Sora
Discontinued OpenAI Text-to-Video Model
Bottom Line
Sora is now a discontinued historical reference, not a current production choice. Use this page to understand the shutdown timeline and move into alternatives for active production tools.
Best For
TL;DR
Best for: Readers researching Sora's shutdown, export guidance, API sunset timing, and active alternatives after the web and app experience was discontinued
Not ideal for: Buyers building a fresh active shortlist; Sora should now be treated as a historical benchmark rather than a selectable production tool
Why we recommend it: OpenAI discontinued the Sora web and app experiences on April 26, 2026, and says the Sora API will be discontinued on September 24, 2026. Keep this page for status context and replacement routing, not as a normal buying recommendation.
Discontinued status
Sora is now a historical reference, not an active shortlist pick
OpenAI discontinued the Sora web and app experiences on April 26, 2026. The Sora API is scheduled to be discontinued on September 24, 2026.
If you still have Sora content, OpenAI recommends exporting it as soon as possible. Use this page for status context, then move to alternatives for active replacement options.
Workflow handoff
Still choosing the workflow before the product?
Sora only makes sense once the job is clear. If you are still deciding the route first, step back to Text to Video AI Tools (2026) before you compare it against nearby tools.
Next move
Decide what you need from Sora before you over-read the review
Sora is no longer an active purchase decision. Use the alternatives page for replacements, and use the historical compare page only to understand why buyers now move away from Sora.
Replacement path
Compare active alternatives
Use replacement tools instead of treating discontinued Sora pricing as a live buying path.
Wider shortlist
Compare alternatives
Open the replacement set around Sora instead of reading this page as a final answer.
Head-to-head
Runway vs Sora
Use the compare page when only one nearby rival is still seriously in play.
Route check
Back to Text to Video AI Tools (2026)
Go back up a level if the real question is still the workflow, not this specific tool.
Mini Test
Test pending
Test prompt: "Generate a 10-15 second product teaser with one clear subject, one camera move, one environmental detail, synced sound, and one clean ending frame. Keep the scene realistic and avoid on-screen text."
Use Cases
Historical model benchmark: Sora remains useful as a historical benchmark for realism and model-led generation, but it should not be treated as an active product shortlist pick.
Compare with Runway →Replacement shortlist: Use active alternatives when the work still requires text-to-video generation, cinematic prototyping, or publishable creative output after Sora's shutdown.
See text-to-video guide →Export and API sunset check: OpenAI advises users to export Sora content as soon as possible, and the API is scheduled to be discontinued on September 24, 2026.
Compare replacements →In-Depth Review
Sora is now best treated as a historical text-to-video benchmark, not as an active shortlist pick. OpenAI Help Center says the Sora web and app experiences were discontinued on April 26, 2026, and the Sora API will be discontinued on September 24, 2026.
Keep this page for shutdown context and replacement routing. If you need a current production workflow, move into the Sora alternatives page instead of relying on legacy Sora pricing or availability claims.
Pros
- ✓Still useful as a historical benchmark for text-to-video quality
- ✓Clear shutdown dates are now available from OpenAI Help Center
- ✓Useful as a routing page for Sora users who need active replacements
- ✓Preserves context for comparisons against current cinematic generation tools
Cons
- ✕The Sora web and app experiences have been discontinued
- ✕The Sora API is scheduled to be discontinued on September 24, 2026
- ✕Legacy pricing should not be treated as a current buying path
- ✕Teams need active alternatives for new production work
Evidence
Evidence summary
Selected source-backed notes used to support the review, kept separate from the main buying verdict.
The official Sora page says you can start from a prompt or upload an image to create videos.
The Sora page also highlights remixing an existing creation by swapping characters, changing the vibe, adding scenes, or extending the story.
The official page says music, sound effects, and dialogue are automatically included to complete scenes.
Sources used
Next step
What should you compare next?
Use a pairwise compare page when your shortlist is already narrow. Use the alternatives page when you still need a wider replacement set around Sora.
Pairwise compare
Runway vs Sora
Start here if these are the two tools left on the shortlist and you need a tighter decision page.
Compare this pair→Wider shortlist
Need broader replacements than a single compare?
Step into the dedicated Sora alternatives page to review replacements by pricing, workflow fit, and trade-offs.
Open the alternatives shortlist→