Cost Comparison – Creating vs. Hiring Virtual Tours

Virtual tours are an effective way to promote your business, attract more online engagement, and boost conversions. But when it comes to creating one, many people face a key decision: should you do it yourself or hire a professional?

In this article, we break down the costs and considerations of each approach so you can choose the right option for your goals and budget.

Option 1: Creating Your Own Virtual Tour (DIY)

Equipment Costs

To create a high-quality virtual tour, you'll need:

A 360° camera (e.g. Ricoh Theta Z1 or Insta360 ONE X2): £300–£1,000
A tripod and mount: £50–£150
A compatible smartphone or tablet for control: £200+ (if not already owned)
A subscription to a virtual tour platform (e.g. Matterport, Kuula, or CloudPano): £10–£50/month

Estimated upfront cost: £400–£1,200+
Ongoing software cost: £10–£50/month

Time Investment

Learning to use the camera and software
Capturing each space accurately and with good lighting
Editing, labelling, and exporting the final tour
Embedding or uploading to your website or Google

This can take several hours per project — more for larger or more complex spaces.

Pros

Full control over timing and updates
May be cost-effective if producing tours regularly
Good learning experience for in-house marketing teams

Cons

Requires time, effort, and a learning curve
Lower image quality if equipment or experience is limited
Difficult to match the polish of a professionally shot tour

Option 2: Hiring a Professional Virtual Tour Provider

Typical Cost Range

Professional services usually charge by project size or time:

Small space (e.g. café, salon): £250–£450
Medium space (e.g. restaurant, apartment, showroom): £450–£750
Large/commercial properties (e.g. hotels, schools, venues): £750–£1,500+
Multi-property or day rate packages: from £850/day

Hosting is often included for a period or billed monthly (£10–£30/month per tour).

What’s Included

High-quality 360° capture using professional-grade equipment (e.g. Matterport Pro 3)
Editing, stitching, and optimising the virtual tour
Custom branding, hotspots, floor plans, and walkthroughs
Hosting, support, and optional Google Street View publishing
Faster turnaround and more professional finish

Pros

High-resolution, fully polished output
Saves time — handled entirely for you
Better for client-facing or large-scale use
Additional features like measurements, overlays, and analytics

Cons

Higher upfront cost
Less control over shoot timing or revisions (though most providers are flexible)

Which Option Is Best?

Go DIY If:

You have time and technical confidence
You plan to shoot regularly across many small spaces
You’re okay with learning curve and average-quality output

Hire a Pro If:

You want professional quality and a fast turnaround
Your tour needs to impress clients, investors, or online audiences
You value your time and want a stress-free solution

Work with Go Virtual Tours

At Go Virtual Tours, we provide expert Matterport virtual tour services for businesses across the UK. We charge by the day — not per property — which makes us ideal for commercial projects or multiple locations.

Let us handle everything from capture to publishing, so you can focus on running your business.

Request a quote today and see how cost-effective professional quality can be.