How to Access Sora by OpenAI

Sora, OpenAI’s cutting-edge video generation model, has rapidly become one of the most talked-about AI tools since its public debut several months ago. Summarizing the key insights: Sora transforms text, images, and existing video clips into entirely new video outputs with resolutions up to 1080p and durations of up to 20 seconds, supporting diverse aspect ratios and stylistic formats . Access is currently gated behind ChatGPT subscription tiers—namely ChatGPT Plus ($20/month) and ChatGPT Pro ($200/month)—with Plus users receiving limited priority generations and Pro subscribers enjoying higher resolution, watermark-free downloads, and increased generation quotas . Although OpenAI has yet to roll out a public API for Sora, it continues to expand availability across regions, most recently entering the European and UK markets amid ongoing discussions over intellectual property and bias mitigation. Below, we explore in depth what Sora is, who can access it, how to navigate the interface, and what the future holds.

What is Sora and why does it matter?

Sora is OpenAI’s AI-driven video generation model capable of creating realistic and imaginative scenes from text instructions, images, or video snippets . By leveraging a diffusion-based architecture that considers temporal consistency across frames, Sora overcomes many of the discontinuity and distortion issues historically faced by earlier video-generation systems . The model supports video outputs up to 1080p resolution, 20 seconds in length, and can render content in widescreen, vertical, or square aspect ratios to suit social media, cinematic, or documentary styles .

Sora’s significance lies in its ability to democratize professional-grade video production, lowering the barrier for creators, marketers, educators, and filmmakers to generate high-quality visual content at scale . As AI continues to infiltrate creative workflows, tools like Sora will reshape industries by enabling rapid prototyping, concept visualization, and content personalization without the need for large production crews or specialized equipment. However, the technology also raises ethical and legal questions, particularly regarding the use of copyrighted materials in training and potential biases embedded within generated outputs.

Who can access Sora and what are the prerequisites?

Do I need a subscription to use Sora?

Yes—it access is exclusively provided through OpenAI’s ChatGPT subscription plans. Specifically, ChatGPT Plus subscribers gain access to Sora with a monthly quota of up to 50 priority video generations at 720p, while ChatGPT Pro subscribers receive unlimited priority generations, support for 1080p resolution, watermark-free downloads, and simultaneous generation slots . Existing ChatGPT Team users can also access Sora through their Team accounts, though this currently opts them out of contributing to model training data under OpenAI’s consumer Terms of Use.

Is there any free tier or trial available?

At present, there is no free or trial access to Sora. All users must hold either a Plus or Pro subscription to generate videos. Additionally, new subscribers may experience temporary restrictions as OpenAI manages onboarding capacity and demand, a limitation noted by some Plus members reporting delays or opt-in waitlists when attempting to use Sora immediately after subscribing .

How do you access Sora step by step?

What are the technical requirements?

To get started, you will need:

• A stable internet connection and a modern web browser (e.g., Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari).
• An active ChatGPT Plus or Pro subscription under your OpenAI account.
• Optional assets (images or video clips) in standard formats (JPEG, PNG, MP4) if you wish to remix existing content.

Ensure your browser is up to date to avoid compatibility issues, and log into your OpenAI account at office or via the ChatGPT interface, where a dedicated Sora workspace is provided.

How do you navigate the Sora interface?

1. Launch Sora:
   • Navigate to sora.com or click on the “Sora” tab within ChatGPT.
   • You will be greeted by the “Create Video” dashboard, featuring input fields for text prompts and an “Assets” panel for uploading images or clips.
2. Enter your prompt:
   • In the text field, describe the scene you wish to generate. Include details on setting, characters, motion, lighting, and style to guide the model effectively.
   • Optionally, click “Upload Asset” to add images or video segments that Sora can incorporate or extend.
3. Adjust settings:
   • Choose resolution (480p, 720p, or 1080p—depending on your subscription).
   • Set duration (up to 20 seconds).
   • Select aspect ratio (widescreen, vertical, or square).
   • Toggle “High Priority Generation” if you have limited tokens and wish to use your priority quota.
4. Generate and review:
   • Click “Generate Video.” The interface displays a progress bar while processing.
   • Once complete, you can preview the video, download it (watermarked or watermark-free based on subscription), and view metadata indicating AI generation .
5. Iterate:
   • Use “Edit Prompt” to refine your description and regenerate.
   • Leverage “Blend Scenes” to combine outputs from multiple prompts into a cohesive sequence.

