OpenAI has rolled out a new payment option in its Sora app — the Sora $4 plan (more precisely, a $4 credit bundle) — aimed at creators who need additional video-generation capacity beyond free allowances. This move marks the company’s push toward monetising its popular video-generation tool.
What is the Sora $4 Plan?
- Under this payment plan, users can purchase 10 extra video generations for $4 if they exceed their free daily allotment.
- The free allowance remains: non-Pro users get 30 free generations per day; Pro users up to 100 per day under current terms.
- The actual credit cost per video depends on video “length, resolution and other factors.”
Why OpenAI Introduced the Plan
- OpenAI says user demand for the Sora app has far exceeded expectations, making the current “free-only” model “completely unsustainable.”
- The new credit bundle helps monetize heavy usage in a scalable way without instantly switching to full paid subscription for all users.
- The move gives creators incremental access — they can pay “just when needed” instead of upgrading to a full-tier subscription.
Implications for Creators & Users
For casual users
- If you only generate a few videos a day, you might stay within the free limits and not need the $4 bundle.
- But if you’re producing more content (e.g., creators, marketers), the $4 credit option offers a low-cost way to extend usage.
- You’ll need to monitor how many free generations you’ve used and keep an eye on credit consumption based on video complexity.
For professional creators
- The $4 bundle may be a stop-gap; power users may still prefer a higher-tier subscription if they consistently exceed the free allotment.
- Potentially better for testing or short bursts rather than heavy sustained usage, unless future bundles or subscription tiers are introduced.
- Video quality, resolution, and length matter: the more complex the video, the more credits consumed.
Things to Keep in Mind & Limitations
- The $4 plan is not a “subscription” in the typical sense — it’s a one-time credit purchase (10 extra generations) based on current reports.
- Region availability may vary: the articles report the offer via Apple App Store listing.
- OpenAI may change free quotas, credit cost, or terms over time — heavy use may lead to higher costs.
- The videos you get must still adhere to Sora’s content policies (metadata, rights, usage) — simply having credits doesn’t override those rules.
- For creators operating commercially, evaluate whether the per-generation cost (effectively $0.40 per extra video under the $4 bundle) is acceptable relative to output and monetisation strategy.
Background Context
- The Sora app is OpenAI’s text-to-video generation tool, which rose rapidly in popularity after launch, ranking high on App Store charts.
- Until now, Sora’s access was bundled via higher-tier subscriptions like ChatGPT Plus or Pro. The new credit model marks its first significant direct monetisation for extra usage.
- OpenAI previously indicated that “dedicated Sora pricing plans” might appear in future.
What’s Next?
- Watch for further pricing tiers specifically tailored for Sora (subscription-based or credit-based) rather than general ChatGPT tiers.
- OpenAI may adjust free usage quotas or gradually reduce free allocations as monetisation ramps up.
- Creators should track cost-effectiveness: if they are generating many videos, evaluate per-video cost vs output revenue or value.
- Access may expand globally, with region-specific pricing, promotions or bundles.
- Content-rights holders may play a larger role: as OpenAI lets rights-holders block or monetise use of characters in Sora, costs may be influenced. Reuters
