Sora AI Shutdown Dates and the Best AI Video Alternatives

Sora is OpenAI's video generation service, and you can no longer use it. According to the OpenAI help center, the web and app ended on April 26, 2026, and the API ended on September 24, 2026. To keep making videos, you need to move to another service such as Gemini's video creation or Runway. For videos you made earlier in Sora, first check whether you saved them somewhere else.

Sora AI shutdown timeline and what stopped

Sora's app and API shut down on different dates. If you made videos in the app, it stopped working on April 26. If you called it from code as a developer, it stopped on September 24.

Item	Date	Details
API shutdown notice	March 24, 2026	Developers using the Videos API and the sora-2 and sora-2-pro models were told support would end
Web and app shutdown	April 26, 2026	Use of the Sora web and app ended
API shutdown	September 24, 2026	sora-2, sora-2-pro and the dated versions were removed from the API

The OpenAI document on the API shutdown does not name a recommended replacement model. If your service used the Sora API, there is nowhere to move within OpenAI. You need to choose another company's video generation API or service yourself.

The OpenAI help center advises exporting your Sora content as soon as possible. Data is permanently deleted after the shutdown, so if you need videos you already made, first check whether you still have the files.

Comparing AI video services to use instead of Sora

Google's Gemini and Runway are the first two places worth looking at as Sora replacements. Their pricing units differ, so you cannot compare the numbers directly. Google ties monthly credits to its plans, and Runway gives monthly credits with each dollar-priced plan.

Service	Where to start	Requirement	Key feature
Gemini video creation	Create video in the gemini.google.com sidebar	A Google AI plan for personal accounts	Generates 10-second videos with sound using Gemini Omni
Google Flow	Flow credits included in Google AI plans	Google AI Plus or higher	Monthly credits are fixed per plan
Runway	The runway.com pricing page	Free sign-up available, paid plans start at Standard	Choose from Runway's own models and others such as Kling 3.0 in one place

Monthly Flow credits by Google AI plan

According to the Google AI plan guide, monthly Google Flow credits are 200 for Plus, 1,000 for Pro, 10,000 for the Ultra 5x plan, and 25,000 for the Ultra 20x plan. The plan page lists only the credit counts. To estimate how many videos you get, generate one in Flow and check how many credits it uses.

The steps for creating video in the Gemini app and joining clips in Google Vids are laid out in the Gemini help center. Before you pay, check each plan's price and what it includes on the Google AI plans page.

Google states that Veo 3.1 and Google Flow are available in more than 140 countries and regions. Runway shows prices in US dollars only, so check the amount in your local currency on the screen right before you pay.

Four Runway plans

The Runway pricing page shows four plans: Free, Standard, Pro, and Max. Prices are in dollars, and the monthly equivalent is lower if you choose annual billing.

Plan	Monthly billing	Annual billing (monthly equivalent)	Monthly credits
Free	$0	Not applicable	No monthly credits, one-time 125 credits at sign-up
Standard	$15	$12	625
Pro	$35	$28	2,250
Max	$95	$76	9,500

On the same Runway pricing page, monthly credits on the Standard and Pro plans do not carry over to the next month, while unused credits on Max roll over for one month. The page also says Standard has no watermark. Check the billing amount and currency on the screen right before you pay.

How to choose an AI video service by use case

If you want one video quickly, Gemini is the shortest path. If you already have a Google account, pick a plan, then enter a prompt (text that describes the video you want) under video creation in the sidebar. If you need to join several scenes into one video, use the AI-generated clips in Google Vids. The steps are in the Vids help center.

If you want to switch models and compare results, Runway is the better fit. Runway says you can choose from several video models under a single plan. If you are new, use the one-time 125 credits on Free to judge output quality, then decide whether to upgrade.

What to watch for when moving after the Sora shutdown

If you built a video feature on the Sora API, OpenAI has not named a replacement model. You need to choose another company's API yourself and change your calling code. Video length and pricing units differ by service, so compare results with the same prompt before you decide.

Whichever service you use, upload only photos you have the right to use. The Gemini help center says your account may be terminated if you infringe someone else's copyright or privacy rights.

How to check that your move from Sora worked

Check three things in order. First, open the video files you saved from Sora and confirm they play to the end. Second, create a video in the new service from one of your old Sora prompts, and check that the length and aspect ratio match what you need. Third, see how many credits or how much usage the generation consumed, and calculate how many videos you can make in a month.

Sora AI shutdown FAQ

Can I still download videos I made with Sora?

The OpenAI help center advises exporting before the shutdown, and says data is permanently deleted afterward. If you have no saved files, the help center does not describe a recovery method, so contact OpenAI support.

How do I change code that used the Sora API?

OpenAI has not named a recommended replacement model. Choose another company's video generation API, compare length, resolution and pricing units using the same prompt, then change your calling code.

Is there a way to start with AI video for free?

Runway's Free plan gives you a one-time 125 credits at sign-up. Gemini's video creation requires a Google AI plan on personal accounts.