Sora shut down — what to use instead
OpenAI shut down Sora: the app and website closed on April 26, 2026 and the API on September 24, 2026, according to OpenAI's Help Center. The closest free replacement is Google Veo 3.1 in Flow (50 free credits a day), with Kling and Runway as the main alternatives.
What happened to Sora
| Date | What changed (per OpenAI Help Center) |
|---|---|
| 2026-04-26 | Sora web and app experiences discontinued |
| 2026-09-24 | Sora API discontinued |
| Now | Export old content at sora.chatgpt.com/sunset. Data is deleted after any final export window. Purchased ChatGPT/Sora credits can be used for Codex |
Best Sora alternatives by job
| If you used Sora for… | Use this now | Free? |
|---|---|---|
| Text-to-video with sound | Google Veo 3.1 in Flow | Yes, 50 credits/day |
| Realistic motion / physics | Kling | Login credits (watermarked) |
| Image-to-video | Kling or Hailuo | Watermarked free tiers |
| Remixing and editing clips | Runway (Aleph) | 125 one-time credits |
| Fun social clips | Pika or CapCut | Pika: packs. CapCut: 7-day trial |
| Developer API | Veo via Gemini API / Vertex AI, Runway API, Kling API, MiniMax API | Paid |
Move off Sora in 4 steps
- Export your library at
sora.chatgpt.com/sunsetbefore any final export window ends. - Pick a replacement from the table above. For most people that's Google Flow (free daily credits).
- Re-use your best prompts. The shot formula works across Veo, Kling and Runway.
- Developers: migrate API calls. OpenAI's Sora API stopped working on 2026-09-24.
FAQ
Is Sora shut down?
Yes. OpenAI's help center says the Sora web and app experiences were discontinued on April 26, 2026, and the Sora API on September 24, 2026.
Can I use a VPN to access Sora?
No. Sora was discontinued everywhere, so there's no region to unlock.
How do I get my Sora videos back?
Go to sora.chatgpt.com/sunset and click Export. OpenAI emails you when the archive is ready. Data is permanently deleted after any final export window.
What's the closest free alternative to Sora?
Google Veo 3.1 in Flow. It generates video with audio and gives eligible accounts 50 free credits a day.
Does ChatGPT make videos now?
OpenAI's discontinuation page doesn't name a video replacement. It points users to image creation in ChatGPT and says leftover credits work in Codex.
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