Imaginode vs Sora: what to do now that OpenAI has closed the app
OpenAI shut down the Sora app in April 2026 and deprecated the API. Here is what remains, what it used to cost, and how to get the same job done without a subscription.
Competitor data verified on August 20, 2026
Recorded at Sora (OpenAI) on August 20, 2026
- ChatGPT Plus : $20/month
- ChatGPT Pro : $200/month
Our pricing, same day
- Starter : €13/month900 credits/month
- Creator : €42/month3,100 credits/month
- Studio : €145/month10,500 credits/month
This comparison is unusual: Sora has not been reachable on the web or on mobile since 26 April 2026. OpenAI announced the product wind-down on 21 July 2026, and the deprecated Sora 2 API is scheduled for removal on 24 September 2026. No invite code, no VPN and no ChatGPT plan reopens consumer access.
If you are searching for Sora today, you are really searching for a replacement. Imaginode gives you ten video models in a single canvas: Kling, Seedance, Veo 3.1, Hailuo and Wan, in both text-to-video and image-to-video, up to 4K, with generated audio on nine of them.
The real difference with Sora is how you buy. Sora lived behind a ChatGPT Plus or Pro plan, then behind an API billed per second. At Imaginode a 5 second Kling 2.5 Turbo clip costs 26 credits, the price is printed on the button before you click, and the public calculator prices your typical month without an account.
Availability
Sora (OpenAI)
Web and mobile apps closed on 26 April 2026; Sora 2 API deprecated, removal announced for 24 September 2026
Imaginode
Available in the browser, no waitlist and no invite
Price while it was open
Sora (OpenAI)
ChatGPT Plus $20/month or Pro $200/month; API at $0.10/s (Sora 2) and $0.30 to $0.70/s (Sora 2 Pro)
Imaginode
13 € excl. VAT per month (900 credits) or a one-off top-up from 5 € with no subscription
Cost of a 5 second shot
Sora (OpenAI)
About $0.50 on standard Sora 2, up to $3.50 on high resolution Pro
Imaginode
26 credits (Kling 720p) to about 330 credits (premium 4K), your choice
Models
Sora (OpenAI)
Sora 2 and Sora 2 Pro only
Imaginode
48 models from several providers, ten of them video
Audio
Sora (OpenAI)
Native synchronised audio, one of the model's strengths
Imaginode
Generated audio on nine video models, toggled on the node
Failed generation
Sora (OpenAI)
Billed per produced second on the API
Imaginode
Credits refunded automatically
Interface
Sora (OpenAI)
Social feed, then a single prompt
Imaginode
Node canvas: text, image, camera, references and video wired together
Sora status and pricing checked on 20 August 2026 against the OpenAI help centre and consistent third-party records. Prices in US dollars, excluding tax. Check openai.com before deciding.
When to choose Sora (OpenAI)
- You still have a Sora 2 API integration in production: it works until 24 September 2026, so use it to the end.
- You want the Sora 2 look and its native audio specifically: no other model reproduces it exactly.
- You are archiving videos made while the app was live: go through the OpenAI help centre before the removal date.
When to choose Imaginode
- You want a tool that still exists tomorrow, backed by several video providers rather than one model.
- You want to pay per click rather than per month: credits are bought by the unit and never expire.
- You want to test Veo 3.1, Kling 3.0 and Seedance 2.0 on the same idea before choosing, in a node canvas.
- You make short ads: the guide a 10 second AI video ad walks through the whole workflow.
- You want to compare costs before committing: the calculator prices every model per second.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sora really shut down?
The web and mobile experiences ended on 26 April 2026 and OpenAI announced the product wind-down on 21 July 2026. Only the deprecated Sora 2 API remains, until 24 September 2026 according to OpenAI documentation.
What is the closest alternative to Sora 2?
For synchronised audio and natural motion, Veo 3.1 and Seedance 2.0 come closest. Both are available in Imaginode, billed per generation rather than per month.
Do I need a subscription to generate a video on Imaginode?
No. A free account opens with 80 trial credits and no card, and a 300 credit top-up costs 5 €. The [Pricing page](/pricing) lists the plans.
Sources
More verified comparisons
Same rules: pricing grids recorded on a given date, source cited, updated as soon as a price changes.
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Judge for yourself
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