- Sora 2 generates videos up to 25 seconds long with synchronized dialogue and sound effects, a major upgrade from the original 6-second limit.
- Access requires a ChatGPT Plus ($20/month) or Pro ($200/month) subscription; the free tier was discontinued in January 2026.
- The Sora 2 API and video models are scheduled for deprecation on September 24, 2026, which users should factor into any integration plans.
- Pricing runs $0.10-$0.50 per second of generated video depending on model tier and resolution, from 720p to 1024p.
What Is Sora?
Sora is OpenAI’s AI video generation model that creates realistic video from text prompts. Originally previewed in February 2024, the product launched publicly in late 2024. The current version, Sora 2, represents a significant upgrade with longer videos, audio generation, and improved physical accuracy.
Sora targets content creators, marketers, and developers who need video content without traditional production workflows. It operates within the ChatGPT ecosystem and through a dedicated API.
Key Features
Extended video length. Sora 2 generates videos lasting 15 to 25 seconds, a substantial improvement from the original 6-second maximum. This makes the output usable for social media content, product demos, and short-form marketing.
Synchronized audio. The model generates dialogue and sound effects synchronized to the video content. Earlier versions produced silent video only, requiring separate audio tools.
Improved physical accuracy. Sora 2 handles object permanence, consistent lighting, and realistic motion more reliably than its predecessor. Complex scenes with multiple moving elements still present challenges, but single-subject shots are notably more coherent.
Character cameos. A new feature allows users to insert consistent characters across multiple generated videos, enabling serialized content creation.
Pricing
Sora requires a ChatGPT Plus subscription at $20/month, which includes unlimited 480p video generation. The ChatGPT Pro subscription at $200/month provides 10,000 credits with access to 1080p resolution. The free tier was discontinued on January 10, 2026.
API pricing runs $0.10/second for Sora 2 at 720p and $0.30-$0.50/second for Sora 2 Pro at higher resolutions. A 20-second video at 720p costs approximately $2.00 via the API. Volume costs add up quickly for batch content production.
How It Compares
vs. Runway Gen-3: Runway supports longer videos and offers more granular editing controls including motion brush and camera path tools. Sora produces more photorealistic output for simple prompts. Runway’s pricing starts at $12/month, making it more accessible for casual users.
vs. Pika: Pika focuses on shorter clips with strong style transfer capabilities. Sora is better for realistic video; Pika excels at stylized and animated content. Pika offers a free tier that Sora no longer provides.
vs. Kling (Kuaishou): Kling generates videos up to 2 minutes and has stronger motion consistency for action scenes. Sora has better text-to-video prompt adherence and more natural lighting. Kling offers more generous free usage.
What to Know Before Signing Up
The most critical consideration is the announced deprecation of the Sora 2 API on September 24, 2026. OpenAI has not clarified whether a successor API will launch simultaneously. Developers building products on the Sora API should plan for this transition.
For individual creators, the $20/month Plus tier offers reasonable value if you regularly need short video content. The 480p resolution limit on Plus is a constraint for professional use. The $200/month Pro tier is only justified for high-volume production. Generation times vary from 30 seconds to several minutes depending on complexity and server load.
