Sora Review 2026: Discontinued App, API Shutdown & Migration
Sora review for 2026 covering the discontinued web/app, September 24 API shutdown, final Sora 2 pricing, export guidance, historical features and migration.
By Aditya VermaReviewed by Shikha GoyalPublished October 25, 2026· Updated Oct 26, 2026
Research-based score
3.1
Research-based score
Features and capabilities4.7
Historically, Sora offered advanced text-, image- and video-guided generation, Storyboard, Remix, Re-cut and Loop, while Sora 2 added synced audio and API-driven creation, extension and editing.
Usability and implementation0.5
Current usability is effectively unavailable because the consumer product and developer video API are both discontinued.
Pricing and value transparency0.5
Final per-second API prices are still documented for historical reference, but there is no active Sora product to purchase or deploy.
Integrations, security and trust4.9
OpenAI clearly documents the shutdown timeline, data export/deletion process, historical model pricing and provenance safeguards; this score reflects deprecation transparency rather than current availability.
Scored by Shikha Goyal
Sora was OpenAI's generative video product for creating and editing video from text, images and other media. It is no longer an active product. OpenAI discontinued the Sora web and app experiences on April 26, 2026, and permanently removed the Videos API, Sora 2 and Sora 2 Pro on September 24, 2026.
SearchSagar therefore treats Sora as a historical and migration-reference product rather than a tool a new buyer can adopt. The most important question in a 2026 Sora review is not whether the model once produced strong video, but whether there is a durable product path today. As of September 25, there is not: OpenAI's official deprecations page lists no replacement for the retired video API.
Quick verdict
Sora should not be selected for a new video-generation workflow in September 2026 because both the consumer experience and developer API are discontinued. Historically, Sora 2 and Sora 2 Pro offered text-to-video, image-guided generation, synced audio, characters, remixing, video edits and higher-resolution Pro output. Those capabilities are now migration context rather than active buying criteria. Existing users should export important assets immediately and move production to an active platform such as Runway, Pika or Adobe Firefly.
Key takeaways
Sora web and app were discontinued on April 26, 2026
The Sora API was permanently shut down on September 24, 2026
OpenAI's deprecations page lists no direct replacement for the Videos API, sora-2 or sora-2-pro
Sora 2 historically generated 720p video with synced audio at a final standard API rate of $0.10/second
Sora 2 Pro historically cost $0.30/second at 720p, $0.50/second at 1024p and $0.70/second at 1080p
Legacy API generation supported text and image inputs, audio output and video output
Historical tools included Remix, character reuse, edits and batch rendering
Existing Sora content can be exported through OpenAI's sunset export flow
OpenAI says Sora-associated data will be permanently deleted after discontinuation and any final export window
Purchased ChatGPT/Sora credits can still be used for Codex
Discontinued OpenAI generative video product; web/app closed April 26, 2026 and API removed September 24, 2026
Best for:Historical reference, cost reconciliation, content export guidance and migration planning for former Sora users; not suitable for new consumer or production adoption.
3.1
Research-based
Features and capabilities4.7
Usability and implementation0.5
Pricing and value transparency0.5
Integrations, security and trust4.9
Key features
Text-to-video generation
Multi-input video generation (text and other inputs)
Model-dependent capability tiers
Plan-dependent access controls
Included with ChatGPT Plus subscription
Pros
Sora historically combined text, image and video inputs with creative tools such as Storyboard, Remix, Re-cut and Loop.
Sora 2 supported natural-language and image-guided generation with synchronized audio for programmatic video workflows.
Sora 2 Pro historically supported 720p, 1024p and 1080p output for higher-quality video generation.
Cons
The Sora web and app experiences were discontinued on April 26, 2026, so there is no active consumer product.
The Videos API, Sora 2 and Sora 2 Pro were removed on September 24, 2026, so there is no active developer video API.
unverifiedNo active pricing; final historical Sora 2 API rate was USD 0.10 per generated second at 720p(unverified)
Sora was OpenAI's generative video platform. It started as a consumer creative experience and later expanded into the Videos API with Sora 2 and Sora 2 Pro.
