Sora 2 Video Generator: Features, Pricing, and How to Use It in 2026
Wanderson Jackson
Updated July 2026. Sora 2 is OpenAI's flagship video generation model, capable of producing realistic video with synchronized audio from text or image prompts. The original Sora consumer app was discontinued on April 26, 2026, and the Sora 2 API is set to sunset on September 24, 2026. You can still access Sora 2 today through partner platforms like Avocado AI, which offers Sora 2 Standard and Sora 2 Pro 1080p in a single credit pool alongside 15+ other video, image, and audio models.
Sora 2 is the successor to OpenAI's original Sora video generation model. It creates realistic video clips from text prompts or still images, with native synchronized audio including dialogue and sound effects. The model supports both portrait and landscape orientations and generates clips from 4 to 25 seconds depending on the tier.
OpenAI launched Sora 2 as a dedicated social app on iOS in late 2024, but discontinued the consumer product on April 26, 2026. The API remains available until September 24, 2026. After that date, OpenAI will no longer accept new Sora 2 requests. This timeline is important for anyone planning long-term video production workflows: Sora 2 is available now, but alternatives should be evaluated before the sunset date.
Sora 2 is available today through partner platforms like Avocado AI, which provides access to Sora 2 Standard and Sora 2 Pro 1080p as part of its broader model catalog.
Sora 2 Key Features
Native Audio Generation
Unlike many video generation models that produce silent clips, Sora 2 generates synchronized audio alongside video. This includes dialogue, sound effects, and ambient audio that match the visual content. For marketers and content creators, this eliminates a separate audio editing step in most workflows.
Text-to-Video and Image-to-Video
Sora 2 accepts both text prompts and still images as input. Text-to-video generates clips purely from written descriptions. Image-to-video takes a reference photo or illustration and animates it into a video clip. Both generation types are available through the API and through partner platforms.
Extended Duration (Up to 25 Seconds)
Sora 2 Pro supports clips up to 25 seconds, a significant improvement over the original Sora's 6-second limit. Sora 2 Standard generates clips at 4, 8, or 12 seconds. Longer clips open up use cases like product demos, explainer sequences, and social media content that need more than a quick visual.
Resolution Options
Sora 2 Standard maxes out at 720p resolution. Sora 2 Pro supports 720p, 1024p (1792x1024 widescreen), and 1080p (1920x1080). The resolution you choose affects both quality and cost: higher resolutions consume more compute and cost more per second.
Cameos
Sora 2's "Cameos" feature allows inserting real people into AI-generated scenes. This is useful for personalized marketing content, branded spokesperson videos, or creative projects that need a specific person's likeness integrated into generated environments.
Portrait and Landscape Orientations
Sora 2 supports both portrait (9:16) and landscape (16:9) aspect ratios, covering the primary formats needed for social media platforms, YouTube, and advertising placements.
Sora 2 Pricing Breakdown
Sora 2 pricing varies significantly depending on how you access it. There are three main paths: the OpenAI API (usage-based, billing per second), ChatGPT subscription bundles (included with Plus or Pro), and partner platforms like Avocado AI (credit-based).
OpenAI API Pricing (Usage-Based)
The Sora 2 API bills per second of generated video. These are the current rates before the September 24, 2026 sunset:
Model
Resolution
Standard Rate
Batch Rate (24h SLA)
Sora 2 Standard
720p
$0.10/sec
$0.05/sec
Sora 2 Pro
720p
$0.30/sec
$0.15/sec
Sora 2 Pro
1024p (1792x1024)
$0.50/sec
$0.25/sec
Sora 2 Pro
1080p (1920x1080)
$0.70/sec
$0.35/sec
A standard 8-second clip at 720p costs $0.80 via the API. A 10-second Sora 2 Pro clip at 1080p costs $7.00. The batch tier offers 50% savings but requires a 24-hour processing window.
ChatGPT Subscription Access
Sora 2 is bundled into OpenAI's ChatGPT subscriptions:
ChatGPT Plus ($20/month): Includes Sora 2 Standard generation with compute-based limits.
ChatGPT Pro (from $100/month): Bundles Sora 2 Pro with higher-quality output and more headroom.
Note: OpenAI's consumer Sora app was discontinued in April 2026. Subscription access is through ChatGPT directly.
