Sora 2 cost $0.10 per second of 720p video through OpenAI's API. Sora 2 Pro cost $0.30, $0.50 or $0.70 per second at 720p, 1024p and 1080p, and batch jobs cost half, as of September 2026 (OpenAI API pricing). But Sora is no longer something you can sign up for. OpenAI closed the Sora app and website on April 26, 2026, and set September 24, 2026 as the shutdown date for the Sora API.
So this page gives you the last official prices, a clear timeline of what closed and when, and the models that come closest to what Sora 2 did.
Sora 2 API pricing per second
OpenAI billed Sora by the second of generated video, with the price set by model and resolution. These are the prices on OpenAI's API pricing page, as of September 2026. The page still listed them on September 24, 2026, the API's shutdown date.
| Model | Resolution | Vertical / horizontal size | Standard, per second | Batch, per second |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sora 2 | 720p | 720x1280 / 1280x720 | $0.10 | $0.05 |
| Sora 2 Pro | 720p | 720x1280 / 1280x720 | $0.30 | $0.15 |
| Sora 2 Pro | 1024p | 1024x1792 / 1792x1024 | $0.50 | $0.25 |
| Sora 2 Pro | 1080p | 1080x1920 / 1920x1080 | $0.70 | $0.35 |
OpenAI's video guide explains the split. Sora 2 was built for speed. It suited quick tests, rough cuts and social content. Sora 2 Pro took longer and cost more, but gave more polished, stable results. It was also the only way to get 1080p.
Batch pricing
Batch means you send many jobs at once and accept slower, offline processing in return. OpenAI added Batch support for Sora on March 12, 2026 (changelog), at half the standard price. Batch videos stayed downloadable for 24 hours after the batch finished. Standard download links lasted at most 1 hour, so you had to copy files to your own storage.
How much a 10-second Sora 2 clip cost
At OpenAI's per-second rates, as of September 2026:
| Model and resolution | 10 seconds, standard | 10 seconds, batch | 20 seconds (longest clip), standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sora 2, 720p | $1.00 | $0.50 | $2.00 |
| Sora 2 Pro, 720p | $3.00 | $1.50 | $6.00 |
| Sora 2 Pro, 1024p | $5.00 | $2.50 | $10.00 |
| Sora 2 Pro, 1080p | $7.00 | $3.50 | $14.00 |
In practice, you asked for a set clip length and paid for that length. In FrameSurfer's catalog, Sora clips came in 4, 8 or 12 seconds. A 24-second ad made of two 12-second Sora 2 Pro clips at 720p cost $7.20, or $3.60 through Batch. Retakes cost the same again.
What changed with Sora in 2026
Sora 2 lasted less than a year as a public product. Here are the key dates, from OpenAI's Sora 2 launch post, API changelog, deprecations page and Help Center:
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| September 30, 2025 | OpenAI released Sora 2 with a new Sora social app. |
| October 6, 2025 | Sora 2 and Sora 2 Pro reached the API through a new Videos API. |
| January 13, 2026 | The sora-2 model name moved to a newer snapshot, sora-2-2025-12-08. |
| March 12, 2026 | The API added clips up to 20 seconds, 1080p on Sora 2 Pro at $0.70 per second, reusable characters, video extensions and Batch support. |
| March 24, 2026 | OpenAI told developers the Videos API and every Sora 2 model would be removed. |
| April 26, 2026 | The Sora web and app experiences were discontinued. |
| September 24, 2026 | Shutdown date for the Videos API, sora-2, sora-2-pro and their dated snapshots. |
What is gone and what is left
The two shutdown dates are easy to mix up. Here is what OpenAI's and Microsoft's own pages say, as of September 24, 2026:
- The Sora app and website: closed on April 26, 2026. OpenAI's Sora 2 page now opens with a notice that the product is no longer available.
- Your old Sora videos: OpenAI says you can export them at sora.chatgpt.com/sunset. After any final export window, it will permanently delete Sora data.
- Sora credits: purchased ChatGPT or Sora credits can still be spent on Codex, according to the Help Center.
- The API: the deprecations page lists September 24, 2026 as the shutdown date for the Videos API, sora-2, sora-2-pro and three dated snapshots. Sora 2 Pro goes on the same day as Sora 2. The replacement column is empty, so OpenAI names no successor video model.
- ChatGPT: the ChatGPT plans page lists no video generation feature, as of September 24, 2026.
- Microsoft Foundry: Microsoft also sells sora-2 through its Foundry platform. Its retirement schedule lists sora-2 version 2025-12-08 as a preview model retiring on October 15, 2026. Sora 2 Pro is not on that list.