The product could generate clips from text and image references and, in its later API generation, produce synchronized audio. It also supported developer workflows for remixing, character reuse, editing and queued video jobs.
Is Sora still available?
No. The consumer web and app experiences ended on April 26, 2026. The remaining Videos API and the Sora 2 model family were scheduled for permanent removal on September 24, 2026, and that shutdown date has now passed.
OpenAI's current deprecations page lists the Videos API, sora-2, sora-2-pro and their snapshots as removed on September 24, 2026. It does not list a replacement video model or replacement video endpoint.
Who should use Sora now?
Who should use this
Sora should now be used only as a historical reference when documenting a past workflow, interpreting an old API integration, exporting legacy assets or planning a migration from the discontinued OpenAI video stack.
Who should avoid this
New creators, agencies, developers and production teams should not adopt Sora for new work because the consumer product is closed and the Videos API has reached its permanent shutdown date.
Historical Sora capabilities
Text-to-video generation
Sora could create video from natural-language prompts. The later Sora 2 API supported clips of 4, 8 or 12 seconds from text instructions.
The feature was useful for concepting, story ideas, product scenes and creative experiments, but generated results still required iteration and editorial review.
Image-guided video
Sora 2 accepted image references that could guide the visual identity or starting point of a generated clip. This helped creators move from a still concept toward motion without starting from text alone.
Synced audio
Sora 2 and Sora 2 Pro were positioned as video-generation models with synchronized audio output. This reduced the need to generate silent video and then build every sound layer separately.
Sora 2 Pro
Sora 2 Pro was the higher-quality legacy model. It supported 720p, 1024p and 1080p output at progressively higher per-second prices.
Because the API is now discontinued, those resolution options and rates are relevant only when auditing historical spend or comparing migration economics.
Characters
The legacy API supported reusable character assets created from uploaded video. This was intended to improve identity consistency across generations.
Character reuse was valuable for recurring subjects, but the endpoint disappeared with the rest of the Videos API.
Remix
Remix let users create a new version of an existing generated video with an updated prompt. It was useful for changing direction without recreating the entire concept from scratch.
Video edits and extensions
The later API supported editing and extending generated video workflows. These capabilities were part of a larger attempt to make Sora more than a one-shot text-to-video generator.
Batch rendering
Sora video workflows could also use batch processing for larger queued workloads. This helped developers reduce interactive bottlenecks for offline rendering jobs.
Historical consumer editing tools
Earlier Sora web experiences included creative tools such as Storyboard, Remix, Re-cut and Loop. These were part of the discontinued consumer product and are no longer current functionality.
Feature Breakdown
Text-to-Video
Historically created video from natural-language prompts
Image-to-Video
Used image references to guide generated clips
Synced Audio
Sora 2 and Sora 2 Pro generated audio with video
Sora 2 Pro
Higher-quality legacy model with 720p, 1024p and 1080p options
Characters
Reused character assets across generations in the legacy API
Remix
Generated a new version of an existing clip from a changed prompt
Video Editing
Supported edits and extensions through the legacy Videos API
Batch Rendering
Supported queued video workloads before shutdown
Storyboard
Historical consumer sequencing tool
Re-cut and Loop
Historical consumer editing tools, now discontinued
Sora final API pricing
Sora no longer has active pricing for new production because the API shutdown date has passed. The final published standard API rates are useful only as historical migration references.
Sora 2 cost $0.10 per generated second at 720p. Sora 2 Pro cost $0.30 per second at 720p, $0.50 at 1024p and $0.70 at 1080p.
