Users Can Now Pay for Additional Video Creation Credits
OpenAI has announced a new monetization model for its AI video generation platform, Sora, allowing users to pay for the ability to create more videos. The change marks a shift from the fully free model that characterized Sora’s initial rollout earlier this year, as OpenAI moves to balance accessibility with growing operational costs tied to intensive AI processing.
According to the company, users will soon face reduced free allowances, while premium tiers will offer expanded video-generation limits and faster rendering times. Pricing details have not yet been disclosed, but the update signals a broader move toward monetizing OpenAI’s most popular creative tools.
Part of OpenAI’s Broader Monetization Strategy
The decision aligns with OpenAI’s ongoing efforts to commercialize its suite of AI products, including ChatGPT, DALL·E, and Whisper. As AI video generation continues to rise in popularity among creators, marketers, and educators, OpenAI is seeking to scale Sora’s infrastructure while ensuring consistent performance across its user base.
Sora, first introduced as an experimental tool for generating short video clips from text prompts, has quickly become one of OpenAI’s most viral products. Its growing user base, however, has significantly increased computational demand. The paid tier aims to address this by giving subscribers priority access to GPU resources and advanced editing features.
Free Tier to Remain, but with Limits
OpenAI confirmed that a free version of Sora will remain available, though with fewer credits for video creation per month. The company says it wants to preserve accessibility for casual users and students while rewarding those who rely on Sora for professional or commercial use. Additional monetization features, including enterprise packages and integration tools for production studios, are also reportedly in development.
Growing Competition in AI Video Tools
The shift comes amid intensifying competition in the AI video space, with rivals such as Runway, Pika Labs, and Synthesia also launching paid subscription models. Analysts note that as text-to-video models improve in quality and realism, their energy and compute costs rise sharply, making monetization a financial necessity for AI companies.
OpenAI’s new approach suggests that while generative AI tools may start free, sustainability will increasingly depend on paid usage models. More details about Sora’s subscription plans and rollout schedule are expected in the coming weeks.
