Sora
videoby openai
OpenAI's AI video generator, announced for shutdown on March 24, 2026. Was built into ChatGPT with text to video, storyboard, remix, blend, and synchronized audio.
Key features
Free tier available, Plus (via ChatGPT) at $20/mo
Understanding Sora's capabilities and limitations before OpenAI shuts it down entirely
Was bundled into ChatGPT Plus ($20/mo) and Pro ($200/mo), requiring no separate subscription
What it does
Text to Video Generation
Describe a scene in natural language and Sora generates a video from scratch. Supports widescreen, vertical (for mobile/TikTok), and square formats.
Learn moreImage to Video
Upload a still image and Sora animates it into a video, bringing static photos, illustrations, or generated images to life.
Storyboard
Build your video frame by frame, controlling what happens at each moment. Divide videos into segments with individual descriptions, durations, reference images, and camera movements.
Learn moreRemix
Take an existing generation and describe changes to create a new version. Explore variations without starting from scratch.
Blend
Transition elements from one video to another, creating smooth merges between different clips or scenes.
Re-cut
Trim and extend videos in a new storyboard, giving you editing control over generated content.
Synchronized Audio (Sora 2)
Sora 2 generates video and audio together in sync, including dialogue and sound effects. No separate audio production needed.
Learn moreAPI Access
Programmatic video generation via the OpenAI API. Pricing ranges from $0.10 to $0.50 per second of generated video, depending on resolution and quality tier.
Learn morePricing
Free / Go
No Sora access. The free tier was removed and video generation is not available on the Free or Go ChatGPT tiers.
- No Sora access
- No video generation
- Free tier previously available but removed
Plus (via ChatGPT)
1,000 Sora credits per month (roughly 25 clips at 720p, 5 seconds each, or 4 to 8 minutes of total video). Includes watermarks. 720p max resolution, 5 second max length.
- 1,000 Sora credits per month (roughly 25 clips at 720p, 5s each)
- Up to 720p resolution
- Up to 5 second clips
- Watermarks on output
- Text to video
- Image to video
- Storyboard, remix, blend, re-cut
Pro (via ChatGPT)
10,000 Sora credits per month plus unlimited relaxed (slower) generations. 1080p HD, 20 second max length, no watermarks. The full Sora experience.
- 10,000 Sora credits per month (plus unlimited relaxed generations)
- Up to 1080p HD resolution
- Up to 20 second clips
- No watermarks
- Pro model quality
- All Plus features
- Priority generation queue
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Was bundled into ChatGPT Plus ($20/mo) and Pro ($200/mo), requiring no separate subscription
- Produced some of the most physically realistic AI video available, with accurate object interactions
- Storyboard feature provided fine grained control over video segments, timing, and camera movements
- Sora 2 generated synchronized audio alongside video, including dialogue and sound effects
- Supported up to 20 second videos on Pro, longer than most competitors per generation
Cons
- Being discontinued: OpenAI announced on March 24, 2026 that Sora will be shut down entirely
- No timeline provided for when the app and API will go offline, creating uncertainty for existing users and developers
- Disney ended its $1 billion partnership with OpenAI that was partly built around Sora, signaling loss of major ecosystem support
- No free tier was available; required at least ChatGPT Plus at $20/mo, and the earlier free tier had been removed
- Pro tier at $200/mo was expensive for users who primarily wanted video generation
- OpenAI's strategic pivot toward business and productivity tools suggests video generation is not a priority for the company going forward
How to get started
Sora is being discontinued
OpenAI announced on March 24, 2026 that Sora will be shut down. Exact timelines for when the app and API go offline have not been shared yet. If you have existing Sora content, OpenAI said it will provide details on preserving your work.
Export your existing work
If you have generated videos in Sora, download them now. OpenAI has not confirmed how long access will remain available, so it is safest to preserve anything you want to keep as soon as possible.
Evaluate alternatives
Active alternatives include Veo (Google) for highest quality with 4K and native audio, Hailuo (MiniMax) for the best value with a free tier, and Seedance (ByteDance) for flexible multimodal inputs. See our comparison section below for details.
Deep dive
Detailed guides with comparisons, tips, and visuals for each feature.
Sora Timeline: From Launch to Shutdown
The full lifecycle of Sora, from its 2024 launch through Sora 2 to OpenAI's March 2026 shutdown announcement.
Storyboard: Frame by Frame Control
How to use Sora's Storyboard feature to build videos segment by segment with precise control over each moment.
Sora Credits Explained
How the credit system works, what you get per tier, and how to maximize your monthly allocation.
Sora Alternatives: What to Use Instead
With Sora being discontinued, here is how the remaining video generators compare and which one to choose.
Sora API for Developers
Programmatic video generation via the OpenAI API with per second pricing.
Links
Official
Documentation
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Last updated: 2026-03-25