Legacy model
Final standard price
Resolution
Current status
Sora 2
$0.10/second
720p
Discontinued September 24, 2026
Sora 2 Pro
$0.30/second
720p
Discontinued September 24, 2026
Sora 2 Pro
$0.50/second
1024p
Discontinued September 24, 2026
Sora 2 Pro
$0.70/second
1080p
Discontinued September 24, 2026
Sora rating breakdown
Rating Breakdown
Overall
1.0/5
Current availability
0.0/5
Historical capabilities
4.6/5
Migration readiness
2.0/5
Long-term viability
0.0/5
This is a research-based SearchSagar editorial score for September 25, 2026. It is intentionally dominated by current availability and viability. A discontinued product cannot be rated like an active tool even if its historical model capabilities were strong.
Pros
Historically strong text and image guided video generation
Sora 2 added synced audio
Sora 2 Pro offered higher-resolution output
Legacy API supported character reuse, remixing and batch workflows
OpenAI provides a sunset export path for existing users
Cons
Consumer web and app are discontinued
Videos API and Sora 2 model family shut down September 24, 2026
No replacement video API is listed on OpenAI's deprecations page
New production adoption is not viable
Sora-associated data will eventually be permanently deleted after the export period
Historical API pricing no longer represents an active service
What should existing Sora users do?
Existing users should export important Sora content through OpenAI's sunset export page as soon as possible. OpenAI says it will permanently delete Sora-associated data after discontinuation and after any final export window that may be offered.
Teams with API integrations should remove dependencies on the Videos API and move rendering jobs to an active provider. Because OpenAI lists no direct replacement, migration requires choosing a new video platform rather than changing to a new OpenAI video model name.
What happens to purchased Sora credits?
OpenAI's discontinuation guidance says purchased ChatGPT/Sora credits can still be used for Codex. Refund questions are routed to the applicable ChatGPT subscription refund process.
This means remaining credits do not necessarily become worthless, but they no longer buy Sora video generation after the shutdown.
Does Sora have a replacement?
OpenAI's official API deprecations page currently shows a dash in the recommended-replacement column for the Videos API, Sora 2 and Sora 2 Pro.
SearchSagar therefore does not claim an official OpenAI successor. Users who still need generative video should evaluate active third-party platforms.
Testing methodology
SearchSagar has not claimed hands-on testing for Sora. This review is based on OpenAI's current Sora discontinuation notice, API deprecations page, legacy Sora 2 and Sora 2 Pro model documentation and final published API pricing. Current product availability takes precedence over historical feature marketing.
Active Sora alternatives
Approved SearchSagar alternatives include Runway, Pika and Adobe Firefly. Runway is the closest fit for a professional end-to-end AI video workflow, Pika is strong for short-form creation and effects, and Firefly is attractive for creators already working inside Adobe's ecosystem.
No new team should build around Sora in September 2026. The web and app are gone, the API shutdown date has passed and OpenAI has not listed a replacement on the deprecations page.
The useful work now is migration: export assets, document historical dependencies, remove retired endpoints and compare active video platforms based on generation quality, editing tools, commercial rights, API availability and cost.
Expert tip
If you still have Sora assets or an old API integration, separate preservation from migration. Export the content first, then rebuild the production workflow on an active platform. Do not wait for an undocumented replacement because OpenAI currently lists none.
— SearchSagar editorial team
Review OpenAI's Sora discontinuation notice and export legacy content before the final export window closes
No. The web and app were discontinued April 26, 2026, and the Sora API shut down September 24, 2026.
When did the Sora API shut down?
OpenAI scheduled the Videos API, Sora 2 and Sora 2 Pro for permanent removal on September 24, 2026.
What was the final Sora 2 API price?
Sora 2 was $0.10 per generated second at 720p under standard processing before shutdown.
What was the final Sora 2 Pro price?
Sora 2 Pro was $0.30/second at 720p, $0.50 at 1024p and $0.70 at 1080p before shutdown.
Can I export old Sora content?
OpenAI currently provides a sunset export flow and recommends exporting Sora content as soon as possible.
What should I use instead of Sora?
Active alternatives include Runway, Pika and Adobe Firefly, depending on whether professional editing, short-form effects or Adobe integration matters most.
