Sora 2, and what replaces it
Sora is OpenAI's video model family. Sora 2 launched on 30 September 2025 with synchronised audio and a consumer app, and it is now being retired: the app shut on 26 April 2026 and OpenAI removes the API and every Sora 2 model on 24 September 2026, with no replacement named. The page below records what it was and what to use instead.
OpenAI · facts checked
Which one to pick
Side by side, measured
| Model | Price | Seconds to make one clip | 9 clips cost | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sora 2 | $0.10 per second at 720p, sora-2 via OpenAI API | 67 to 200 | $3.60 | 4, 8, 12, 16 or 20 seconds on fal's endpoint; our five-second fixture rounds down to four |
Seconds and cost are from our own runs of the same 9 prompts through each model; open a model for every clip and the request behind it.
Every version
| Version | Released | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| Sora | The first public Sora, inside ChatGPT Plus and Pro, up to 20 seconds at 1080p, no audio. | |
| Sora 2 sora-2 | Synchronised audio, better physics, a social app with cameos; the API followed on 6 October 2025. | |
| Sora 2 Pro sora-2-pro | The higher-fidelity API tier at 720p to 1080p. | |
| Retirement | App closed 26 April 2026; API and all model aliases removed 24 September 2026, announced 24 March. |
Frequently asked questions
Is Sora 2 shutting down?
Yes. The Sora app closed on 26 April 2026, and OpenAI announced on 24 March 2026 that the Videos API and every Sora 2 model alias would be removed on 24 September 2026. No replacement is listed.
What should I use instead of Sora 2?
For the same price bracket, Veo 3.1 Fast or Kling 3.0 Standard; for audio-first clips, Seedance 2.0. Every one of them has a page here with the same nine prompts, so you can compare against what Sora 2 produced.