Sora review

What Sora was

Sora was OpenAI's text to video and image generation service. It ran on the web and in an app, with the sora.chatgpt.com platform handling image and video generation, and it was also offered to developers through an API The Decoder on the Sora shutdown ↗.

OpenAI shut it down in two stages. The Sora web and app experiences were discontinued on April 26, 2026, and the API shut down on September 24, 2026 OpenAI help center ↗ The Decoder on the Sora shutdown ↗. Both dates have now passed.

This page stays up because many people still search for Sora. We cannot test it, since it no longer exists as a product, so this review covers what happened, what to do with old content, and where to go instead.

What it did well

Sora was one of the best known AI video generators, and its name became shorthand for the whole category. It was easy to reach for people who already used ChatGPT, since it ran on a ChatGPT branded site The Decoder on the Sora shutdown ↗.

OpenAI also handled the shutdown in an orderly way. It gave notice months ahead, offered an export tool, and promised an email if it opens a final export window OpenAI help center ↗ The Decoder on the Sora shutdown ↗. Purchased ChatGPT or Sora credits can still be used for Codex, OpenAI's coding agent, if you choose OpenAI help center ↗.

The research has not stopped. OpenAI says Sora continues as a research project focused on world models, with a long term goal of automating the physical economy The Decoder on the Sora shutdown ↗.

Where it falls short

It is discontinued. You cannot make new videos with Sora on the web, in the app or through the API OpenAI help center ↗.

Your old content will be deleted. OpenAI says that after discontinuation, and after any final export window ends, it will permanently delete all data associated with your use of Sora OpenAI help center ↗. If you have not exported yet, watch your email for a final export notice.

OpenAI gave business reasons for the move. The Decoder reports OpenAI is shifting compute toward coding tools and enterprise customers and building a super app that combines ChatGPT and other tools The Decoder on the Sora shutdown ↗. The lesson for small businesses: do not build a workflow around a single AI tool without a plan B, and keep copies of what you make.

Pricing and plans

Sora has no current plans or prices, because it is no longer sold OpenAI help center ↗.

Refunds: OpenAI says refund requests follow the process in its ChatGPT subscription refund article OpenAI help center ↗.

Credits: purchased ChatGPT or Sora credits can still be used for Codex OpenAI help center ↗.

Exports: OpenAI's help article says to go to sora.chatgpt.com/sunset and click Export, and you get an email when the download is ready OpenAI help center ↗. Whether that still works depends on whether OpenAI opens a final export window, which it says it will announce by email OpenAI help center ↗ The Decoder on the Sora shutdown ↗.

Who should (and shouldn't) use it

• Good fit: no one. Sora is no longer available for new work OpenAI help center ↗.
• Former users: check your email for a final export window and save anything you want to keep before OpenAI deletes it OpenAI help center ↗.
• Skip it if: you need AI video today. Use one of the alternatives below.

Alternatives worth a look

• Google Flow: our top AI video pick, starting at $4.99 a month with Google AI Plus Google AI plans ↗.
• Kling: free with 66 daily credits if you can accept a watermark, with Standard from $10 a month eesel on Kling pricing ↗.
• Adobe Firefly: several video models and commercially safe tools, from $9.99 a month for 2,000 credits Firefly plans ↗.
• Runway: many top models plus editing tools, from $15 a month or $12 billed yearly Runway pricing ↗.