Sora 2 Credit System & Version Selection Guide

Sora 2 Version Feature Breakdown

Free Version (Suspended from January 10, 2026)

Starting at 4:00 AM on January 10, 2026, OpenAI officially suspended free users' access to Sora for image and video generation. When accessing sora.com, a "We're under heavy load" error appears, but this isn't due to server congestion—it's an official restriction on free users.

Free version evolution:

• December 2024: Sora 2 launch, free users get 30 daily credits
• November 2025: Reduced to 6 daily credits
• January 10, 2026: Completely suspended, no access

Plus Version ($20/month)

ChatGPT Plus subscribers get basic Sora access:

• 1,000 monthly credits
• 720p video resolution
• Up to 5 seconds video
• Watermarked videos
• No access to Sora 2 Pro model

Pro Version ($200/month)

ChatGPT Pro offers the complete Sora experience:

• 10,000 monthly credits
• Unlimited slow generation after credits exhausted (Relaxed Mode)
• 1080p HD resolution
• Up to 20 seconds video
• Watermark-free downloads
• Priority queue processing
• Access to Sora 2 Pro model

Sora 2 Credit System Explained

Credit Consumption Per Generation

Different resolution and duration combinations consume varying amounts of credits:

• 480p / 5 seconds: ~20 credits
• 720p / 5 seconds: ~80 credits
• 1080p / 5 seconds: ~200 credits
• Pro 15-second HD: ~500 credits

Pro Tip: Test with 480p resolution first to save 85%+ credits before finalizing high-resolution outputs.

Monthly Credit Allocation

Plus ($20/month)

• Base allocation: 1,000 credits
• Enough for approximately:
  • 50 videos at 480p
  • 12 videos at 720p
  • 5 videos at 1080p

Pro ($200/month)

• Base allocation: 10,000 credits
• Enough for approximately:
  • 500 videos at 480p
  • 125 videos at 720p
  • 50 videos at 1080p
• Unlimited Relaxed Mode after credits depleted

Credit Expiration Rules

Subscription Credits

• Expire at the end of each billing cycle
• Do not roll over to the next month
• Use-it-or-lose-it model

Extra Credit Packs

• Valid for 12 months from purchase
• Can be accumulated across months
• More flexible than subscription credits

API Access

• No credit system
• Pay-per-use model
• No expiration concerns

API Access vs Subscription Comparison

API.YI Pricing (Recommended Alternative)

Standard Sora API

• $0.12 per generation
• No monthly commitment
• No credit expiration
• Instant access

Sora Pro API

• $0.80 per generation
• Access to Pro model features
• Higher quality outputs
• No subscription required

Cost-Benefit Analysis

Scenario 1: Light Usage (<50 videos/month)

• API.YI: 30 videos × $0.12 = $3.60
• Plus: $20/month (5.5× more expensive)
• Pro: $200/month (55× more expensive)

Recommendation: Use API.YI for maximum savings

Scenario 2: Moderate Usage (50-200 videos/month)

• API.YI: 100 videos × $0.12 = $12
• Plus: $20/month (limited to 1,000 credits)
• Pro: $200/month

Recommendation: Plus subscription if within credit limits, otherwise API.YI

Scenario 3: Heavy Usage (>200 videos/month)

• API.YI: 300 videos × $0.12 = $36
• Plus: Insufficient credits
• Pro: $200/month + unlimited relaxed mode

Recommendation: Pro subscription for bulk generation needs

Key Differences Summary

Free Version (Suspended)

❌ No longer available from January 10, 2026
❌ Limited to 480p resolution
❌ 5-second videos only
❌ Watermarked output

Plus Version ($20/month)

✅ 1,000 monthly credits
✅ 720p resolution
✅ 5-second videos
❌ Watermarked output
❌ No Pro model access

Pro Version ($200/month)

✅ 10,000 monthly credits
✅ Unlimited relaxed generation
✅ 1080p HD resolution
✅ Up to 20-second videos
✅ No watermarks
✅ Pro model access
✅ Priority queue

API Access (Pay-as-you-go)

✅ No subscription required
✅ No credit expiration
✅ Flexible usage
✅ Lower cost for light users
✅ Available through API.YI
💰 $0.12/use (Standard) or $0.80/use (Pro)

Choosing the Right Version

Best for You If:

API.YI (via apiyi.com)

• You need fewer than 50 videos per month
• You want maximum cost efficiency
• You prefer pay-as-you-go flexibility
• You don't want credit expiration concerns

Plus ($20/month)

• You generate 50-100 videos monthly
• 720p resolution meets your needs
• 5-second videos are sufficient
• Watermarks are acceptable

Pro ($200/month)

• You need high-volume generation
• 1080p quality is essential
• Watermark-free output required
• 20-second videos needed
• Access to Pro model features desired

Migration Strategy

If you're currently on Free (suspended):

1. Light users: Switch to API.YI at $0.12/use
2. Regular users: Upgrade to Plus at $20/month
3. Power users: Consider Pro at $200/month

Recommended: For most users, API.YI offers the best value with no commitments, flexible pricing, and no credit expiration. Visit apiyi.com for reliable AI model API access with affordable rates and free trial options.

