If you need floor plans or a 3D record of a space, two very different approaches come up: capture it with the iPhone you already own, or use a Matterport setup. Both are good tools — they're just built for different jobs. Here's an honest look at how they compare so you can pick the right one.

Good to know

This isn't "one is bad." Matterport is an excellent platform for what it's designed for. The question is which fits your job, budget, and how you'll use the output.

Cost

Matterport: a hosted platform with subscription tiers, and its best results come from dedicated capture cameras — so there's typically ongoing hosting cost plus hardware if you want the full experience.

iPhone (BeaverPlot): no extra hardware — it runs on a Pro-model iPhone you likely already carry. Scanning and editing are free; a Pro subscription unlocks the professional exports (PDF, DXF, IFC).

What you get out

Matterport: its signature output is the immersive, photorealistic "dollhouse" walkthrough — polished and widely recognized in real estate. Dimensioned floor plans are usually a paid add-on or ordered deliverable.

iPhone (BeaverPlot): a dimensioned floor plan and direct BIM/CAD exports — IFC for Revit, DXF for AutoCAD, PDF for clients — plus a shareable 3D tour link. If your output needs to land in design software, this is a more direct path.

Hardware & setup

Matterport: a dedicated camera shines on large, complex, or high-end spaces where capture quality is the priority; it's a deliberate setup per shoot.

iPhone (BeaverPlot): pull the phone out and walk the room — a couple of minutes, nothing to carry or charge separately. Ideal for quick turnarounds and everyday rooms.

Accuracy

Both are capture tools, not certified surveys. iPhone LiDAR is impressively close for its size, and BeaverPlot lets you calibrate against a measured wall to tighten it. For any critical dimension, verify on site regardless of which tool you used.

Which should you use?

Reach for Matterport when the immersive, photorealistic tour is the product itself — luxury listings, large venues, or a marketing experience where visual polish is the whole point.

Reach for your iPhone when you want a fast, low-cost floor plan or a scan that feeds straight into Revit, AutoCAD, or a PDF — renovations, as-builts, everyday listings, and BIM handoff. No extra gear, free to scan, professional formats a tap away.

Tip

Plenty of people use both: the iPhone for fast floor plans and CAD/BIM exports, a dedicated camera for the occasional showcase tour. They're complementary, not either-or.

Common questions

Is the iPhone a real Matterport alternative?

For floor plans, as-builts, and CAD/BIM exports, yes — an iPhone scan covers that need at a fraction of the cost. For a photorealistic marketing walkthrough of a high-end space, a dedicated camera still has the edge.

Do I need to buy anything to try the iPhone route?

No. If you have a Pro-model iPhone, BeaverPlot is free to download and scan with — exports are the only Pro feature. Not sure if your phone qualifies? See which iPhones have LiDAR.

Match the tool to the job: a dedicated camera for showcase tours, the iPhone in your pocket for fast floor plans and CAD/BIM output. Try a scan free and see how far it gets you.

iPhone LiDAR vs Matterport for Floor Plans