Sora Is Shut Down: Best Alternatives & How to Switch

Last updated: October 2, 2026

Sora is shut down. OpenAI discontinued the Sora web and app experiences on April 26, 2026, and set September 24, 2026 as the removal date for the Sora application programming interface (API). Both dates have passed. The 4 Sora alternatives on this page are Google Veo 3.1, Kling 3.0, Runway Gen-4.5 and Luma Ray3.2. Each one generates video from a text prompt, and each one is open to new accounts today. This page explains what happened to Sora, what happens to existing videos, how to export them, and how to switch. Every price and limit below comes from the vendor's own pages as checked on October 2, 2026. No tool on this page was tested hands-on.

What happened to Sora?

OpenAI shut Sora down in 2 stages: the consumer app and website first, the developer API 5 months later. OpenAI's help center article on the Sora discontinuation and OpenAI's API deprecations page give these dates.

The deprecations page names the Videos API and 5 model names for removal: sora-2, sora-2-pro, sora-2-2025-10-06, sora-2-2025-12-08 and sora-2-pro-2025-10-06. The page lists no replacement model. Being Guru reported on September 29, 2026 that API calls to Sora started failing at the cutoff.

OpenAI's public statement, quoted by TechCrunch on March 24, 2026, read: "We're saying goodbye to the Sora app." TechCrunch reports that OpenAI gave no reason in the notice, and that Sora app downloads fell from 3.3 million in November 2025 to 1.1 million in February 2026.

What happens to existing Sora videos?

OpenAI permanently deletes Sora data after the shutdown and after any final export window ends. The help center article states: "After Sora is discontinued, and after the period of time of any final export window passes (if we are able to offer one), we will permanently delete any data associated with your use of Sora."

OpenAI has not published a deletion date. The same article says: "If a final export window is offered, we'll notify you by email before it begins." That wording leaves 2 points open: OpenAI has not confirmed that a final export window exists, and OpenAI has not said how long the window lasts. Export now, not later.

How to export Sora videos

To export Sora videos, use the export page that OpenAI's help center article still lists on October 2, 2026. The export takes 5 steps:

1. Open sora.chatgpt.com/sunset in a browser.
2. Sign in with the OpenAI account that created the videos.
3. Click Export.
4. Wait for the email from OpenAI that says the export is ready.
5. Download the export and store a second copy on a separate drive or cloud folder.

OpenAI's article does not list what the export file contains. Copy any prompts you want to reuse into a separate document, if you still have them, so the prompts move with you to the next tool.

Does OpenAI refund Sora credits?

OpenAI support stated that remaining credits "can be used with Codex or refunded through the usual process." That statement comes from an OpenAI_Support reply on the OpenAI Developer Community dated April 28, 2026. The current help center article does not mention refunds or credits, and OpenAI has not published an automatic refund for Sora. Send refund requests through OpenAI support at help.openai.com.

The 4 best Sora alternatives

The 4 best Sora alternatives for someone who needs to keep generating video today are Google Veo 3.1, Kling 3.0, Runway Gen-4.5 and Luma Ray3.2. The table shows the starting price on each vendor's pricing page.

This shortlist covers access and starting price only.

Google Veo 3.1

Google Veo 3.1 is the lowest-cost route on this list, with free daily credits and a $4.99 plan. Veo 3.1 runs inside Google Flow, which Google calls "our AI filmmaking tool." Google's Flow model guide lists 3 Veo 3.1 variants (Lite, Fast and Quality), clip lengths of 4, 6 and 8 seconds, and text to video plus frames to video modes.

To get access, open labs.google/fx/tools/flow in a Chromium-based browser. Google requires users to be 18 or older and located in a supported region. Google's Flow credits page gives users without a subscription 50 Flow credits per day. One Veo 3.1 generation costs 10 credits on Lite, 20 credits on Fast and 100 credits on Quality for non-Ultra accounts. Google's plan page prices Google AI Plus at $4.99 per month with 200 extra Flow credits, and Google AI Pro at $19.99 per month with 1,000 extra Flow credits. See the Google Veo listing for more.

