OpenAI has started charging users for additional video generations within its Sora AI application. The company announced on Thursday, October 30, 2025, that users can now buy bundles of 10 extra video generations for $4 once they exceed their daily free limits. This move marks a significant shift towards monetizing the popular text-to-video tool, which has seen immense demand since its public rollout.^{[1][2][3][4][5]} New Pricing Structure Takes Effect Under the new system, users with free, ChatGPT Plus, and Teams subscriptions currently receive 30 complimentary video generations each day. Pro subscribers, who pay for a higher tier, get a more generous allowance of 100 daily video generations before needing to purchase additional credits.^[1][2][4][5] Bill Peebles, Head of Sora at OpenAI, confirmed the rollout on social media, stating, "We are launching the ability to buy extra gens in Sora today."^[2][3][4] This change allows users to continue creating videos without interruption, provided they are willing to pay for the additional output.^[2] Sustainability Concerns Drive Changes OpenAI stated that the decision to introduce paid generations and reduce free limits stems from the high demand for Sora and the unsustainable economics of offering unlimited free access. "The economics are currently completely unsustainable," Peebles explained in his announcement.^[2][3] He noted that the company was "quite amazed by how much our power users want to use Sora."^[2][3] The computational power required for AI video generation, particularly with high-quality models like Sora, puts a substantial strain on GPU resources.^[1][6] OpenAI aims to manage platform growth and ensure service stability by implementing this monetization strategy.^[2][4][6] Future Reductions and Creator Economy OpenAI has indicated that the current free daily generation limits will be reduced further in the coming months. Peebles stated that the company would need to "bring the free gens down to accommodate growth" because they "won't have enough GPUs to do it otherwise."^[3] The company plans to be transparent about these future adjustments.^[3][6] Beyond direct charges for video generations, OpenAI is also exploring a broader "Sora economy." This initiative involves a revenue-sharing model for content owners who permit their copyrighted characters or intellectual property to be used in Sora-generated videos.^[2][3][7][8] CEO Sam Altman has previously discussed giving rights holders more granular control over character generation, allowing them to block or monetize the use of their content.^[7][8] This could potentially reward early adopters and creators who build a presence on the platform.^[9] Sora's Evolution and Market Position OpenAI first unveiled Sora in February 2024. The first generation of Sora became publicly available for ChatGPT Plus and Pro users in the U.S. and Canada in December 2024.^[10][11] The second generation, Sora 2, was then released to select users in the U.S. and Canada in late September 2025.^[10] The standalone Sora app launched in early October 2025, initially for iOS users in the U.S. and Canada, often requiring an invite.^[7][12][13] Free users can currently generate videos up to 15 seconds long, while Pro users can create videos up to 25 seconds.^[14] OpenAI's move to monetize Sora places it in a competitive landscape with other AI video tools like Google's Veo 3 and Meta's Vibes, which also have varying pricing and access models.^[15][13] Impact on Users and Developers The new pricing structure will primarily affect "power users" who frequently exceed their daily allowances. For casual users, the existing free limits may still be sufficient, at least until further reductions are implemented.^[1][5] Professional creators and agencies, who rely on high volumes of video content, will now need to factor the per-generation cost of $0.40 per video (based on the $4 for 10 videos bundle) into their budgets.^[5] OpenAI also plans to offer API access to Sora 2 for developers in the coming weeks, which will likely introduce a usage-based pricing model, similar to its other AI models.^[15][12] This will allow third-party applications to integrate Sora's capabilities, potentially expanding its reach but also introducing more complex cost considerations for businesses.^[15] OpenAI's shift to a paid model for Sora reflects the increasing commercialization of advanced AI tools. The company is balancing the immense demand for its innovative technology with the practical realities of computational costs and long-term sustainability. This strategy aims to ensure Sora's continued development while providing options for users to scale their video creation needs.

AI Insights Hub