Matterport has become a well known platform for creating immersive 3D and virtual tour experiences. For businesses that want more than a standard virtual walkthrough, the Matterport API opens the door to much deeper customization.
Instead of simply presenting a Matterport space as it comes out of the platform, developers can use APIs and software development tools to create custom experiences around the virtual tour.
This can be particularly valuable for businesses that serve different industries and need their virtual tours to do more than simply let visitors walk around a property.
In this guide, we will explain what the Matterport API is, how it can be used, how the developer tools work based on the workflow discussed in the original training, and why customization can be valuable for virtual tour businesses.
What Is the Matterport API?
API stands for Application Programming Interface.
In simple terms, an API allows different software systems to communicate with one another and exchange information or functionality.
A familiar example is a rideshare application. An app may use different software services to handle mapping, vehicle locations, payments, and other functions behind the scenes.
The Matterport API follows the same general concept.
It gives developers tools for working with Matterport experiences and building custom applications or integrations around them.
For a virtual tour business, this can mean creating an experience that goes beyond the standard Matterport interface.
Instead of every customer receiving exactly the same presentation, developers can build features that are designed around the specific needs of the business.
What Is an SDK?
Another term that comes up when discussing Matterport development is SDK.
SDK stands for Software Development Kit.
An SDK is a collection of development tools and resources that help programmers build applications or functionality for a particular platform.
The API and SDK serve related but different purposes.
The API provides a way for software to communicate with Matterport, while an SDK can provide development tools and resources for building customized applications and experiences.
For business owners, the technical distinction may not be the most important part.
The bigger takeaway is that Matterport provides development options that can allow a skilled developer to create more customized experiences.
Why Would You Customize a Matterport Virtual Tour?
A standard virtual tour can already be useful.
However, different businesses have different goals.
A residential real estate client may want to showcase rooms and property features.
A restaurant may want visitors to explore the dining environment.
A commercial property owner may want to highlight specific areas of a large facility.
A university may want to showcase classrooms, athletic facilities, student spaces, and other parts of campus.
The same virtual tour interface does not necessarily make sense for every business.
Customization allows the experience to be designed around the customer and the purpose of the tour.
Examples of Matterport API Customization
The transcript highlights several examples of features that can be incorporated into a customized virtual tour experience.
These include:
- Custom dimensions
- Specific labels
- Navigation maps
- Contact buttons
- Custom branding
- Addresses
- Additional interface elements
- Custom functionality
The exact features available depend on the development tools, platform capabilities, and implementation.
The important concept is that developers can build an experience around the virtual tour rather than treating the Matterport space as a standalone product.
Custom Branding for Matterport Tours
Branding can be particularly useful for businesses using virtual tours as part of their marketing strategy.
Instead of presenting a generic experience, a customized interface can potentially incorporate elements that align with the business’s branding.
This could include company colors, logos, navigation elements, contact information, or other visual components.
For a commercial client in Philadelphia, for example, a branded virtual tour could feel more like an extension of the company’s website rather than an isolated third party experience.
That can create a more consistent customer journey.
Add Navigation Features
Navigation is another area where customization can improve the experience.
The transcript describes an example that included a navigation area showing users where they were within a property.
For a large building, campus, or commercial facility, this type of feature can help visitors understand the relationship between different spaces.
Imagine exploring a university campus virtually.
A navigation interface could help users understand where a particular building is located and how it connects to other areas.
For a large commercial facility, it could provide context around different departments, rooms, or sections of the property.
Add Contact and Conversion Features
A virtual tour does not have to be purely informational.
For businesses, the ultimate goal may be to generate a lead, appointment, inquiry, booking, or sale.
Custom development can potentially make it easier to connect the virtual experience with those business goals.
For example, a customized experience could include a contact button or another call to action.
A real estate company could encourage visitors to request a showing.
A commercial property could provide an inquiry option.
A restaurant could direct visitors toward reservations or additional information.
The exact implementation depends on the project, but the principle is straightforward: make the virtual tour useful as part of the broader customer journey.
Matterport API Applications Across Different Industries
One of the strongest points from the transcript is that virtual tours have different purposes depending on the industry.
