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In today’s digital-first world, visuals are everything — especially when it comes to real estate, local businesses, and tourism marketing. Whether you’re showcasing a property, a restaurant, or a full cityscape, immersive 360° imagery helps potential clients feel like they’re already there. 🚀 Start your Google Street View business today — turn local maps into profit!
But when it comes to using 360° content, a common question pops up:
👉 “Should I create a 360 virtual tour or upload to Google Street View?”
Both are powerful tools — but they serve very different purposes. Let’s break down exactly how each works, who they’re for, and how to combine both for maximum visibility and sales. 🚀 With a real estate video app, agents can quickly produce professional listing videos that attract more buyers.
A 360 virtual tour is an interactive, hosted experience that allows viewers to explore a space at their own pace. It’s made up of stitched panoramic photos (often taken with a 360 camera or drone) that are connected into a smooth, clickable walkthrough.
Viewers can move from room to room, zoom in, click on info hotspots, and even view embedded media such as videos, floor plans, or voice narration.
Popular use cases include:
These tours are typically hosted on private software platforms like CloudPano, Matterport, or Kuula, and you can easily embed them on websites, MLS listings, or client presentations.
Read: Easy Side Hustle: Make Money with Google Maps and Street View Services
Google Street View uploads are 360° images or tours that appear directly on Google Maps and Google Search business listings.
When you upload 360 panoramas to a verified business location, users browsing on Maps can click “See Inside” and take a virtual walk through the location. These are public-facing, and designed primarily for discovery and local SEO — not private client presentations.
You’ve probably seen these tours before when exploring restaurants or stores on Google Maps — they’re a form of user-contributed content that gives customers a preview of the real environment.
To create these, professionals often use the Google Street View app or tools like CloudPano’s Street View integration to publish directly to Google Maps.
While both involve 360° photography, their goals, hosting platforms, and use cases differ significantly. Let’s look at what sets them apart — and why both can be valuable tools for business growth.
If you’re selling a home, the virtual tour helps your buyer.
If you’re selling a service, the Street View upload helps your Google presence.
Virtual tours are like your custom website experience, while Street View is like a public listing on Google.
If brand experience matters, a hosted virtual tour is the way to go. 💡
Ideally, you want both — use Street View for discovery and virtual tours for conversion.
If you’re running a media business, offering both can make your service package more valuable and competitive. 💵
If you’re already using CloudPano, you can simply publish your 360 tours to Google Street View with one click — giving you the best of both worlds. 🌍
Let’s look at a few examples of how each type of tour can drive results for different industries.
Agents use 360 virtual tours to host property walkthroughs on MLS, social media, and their own websites. These tours help generate qualified leads, reduce in-person showings, and speed up the sales process.
However, Street View tours aren’t ideal for residential listings — they’re public and can’t be easily branded. Stick with a private tour platform here.
Restaurants, salons, gyms, and hotels benefit most from Street View uploads. When users search “coffee shop near me,” that See Inside button on Maps can mean the difference between a click and a competitor.
At the same time, you can use a branded virtual tour on your website to drive reservations or bookings.
Developers and property managers often use both:
This dual approach builds trust + professionalism with both consumers and business partners.
The best strategy isn’t choosing one or the other — it’s using both strategically.
Imagine this flow:
That’s a seamless funnel from discovery → engagement → conversion. 🔥
By pairing both types of tours, you maximize your visibility across Google and maintain control over your brand experience.
Read: From Part-Time to Profit: Side Hustle with Google Maps and Street View
Here’s a simple workflow to implement both types of 360 content right now:
It’s fast, simple, and scalable — even if you’re a solo photographer or small marketing team. 🌐
As immersive media becomes mainstream, 360° experiences are no longer optional — they’re an expectation.
Consumers want transparency. They want to see before they buy. Whether it’s a house, a restaurant, or a new apartment, people feel more confident when they can explore virtually first.
For creators and photographers, this means opportunity.
If you learn how to produce both custom 360 virtual tours and Google Street View uploads, you can offer a complete digital presence package to clients — and stand out as a trusted 360 professional.
Platforms like CloudPano make this workflow incredibly easy, letting you publish to both your branded virtual tour and Google Maps with just a few clicks.
So, what’s the real difference between 360 virtual tours and Google Street View uploads?
If you’re ready to attract more clients, boost local SEO, and deliver immersive experiences that convert, start today.
✅ Create your next 360 virtual tour on CloudPano.
✅ Publish it to Google Street View.
✅ Showcase your work — and let your audience step inside your world. 🌍
Compact, ready to go anywhere
Interchangeable lens that’s upgradeable
Dual 1-inch sensors for improved clarity and low light performance
Dynamic range and 6K 360° capture
360° photo resolution at 21MP
8K 360° video recording for ultra-detailed visuals.
4K single-lens mode for traditional wide-angle shots.
Invisible selfie stick effect for drone-like perspectives.
2.5-inch touchscreen with Gorilla Glass protection.
Waterproof up to 33ft for underwater shooting.
360° photo resolution in 23MP
Slim design at 24 mm thick
Built-in image stabilization for smooth video capture.
Internal 19GB storage for photo and video storage.
Wireless connectivity for remote control and sharing.
60MP 360° still images for high-resolution photography.
5.7K 360° video recording at 30fps.
2.25-inch touchscreen for intuitive control.
USB Type-C port for fast charging and data transfer.
MicroSD card slot for expandable storage.
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