How to Use Sora AI: OpenAI’s Text‑to‑Video Tool (Complete Guide 2025)

Introduction – Why Sora AI Is Trending in 2025

Since OpenAI unveiled its video‑generation model Sora in February 2024, the tool has dominated conversations about AI and digital creativity. It can produce photorealistic or stylized video clips from plain text prompts and simple images. When OpenAI made Sora available to select ChatGPT Plus and Pro subscribers during its “12 days of OpenAI” event, it signaled that powerful text‑to‑video generation was no longer experimental. By mid‑2025 Sora’s creative possibilities—alongside curiosity about its pricing, safety restrictions and competitors—have made it one of the most searched AI topics.

This guide explains what Sora is, how it works under the hood, who can access it, and how to use it step by step. It also compares Sora with Runway Gen‑3 and Pika Labs, outlines pricing and limitations, and answers frequently asked questions.

What is Sora AI? – OpenAI’s Video Generator Explained

Sora is a text‑conditional diffusion transformer that generates high‑fidelity videos and images from natural‑language prompt. Unlike earlier models that focused on fixed‑length, low‑resolution videos, Sora trains on internet‑scale data and treats videos as sequences of space‑time patches—small latent chunks of a video clip. These patches become tokens for a transformer model, allowing Sora to handle videos of varying resolutions and aspect ratios.

Sora can be prompted with text, images or videos. Besides generating entirely new clips, it can animate still images, extend existing videos forward or backward in time, create seamless loops and blend different videos. OpenAI designed Sora to simulate aspects of the physical world: the model often maintains 3D consistency, long‑range coherence and object permanence, though it sometimes struggles with physics or long sequences.

How Does Sora AI Work? – Simple Breakdown of the Tech

Diffusion Transformer

At its core, Sora combines two recent advances: diffusion models and transformers. In a diffusion model, the system starts from random noise and gradually “denoises” it to match the desired distribution (here, realistic video frames). Sora uses a diffusion transformer, which processes spacetime patches as tokens; during training it learns to predict clean patches from noisy inputs. Transformers excel at modeling long‑range dependencies and context, enabling Sora to maintain temporal coherence across many frames.

Unified Patch Representation

Instead of cropping or resizing all training data to a fixed size, Sora compresses videos into a lower‑dimensional latent space and then decomposes them into space‑time patches. This representation supports widescreen 1920×1080 clips, vertical smartphone videos and everything between. When generating, Sora arranges random patches into a grid that matches the desired resolution and duration, then applies diffusion to convert noise into content.

Re‑captioning and Language Understanding

Sora learns from highly descriptive captions generated by a separate captioning model; these descriptive captions improve text fidelity and visual quality. During inference, GPT‑based prompt engineering expands short user prompts into detailed captions, helping Sora follow instructions more accurately. This technique also allows Sora to support multiple languages.

Emergent Simulation Capabilities

When scaled, Sora shows surprising abilities: it can simulate simple interactions (e.g., brush strokes leaving paint or bite marks on food), maintain object permanence even when subjects leave the frame, and even generate consistent perspectives during camera movement. It can also simulate digital worlds such as Minecraft, controlling both the environment and the player. However, it can misrepresent physics—glass may not shatter realistically and objects may appear spontaneously.

Key Features of Sora AI

OpenAI’s official interface for Sora includes several editing and compositional tools:

• Remix: Adjust a video’s background, colours or objects while preserving its core narrative.

• Re‑Cut: Isolate important frames or shots to change pacing or extend scenes.

• Storyboard: Organise and preview shots, letting users decide how each frame flows.

• Loop: Create seamless repeating videos for GIF‑style clips.

• Blend: Merge two videos or images into one seamless composition.

• Style Presets: Apply pre‑defined aesthetics like Film Noir, Stop Motion or anime.

These tools, coupled with the ability to upload custom images or clips, let creators iteratively refine their outputs rather than relying on a single prompt.

How to Access Sora AI (Availability + Waitlist)

Sora is not yet a standalone product. You access it through ChatGPT subscriptions:

• ChatGPT Plus / Teams ($20 per month) – provides up to 50 priority Sora videos per month (around 1,000 credits) at 480 p or 720 p resolution and up to 5 seconds per clip. Videos include a watermark.

• ChatGPT Pro ($200 per month) – increases usage to 500 priority videos (about 10 000 credits) and allows 1080 p resolution and 20‑second clips; users can generate up to five videos concurrently and download videos without a watermark.

OpenAI announced Sora’s first public release in December 2024 and initially limited access to U.S. subscribers. During the first half of 2025 the company expanded Sora’s availability beyond North America: a help‑center update notes that Sora is now available in all of OpenAI’s supported countries, including the EU and UK. News reports confirm that ChatGPT Plus and Pro subscribers in the UK, EU and additional European countries such as Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland can use Sora to create videos, with Plus users capped at 50 standard‑definition videos per month and Pro users enjoying enhanced features. These regional launches were delayed to comply with European data‑protection regulations but opened Sora to a much larger audience. Access still requires a paid ChatGPT subscription and users must be at least 18 years old. OpenAI has not announced a free tier for Sora; interested users should subscribe to Plus or Pro and, where necessary, join the waitlist.

