What Sora is and who can use it right now

Sora is OpenAI's text-to-video tool — you describe what you want in words, and it generates a short video. As of early 2025, access is limited. OpenAI is letting some people use it through ChatGPT Plus (a paid subscription), some through a waitlist, and some through partnerships with creative professionals and researchers. You cannot simply sign up and start using it today the way you can with other AI tools.

The tool is still in a testing phase, which is why access is restricted. OpenAI is monitoring how people use it, what videos it creates, and what problems show up before opening it more widely. That means your path to access depends on which group you fall into.

Key Takeaways

  • ChatGPT Plus subscribers in the United States can access Sora directly through their ChatGPT account, though availability may expand to other regions over time.
  • If you are not a Plus subscriber, you can join OpenAI's waitlist, but there is no timeline for when you will get access and no way to jump the queue.
  • Some filmmakers, artists, and researchers get access through direct partnerships with OpenAI, not through the public waitlist.
  • Sora has content restrictions — it will not generate videos of real people without consent, graphic violence, or illegal activity.

Access through ChatGPT Plus

If you pay for ChatGPT Plus ($20 per month), you can use Sora within ChatGPT itself. Log into your ChatGPT account, look for the Sora option in the model selector (the dropdown at the top of the chat window), and you can start writing prompts to generate videos. The tool creates short clips — typically 5 to 60 seconds — from text descriptions.

This access is currently limited to the United States. OpenAI has said it plans to expand to other countries, but has not announced a timeline. If you are outside the US, you will not see Sora as an option in ChatGPT even if you have a Plus subscription.

Each video generation uses credits from your monthly allowance. Plus subscribers get a certain number of video generations per month; once you use them, you wait until the next billing cycle or purchase additional credits.

Joining the waitlist if you do not have Plus

OpenAI maintains a waitlist for people who want access but do not have a ChatGPT Plus subscription. You can add yourself to the waitlist by visiting OpenAI's Sora website and entering your email address. There is no cost to join the waitlist.

The waitlist does not move on a first-come, first-served basis. OpenAI has not published how it prioritizes people on the list, and there is no way to check your position or get a timeline for when you might receive access. Some people on the waitlist may never receive access if OpenAI decides to keep Sora limited to Plus subscribers.

Joining the waitlist does not may provide anything — it simply means OpenAI has your email and may contact you if they decide to expand access.

Access for creative professionals and researchers

OpenAI has given early access to some filmmakers, visual artists, and researchers through direct partnerships. These are not public programs you can join; OpenAI invites specific people or organizations. If you work in film, animation, or visual research and want to explore Sora, you can contact OpenAI directly through their website to express interest, but there is no formal process to follow.

Some universities and creative studios have also received access as part of research collaborations. If your organization is interested in partnering with OpenAI to study Sora, you would need to reach out to OpenAI's partnerships team directly.

What you need to know about Sora's limitations

Sora will not generate videos of real, named people — it cannot create a video of a specific actor, politician, or public figure without consent. It also refuses to generate graphic violence, sexual content, illegal activity, or content that could be used to harass or deceive someone. If you try to prompt it for any of these things, it will decline and explain why.

The videos it creates are short — usually under a minute — and the quality varies. Some prompts produce smooth, realistic video; others produce something that looks more like a rough draft. The tool sometimes struggles with physics, hand movements, and maintaining consistency across a long sequence.

Videos generated with Sora are owned by the person who created them, but OpenAI retains the right to use them for research and to improve the tool. If you create something with Sora, you can publish it, sell it, or use it commercially — but OpenAI may study it.

How to write a good Sora prompt

Sora works best with specific, visual descriptions. Instead of "a dog running," try "a golden retriever running through a field of tall grass on a sunny day, shot from a low angle." The more detail you give about lighting, camera angle, movement, and setting, the better the result tends to be.

You can also reference styles or filmmaking techniques: "shot in the style of a 1970s nature documentary" or "cinematic wide shot with shallow depth of field." Sora understands these references and tries to match them.

If the first video does not match what you imagined, you can refine your prompt and try again. Each attempt uses one of your monthly video generations, so it is worth thinking through your description before you submit it.

What happens next as Sora expands

OpenAI has said Sora will eventually become more widely available, but has not announced when or how. It is possible that access will remain limited to Plus subscribers, or that it will move to a separate paid tier, or that it will eventually be free with limits. None of this is confirmed.

As the tool improves and OpenAI addresses safety concerns, the restrictions may change. Right now, the refusals are strict — the tool will not generate anything close to violence or real people. That may loosen as the technology matures and OpenAI builds better ways to prevent misuse.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay to use Sora?

If you have ChatGPT Plus, Sora is included in your subscription, though you have a monthly limit on how many videos you can generate. If you do not have Plus, you cannot use Sora yet unless you are on the waitlist and OpenAI contacts you. Joining the waitlist is free.

Can I use Sora videos commercially?

Yes. Videos you create with Sora belong to you, and you can publish, sell, or license them. You should disclose that they were generated by AI if you are selling them as stock footage or using them in advertising, but there is no legal requirement to do so in most places.

How long does it take to generate a video?

Generation time varies, but most videos take between 10 and 60 seconds to create. The exact time depends on the length of the video and how busy OpenAI's servers are at that moment.

What if Sora refuses my prompt?

Sora will decline prompts involving real people, violence, sexual content, or illegal activity. If your prompt is refused, try rephrasing it to remove the restricted element. For example, instead of a real actor, describe a character type; instead of violence, describe action or movement.

Can I get early access if I am not a Plus subscriber?

The only public path is the waitlist. There is no way to jump ahead or pay for early access outside of a ChatGPT Plus subscription. If you want to use Sora now, upgrading to Plus is the only option available to most people.