Get Sora 2 API access to generate cinematic video from code. Learn availability, pricing, supported regions, and the exact steps to request enablement for sora-2/sora-2-pro in production.
OpenAI’s Sora 2 has captured global attention as a next-generation text-to-video and audio model, offering cinematic realism, synchronized audio, and scene-level control. While consumer-facing apps are gradually rolling out, developers and enterprises are eyeing something deeper: Sora 2’s API.
The good news? The Sora Video API is real — listed with pricing and model names on OpenAI’s official documentation. The catch? Access is still restricted, regionally limited, and often requires allowlisting or enterprise onboarding.
This guide breaks down the full picture: who can access it, how much it costs, and how to get started.
In API terms, Sora 2 exposes OpenAI’s advanced multimodal video+audio generation model through programmable endpoints. Its capabilities include:
Realistic physics and motion coherence
Synchronized audio output
Higher resolution support
Scene steerability via text prompts and parameters
With Sora 2’s API, developers can generate video clips from structured prompts — and even integrate it into creative workflows, content platforms, or production pipelines.
The Sora Video API appears on the OpenAI Pricing Page, listing model SKUs sora-2 and sora-2-pro. However:
Access is NOT automatically enabled.
Most users do not see Sora endpoints unless specifically allowlisted.
Regional restrictions apply (e.g., availability is currently limited to the US & Canada for the Sora app).
đ If you don’t see Sora in your account dashboard, you must request access via OpenAI sales.
Microsoft’s Azure AI Foundry offers another path for API-based Sora 2 access:
Sora 2 is listed in the Standard Global plan.
Enterprises already building on Azure can integrate using Microsoft’s SDKs, subject to Microsoft’s policies and provisioning.
This route is especially viable for large-scale teams with infrastructure or compliance needs aligned with Azure.
OpenAI has publicly listed per-second pricing for Sora 2 models:
| Model | Resolution | Price per Second |
|---|---|---|
| sora-2 | 1280×720 (landscape/portrait) | $0.10/sec |
| sora-2-pro | 1280×720 | $0.30/sec |
| 1792×1024 | $0.50/sec |
đ Pricing may vary based on region or account tier — always confirm in your account dashboard or directly with OpenAI Sales.
According to OpenAI’s Help Center:
The Sora app is currently US + Canada only.
API rollout often mirrors this restriction.
If you’re outside supported countries (e.g., Asia, EU), access may be delayed, or available only via enterprise licensing.
Some developers in unsupported regions report using Azure AI Foundry as a workaround if available through their corporate account.
All Sora 2 outputs — including API-generated content — are governed by OpenAI’s trust & safety architecture, which includes:
Embedded provenance metadata (e.g., C2PA)
Moderation & content safety policies
â ïž Even if you’re generating content via API, you are expected to preserve provenance and comply with platform-specific labeling rules. Don’t strip metadata or publish AI-generated content as human-created media.
Check Your Org’s Dashboard
Go to OpenAI Pricing and log into your dashboard.
Look for sora-2 or sora-2-pro listed under models.
If not visible, proceed to Step 2.
Contact OpenAI Sales
Submit a request with:
Your use case (e.g., advertising, media production)
Estimated volume (e.g., seconds/month)
Preferred resolution
Any compliance requirements (watermarks, labeling, moderation)
Refer to pricing tiers listed above.
Evaluate Azure AI Foundry (Enterprise Only)
If your organization uses Azure, ask IT or procurement about Sora 2 availability under Microsoft Foundry.
Follow Microsoft’s SDK and deployment guides for integration.
Verify Your Region
Ensure your country is in a supported region for both app and API usage.
Clarify licensing if content is for commercial or broadcast use.
For those ready to build, here’s what you’ll need:
Prompt schema: Standardize input structure (e.g., [camera type] + [subject] + [lighting] + [motion])
Throughput estimation: Plan your usage in seconds per month for cost forecasting.
Moderation pipeline: Include pre/post-filters and manual review for sensitive content.
Watermark handling: Keep visible marks or clearly label output as AI-generated.
Codec/delivery target: Plan output as 16:9, 9:16, 1:1 (e.g., H.264, HEVC), plus CDN or asset storage.
Human review: For public content, route high-visibility videos through editorial or brand QA.
{ "prompt": "A drone shot of a futuristic city at sunset, with flying cars zooming past skyscrapers", "duration_sec": 8, "resolution": "1280x720", "fps": 24, "include_audio": true }
Response:
Job ID →
Status polling →
Signed download URL + metadata (including provenance tag)
Once enabled, you’ll find the Sora documentation in your OpenAI dashboard, just like with GPT, Whisper, or DALL·E APIs.
The Sora 2 API offers incredible creative power — cinematic video and audio generation at your fingertips — but access is still controlled, regional, and premium.
Whether you're an indie dev building content workflows or an enterprise rolling out AI video at scale, follow these best practices:
Request access early
Respect safety & provenance protocols
Budget carefully based on resolution & duration
Consider Azure if you're a Microsoft stack user
Check your organization dashboard on the OpenAI platform. If you see models named soraâ2 or soraâ2âpro in the pricing or models list, the API endpoints are potentially visible to you. If not, youâll likely need to request access via sales or waitlist.
