AI
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AlternativesUpdated 5 October 2026

Sora Alternatives After the Shutdown

Short answer

OpenAI's Sora app and web experience were reported closed on 26 April 2026 and the API on 24 September 2026. For general AI video, start with Runway, Luma, Kling or Google Veo; for presenter-led video, Synthesia or HeyGen. Pick by clip length, native audio, price per usable second and licence terms, and keep your source files outside any single vendor.

Sora timeline

Evidence: Reported
  • 26 April 2026: Sora app and web experience reported closed.
  • 24 September 2026: Sora API reported sunset.
  • If you still have Sora videos or API code, export and migrate now. Confirmation and data-export guidance on OpenAI's help centre is pending: openai.com could not be reached from our checking environment.

Alternatives

Sora alternatives

Release details reported by third-party logs; prices not re-verified in October 2026. Verified = read on the provider's own page on the date shown. Reported = published by a third party and linked; not yet confirmed by the provider. Claimed by provider = the vendor's own claim, not independently tested. Editorial assessment = our judgement, with reasons given.
ToolBest forNotesPricing
RunwayCreative and post-production workGeneration plus editing tools; API availableCheck provider (not confirmed)
Luma AIFast creative clipsDream Machine text- and image-to-videoCheck provider (not confirmed)
KlingShort cinematic clipsPopular for social videoCheck provider (not confirmed)
Google Veo / Gemini OmniRealistic clips in Google's toolsGemini Omni 1.1 Flash reported 27 Aug 2026Check provider (not confirmed)
Seedance 2.5 (ByteDance)Longer native clips30-second native clips reported (31 Jul 2026)Check provider (not confirmed)
MiniMax Hailuo / H3Multi-shot character consistencyH3 Max reported 27 Aug 2026Check provider (not confirmed)
Synthesia / HeyGenPresenter-led videoAvatar video rather than generated scenesCheck provider (not confirmed)

How to choose

Match on clip length, native audio, resolution, price per usable second, commercial licence, and whether the vendor offers an API you can keep using. We have not run a side-by-side test; any quality comparison you read elsewhere should state its prompts, settings and dates.

Common questions

Is Sora shut down?

Yes, reportedly: the app and web experience on 26 April 2026 and the API on 24 September 2026.

What is the closest alternative to Sora?

For text-to-video, Runway, Luma, Kling and Google Veo are the usual starting points. Compare them on your own prompts.

Which Sora alternative has an API?

Runway offers an API; several newer models are available through API hosts. Check each provider's documentation.

Sources