That makes customization particularly interesting.
Real Estate
Real estate is one of the most obvious applications for Matterport.
A residential or commercial property can be documented in 3D and presented through an immersive experience.
Customization could potentially help real estate businesses highlight important property information, branding, contact options, or navigation features.
For Philadelphia real estate professionals, this can be especially useful when marketing properties to buyers who cannot immediately visit in person.
Restaurants
Restaurants can use virtual tours to showcase their dining environment.
A potential customer may want to see the atmosphere, seating arrangement, interior design, or overall environment before making a reservation.
A customized experience could potentially incorporate restaurant branding, contact information, menus, or other relevant elements.
The key is making the virtual tour support the restaurant’s actual marketing objectives.
Commercial Properties
Commercial properties often contain large and complicated spaces.
A standard walkthrough may not provide enough context for visitors who need to understand how the property is organized.
Custom navigation, labels, maps, and information elements can potentially make these environments easier to explore.
This could be useful for offices, warehouses, training facilities, corporate campuses, and other commercial locations.
Retail
Retail businesses can use virtual experiences to introduce customers to their physical locations.
Depending on the business, a customized tour could help highlight products, departments, store layouts, or other important areas.
The experience should be designed around what customers actually need to know.
Universities and Schools
Educational institutions can also benefit from customized virtual tours.
A prospective student may want to explore more than a single building.
They may want to see classrooms, athletic facilities, student areas, laboratories, libraries, and other parts of the campus.
A customized interface could potentially make it easier to navigate those locations and provide additional information.
For universities competing for students across the country, a strong digital campus experience can help prospective students research the school remotely.
How to Access Matterport Developer Tools
The transcript demonstrates a workflow that begins inside a Matterport account.
According to the process shown in the original video, users can navigate to:
Matterport account → Settings → Developer Tools
The developer tools area discussed in the transcript includes options related to API tokens and SDK keys.
The exact interface, requirements, pricing, and available developer options can change over time, so businesses should confirm current details directly through Matterport before beginning a development project.
Applying for Matterport Developer Access
The transcript also describes a Matterport developer application process.
The workflow discussed includes selecting the option to apply or purchase developer access, reviewing the relevant legal information, and providing details such as:
- Name
- Email address
- Matterport account URL
- Company
- Intended use
- Application details
- Description of what you are building
The transcript specifically discusses a commercial application involving the development of an application for Matterport customers or a company’s own customers.
For businesses considering development access, the intended use case should be clearly defined before applying.
Why Your Use Case Matters
One of the most important ideas from the transcript is to start with the customer’s needs.
Do not begin with:
“What can the API do?”
Start with:
“What does my customer need the virtual tour to accomplish?”
That change in perspective can lead to much better products.
For example, a restaurant may need an experience that emphasizes atmosphere and reservations.
A real estate client may care more about property information and lead generation.
A university may need campus navigation.
A commercial property may need detailed floor navigation and contact options.
The technology should support the business objective.
Think About What Other Virtual Tour Platforms Offer
The transcript recommends looking at other virtual tour platforms for ideas.
This can be a useful brainstorming technique.
If another virtual tour platform has a feature that would be valuable to your Matterport customers, you can ask whether something similar could be incorporated into your own custom experience.
The goal is not necessarily to copy another platform.
Instead, look at how different tools solve problems and think about which ideas could improve the experience you are building.
For virtual tour professionals, this type of competitive research can help identify gaps and opportunities.
Matterport API for Virtual Tour Businesses
The API can be particularly interesting for companies that produce virtual tours for clients.
A virtual tour company may initially focus on capturing spaces and delivering the finished tour.
As the business grows, clients may begin asking for more.
They may want:
- Custom branding
- Additional navigation
- Lead generation features
- Custom interfaces
- Business information
- Interactive elements
- Industry specific functionality
- Integrations with other systems
At that point, development capabilities can become a competitive advantage.
Instead of simply selling a virtual tour, the company can potentially provide a more complete digital experience.
How Custom Development Can Add Business Value
Technology is only valuable when it solves a real problem.
A custom Matterport experience should therefore have a clear purpose.
Ask questions such as:
- Will this make the tour easier to navigate?
