Sora 2 has no standalone price in 2026 — OpenAI discontinued the Sora app and folded the model into ChatGPT. You reach it two ways: a ChatGPT subscription (Plus at $20/mo for a taste, Pro at $200/mo for the real thing), or the API at about $0.10 per second for Sora 2 and $0.30–$0.70 per second for Sora 2 Pro. There's one catch that colors all of it: the video API is scheduled to sunset.
The short answer
You don't buy "Sora" — you buy a ChatGPT plan that includes it, or you call it on the API. The useful creator version lives on ChatGPT Pro, which is expensive if Sora is the only reason you're subscribing. For programmatic use, the per-second API is cheaper per clip but on a deprecation clock.
ChatGPT access tiers
Access scales with your ChatGPT plan. Plus is a taste; Pro is the product.
| Plan | Price | Sora 2 access |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT Free | $0 | No meaningful Sora 2 generation |
| ChatGPT Plus | $20/mo | Very limited quota, lower priority |
| ChatGPT Pro | $200/mo | Generous quotas, 1080p, full Storyboard mode |
For the full ChatGPT plan breakdown beyond video, see our ChatGPT pricing guide.
API pricing
Developers can call Sora 2 directly, priced per second of output. It's the cheapest route per clip if you generate at volume — but read the next section before you build on it.
| Model | API price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Sora 2 | ~$0.10/sec | Standard-quality short clips |
| Sora 2 Pro | ~$0.30–0.70/sec | Higher quality, by resolution |
At $0.10/sec, a 10-second Sora 2 clip runs about $1; a 10-second Sora 2 Pro clip at the top rate is closer to $7. That's competitive on the base model and premium at the top.
The API sunset
This is the fine print that matters most. OpenAI's deprecation notices schedule the Videos API and Sora 2 video models for discontinuation on September 24, 2026. If you're building a product on the Sora 2 API, treat it as short-term and have an alternative like Veo or Seedance ready. Verify the latest status on OpenAI's site before committing engineering time.
Vs Veo & Runway
On price-to-access, Sora 2 is the awkward one. Veo 3.1 starts at $7.99/month on the consumer side and $0.03/sec on the API, and Runway starts around $12/month — both far below the $200 ChatGPT Pro tier that unlocks useful Sora.
| Model | Entry consumer price | API per second |
|---|---|---|
| Sora 2 | $20/mo (limited) · $200 (real) | $0.10–0.70 |
| Veo 3.1 | $7.99/mo | $0.03–0.60 |
| Runway | ~$12/mo | Credit-based |
Is it worth it?
Sora 2 is worth it if you already pay for ChatGPT Pro — then its top-tier short-clip realism and Storyboard mode are a strong bonus at no extra cost. Buying Pro at $200/month just for Sora is hard to justify when Veo 3.1 delivers 4K and native audio from $7.99/month.
For programmatic use, the base API rate is attractive, but the scheduled deprecation makes it a risky foundation. Read the full Sora 2 review, the head-to-head in Sora 2 vs Veo 3.1, or our Sora 2 alternatives guide for steadier options.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Sora 2 cost?
There's no standalone Sora price anymore. Access comes through ChatGPT — Plus at $20/month gives very limited use, and Pro at $200/month gives generous quotas, 1080p and Storyboard. On the API, Sora 2 lists at about $0.10 per second and Sora 2 Pro at $0.30–$0.70 per second.
Is there a free way to use Sora 2?
Not really. The standalone Sora app that once offered limited free use was discontinued in April 2026. The cheapest paid access is ChatGPT Plus at $20/month, but its Sora 2 quota is very limited.
Is Sora 2 cheaper than Veo?
On the API, Sora 2's base rate (~$0.10/sec) is competitive, but Veo 3.1 starts lower at $0.03/sec and its consumer plans begin at $7.99/month versus Sora's useful tier costing $200/month via ChatGPT Pro. For most creators, Veo is the cheaper reliable option.
Do I need ChatGPT Pro for Sora 2?
For serious use, effectively yes. ChatGPT Plus includes only a very limited Sora 2 quota, while Pro at $200/month unlocks generous quotas, 1080p output and the full Storyboard mode.
How much does a Sora 2 clip cost on the API?
At about $0.10 per second, a 10-second Sora 2 clip is roughly $1. Sora 2 Pro at the top rate ($0.70/sec) pushes a 10-second clip to around $7, depending on resolution.
Is the Sora 2 API going away?
OpenAI has scheduled the Videos API and Sora 2 models for discontinuation on September 24, 2026. If you plan to build on it, have a fallback ready and confirm the current status on OpenAI's site first.