Kling 3.0

Kling 3.0 replaces Sora for longer clips with sound, at up to 15 seconds per generation. Kling's VIDEO 3.0 Omni guide describes text-to-video and image-to-video modes, native audio output and multi-shot generation with custom storyboarding.

To get access, create an account at kling.ai. Kling's credit guide, dated July 28, 2026, lists a free Basic tier with no monthly credits and a Standard plan at $6.99 for the first month, then $8.80 per month, with 660 credits. Kling AI plans to launch its next model in October 2026, and the Kling 4.0 tracker follows that release. See the Kling AI listing for more.

Runway Gen-4.5

Runway Gen-4.5 replaces Sora for text-to-video work inside a full editing suite. Runway's Gen-4.5 announcement, dated December 1, 2025, describes a text-to-video model available on all paid Runway plans, and Runway's help center lists image input for Gen-4.5 too.

To get access, sign up at runway.com. Runway's pricing page lists a free plan with 125 one-time credits and "a selection" of models. The Standard plan costs $15 per month, or $12 per month billed annually, and includes 625 credits. Runway states that 625 credits buy 52 seconds of Gen-4.5 video. See the Runway listing for more.

Luma Ray3.2

Luma Ray3.2 replaces Sora for creators who want keyframe control and high dynamic range (HDR) output. Luma's Ray page lists 4 workflows: text-to-video, image-to-video, video modification and reframing. Luma lists native output up to 1080p, native 16-bit color, clips of 5 to 10 seconds and up to 16 keyframes inside one clip.

To get access, sign up at lumalabs.ai. Luma's pricing page starts at the Plus plan, $30 per month or $25 per month billed annually, with 10,000 credits. The pricing page lists no free plan. See the Luma AI listing for more.

Sora API alternatives for developers

OpenAI lists no replacement for the Videos API, so developers need a different vendor. There are 2 published API price lists to compare, Google's Gemini API and Runway's API.

The Veo prices come from Google's Gemini API pricing page and cover video with audio. The Runway price comes from Runway's API pricing guide, which sets 1 credit at $0.01.

How to switch from Sora

To switch from Sora, follow these 6 steps in order:

1. Export every Sora video from sora.chatgpt.com/sunset before OpenAI deletes the data.
2. Collect the prompts and reference images behind your finished videos.
3. Pick 1 tool from the shortlist by budget: Google Flow for free daily credits, Kling 3.0 for 15-second clips, Runway or Luma for editing controls.
4. Start on free credits where the vendor offers them, so the first tests cost nothing.
5. Rewrite each prompt for the new clip length: 4 to 8 seconds in Veo 3.1, up to 15 seconds in Kling 3.0, 5 to 10 seconds in Luma Ray3.2.
6. Request a refund from OpenAI support for unused Sora credits.

Developers add 1 step: replace every Videos API call with the new vendor's endpoint and recalculate the cost per second.

Frequently asked questions

Is Sora completely shut down?

Yes, both shutdown dates have passed. OpenAI discontinued the Sora web and app experiences on April 26, 2026, and OpenAI's deprecations page set September 24, 2026 as the removal date for the Videos API and all Sora 2 models.

Can I still download my Sora videos?

Yes, OpenAI's help center article still points to the export page at sora.chatgpt.com/sunset as of October 2, 2026. OpenAI has not published a final export deadline, and OpenAI states that Sora data gets permanently deleted afterward.

Did OpenAI release a replacement for Sora?

No, OpenAI has not named a replacement. The replacement column for the Sora 2 models on OpenAI's deprecations page is empty.

Which Sora alternative is free?

Google Flow is the free Sora alternative with a daily allowance, at 50 Flow credits per day without a subscription. Runway gives 125 one-time credits on its free plan, and Kling AI lists a free Basic tier with no monthly credits.

What is the cheapest paid Sora alternative?

The cheapest paid Sora alternative on this list is Google AI Plus at $4.99 per month, which adds 200 Flow credits for Veo 3.1. Kling's Standard plan follows at $6.99 for the first month and $8.80 per month after that.