Sora was OpenAI’s video model, with its own app and an API for developers. In 2026, OpenAI shut it down. Even so, thousands of people still search for Sora every month and land on sites selling “Sora 2 online.” Here’s what happened, how to save your videos, and what to replace Sora with — based on rankings, not ads.
Sora shutting down: when and how it happened
OpenAI’s help center gives two dates:
| What | Shutdown date |
|---|---|
| Sora app and web version | April 26, 2026 |
| Sora API for developers | September 24, 2026 |
What users need to know:
- Export. You can download your videos at sora.chatgpt.com/sunset with the Export button — a link will arrive by email. OpenAI recommends doing this as soon as possible.
- Data deletion. After the shutdown and the end of the final export window, if one is offered, OpenAI permanently deletes all data associated with Sora.
- Credits and subscription. Purchased ChatGPT and Sora credits can be spent in Codex, and OpenAI redirects refund questions to its general ChatGPT subscription help.
What Sora was and why people still search for it
Sora generated video from a text description, and its second version, Sora 2, powered a standalone app. On the Arena leaderboard, where users blindly compare videos, Sora 2 Pro still ranked 11th out of 48 as of September 21, 2026, Sora 2 was 17th, and the original Sora 45th. In other words, even at the time of the shutdown, ten models on the leaderboard were stronger than Sora 2 Pro.
“Sora 2 online free” sites: what’s behind them
Searches like “Sora official website” and “Sora free” return plenty of sites with Sora in the domain name. Since September 24, 2026, OpenAI doesn’t even have an API, so no third-party service can give access to the real Sora. A different model runs behind that button — sometimes a good one, sometimes an old and cheap one.
If a site promises Sora, check three things:
- which model it actually runs — an honest service names it;
- whether there’s sound — many cheap models don’t have it;
- how payment and credits work — whether they expire and whether you can get a refund.
Sora alternatives: models that outrank Sora 2
Arena leaderboard as of September 21, 2026, 48 video models:
| Rank | Model | Developer | Sound | In AI2Face |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Gemini Omni 1.1 Flash and Flash | yes | yes | |
| 3 | FLUX 3 Video | Black Forest Labs | yes | yes |
| 4 | Grok Imagine Video 1.5 | xAI | yes | yes |
| 5 and 7 | Seedance 2.0 and 2.5 | ByteDance | yes | yes |
| 6 | Wan 3.0 | Alibaba | yes | yes |
| 8 | MiniMax H3 | MiniMax | yes | yes |
| 11 | Sora 2 Pro | OpenAI | yes | shut down |
| 27 | Runway Gen-4.5 | Runway | — | yes |
| 29 | Kling 2.6 Pro | Kuaishou | yes | yes |
Another strong alternative outside the top ten is Google’s Veo 3.1: up to 4K, with character dialogue.
We ran the same prompt in two models from the table: a fisherman at dawn pulls in a net and speaks to the camera in Russian.
Which model replaces Sora for your task
| What you used Sora for | Alternative | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Short text-to-video clip with sound | Gemini Omni | #1 on the leaderboard, sound generated with the picture |
| A multi-shot story | Seedance 2.5 or Wan 3.0 | up to 30 seconds in one generation |
| A character from a photo, “cameos” | Seedance 2.5 or MiniMax H3 | many references: photos, video, audio |
| Character dialogue with lip sync | Veo 3.1 or Wan 3.0 | speech and dialogue in the prompt |
| Motion and physics | Grok Imagine Video 1.5 or Kling | movement and sports |
How to choose a model for your task is covered in detail in our overview of AI video generators, and where to try them for free in our article free AI video generator.
Where to use Sora alternatives
The models that replace Sora are all available in the AI2Face generator: Gemini Omni, Seedance, Veo 3.1, Kling, Wan, MiniMax H3, Grok Imagine and FLUX in one place. You can run the same prompt on several models and compare. The cost of each generation is shown before you start, you can pay by card or crypto, credits from packs don’t expire, and you get welcome credits after signing up.
Bottom line
Sora is gone: OpenAI shut down the app on April 26, 2026, and the API on September 24. If you still have videos there, download them at sora.chatgpt.com/sunset before OpenAI deletes the data. “Sora 2 online” sites sell other models under a borrowed name. There are alternatives, and they’re stronger: ten models rank above Sora 2 Pro on Arena, including Gemini Omni, Seedance, Wan 3.0 and MiniMax H3. Start with Gemini Omni or Seedance — in AI2Face, you can try them with your welcome credits.
FAQ
Does Sora still work?
No. OpenAI shut down the Sora app and website on April 26, 2026, and the API on September 24, 2026. You can no longer create new videos in Sora.
Where is the official Sora website?
sora.chatgpt.com now exists only for export: at sora.chatgpt.com/sunset you can download your videos. “Sora 2 online” sites at other addresses don't belong to OpenAI.
Can I use Sora for free?
No, neither free nor paid: the model is shut down in both the app and the API. If a site promises free Sora 2, a different model is running behind the button.
What happened to my Sora videos?
You can export them at sora.chatgpt.com/sunset — a link to the archive will arrive by email. After the shutdown and the end of the export window, OpenAI permanently deletes all Sora data.
What's the best alternative to Sora 2?
Models ranked above Sora 2 on Arena: Gemini Omni, Seedance 2.0 and 2.5, Wan 3.0, MiniMax H3, Grok Imagine Video 1.5. All of them generate video with sound, and most are available in AI2Face.
Sources
3
- https://help.openai.com/en/articles/20001152-what-to-know-about-the-sora-discontinuation
- https://arena.ai/leaderboard/text-to-video
- https://help.openai.com/en/articles/7947663-chatgpt-supported-countries