Avocado AI Pricing (Credit-Based)
On Avocado AI, Sora 2 is available in a shared credit pool alongside other video, image, and audio models:
Model
Credits per Clip
Clip Length
Available Tiers
Sora 2 Standard
10 credits
8 seconds
Starter, Growth, Pro
Sora 2 Pro 1080p
84 credits
8 seconds
Growth, Pro
At the Growth plan (900 credits/month at 99/mo), a Sora 2 Standard 8-second clip costs approximately 1.10 (10 credits out of 900 at 99). A Sora 2 Pro 1080p clip costs approximately 9.24 (84 credits out of 900 at 99). Credits roll over for one year, so unused credits from a slow month carry forward.
Cost Comparison: OpenAI API vs Avocado AI
For an 8-second Sora 2 Standard clip at 720p:
OpenAI API (standard): $0.80
Avocado AI Starter: ~1.30 (10 credits out of 300 at 39/mo)
Avocado AI Growth: ~1.10 (10 credits out of 800 at 99/mo)
For an 8-second Sora 2 Pro clip at 1080p:
OpenAI API (standard): $5.60
Avocado AI Growth: ~9.24 (84 credits out of 800 at 99/mo)
Avocado AI Pro: ~8.40 (84 credits out of 2,000 at 249/mo)
The OpenAI API is cheaper per-clip for raw Sora 2 access. The value of Avocado AI is consolidation: one credit pool for Sora 2, Seedance 2.0, Hailuo, Veo 3.1, Kling 3.0, plus 15+ image models and audio generation. If you run multiple models in a creative workflow, a single Avocado subscription replaces multiple API keys and billing relationships.
Sora 2 on Avocado AI
Sora 2 is available on Avocado AI as two model variants:
Sora 2 Standard (10 credits per 8-second clip): Available on Starter, Growth, and Pro plans. 720p resolution. Good for drafts, social media clips, and rapid iteration.
Sora 2 Pro 1080p (84 credits per 8-second clip): Available on Growth and Pro plans only. 1080p resolution. Suited for client deliverables, hero content, and final-production video.
Avocado AI's Workspace lets you generate Sora 2 clips alongside other video models in the same project. You can compare Sora 2 output against Seedance 2.0, Hailuo Pro, or Veo 3.1 without switching platforms. The Storyboards feature helps plan multi-clip sequences, and the MCP server enables programmatic access for automation workflows.
How Avocado's Credit System Works
Avocado plans start at 19.99/month (100 credits) and scale to 249/month (2,000 credits). Credits roll over for one full year, so a slow production month does not waste your budget. Every plan includes access to all AI image, video, and audio models. The difference between tiers is credit volume and feature access (like Super Agent and Storyboards on Growth and Pro).
Sora 2 vs Other Video Models
Sora 2 competes with several video generation models available on the market. Here is how it compares on key dimensions:
Feature
Sora 2 Standard
Sora 2 Pro 1080p
Seedance 2.0
Veo 3.1
Hailuo Pro
Max Resolution
720p
1080p
720p (5s clips)
1080p
720p
Max Duration
12 seconds
25 seconds
5 seconds
8 seconds
6 seconds
Native Audio
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Avocado Credits/Clip
10cr/8s
84cr/8s
16-19cr/5s
48cr/8s
7cr/6s
Image-to-Video
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Sora 2's strongest differentiators are native audio generation and longer clip durations. If your workflow needs synchronized sound design without a separate audio step, Sora 2 is one of the few models that delivers this natively. The 25-second max on Sora 2 Pro is also the longest single-clip duration among mainstream video generation models.
The tradeoff is cost: Sora 2 Pro at 84 credits per 8-second clip is the most expensive video model on Avocado AI. For high-volume social media content where audio is added in post, Seedance 2.0 (16-19 credits per 5 seconds) or Hailuo Pro (7 credits per 6 seconds) offer better per-second economics.
Best Use Cases for Sora 2
Product Demonstrations with Voiceover
Sora 2's native audio makes it well-suited for product demo videos where the visual and audio track need to stay in sync. A text prompt describing a product in use can generate a clip with matching ambient sound and narration-style dialogue.
Social Media Ads with Sound
Platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts prioritize content with audio. Sora 2 generates clips with built-in sound design, reducing the number of tools needed to produce ad-ready content.
Explainer Sequences
The longer clip duration (up to 25 seconds on Pro) supports explainer-style content where a concept needs visual demonstration over time. Combine multiple Sora 2 clips in a video editor for longer sequences.
Personalized Marketing (Cameos)
Sora 2's Cameos feature allows integrating real people into generated scenes. This is useful for personalized video ads, branded content with a specific spokesperson, or creative campaigns that blend real and AI-generated elements.