What Sora 2 was good at
OpenAI pitched Sora 2 as more physically accurate and more controllable than earlier video models. It made synchronized dialogue and sound effects in the same pass as the picture. It handled realistic, cinematic and anime styles.
Through the API, you could also:
- start a clip from an image, used as the first frame
- reuse a non-human character, such as a mascot, across several shots
- extend a finished clip up to six times, for up to 120 seconds in total
- edit an existing clip with a targeted change, such as a new color palette
It also had firm limits. OpenAI's guide says the API rejected real people, including public figures, as well as copyrighted characters, copyrighted music and input images with human faces. Content had to suit audiences under 18.
Sora 2 alternatives with similar strengths
If you used Sora for short clips with sound and dialogue, look for three things in a replacement: native audio, clip length and resolution. The table below uses FrameSurfer's model catalog, as of September 24, 2026. Each maker's own app may offer different options.
| Model | Maker | Native audio | Clip length in FrameSurfer | Top resolution in FrameSurfer | Starts from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veo 3.1 | Yes | 4, 6 or 8 s | 1080p | text, start image, end image | |
| Kling 3.0 | Kling | Yes | 3 to 15 s | 1080p | text, start image, end image |
| Seedance 2.0 | ByteDance | Yes | 4 to 15 s | 1080p | text, start image, end image |
| Alibaba Wan 3 | Alibaba | Yes | 2 to 30 s | 1080p | text, start image |
| Grok Imagine | Grok | Yes | 1 to 15 s | 720p | text, start image |
| MiniMax H3 Max Turbo | MiniMax | Yes | 5 to 15 s | 768p | text, start image |
Which one fits depends on the job:
- Cinematic clips with dialogue: Veo 3.1 is the closest match. Google's Gemini API charges $0.40 per second with audio, and Veo 3.1 Fast charges $0.10 per second at 720p, the same rate Sora 2 had, as of September 2026 (Gemini API pricing). Details in our Veo 3 pricing guide.
- Longer single shots: Wan 3 makes clips up to 30 seconds in FrameSurfer, longer than Sora's 20-second cap. See the Wan AI video generator guide.
- Up to 15 seconds with sound at 1080p: Kling 3.0 and Seedance 2.0 both fit. Compare them in Kling AI pricing and Seedance 2.0 pricing.
- Quick clips with sound: Grok Imagine and MiniMax H3 Max Turbo also make audio with the picture, at up to 15 seconds.
Moving from Sora 2 to FrameSurfer
Apps that reached Sora through OpenAI's API lose it with the September 24, 2026 shutdown, and FrameSurfer is no exception. What carries over is the way you work, not the model.
In FrameSurfer you are not tied to one maker. You pick a model for each scene, or let FrameSurfer choose, all on one plan. You describe an idea, and FrameSurfer writes the script, generates each shot, and adds voiceover, captions and music. You can then refine timing and text in the editor and export MP4 up to 1080p.
- Closest to Sora's cinematic look with sound: Veo 3.1.
- Up to 15 seconds with sound at 1080p: Kling 3.0 or Seedance 2.0.
- One long unbroken shot: Alibaba Wan 3, up to 30 seconds.
Start with FrameSurfer's text to video tool and try your old Sora prompt on Veo 3.1, Kling 3.0 or Seedance 2.0. If your idea starts from a photo, use image to video. To compare every model on clip length, sound and inputs, see AI video models compared, or read our roundup of the best AI video generators.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Sora 2 cost per second?
On OpenAI's API, as of September 2026, Sora 2 cost $0.10 per second at 720p. Sora 2 Pro cost $0.30, $0.50 or $0.70 per second at 720p, 1024p or 1080p, and Batch jobs cost half.
Is Sora 2 still available?
The Sora app and website closed on April 26, 2026, and OpenAI set September 24, 2026 as the shutdown date for the Sora API, including Sora 2 Pro. Microsoft lists its hosted sora-2 version for retirement on October 15, 2026.
How much did a 10-second Sora 2 video cost?
At standard API rates as of September 2026, 10 seconds cost $1.00 on Sora 2 at 720p and $3.00 to $7.00 on Sora 2 Pro, depending on resolution. Batch halved those figures.
Did OpenAI replace Sora 2 with a new video model?
No. OpenAI's deprecations page names no replacement for the Videos API or the Sora 2 models, and the ChatGPT plans page lists no video generation as of September 24, 2026.
What is the best alternative to Sora 2?
It depends on the job. Veo 3.1 is the closest match for cinematic clips with dialogue and sound. Kling 3.0 and Seedance 2.0 make clips up to 15 seconds with audio in FrameSurfer, and Wan 3 makes single clips up to 30 seconds.
Can I still download my old Sora videos?
OpenAI says to export them at sora.chatgpt.com/sunset. It will permanently delete Sora data after any final export window, so export soon.