âIf you see the error: âyour organization must be verified to use the modelâ please go to platform.openai.com/settings/organization/general and click on Verify Organization.â
OpenAI lists the following rough pricing for the videoâAPI (subject to change)
Yes. The rollout is phased and regionâspecific. For example, the Sora app currently supports only the U.S. and Canada. API availability typically mirrors these regional constraints.
If your country is not supported yet, you may need to wait or explore enterprise routes (e.g., via Microsoft Azure) when available.
Key policy points include:
Outputs may include visible watermarks and embedded provenance metadata (such as C2PA standards).
You must comply with usage terms: no misuse of likeness, no deepfakes without consent, no removing provenance marks.
You should implement moderation/filtering workflows when integrating video generation.
A recommended sequence:
While the model is shipping and listed publicly, broader âproductionâgradeâ API access is still being rolled out. Some articles note that full public API access is not yet universal.
If you have access, treat it cautiously: plan for scale, moderation, and compliance rather than assuming unlimited throughput.
Important aspects include:
If you donât see soraâ2 or soraâ2âpro, you will need to:
Yes â developer documentation and thirdâparty reports indicate Sora 2 supports textâtoâvideo and image/clip input workflows, enabling cameo or referenceâbased generation.
However: input features may be subject to additional rights and consent requirements (especially when likenesses are involved).
Best practices include:
Build your pipeline abstracted from the underlying render engine so you can swap to official endpoints later.
Plan for scaling (cost, asset storage/CDN, humanâinâloop moderation).
Monitor policy updates from OpenAI (especially around watermarking and provenance) and keep your compliance framework ready.
Use preview access to prototype now, but assume guardrails and changes in pricing or availability may come.
Not necessarily. While Sora 2 is publicly announced and the API is listed in some thirdâparty guides, official access is being rolled out gradually and may require allowâlisting.
Log into your account at the OpenAI dashboard, check the pricing page and model list for entries such as soraâ2 or soraâ2âpro. If they arenât present, you likely need to request access.
Published thirdâparty sources cite pricing such as ~$0.10/second for base model and ~$0.30â$0.50/second for pro/highâres models. Always confirm via your official dashboard.
Yes. The model/app rollout is currently limited to certain countries (e.g., U.S. & Canada) and API access may reflect those geographic constraints.
Yes. According to official materials, Sora 2 outputs include visible watermarks and embedded provenance (e.g., C2PA) as part of its safety and authenticity design.
Sora 2 supports textâtoâvideo generation, and likely supports image/clip reference (cameo) workflows in its advanced versions.
Typical workflow: send a generation request with prompt + options, poll job status, receive result URL + metadata. Also implement moderation, watermark/provenance handling, and delivery pipelines.
Limitations include: rollout/geographic constraints, high cost per second for long clips, quality inconsistencies, compliance/licensing issues (especially with likeness or copyrighted content), and watermark/provenance obligations.
No. The watermark and embedded provenance are integral to the modelâs safety design. Removing or obscuring those may violate terms of service or licensing. (Although this specific Q&A may not be explicitly published, it matches the modelâs design narrative.)
It depends. While Sora 2 is launched and available via certain channels, many users report that full productionâgrade, scalable API access may still be limited or in preview.
Typically: describe your useâcase (commercial, internal, prototyping), expected volume (seconds/month), desired resolution, region, compliance needs (moderation, watermark handling), plus any enterprise infrastructure. (Drawn from integration guides.)
Yes â some sources mention thirdâparty APIs or platforms that wrap Sora 2 (e.g., CometAPI, Replicate) as intermediate access routes, albeit with their own terms/fees.
Published data suggest resolutions such as 1280Ă720 (landscape/portrait) are supported; higher res (e.g., 1792Ă1024) may be available on pro model tiers. Always verify exact specs via your account.
Not by default. Access to the video API is separate and may require enterprise contract or specific plan. Some sources note the app portion may have free/experiment limits but API access is more restricted.
Calculate as (seconds of video) Ă (price per second for chosen model). Also factor in resolution, number of renders, storage/CDN, moderation, and delivery costs. (General developer guidance.)
You should implement: preâprompt filtering, postâvideo review, preserve watermark/provenance, comply with likeness/copyright rules, label AIâgenerated content. (Policy workflow described in source guides.)
Options: join waitlist, apply via enterprise channel (Azure or enterprise contract), or monitor monthly rollout updates. Geographical restrictions may relax over time.
Currently, this is unlikely or significantly more costly and constrained. For now, useâcases lean toward short clips. Longâform usage may require custom licensing or future updates. (Inferred from rollout and cost structure.)
Ensure your pipeline logs the metadata (job id, model version, watermark status, C2PA claims) that come with the generation response. Use this for audit, compliance, content labeling. (Developer guidance.)
Key monitoring points: