S

Sora

Discontinued OpenAI generative video product; web/app closed April 26, 2026 and API removed September 24, 2026

Research-based score
3.1
Tested
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Final per-second API prices are still documented for historical reference, but there is no active Sora product to purchase or deploy.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

Quick facts

Vendor
OpenAI
Pricing model
usage based
Plan pricing
No active pricing; final historical Sora 2 API rate was USD 0.10 per generated second at 720p
Free plan
Not confirmed
Free trial
Not confirmed
Last verified
9/26/2026

About Sora

Sora was OpenAI's generative video product for creating and editing video from text, images and other media. OpenAI discontinued the Sora web and app experiences on April 26, 2026 and removed the Videos API, Sora 2 and Sora 2 Pro on September 24, 2026. As of September 25, 2026, Sora is no longer an active product for consumer or developer adoption. This SearchSagar profile is maintained for historical feature, pricing, export and migration reference.

Best for

Historical reference, cost reconciliation, content export guidance and migration planning for former Sora users; not suitable for new consumer or production adoption.

Sora pros and cons

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.
  • OpenAI published explicit consumer and API shutdown dates, export guidance and data-deletion information, making the deprecation path unusually clear.
  • Purchased ChatGPT/Sora credits can still be used for Codex according to OpenAI's discontinuation guidance.

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.
  • −OpenAI's deprecation page lists no direct replacement for the discontinued Videos API or Sora 2 model family.
  • −Legacy Sora data is scheduled for permanent deletion after the applicable export window, so former users should not assume indefinite access to prior content.
  • −Historical capabilities and pricing are useful only for archival, migration and cost-comparison purposes, not for evaluating a product that can still be purchased.

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
Text-to-Video
Historical / discontinued
Legacy Sora and Sora 2 API · Unavailable after the Sora API shutdown on September 24, 2026.
Remix
Historical / discontinued
Former Sora and legacy API · Consumer and API implementations are no longer available after Sora shutdown.
Image-Guided Video
Historical / discontinued
Legacy Sora 2 API · Unavailable after the Sora API shutdown on September 24, 2026.
Batch Video Rendering
Historical / discontinued
Legacy Videos API · Unavailable after the Sora API shutdown on September 24, 2026.
Synced Audio
Historical / discontinued
Legacy Sora 2 and Sora 2 Pro API · Unavailable after the Sora API shutdown on September 24, 2026.
Video Extensions and Edits
Historical / discontinued
Legacy Videos API · Unavailable after the Sora API shutdown on September 24, 2026.
Loop
Historical / discontinued
Former Sora web product · Unavailable after the Sora web/app shutdown on April 26, 2026.
Re-cut
Historical / discontinued
Former Sora web product · Unavailable after the Sora web/app shutdown on April 26, 2026.
Character Reuse
Historical / discontinued
Legacy Videos API · Unavailable after the Sora API shutdown on September 24, 2026.
Storyboard
Historical / discontinued
Former Sora web product · Unavailable after the Sora web/app shutdown on April 26, 2026.

Platforms

Deprecated API until 2026-09-24Discontinued web/appDiscontinued Videos API

Integrations

OpenAI Videos API OpenAI Batch API

Pricing

ChatGPT Plus (includes Sora)
USD 20.00/month
USD 0.00/month with annual billing

Includes access to Sora video generation with model- and plan-dependent limits

Sora Web and App
See pricing details

Former consumer Sora experience, discontinued April 26, 2026. Limit: Discontinued; no active consumer access Billing unit: discontinued Minimum commitment: Historical only; no active purchase available

Sora 2 API
See pricing details

Final historical 720p Sora 2 API pricing before removal on September 24, 2026. Limit: Discontinued 2026-09-24 Limit: No current API access Billing unit: USD 0.10 per generated second Minimum commitment: Historical only; no active purchase available

Sora 2 Pro API 720p
See pricing details

Final historical higher-quality Sora 2 Pro 720p API pricing before removal on September 24, 2026. Limit: Discontinued 2026-09-24 Limit: No current API access Billing unit: USD 0.30 per generated second Minimum commitment: Historical only; no active purchase available

Sora 2 Pro API 1024p
See pricing details

Final historical higher-resolution Sora 2 Pro API pricing before removal on September 24, 2026. Limit: Discontinued 2026-09-24 Limit: No current API access Billing unit: USD 0.50 per generated second Minimum commitment: Historical only; no active purchase available

Sora 2 Pro API 1080p
See pricing details

Final historical 1080p Sora 2 Pro API pricing before removal on September 24, 2026. Limit: Discontinued 2026-09-24 Limit: No current API access Billing unit: USD 0.70 per generated second Minimum commitment: Historical only; no active purchase available

Official pricing / availability source · Checked 25 September 2026. Confirm current taxes, regional terms and allowances. A listed plan is not necessarily the cheapest option.

Editorial verification: 9/26/2026. Check the vendor's site for current pricing.

Alternatives to Sora

Sora — frequently asked questions

What is Sora and what can it do?
Sora is OpenAI's generative video product that creates video from text and other inputs. It is a model- and plan-dependent service accessible through OpenAI's platform.
Is Sora still available in 2026?
No. OpenAI discontinued the Sora web and app experiences on April 26, 2026 and removed the Videos API, Sora 2 and Sora 2 Pro on September 24, 2026. As of September 25, 2026, SearchSagar treats Sora as a fully discontinued product for historical and migration reference only.
How much does Sora cost to use?
Sora is included with ChatGPT Plus starting at $20 per month. Access is model- and plan-dependent, and pricing has been verified on OpenAI's official sources.
When did the Sora API shut down?
OpenAI removed the Videos API, sora-2, sora-2-pro and the listed Sora model snapshots on September 24, 2026. OpenAI's deprecations page lists no direct replacement for the discontinued video API or Sora 2 model family.
What type of access model does Sora use?
Sora uses a model- and plan-dependent access model, meaning availability and features vary based on the specific OpenAI plan and model tier you subscribe to.
What was Sora 2 API pricing before shutdown?
Final standard pricing was USD 0.10 per generated second for Sora 2 at 720p. Sora 2 Pro cost USD 0.30 per second at 720p, USD 0.50 at 1024p and USD 0.70 at 1080p. OpenAI also listed historical Batch rates at half the corresponding standard prices.
Is Sora available for hands-on testing or trial?
The research sources indicate no hands-on claims are made; access is through official OpenAI plans. There is no mention of a free trial or public demo in the verified sources.
What happened to content created in Sora?
OpenAI provides a Sora sunset export flow for former users. The company says data associated with Sora will be permanently deleted after the relevant discontinuation period and any final export window has passed, so users should export important content while access remains available.
Can unused Sora credits still be used?
OpenAI states that purchased ChatGPT/Sora credits can still be used for Codex. Refund questions are handled through the applicable ChatGPT subscription refund process rather than an active standalone Sora billing policy.
Should a new team choose Sora now?
No. Sora is no longer an active consumer or developer product. Historical capabilities such as Storyboard, Remix, synced-audio generation and Sora 2 Pro resolution options are useful for comparison and migration research only, not for a new production deployment.

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