Creating Your Own Virtual Tours: Free Software for Google Street View

CloudPano Editorial Team
September 21, 2026
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5 min read
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Last updated:
September 21, 2026

Are there any free options for Google Street View virtual tour software?

Yes. Google Street View Studio is a free tool for uploading and managing compatible outdoor 360° video for Google Street View. It currently supports MP4 and MOV video and can use embedded GPS data or a separate GPX file. For connected indoor virtual tours, custom branding, hotspots, navigation, and website embeds, dedicated virtual tour software such as CloudPano may be more appropriate.

Key Takeaways

Google Street View Studio provides a free way to publish compatible outdoor 360° video to Street View. Google's current Studio workflow does not convert indoor video collections into Street View because indoor GPS data is generally not accurate enough. Dedicated virtual tour platforms provide additional features such as connected indoor scenes, branding, hotspots, website embedding, and custom navigation. CloudPano also provides a workflow for publishing eligible connected 360° photo tours to Google Street View.

Are there any free options for Google street view virtual tour software?

Google street view is a feature of Google Maps that allows users to explore panoramic images of streets, buildings, landmarks and other places around the world. It is created by stitching together billions of photos taken by Google’s vehicles, cameras and contributors.

Virtual tour software is a tool that enables users to create interactive 360-degree tours of any location using photos or videos. Virtual tours can be used for various purposes, such as showcasing real estate, promoting tourism, enhancing education, and more.

Google street view virtual tour software is a combination of Google street view and virtual tour software. It allows users to create and publish their own street view imagery using a compatible camera and upload it to Google Maps. Users can also use software for virtual tours to enhance their street view imagery with additional features, such as audio, narration, hotspots, navigation, etc.

How to create and publish your own street view imagery?

According to Google’s website creating and publishing your own street view imagery requires only three steps:

  1. Gear up: Choose a street view-compatible camera that suits your needs and budget.
  1. Take your camera on a drive, ride or walk: Capture streets, trails, tourist sites and businesses with your camera. Use a vehicle or a helmet mount when mapping your street, or mount your camera with a mini tripod or monopod if you are creating indoor imagery. Follow the imagery quality requirements and tips on how to create 360 videos provided by Google.
  2. Publish your images: Upload and manage your 360 imagery with Street View Studio . This is a web-based tool that allows you to preview your images before the upload is finished, access the stats of your 360 imagery and plan your future capture routes with ease. You can also use software for virtual tours to add more features to your imagery.

Are there any free options for Google street view virtual tour software?

The answer to this question depends on what you mean by free. If you mean free as in no cost at all, then the answer is no. You will need to invest in a compatible camera and a software for virtual tours to create and publish your own street view imagery. However, if you mean free as in no additional cost to Google Maps, then the answer is yes. You can use Google’s Street View Studio to upload and manage your 360 imagery for free.

However, you should be aware that using free options for Google street view virtual tour software may have some limitations or drawbacks, such as:

  • Limited features: Free software for virtual tours may not offer all the features that you need or want, such as customization, branding, analytics, etc. You may need to upgrade to a paid plan to access more advanced features.
  • Limited storage: Free software for virtual tours may have a limit on how much storage space you can use for your images or videos. You may need to delete some of your old projects or pay for more storage if you exceed the limit.
  • Limited support: Free software for virtual tours may not provide adequate customer support or technical assistance if you encounter any problems or issues with your projects. You may need to rely on online forums or FAQs for help.
  • Limited quality: Free software for virtual tours may not guarantee the quality or performance of your projects. Your images or videos may not look as good as they should, or your tours may not load or run smoothly on different devices or browsers.

Therefore, if you are looking for a free option for Google street view virtual tour software, you should weigh the pros and cons of each option and choose the one that best suits your needs and expectations.

I hope this blog post helps you understand how to use software for virtual tours and find the best option for Google street view virtual tour software for your needs. Happy creating! 😊

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Google Street View Studio free?

Yes. Google Street View Studio is a free Google tool for uploading and managing compatible 360° video for Street View. It currently supports MP4 and MOV video files.

Can I create a Google Street View virtual tour for free?

You can use Google Street View Studio to publish compatible outdoor 360° video for free. Interactive indoor tours with branding, hotspots, custom navigation, and other features may require dedicated virtual tour software.

Can I upload indoor 360° video to Google Street View Studio?

Google's current Street View Studio video conversion workflow is intended for outdoor video. Google says indoor collections generally cannot record sufficiently accurate GPS information for this process.

Do I need virtual tour software to publish to Google Street View?

Not always. Google's Street View Studio can publish compatible outdoor 360° video. Dedicated virtual tour software is useful when you need connected indoor tours, hotspots, branding, custom navigation, website embedding, or other advanced features.

Can CloudPano publish virtual tours to Google Street View?

Yes. CloudPano provides a Google Street View publishing workflow for eligible 360° tours and can create or update information such as photo connections, levels, pose metadata, and new imagery.

Sources

Google — Create and Publish Your Own Street View Imagery

https://www.google.com/streetview/contribute/

Google — Upload 360 Videos to Street View Studio

https://support.google.com/maps/answer/7546470

Google — Tips for Capturing 360 Videos for Street View

https://support.google.com/maps/answer/7662671

Google for Developers — Street View Ready

https://developers.google.com/streetview/ready

CloudPano — Publish to Google Street View

https://www.cloudpano.com/feature/publish-to-google-street-view

CloudPano — Understanding the Google Street View Publishing Process

https://help.cloudpano.com/en/articles/7939763-understanding-the-google-street-view-gsv-publishing-process-with-cloudpano

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