more than a year and is about 80-85% of the market right now – same with Streetview.

  • I used the one and only free model you can host with Matterport, to load a tour of my new house that I’m renovating. It’s very useful for me, I’m studying the furniture to buy and I can go to Matterport to see corners I don’t remember, without having to physically go into the house. Many friends have seen my tour and are interested, but just at hobby level. No one would use it professionally. Is there a software, a site, to make virtual tours completely free? I could provide hosting with my Synology NAS….

    • Hi Sergio, i’m using Pano2VR for years. Yes it isn’t free but you just pay once and you have all the code und your data in your own hands. You just need the simplest web server you can get because it is just HTML and JS.

      And yes it hasn’t got the dollhouse model.

      There is no perfect solution that is free and has got all benefits.