Fast answer: OpenAI lists Standard Sora 2 API pricing at $0.10 per generated second for 720p, with Batch at $0.05. Standard Sora 2 Pro ranges from $0.30 to $0.70 per second depending on resolution, with Batch rates at half those prices. These API models shut down on September 24, 2026.
OpenAI says the Sora web and app experiences were discontinued on April 26, 2026. Do not interpret the remaining API price table as current consumer-app availability or a long-term integration option.
The rest of this guide records the remaining API price table, supported durations, a lower-cost testing sequence, and five prompts you can adapt before migration. If you need a replacement, compare the currently available models in QuestStudio Video Lab or use the six-option shutdown guide below.
Related tools: Video Lab, Image Lab, Prompt Library, Background Remover, Image Upscaler, Photo Restorer, Voice Lab, Music Lab.
1) Sora App Ended; the Sora 2 API Ends September 24
Sora shutdown notice
OpenAI's Sora discontinuation notice says the web and app experiences ended on April 26, 2026. Its current video-generation guide says the Videos API, sora-2, and sora-2-pro are deprecated and will shut down on September 24, 2026.
The remaining prices on this page apply to the Sora 2 API, which charges for each generated second. They are not Sora app prices because the consumer web and app experiences have already ended.
For any remaining API work, use OpenAI's current model and pricing pages and complete the migration before the published shutdown date. In QuestStudio, use the models and credit costs displayed in Video Lab for your account.
2) Sora 2 API Standard and Batch Pricing
OpenAI's current API pricing page lists these rates. Multiply the rate by the requested duration to estimate one successful render; retries and discarded variants add cost. These rates are useful only while the API remains available.
| Model | Resolution | Standard / sec | Batch / sec | 8-sec Standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sora 2 | 720p | $0.10 | $0.05 | $0.80 |
| Sora 2 Pro | 720p | $0.30 | $0.15 | $2.40 |
| Sora 2 Pro | 1024p | $0.50 | $0.25 | $4.00 |
| Sora 2 Pro | 1080p | $0.70 | $0.35 | $5.60 |
The examples are arithmetic, not a quote for QuestStudio credits. Prices were checked August 30, 2026 and become historical after the published API shutdown unless OpenAI changes its notice.
3) Current Sora 2 API Duration and Resolution Limits
OpenAI's API guide says both Sora 2 and Sora 2 Pro support 16-second and 20-second generations. Standard Sora 2 is the faster 720p option; Sora 2 Pro adds higher-quality output and supports 1080p exports in 1920×1080 or 1080×1920.
Those are API facts. The Sora app or another platform may expose different duration, resolution, queue, watermark, or concurrency settings. Treat the current product interface as the source of truth for those account-specific controls.
4) A Lower-Cost Sora Prompt Testing Sequence
- Storyboard first: define one subject, one action, and one camera move before generating.
- Test at 720p: validate composition and motion on the lowest listed API rate.
- Change one variable: isolate camera, action, lighting, or timing instead of rewriting everything.
- Approve the short test: check identity, geometry, motion, and audio before spending more.
- Upgrade only the winner: use Pro or a higher resolution after the shot works.
QuestStudio Tip
Save the approved prompt and its failed variants in Prompt Library. The useful unit is not a completed generation; it is an approved clip you can reuse or ship.
5) A Prompt Framework That Consistently Performs in Sora 2
Most prompts fail because they describe an idea, not a shot.
Use this structure every time:
The Sora 2 Prompt Formula
- Subject and goal — What's the main focus?
- Setting and time of day — Where and when?
- Action in 1 to 2 beats — What happens?
- Camera and motion — Angle, movement, lens feel
- Lighting and mood — How does it feel?
- Style constraints — Realistic, documentary, animation style
- Audio notes — Ambient, dialogue, SFX
- Stability constraints — Keep camera steady, avoid fast cuts, keep cast small
OpenAI's own guidance for dialogue implies you should describe dialogue and audio when needed, keep casts small for multi-speaker scenes, and keep timing clear.
Credit-Saving Rules That Also Improve Realism
- Fewer moving parts, one main subject
- Slower camera movement
- Shorter beats per clip
- Iterate composition first, then upgrade settings later
6) Copy and Paste Prompt Templates (Edit the Brackets)
Template 1: Cinematic Product Teaser
Template 2: UGC Style Ad (Social Proof Vibe)
Template 3: Brand B-Roll Montage Starter (Make Multiple Clips)
Template 4: Educational Explainer Visualization
Template 5: Animated Mascot or Character Beat
QuestStudio Workflow Tip
Generate your supporting assets in the same session:
- • Make the thumbnail in Image Lab
- • Remove backgrounds in Background Remover
- • Upscale hero frames in Image Upscaler
- • Restore old photos for image references in Photo Restorer
- • Add voiceover in Voice Lab
- • Add music in Music Lab
- • Store every winning variation in Prompt Library
7) Best Use Cases for Sora 2 (What It Is Genuinely Great At)
1) Marketing and Ads You Can Test Fast
Sora 2 is especially strong for short, high-impact clips that would normally require a shoot: product teasers, lifestyle b-roll, and ad variants for A/B testing.
2) Product Visualization and Concepting
If you sell physical products, you can simulate environment shots, lighting setups, and use contexts before you ever book a photographer. Keep the action simple and the camera stable for best realism.
3) Storyboarding and Previsualization
Use Sora to prototype scenes, pacing, and transitions. OpenAI's Sora editor supports tools like recut, remix, blend, and loop for iterating from an initial generation.
4) Social Content at Scale
When limits tighten for free users, creators who win are the ones who iterate efficiently and repurpose. Recent reporting shows free limits have changed over time, so build a workflow that still works if quotas shrink.
5) Creator Packages, Not Just One Video
The real advantage is shipping a full package:
- Video
- Thumbnail
- Cover art
- Voiceover
- Music bed
- Prompt system that lets you repeat results
That is exactly why QuestStudio focuses on all-in-one creation, so Sora output is just one part of a consistent pipeline.
8) FAQ
How much does the Sora 2 API cost?
OpenAI currently lists Standard Sora 2 at $0.10 per generated second for 720p and Batch at $0.05. Standard Sora 2 Pro ranges from $0.30 to $0.70 per second by resolution, with Batch rates at half those prices. These API models are scheduled to shut down September 24, 2026.
Is the Sora app still available?
No. OpenAI says the Sora web and app experiences were discontinued on April 26, 2026. The separate Sora 2 API remains documented only until its scheduled September 24, 2026 shutdown.
Is the Sora 2 API shutting down?
Yes. OpenAI's current video-generation documentation says the Videos API and Sora 2 API models are deprecated and will shut down on September 24, 2026.
How long can a Sora 2 API video be?
OpenAI's current API guide says Sora 2 and Sora 2 Pro support 16-second and 20-second generations. Available settings can differ in the Sora app or another platform.
How can I spend less while testing Sora prompts?
Start with a short 720p test, keep one main subject and one camera move, change one variable at a time, and use higher-cost Pro resolutions only after the composition and motion work.
9) Final Workflow: How to Get Better Results While Spending Fewer Generations
- Write the prompt using the formula above
- Generate at lower settings first to validate composition and motion
- Fix the prompt with one change at a time (camera, action, lighting)
- Only then upgrade duration and resolution
- Export and finish your video package