Major Breakthrough: Sora 2 API Now Open to Developers
On October 7, 2025, OpenAI officially launched the Sora 2 API, marking the first time an API interface has been made available to developers since the release of Sora 2 web and iOS applications. This signifies that AI video generation technology has officially entered the programmable era, allowing developers to integrate powerful video generation capabilities into their applications through simple API calls.
Unlike previous application versions, the Sora 2 API adopts a per-second billing model, with pricing starting from $0.10/second, offering two model options – Standard and Pro – providing flexible solutions for developers with different needs.
Sora 2 API Core Features Overview
1. Dual Model Architecture: Standard vs Pro
OpenAI has released two Sora 2 API models:
Sora 2 (Standard Edition)
- Model Identifier:
sora-2 - Positioning: Flagship video generation with synced audio
- Supported Resolutions:
- Portrait 720×1280
- Landscape 1280×720
- Pricing: $0.10/second
Sora 2 Pro (Professional Edition)
- Model Identifier:
sora-2-pro - Positioning: Most advanced synced-audio video generation
- Supported Resolutions:
- Portrait 720×1280 ($0.30/second)
- Portrait HD 1024×1792 ($0.50/second)
- Landscape 1280×720 ($0.30/second)
- Landscape HD 1792×1024 ($0.50/second)
- Pricing: $0.30-$0.50/second
2. Native Audio-Video Synchronization
The biggest highlight of Sora 2 API is its native audio-video synchronization capability. Compared to the original Sora that could only generate silent videos, Sora 2 can automatically generate:
- Dialogue Speech: Audio synchronized with character lip movements
- Scene Sound Effects: Environmental sounds matching video content
- Background Music: Atmospheric background music fitting the video mood
This breakthrough feature gives AI-generated videos true professional-level completeness.
3. Flexible Multi-Resolution Options
Sora 2 API supports both landscape and portrait formats, covering all scenarios from social media to professional production:
| Scenario | Recommended Resolution | Model Selection | Price/Second |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short Video Platforms (TikTok/Douyin) | 720×1280 Portrait | sora-2 | $0.10 |
| YouTube/Bilibili | 1280×720 Landscape | sora-2 | $0.10 |
| Professional Advertising | 1792×1024 Landscape HD | sora-2-pro | $0.50 |
| Premium Video Content | 1024×1792 Portrait HD | sora-2-pro | $0.50 |
4. Dedicated API Endpoint
Sora 2 API uses a dedicated video generation endpoint:
POST https://api.openai.com/v1/videos
Important Notes:
- ✅ Only supports
v1/videosendpoint - ❌ Does not support Chat Completions or other endpoints
- ✅ Uses standard OpenAI API Key authentication
In-Depth Pricing Strategy Analysis
Innovative Per-Second Billing Model
Sora 2 API adopts a per-second billing model based on generated video duration, which differs significantly from traditional per-token or per-request pricing:
Cost Estimation Examples:
| Video Duration | Sora 2 (720p) | Sora 2 Pro (720p) | Sora 2 Pro (1792p) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5-second Short | $0.50 | $1.50 | $2.50 |
| 10-second Standard | $1.00 | $3.00 | $5.00 |
| 30-second Long | $3.00 | $9.00 | $15.00 |
| 60-second Full | $6.00 | $18.00 | $30.00 |
Standard vs Pro: Is the 3-5x Price Difference Worth It?
Sora 2 Pro costs 3-5 times more than the standard version, so is it worth it?
Pro Version Core Advantages:
- Higher Resolution: Supports up to 1792×1024, suitable for professional production
- Enhanced Quality: Significantly improved visual details and physical accuracy
- Better Stability: More consistent generation quality
Selection Recommendations:
- 📱 Social Media Content, Testing & Validation → Use sora-2
- 🎬 Advertising & Marketing, Commercial Videos → Use sora-2-pro (720p)
- 🏆 Premium Production, Brand Promotion → Use sora-2-pro (1792p)
Rate Limits and Tier System
Sora 2 API implements a tiered rate limiting system, with automatic upgrades based on API consumption:
Sora 2 Standard Rate Limits
| Tier Level | RPM (Requests Per Minute) |
|---|---|
| Free | ❌ Not Supported |
| Tier 1 | 2 |
| Tier 2 | 5 |
| Tier 3 | 10 |
| Tier 4 | 25 |
| Tier 5 | 40 |
Sora 2 Pro Rate Limits
| Tier Level | RPM (Requests Per Minute) |
|---|---|
| Free | ❌ Not Supported |
| Tier 1 | 1 |
| Tier 2 | 2 |
| Tier 3 | 5 |
| Tier 4 | 10 |
| Tier 5 | 20 |
Key Findings:
- ⚠️ Free users cannot use Sora 2 API, must be paying users
- ⚠️ Pro version has stricter rate limits (max 20 vs 40 RPM)
- ✅ Tier levels automatically increase with API consumption
Quick Start: Access Sora 2 API in 5 Minutes
1. Get API Key
Visit OpenAI Platform to obtain an API Key.