How to Use Sora AI – Step‑by‑Step Guide

While Sora’s interface may evolve, the general workflow below reflects OpenAI’s early 2025 version:

1. Subscribe & Join Waitlist – Create or sign in to your ChatGPT account. Upgrade to Plus or Pro; during the beta phase you may need to request Sora access. Only approved users in supported countries can use Sora.

2. Open Sora – From ChatGPT, click the Sora tab. The homepage shows a grid of public videos generated by others. Use these for inspiration or select one to remix

3. Choose a Mode – Select Create to generate a new video from scratch or Remix to edit an existing clip. For new videos, you can start with a text prompt; for remixes, you’ll upload or pick a base clip.

4. Write a Detailed Prompt – Describe the scene, characters, actions and style you want. The model follows longer, descriptive prompts better than short ones due to its recaptioning mechanism. You can also specify a style preset (e.g., “film noir” or “stop motion”) and aspect ratio.

5. Upload Images or Video (Optional) – To animate a still image or extend an existing clip, upload the file. Sora will treat it as a starting point and animate it accordingly.

6. Adjust Settings – Use the Storyboard to arrange shots or the Re‑Cut tool to trim scenes. Apply Blend to merge clips or Loop for seamless repeating segments.

7. Generate – Click Generate. Sora will produce a low‑resolution preview. Pro users can enable 1080 p and longer durations.

8. Refine & Remix – If the result isn’t perfect, use Remix to change colours, objects or backgrounds without starting over. Each remix costs credits but allows iterative improvements.

9. Download & Share – Once satisfied, download your video. Pro users can export without a watermark.

Best Use Cases of Sora AI

Sora’s ability to generate minute‑long clips opens opportunities across industries:

• Entertainment & Filmmaking: Artists can create storyboards, test scenes or animate concept art, accelerating pre‑visualisation workflows. OpenAI notes that Sora can produce dynamic camera movements and maintain object coherence, making it useful for early drafts of music videos or short films.

• Advertising & Marketing: Marketers an produce short product teasers, social-media ads or dynamic backgrounds. The model’s style presets and remix tools allow rapid experimentation with different aesthetics. For teams combining video with written campaigns, exploring the Top AI Tools for Content Writing & Copy Generation in 2025 can help build complete creative workflows.

• Education & Training: Instructors can illustrate concepts (e.g., a plant performing photosynthesis) through animated demonstrations, making lessons more engaging.

• Personal Projects & Social Media: Hobbyists can generate fun clips for YouTube, TikTok or Instagram. The ability to loop clips and apply presets suits GIF‑style memes or intros.

• Prototyping Digital Worlds: Developers can visualise game environments or simulate interactions, even creating simple Minecraft‑like worlds.

Sora AI vs Runway Gen‑3 vs Pika Labs

Below is a high‑level comparison of Sora with two major competitors—Runway Gen‑3 and Pika Labs. Prices are monthly and reflect publicly available plans as of mid‑2025.

Which One Should You Choose?

• Hobbyists & Beginners – Try Runway’s free tier or Pika’s basic plan to experiment. They’re more accessible and cost‑effective.

• Professional Creators – If you need the highest fidelity and can afford $200/month, Sora’s Pro plan delivers superior quality. However, the high cost and credit limits may push you toward Runway Gen‑3’s Pro plan, which offers longer clips and advanced editing.

• Teams – Runway’s collaborative features and unlimited plan ($76/mo per user) are attractive for studios needing many iterations.

Pricing & Availability – Is Sora Free or Paid?

Sora is not free. It is bundled with ChatGPT Plus and Pro subscriptions, and your monthly fee covers both chat and video generation. The Plus plan at $20 per month grants about 50 video credits (5 s at 720 p), while the Pro plan at $200 per month allows longer, high‑resolution clips and more credits. Currently, there is no standalone Sora subscription, and users must be at least 18 years old and reside in a supported country. Wait times may vary based on demand, and enterprise/education accounts do not yet have Sora access.

Limitations & Risks – Deepfakes, Ethics & Limited Access

Despite its promise, Sora raises ethical and technical concerns:

• Physics and realism: Sora sometimes fails to model complex physics; glass may not shatter correctly, and objects can change inexplicably. Details like bite marks may not persist across frames.

• Deepfakes & Misuse: High‑quality video synthesis increases the risk of misinformation and impersonation. OpenAI enforces an age restriction, prohibits content featuring minors and attaches C2PA metadata and visible watermarks.

• Limited access: Although Sora rolled out globally in 2025, it remains locked behind a paid ChatGPT subscription and is only available to users 18 years or older. There is still no free tier, and credit allotments limit how many videos you can create each month.

• Credit Limits: Even paying subscribers must manage credits; longer videos or multiple remixes consume them quickly.

Future of AI Video Generation

Sora demonstrates that scaling video models leads to emergent simulation abilities. As data and compute continue to grow, future models could generate longer, more coherent videos, improve physics realism and support interactive storytelling. Competing models like Runway and Pika will push innovation, while regulators will need to address ethical concerns, copyright, and authenticity. The next few years will likely bring wider availability and more powerful tools for creators.

Latest Updates

Global rollout and new countries

After an initial U.S.‑only beta, OpenAI has steadily expanded Sora’s reach. An OpenAI help‑center update from February 2025 notes that Sora is now available in all supported countries, specifically including the European Union and the UK. Independent reports further confirm that by mid‑2025 ChatGPT Plus and Pro subscribers in the UK, EU, Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland can create videos using Sorao. This global rollout follows months of delay while OpenAI ensured compliance with Europe’s stringent data‑protection laws. Plus users remain limited to around 50 standard‑definition videos per month, while Pro subscribers can generate higher resolution clips and access advanced editing features. Users must still be over 18 and hold a paid ChatGPT subscription—there is no free tier.

Rumours about Sora 2

The current Sora release still generates silent clips and sometimes struggles with realistic physics. Speculation about Sora 2, surfaced in July 2025, suggests that OpenAI is preparing a major update to address these shortcomings. According to CometAPI’s report, Sora 2 is expected to add AI‑generated audio—including voiceovers, ambient noise and lip‑synced dialogue—to accompany videos. Leaked details also hint at improved human movement that reduces the “melting” effect seen in Sora’s first version and more fluid actions. Longer and higher‑quality clips (potentially 30 seconds or more) are also rumored, though such capabilities would likely be reserved for higher‑tier subscriptions. Industry observers speculate that Sora 2 may be launched alongside GPT‑5, bundling advanced video and language models for deeper integration.

Analysis pieces have set expectations for what Sora 2 must deliver to compete with Google’s Veo 3 and other video models. Tom’s Guide argues that native sound generation is “non‑negotiable” and that the next version must dramatically improve physics simulation to avoid unnatural motion. The article calls for conversational prompting, allowing users to refine videos through dialogue rather than complex prompt crafting, and emphasises the need for character consistency across longer clips. While these improvements remain speculative until OpenAI announces Sora 2, they signal the direction the industry expects the model to take.

Conclusion – Should You Wait for Sora or Try Alternatives?

Sora is currently the most advanced text‑to‑video generator, but its high cost and paywall restrictions still make it inaccessible for many. Even though OpenAI expanded Sora globally, the tool remains tied to paid ChatGPT plans and requires users to be at least 18 years old. If you are curious about AI video and want to experiment today, Runway Gen‑3 and Pika Labs offer capable, affordable alternatives. However, if you require industry‑leading realism and can justify the expense, subscribing to the Pro plan may be worthwhile. As the field evolves and rumours of Sora 2 circulate, staying informed will help you choose the right tool.

Follow AllAboutArtificial.com for more AI news, tutorials and updates on Sora’s rollout.

FAQs

1. When was Sora released?

OpenAI publicly introduced Sora on February 15 2024 and first released it to select ChatGPT Plus and Pro subscribers during its “12 days of OpenAI” event in December 2024.

2. Is Sora available worldwide?

OpenAI initially restricted Sora to U.S. users, but by mid‑2025 the tool rolled out across all supported countries. An OpenAI help‑center update notes that Sora is now available in the EU/UK, and news reports confirm availability for Plus and Pro subscribers in Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland. Access still requires a paid ChatGPT subscription and users must be at least 18 years old.

3. How much does Sora cost?

Sora is bundled with ChatGPT subscriptions. The Plus plan ($20/month) includes up to 50 priority videos at 480 p or 720 p; the Pro plan ($200/month) offers up to 500 priority videos at 1080 p and 20 seconds with concurrent generations.

4. How long can Sora’s videos be?

With the Pro plan, you can generate videos up to 20 seconds; Plus users are limited to 5‑second clips.

5. Does Sora support image‑to‑video or video‑to‑video editing?

Yes. Sora can animate still images, extend existing videos forwards or backwards, create loops, and blend two different clips.

6. What are Sora’s limitations?

The model sometimes fails to model realistic physics; objects may morph or disappear unexpectedly. While Sora has expanded globally, it still requires a paid ChatGPT subscription and is restricted to users 18 years or older. There is no free tier, and credits can be consumed quickly for longer or multiple clips.

7. How is Sora different from Runway or Pika?

Sora uses a diffusion transformer with unified spacetime patches, delivering higher fidelity and longer clips than most competitors. Runway Gen‑3 offers timeline editing and collaboration, while Pika Labs emphasises speed and social‑media‑friendly clips.

8. Will Sora become free?

There is no indication that Sora will become free. OpenAI’s free ChatGPT tier currently does not include Sora access. A future free tier would likely have strict limits.

9. Can Sora be used for commercial projects?

Yes, but you need a Pro subscription to generate watermark‑free 1080 p videos, and you must respect OpenAI’s content policies and copyright laws.

10. How can I improve prompt quality?

Describe settings, characters and actions clearly and use style presets. Longer prompts are converted into descriptive captions internally, improving fidelity.