Rapid Creative Iteration
At 10 credits per 8-second clip on Avocado AI, Sora 2 Standard is affordable enough for rapid iteration. Generate multiple versions of a concept, review them, and refine prompts before committing to higher-resolution production clips.
How to Get Started with Sora 2
Via Avocado AI
Sign up for an Avocado AI plan (Starter or higher for Sora 2 Standard; Growth or Pro for Sora 2 Pro 1080p).
Open the Workspace and select Sora 2 from the video model list.
Enter your text prompt or upload a reference image.
Generate, review, and iterate. Export your final clip for use in ads, social content, or presentations.
Via OpenAI API
Create an OpenAI API account and add billing.
Use the Sora 2 API endpoint to submit generation requests.
Set resolution, duration, and orientation parameters.
Note the September 24, 2026 sunset date: plan your migration path to alternatives like Google Veo 3.1 or other models available on Avocado AI.
Via ChatGPT Subscription
Subscribe to ChatGPT Plus ($20/month) or ChatGPT Pro (from $100/month).
Access Sora 2 generation directly within the ChatGPT interface.
This path is best for casual use; for production workflows, the API or a platform like Avocado AI offers more control.
FAQ
Is Sora 2 still available in 2026?
Yes. The Sora 2 API is available until September 24, 2026. The original Sora consumer app was discontinued on April 26, 2026. You can access Sora 2 through the OpenAI API, ChatGPT subscriptions, or partner platforms like Avocado AI.
How much does Sora 2 cost per video?
Via the OpenAI API, Sora 2 Standard costs $0.10 per second at 720p (about $0.80 for an 8-second clip). Sora 2 Pro at 1080p costs $0.70 per second (about $5.60 for 8 seconds). On Avocado AI, Sora 2 Standard is 10 credits per 8-second clip and Sora 2 Pro 1080p is 84 credits per 8-second clip.
What is the maximum video length for Sora 2?
Sora 2 Standard supports clips at 4, 8, or 12 seconds. Sora 2 Pro supports 10, 15, or 25 seconds. For longer videos, you can edit multiple clips together in a video editor.
Does Sora 2 generate audio?
Yes. Sora 2 generates synchronized audio alongside video, including dialogue, sound effects, and ambient sound. This is a key differentiator from models like Seedance 2.0 and Hailuo Pro, which produce silent clips.
What resolution does Sora 2 support?
Sora 2 Standard generates at 720p. Sora 2 Pro supports 720p, 1024p (1792x1024 widescreen), and 1080p (1920x1080).
Is Sora 2 available for free?
OpenAI offered a free tier in the Sora iOS app with compute-based limits, but the consumer app was discontinued in April 2026. Current access paths include the OpenAI API (usage-based billing), ChatGPT subscriptions ($20-$100+/month), and partner platforms like Avocado AI (paid plans from 19.99/month).
Can I use Sora 2 for commercial purposes?
Yes. Video generated via the OpenAI API includes commercial usage rights. On Avocado AI, all generated content includes commercial usage rights and no watermarks.
What happens after Sora 2's API sunset on September 24, 2026?
After the sunset, OpenAI will no longer accept new Sora 2 API requests. Google Veo 3.1 is the most actively developed mainstream alternative. Avocado AI offers Veo 3.1 alongside other video models in the same credit pool, providing a straightforward transition path.
How to Pick Sora 2 vs Alternatives in Under 30 Seconds
Need native audio in your video? Sora 2 is one of the few models that generates synchronized sound natively.
Clips longer than 10 seconds? Sora 2 Pro goes up to 25 seconds; most competitors cap at 5-8 seconds.
High-volume social content at low cost? Seedance 2.0 (16 credits per 5 seconds) or Hailuo Pro (7 credits per 6 seconds) are more cost-effective.
Budget-conscious with audio needs? Veo 3.1 (48 credits per 8 seconds with audio) sits between Sora 2 Standard and Pro on cost.
Need 1080p for client deliverables? Sora 2 Pro and Veo 3.1 are your options on Avocado AI.
Running multiple models in one workflow? A single Avocado AI subscription covers Sora 2, Seedance, Hailuo, Veo, Kling, and 15+ image models in one credit pool.
If you want one workspace for video, image, and audio generation with Sora 2 included, start with Avocado AI. Plans start at 19.99/month with credits that roll over for a full year.
Wanderson Jackson is the founder of Avocado AI, an AI media-generation workspace for creators and marketing teams.
