Sora

Sora is OpenAI's AI video generation model, capable of creating realistic clips from a simple text description. Note: its status has changed. The standalone Sora app and website shut down on April 26, 2026, and the Sora 2 API is being discontinued on September 24, 2026.

What is Sora for today?

Sora generates short videos from text or images, with camera movement, coherent scenes, and realistic output (Sora 2 and Sora 2 Pro). In practice, it no longer exists as a standalone SaaS product: it's now a feature built into ChatGPT subscriptions. You access it from within the OpenAI ecosystem, with generation quotas that depend on your plan. This reframing matters: there's no longer an independent Sora offering to subscribe to.

Sora or Runway?

Compared to standalone video generators like Runway, Pika, or Veo, Sora has lost its status as a product in its own right: you have to go through ChatGPT. For a studio wanting a dedicated, durable video tool, those standalone alternatives are a safer bet. Sora mainly makes sense for people already subscribed to ChatGPT.

How much does Sora cost?

The free app allows capped generations. Full access requires ChatGPT: Plus at $20/month (Sora included, not unlimited) and Pro at $200/month (unlimited Sora and Sora 2 Pro). A mid-tier plan at $100/month includes Sora without the unlimited access. On the API side, while it still exists, pricing runs around $0.10 per second at 720p.