- Will it help visitors understand the property?
- Will it generate more inquiries?
- Will it strengthen the client’s branding?
- Will it make the experience more useful?
- Will it save the client time?
- Will it help the business stand out from competitors?
If the answer to these questions is yes, development may be worth exploring.
If a feature exists simply because it is technically impressive, it may not provide meaningful business value.
Matterport API and Philadelphia Businesses
Philadelphia businesses operate across a wide range of industries, from real estate and restaurants to commercial property, education, retail, hospitality, and professional services.
That diversity creates different opportunities for virtual tour technology.
A Philadelphia restaurant could use a virtual experience to showcase its atmosphere.
A commercial property owner could provide a remote walkthrough to prospective tenants.
A real estate professional could offer an immersive property experience to out of town buyers.
A university or educational institution could help prospective students explore campus remotely.
The technology is flexible, but the strategy should always be based on the specific audience and business objective.
Do You Need to Be a Developer?
The transcript’s presenter openly explains that he is not a developer or coder.
That is an important distinction.
Understanding what the API can potentially accomplish does not mean that every business owner needs to personally write the code.
A business owner can define the problem and desired customer experience while working with a qualified developer to handle the technical implementation.
For a virtual tour company, having access to developers or development partners can therefore expand what the business is able to offer without requiring every employee to become a programmer.
Matterport API Pricing and Business Costs
The original transcript discusses Matterport subscription costs and compares them with other virtual tour platforms.
However, software pricing and developer access can change over time.
For that reason, businesses should not rely on the historical prices mentioned in the original video when planning a current budget.
Instead, evaluate the current Matterport plans, developer requirements, hosting costs, development costs, and any additional software expenses involved in the project.
The total cost of a custom solution is not simply the cost of Matterport access.
Development time, design, testing, maintenance, integrations, and ongoing support can all contribute to the final investment.
The Most Important Question: What Should You Build?
The best starting point for a Matterport API project is not the technology.
It is the customer.
Think about what your clients repeatedly ask for.
What features would make their virtual tours more useful?
What information do visitors need?
What would make the experience easier to navigate?
What could turn a virtual tour visitor into a lead?
These questions can help you identify worthwhile development opportunities.
Final Thoughts
The Matterport API opens up possibilities beyond the standard virtual tour experience.
For developers and virtual tour companies, it can provide a way to build customized applications and features around Matterport spaces.
The potential applications range from custom branding and navigation to contact features and industry specific experiences.
The biggest opportunity is not simply creating something technically impressive.
It is creating something useful.
Real estate companies, restaurants, retailers, commercial property owners, schools, universities, and other organizations all have different needs. A customized virtual tour should reflect those differences.
For a virtual tour business in Philadelphia or elsewhere, understanding the possibilities of API based development can help you think beyond simply capturing a property.
Instead, you can start thinking about how a virtual experience can become a more complete marketing and customer engagement tool.
If you are exploring custom virtual tour technology and want to understand how AI and automation can fit into a broader digital strategy, Momentum 360 also offers AI agent solutions for businesses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Matterport API mean?
Matterport API refers to programming interfaces that allow developers to work with Matterport technology and build customized applications or integrations around virtual tour experiences.
What is an SDK?
SDK stands for Software Development Kit. It provides developers with tools and resources for building software or functionality for a particular platform.
Can Matterport virtual tours be customized?
The transcript describes several possible customization concepts, including branding, navigation, labels, dimensions, contact buttons, and other interface features.
Do I need to be a developer to use the Matterport API?
Not necessarily. A business owner can define the desired customer experience and work with a developer to handle the technical implementation.
What businesses can benefit from Matterport API customization?
Potential applications include real estate, restaurants, retail, commercial properties, schools, universities, hospitality, and other businesses that use immersive virtual experiences.
Does Matterport API development cost extra?
The exact cost depends on the current Matterport developer program, software requirements, development work, integrations, and other project factors. Current pricing should be confirmed directly with Matterport.
Is Matterport API useful for a virtual tour company?
It can be useful for companies that want to move beyond standard virtual tours and offer customized experiences, integrations, navigation, branding, or other features for clients.
