Last updated 07-30-2026
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Sora
Sora is OpenAI's text-to-video model for turning prompts into short MP4 clips with synchronized audio. It runs through the OpenAI Videos API, where developers submit generation jobs, poll or webhook for completion, and download finished files once rendering finishes.
Where many video generators stop at a single render, Sora's API covers the full clip lifecycle: image-guided first frames, reusable character assets, extensions that stitch up to 120 seconds, and targeted edits on completed footage. OpenAI discontinued the Sora web and app experiences on April 26, 2026, so new work happens through the API until its scheduled shutdown on September 24, 2026.
Studios and developers reach for Sora when they want programmatic control over shot iteration, batch queues, and webhook-driven pipelines instead of a drag-and-drop interface. The sora-2 model favors fast 720p drafts, while sora-2-pro targets sharper 1080p exports when render time and per-second cost matter less than polish.
sora-2 renders 720p clips at $0.10 per second on the Standard API tier
sora-2-pro reaches 1080p (1920x1080) at $0.70 per second on Standard API pricing
Each generation can run 16 or 20 seconds before extensions add more footage
Video extensions can chain up to six times for a 120-second maximum total length
Character uploads let non-human mascots or objects stay consistent across multiple shots
Batch API pricing runs at half the Standard rate with a 24-hour completion window
Image references lock the opening frame when size matches the target video resolution
One Videos API covers generation, extensions, edits, and character reuse instead of separate tools.
Two model tiers let teams trade per-second cost against 1080p output quality.
Batch API halves Standard per-second rates for large offline render queues.
Consumer Sora web and app access ended on April 26, 2026, leaving API-only access.
OpenAI scheduled full Videos API removal on September 24, 2026, with no named replacement.
Human faces, real people, and copyrighted characters are blocked from generation and reference uploads.
Is Sora still available in 2026?
Sora's web and app experiences were discontinued on April 26, 2026. Sora remains available through the OpenAI Videos API with the sora-2 and sora-2-pro models until the API shuts down on September 24, 2026.
How much does Sora cost on the API?
Sora bills per second of generated video on the Standard API. sora-2 costs $0.10 per second at 720p, while sora-2-pro ranges from $0.30 per second at 720p to $0.70 per second at 1080p. Batch API rates are half those amounts.
What is the difference between Sora 2 and Sora 2 Pro?
Sora 2 (sora-2) is tuned for faster 720p drafts when you are iterating on prompts and motion. Sora 2 Pro (sora-2-pro) takes longer and costs more per second, but it is the tier OpenAI recommends for polished marketing footage and 1080p exports.
How long can Sora videos be?
Sora generates individual clips at 16 or 20 seconds on both sora-2 and sora-2-pro. The extensions endpoint can add up to 20 seconds per call and supports up to six extensions on one source video, for a 120-second maximum stitched length.
Can Sora extend or edit existing videos?
Yes. Sora's Videos API includes an extensions endpoint that continues a completed clip from its existing motion and camera direction, plus an edits endpoint for targeted changes like palette shifts without regenerating the whole scene from scratch.
When does the Sora API shut down?
OpenAI deprecated the Videos API and Sora 2 models on March 24, 2026, with removal scheduled for September 24, 2026. The deprecation notice lists no recommended replacement model for new long-term integrations.
What content restrictions does Sora enforce?
Sora blocks generations of real people and public figures, rejects copyrighted characters and music, and limits character uploads that depict human likeness. Input reference images that contain human faces are also rejected by the API.