Sora Alternatives in 2026: Runway, Kling & Veo After Sora Shutdown
OpenAI's Sora web and app experiences were discontinued on 26 April 2026, and OpenAI says the Sora API will be discontinued on 24 September 2026. This page keeps the existing URL for search continuity, but it is no longer a price comparison for an active Sora consumer service.
Last checked: September 2026. AI video pricing and availability change quickly. Verify the provider page before committing to a plan.
Compare an AI video workflow →What happened to Sora
OpenAI's official discontinuation notice says the Sora web and app experiences ended on 26 April 2026, with the API scheduled to end on 24 September 2026. Do not build a new production workflow around Sora, and do not treat old pages describing Sora as an available subscription or API as current pricing evidence.
Existing Sora credits, export windows and account handling are separate from choosing a replacement. Check OpenAI's notice for the current operational details rather than relying on an old comparison.
Practical alternatives
| Option | Where it fits | Cost question |
|---|---|---|
| Runway | Broader web production tools and a separate API | Keep web-app credits and API billing separate |
| Kling | Creator-focused short video and image-to-video tests | Verify the current account-specific free access and credit pricing |
| Google Veo | Google AI and developer surfaces, depending on access | Separate bundled subscription value from API per-second pricing |
Start with the tool whose output and controls fit your actual prompts. For a wider market view, read our AI video generator comparison, Kling vs Runway and Kling vs Google Veo.
How to compare replacement cost
Measure cost per accepted clip, not cost per generation. Run the same five prompts through two or three candidates and record attempts, accepted outputs, resolution, queue time, audio requirements and editing work. A lower sticker price can lose once retries or a second audio tool are included.
Runway's web subscription credits cannot be used for its API, and a Google AI subscription is not the same as Vertex AI usage. Keep subscription fees, metered usage and minimum purchases in separate lines in your budget. Our calculation methodology explains the same separation.
A safer buying sequence
Use free access where available to test a representative prompt set, but do not assume a universal recurring free allowance. Check commercial rights, watermarks, model access and expiry rules for the exact account and plan. Then choose the smallest paid tier that supports the approved workflow.
If your project is mostly short-form content, use the short-form budget guide. If you need a larger production stack, compare the full video-generator cost roundup before paying for overlapping tools.
Common questions
Can I still buy Sora for a new video workflow?
No. OpenAI's current discontinuation notice says the Sora web and app experiences ended on 26 April 2026, and the API is scheduled to end on 24 September 2026.
Which Sora alternative is cheapest?
There is no universal answer without a prompt, duration, quality and retry assumption. Compare accepted clips and total workflow cost rather than headline subscription price.
Are Runway web credits and API credits interchangeable?
No. Runway's official credit documentation says web-app plans and API credits are separate systems.
Source: OpenAI's Sora discontinuation notice and Runway's credit documentation. Report a correction with a current official source.