Prerequisites:
- ✅ Have an OpenAI paid account (Free users not supported)
- ✅ Account has available balance
- ✅ Upgraded to at least Tier 1
2. Python Example
import openai
# Configure API Key
openai.api_key = 'your-api-key-here'
# Call Sora 2 Standard
response = openai.videos.create(
model="sora-2",
prompt="An orange cat playing in a sunlit garden, with cheerful background music",
resolution="1280x720" # Landscape 720p
)
print(response)
3. Node.js Example
const OpenAI = require('openai');
const openai = new OpenAI({
apiKey: process.env.OPENAI_API_KEY
});
async function generateVideo() {
const response = await openai.videos.create({
model: 'sora-2-pro',
prompt: 'Aerial view of a futuristic tech city, with electronic music',
resolution: '1792x1024' // Landscape HD
});
console.log(response);
}
generateVideo();
4. cURL Command Example
curl https://api.openai.com/v1/videos \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer $OPENAI_API_KEY" \
-d '{
"model": "sora-2",
"prompt": "Slow motion waves crashing on rocks, with soothing ocean sounds",
"resolution": "720x1280"
}'
Sora 2 API vs Application Version Comparison
Many developers may ask: What's the difference between the API version and the previous application version (sora.com and iOS App)?
| Feature | Sora 2 Application | Sora 2 API |
|---|---|---|
| Access Method | Web/App Interface | API Calls |
| Billing Model | ChatGPT Pro Subscription ($200/month) | Per-second ($0.10-$0.50/second) |
| Use Cases | Personal Creation, Quick Testing | Application Integration, Batch Generation |
| Automation Level | Manual Operation | Fully Automated |
| Technical Barrier | No Technical Background Required | Programming Skills Required |
| Flexibility | Limited by Interface | Fully Programmable |
Selection Recommendations:
- 🎨 Content Creators, Designers → Use Application Version
- 👨💻 Developers, Enterprises → Use API Version
- 🏢 Batch Generation Needs → Use API Version
- 🔧 Automated Workflows → Use API Version
Best Access Solution for Chinese Developers
For Chinese developers, using OpenAI API directly may face the following challenges:
- ❌ Requires overseas credit card
- ❌ Unstable network access
- ❌ Inconvenient USD settlement
🎯 Solution: We recommend accessing Sora 2 API through the API易 apiyi.com platform. This platform provides Chinese developers with:
- ✅ No Overseas Credit Card Required: Supports Alipay and WeChat Pay
- ✅ RMB Settlement: Transparent exchange rates, no hidden fees
- ✅ Optimized Network: Stable and fast API access
- ✅ Chinese Technical Support: 7×24 online service
- ✅ Enterprise-grade SLA: 99.9% availability guarantee
Visit API易 apiyi.com to quickly activate Sora 2 API service and enjoy the same API capabilities as the official version.
Sora 2 API Application Scenarios
1. Automated Video Marketing
E-commerce platforms can automatically generate promotional videos based on product descriptions:
def generate_product_video(product_name, product_desc):
prompt = f"Showcase use scenarios of {product_name}, {product_desc}, with modern background music"
video = openai.videos.create(
model="sora-2-pro",
prompt=prompt,
resolution="1280x720"
)
return video
2. Educational Content Generation
Online education platforms can automatically generate instructional videos for courses:
async function generateEducationVideo(topic, content) {
const prompt = `Teaching scenario for ${topic}, ${content}, with clear narration`;
const video = await openai.videos.create({
model: 'sora-2',
prompt: prompt,
resolution: '1280x720'
});
return video;
}
3. Social Media Content Matrix
Self-media can batch generate short video content:
topics = [
"Morning coffee shop, sunlight through windows",
"Busy city streets, people coming and going",
"Quiet library, sound of turning pages"
]
for topic in topics:
video = openai.videos.create(
model="sora-2",
prompt=topic + ", with ambient sound",
resolution="720x1280" # Portrait for short videos
)
# Upload to platform
4. Game Trailer Production
Game studios can quickly generate promotional materials:
trailer_prompt = """
Epic fantasy battle scene,
Dragon circling above castle,
Hero wielding magic sword,
With dramatic orchestral music
"""
video = openai.videos.create(
model="sora-2-pro",
prompt=trailer_prompt,
resolution="1792x1024" # Landscape HD
)
Technical Advantages and Limitations
Core Advantages
- Native Audio-Video Sync: Industry's first AI video API with native audio support
- Pay-as-You-Go: More flexible than subscription models
- Multi-Resolution Support: From 720p to 1792p meets diverse needs
- OpenAI Ecosystem: Seamless integration with GPT-4, DALL-E and other models
- Simple and Easy: RESTful API, standard HTTP calls
Current Limitations
- No Free User Support: Must be a paying user
- Rate Limits: Tier 1 users only have 1-2 RPM
- Relatively High Cost: 60-second Pro video costs $30
- Generation Speed: Specific generation time not officially disclosed
- Content Moderation: Sensitive content will be rejected
Future Outlook
The release of Sora 2 API is just the beginning. We can expect:
- More Control Parameters: Video duration, style, camera movement controls
- Image-to-Video: API for generating videos from images
- Video Editing: AI editing capabilities for existing videos
- Fine-tuning: Custom model training
- Price Reduction: Costs may decrease as technology matures
Conclusion
The release of Sora 2 API marks that AI video generation has officially entered the programmable era. Through simple API calls, developers can integrate powerful audio-video generation capabilities into any application.
Key Takeaways:
- 📅 Release Date: October 7, 2025
- 💰 Pricing: $0.10-$0.50/second
- 🎬 Dual Models: sora-2 (Standard) and sora-2-pro (Professional)
- 🎵 Audio-Video Sync: Native audio generation support
- 📐 Multi-Resolution: 720p to 1792p
- 🔌 Dedicated Endpoint:
v1/videos - ⚡ Rate Limits: Tier system, up to 40 RPM
For Chinese developers, we recommend quickly accessing through the API易 apiyi.com platform, enjoying RMB settlement, optimized networks, and Chinese technical support, lowering the barrier to entry and accelerating application development.
The future of AI video is here – start your Sora 2 API development journey today!
