Matterport Hosting Explained: Costs, Archiving, Reactivation & What It Means for You

One of the most important — and often misunderstood — parts of a Matterport project is Matterport hosting.

Clients frequently ask questions like:

• How long does my Matterport tour stay online?
• What happens if I stop hosting?
• Can a tour be reactivated later?
• Does archiving affect Google visibility?

This guide explains Matterport hosting costs, how archiving and reactivation work, and how different industries should plan hosting based on real-world use cases.

This article supports our Matterport Pricing & Costs Guide by clearly explaining how hosting works so you can plan with confidence.

What Is Matterport Hosting?

Matterport tours are hosted entirely within Matterport’s proprietary cloud-based ecosystem. This hosting is what allows your 3D model to remain:

• Interactive and navigable
• Shareable via link or embed
• Integrated with Google Maps and Google Business Listings

Without active hosting, a Matterport tour cannot be viewed in its interactive 3D format.

A helpful way to think about it:

Just like a website needs hosting to stay live, a Matterport tour requires hosting to remain accessible.

Matterport Hosting Costs Explained

Matterport hosting is typically billed as an annual fee.

Perspective 3D Hosting Structure

• First-Year Hosting: Often discounted as part of a promotional rate for new clients
• Ongoing Hosting Fee: $10 per month, per model billed annually.

This annual hosting fee covers:

• Matterport AWS cloud-based hosting
• Continued access to the interactive 3D tour
• Updates to media tags (MatterTags) as requested
• Ongoing support for changes or updates

This structure allows clients to keep models live only as long as they are useful — without unnecessary long-term commitments.

Archiving a Matterport Tour: What Happens?

If hosting is not renewed, the Matterport tour is archived.

What Archiving Means

• The tour becomes inaccessible within the Matterport Cloud
• The model is not deleted
• All data remains safely stored

Archiving is a pause — not a loss.

Google Visibility After Archiving

Archiving a Matterport tour does not remove it from:

• Google Business Listings
• Google Maps (Street View / interior views)

This means businesses can maintain long-term Google visibility even if they choose not to continue Matterport hosting.

Reactivating a Matterport Tour

Reactivation is straightforward.

If a previously archived tour needs to go live again:

• Hosting is re-enabled (at $10 per month)
• The interactive tour becomes accessible again
• Existing edits and media tags remain intact

Reactivation is ideal for:

• Seasonal businesses
• Properties returning to market
• Projects resuming after a pause

Can Matterport Tours Be Downloaded?

Matterport tours cannot be downloaded as standalone interactive files.

This is because the tour relies on Matterport’s proprietary software and Google-integrated viewing system to function correctly.

Available Alternatives

While the full interactive tour cannot be downloaded, Perspective 3D can provide:

• Individual 360° image files extracted from the scan
• High-resolution panoramic images for marketing or documentation

These files can be stored independently and used with compatible 360° viewers or third-party platforms.

Industry-Specific Hosting Recommendations

Real Estate Professionals

• Hosting needed only while the property is listed
• Archive once the sale closes
• Re-activate if relisted in the future

Architects & Contractors

• Hosting during design and construction phases
• Export E57 or BIM files for long-term use
• Archive once documentation is complete

Insurance & Restoration

• Hosting during claim lifecycle
• TruePlan and exports retain value after archiving

Museums, Galleries & Public Spaces

• Hosting is often long-term or permanent
• The tour itself is the experience

Frequently Asked Questions About Matterport Hosting

Is Matterport hosting required?

Yes. Hosting is required for the interactive 3D tour to remain accessible.

Can hosting be stopped and restarted?

Yes. Tours can be archived and later reactivated as needed.

Does archiving affect Google Maps visibility?

No. Google-hosted imagery remains visible even after Matterport archiving.

Do I need my own Matterport account?

No. Perspective 3D securely hosts tours within our Matterport account so clients don’t need to manage their own subscriptions.

How to Plan Hosting for Your Project

• Decide how long the tour needs to be live
• Confirm first-year hosting terms
• Budget annual hosting only while the tour is in use
• Plan exports if long-term offline value is needed

Conclusion

Matterport hosting is not a surprise cost — it’s a predictable, flexible part of maintaining a live 3D tour.

By understanding hosting, archiving, and reactivation, clients can make informed decisions that align with their project timeline and budget.

Have questions about hosting or reactivating a tour?
📞 Call Perspective 3D at 616-312-3947 or download our P3D Client Support & Matterport Pricing Guide for a complete breakdown.