What subscription plans include Sora and what do they offer?

What does ChatGPT Plus offer?

ChatGPT Plus, priced at $20/month, includes:

• Access with up to 50 priority video generations per month.
• Video resolutions up to 720p (10-second duration).
• Standard generation speeds and queue priority over free users in other services.
• Opt-out of training for Team members accessing via ChatGPT Team.

This tier is ideal for hobbyists, educators, and smaller teams experimenting with AI-driven video creation.

What does ChatGPT Pro offer?

ChatGPT Pro, at $200/month, delivers:

• Unlimited priority video generations with faster turnaround.
• Support for up to 1080p resolution and 20-second clips.
• Watermark-free downloads suitable for commercial projects.
• Simultaneous generation slots for parallel iterations.
• Enhanced customer support and early access to new features .

Pro is targeted at professional content creators, marketing agencies, and studios requiring high-volume, high-quality outputs.

Are there limitations or regional restrictions on Sora access?

Are regional restrictions in place?

Initially launched in the United States, Sora has since expanded to Europe and the UK, though availability may vary by country due to local regulations and licensing agreements. OpenAI continues to roll out access, but some regions remain in beta or waitlist phases. Users outside these launch areas should monitor OpenAI’s official news page or help center for updates on additional market expansions .

Are there usage caps or rate limits?

Aside from subscription-based quotas (Plus vs. Pro), OpenAI imposes temporary caps on new sign-ups to maintain quality of service and manage server load. Reports indicate that certain new Plus subscribers may encounter brief hold periods before full access is granted, a process designed to ensure stable performance as demand spikes. Additionally, OpenAI reserves the right to enforce content moderation policies, limiting outputs that violate terms of use or community guidelines.

How has recent news influenced Sora access and perception?

Has the UK launch sparked controversy?

When OpenAI launched Sora in the UK in February 2025, it coincided with heated legal debates over AI’s use of copyrighted material. Critics argued the UK government’s draft policy allowing “opt-out” use of artists’ work unless explicitly excluded could undermine creators’ rights. OpenAI defended its approach by citing diverse, publicly available datasets used for training and affirming compliance with existing copyright law, but the controversy underscored broader tensions between innovation and intellectual property protection.

What about ethical and bias concerns?

A recent WIRED investigation revealed that Sora’s outputs sometimes perpetuate sexist, racist, and ableist stereotypes—depicting professionals predominantly as men and reinforcing limited portrayals of marginalized communities. OpenAI acknowledges these shortcomings and has dedicated teams working on bias mitigation and dataset diversification. Users are encouraged to provide detailed prompts and diverse assets to help guide the model toward more inclusive representations.

Will there be an API for Sora?

As of May 2025, OpenAI has confirmed there is no public API for Sora, and all interactions must occur via the ChatGPT interface or sora.com workspace. However, developer community discussions and demand for programmatic access suggest that an API could be on the roadmap. OpenAI’s broader strategy of layering API-first releases, as seen with DALL·E and Whisper, makes API availability for Sora a plausible future development.

Use Sora API in CometAPI

CometAPI provides a unified REST interface that aggregates hundreds of AI models—including Google’s Gemini family—under a consistent endpoint, with built-in API-key management, usage quotas, and billing dashboards. Instead of juggling multiple vendor URLs and credentials, you point your client at https://api.cometapi.com/v1 and specify the target model in each request.

Developers can access Sora API  through CometAPI. To begin, explore the model’s capabilities in the Playground and consult the API guide for detailed instructions. Note that some developers may need to verify their organization before using the model.

---

Conclusion

By following these guidelines, any ChatGPT subscriber can effectively leverage Sora’s powerful video generation capabilities to enhance creative projects, marketing campaigns, and educational content. As OpenAI continues to refine its performance, expand its availability, and address ethical considerations, the tool is poised to become an indispensable component of AI-driven multimedia production.