Detailed Guide to Sora 2 Credit System

Credit Consumption Rules

Credit consumption in Sora 2 depends on multiple factors, with significant variations across different setting combinations:

Credit-Saving Tips:

• Use 480p for testing and drafts, saving 85%+ credits
• 720p is sufficient for social media content
• Only use 1080p for final productions
• Complex prompts may consume 800-1,200 credits; simplifying descriptions is recommended

Credit Purchase and Validity

Important Note: Subscription credits reset at the end of each billing cycle and do not roll over to the next month. Purchased additional credit packs are valid for 12 months.

Sora 2 API Pricing and Cost Comparison

For developers and high-frequency users, using API calls is a more flexible option.

Official API Pricing

According to official pricing, a 30-second 1024p video costs $15, which is relatively expensive.

APIyi Platform Price Comparison

Using Sora 2 API through APIyi apiyi.com offers more competitive pricing:

API Call Example:

import openai

client = openai.OpenAI(
    api_key="YOUR_API_KEY",
    base_url="https://vip.apiyi.com/v1"
)

# Generate video using Sora 2 Standard - $0.12/call
response = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="sora-2",
    messages=[{
        "role": "user",
        "content": "A serene mountain lake at sunrise with gentle mist"
    }]
)

# Generate high-quality video using Sora 2 Pro - $0.80/call
response_pro = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="sora-2-pro",
    messages=[{
        "role": "user",
        "content": "Cinematic aerial shot of a futuristic city at night"
    }]
)

import openai
import time
from typing import List, Dict, Optional
from dataclasses import dataclass

@dataclass
class VideoGenerationTask:
    prompt: str
    model: str = "sora-2"
    priority: int = 1

class SoraBatchGenerator:
    """
    Sora Batch Video Generator
    """

    def __init__(self, api_key: str, base_url: str = "https://vip.apiyi.com/v1"):
        self.client = openai.OpenAI(api_key=api_key, base_url=base_url)

    def generate_single(self, task: VideoGenerationTask) -> Optional[Dict]:
        """Generate a single video"""
        try:
            response = self.client.chat.completions.create(
                model=task.model,
                messages=[{"role": "user", "content": task.prompt}]
            )
            return {"success": True, "data": response, "prompt": task.prompt}
        except Exception as e:
            return {"success": False, "error": str(e), "prompt": task.prompt}

    def generate_batch(
        self,
        tasks: List[VideoGenerationTask],
        delay_seconds: float = 2.0
    ) -> List[Dict]:
        """Generate videos in batch"""
        results = []
        for i, task in enumerate(tasks):
            print(f"Generating ({i+1}/{len(tasks)}): {task.prompt[:50]}...")
            result = self.generate_single(task)
            results.append(result)
            if i < len(tasks) - 1:
                time.sleep(delay_seconds)
        return results

# Usage example
if __name__ == "__main__":
    generator = SoraBatchGenerator(api_key="YOUR_API_KEY")

    tasks = [
        VideoGenerationTask(prompt="Ocean waves at sunset", model="sora-2"),
        VideoGenerationTask(prompt="City timelapse", model="sora-2-pro"),
    ]

    results = generator.generate_batch(tasks)
    for r in results:
        status = "Success" if r["success"] else "Failed"
        print(f"{r['prompt'][:30]}: {status}")

Recommendation: Using Sora 2 API through APIyi apiyi.com offers per-call billing for greater flexibility without worrying about credit expiration. Standard videos at $0.12/call and Pro version at $0.80/call are suitable for various use cases.

Sora 2 Version Selection Guide

Sora 2 Version Selection Decision Flow

1. Limited Budget + Occasional Use: Choose API-yi pay-per-use, Standard version $0.12/generation
2. Generate 50+ Videos Monthly: Plus subscription $20/month is more cost-effective
3. Need HD Watermark-free: Must choose Pro subscription $200/month
4. Need API Integration: Use API-yi apiyi.com's Sora API
5. Need Highest Quality: Sora 2 Pro model, only $0.80/generation via API-yi

FAQ

Summary

Core differences between Sora 2 versions:

1. Free version suspended: Since January 10, 2026, free users cannot access Sora
2. Plus version covers basics: $20/month, 30 generations daily, 720p, suitable for light users
3. Pro version most complete: $200/month, 100 daily generations + unlimited relaxed mode, 1080p without watermark
4. Credits expire: Subscription credits reset monthly, purchased credits valid for 12 months
5. API more flexible: Through APIYI apiyi.com, standard version $0.12/generation, Pro version $0.80/generation

Choose based on actual usage frequency. For developers and on-demand users, the pay-per-use API service provided by APIYI apiyi.com is the most cost-effective option.

📚 References

⚠️ Link Format Notice: All external links use Resource Name: domain.com format for easy copying but not clickable, avoiding SEO weight loss.

1. OpenAI Official Credits Documentation: Sora credits system and billing rules

   • Link: help.openai.com/en/articles/12642688-using-credits-for-flexible-usage
   • Description: Understand official credit consumption and purchase rules

2. Sora Billing FAQ: Official billing frequently asked questions

   • Link: help.openai.com/en/articles/10245774-sora-billing-faq
   • Description: Detailed information on credit validity, purchase methods, etc.

3. Sora 2 Pricing Comparison: Detailed comparison of features and pricing across versions

   • Link: gptsora.io/sora-2-pricing
   • Description: Third-party compiled comprehensive pricing information

Author: Technical Team
Technical Exchange: Welcome to discuss in the comments section. For more resources, visit APIYI apiyi.com technical community