Grok Video (Imagine API) vs Sora
Detailed comparison between Grok Video (Imagine API) and Sora. Which one to choose for your project?
Sora was OpenAI's video generator, able to create clips from text or images. The web and mobile app was discontinued on April 26, 2026, and OpenAI announced the closure of the Sora API for September 24, 2026. This page is kept as a historical record: it explains the closure, shows how existing users can request an export of their content through the official page, and helps compare other AI video tools.
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Grok Video (Imagine API)
4.1/5 · 0
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Sora
4.3/5 · 0
Compare features, prices and use cases below →
Head to Head
Grok Video (Imagine API)
xAI's multimodal video generation with audio, dialogue, and sound
4.1/5 Catalogue score: 4.1/5. No sourced user reviews.
Price
Free plan Key features
- Full video generation from text descriptions
- Automatically generated audio, dialogue, and sound effects
- Video, sound, and voice combined in a single generation
- Accessible directly in Grok via X Premium
Sora
OpenAI's video generator, now discontinued
4.3/5 Catalogue score: 4.3/5. No sourced user reviews.
Price
Web & app discontinued Key features
- Historical: generated videos from text. No longer available in the web and mobile app.
- Historical: animated still images into video. No longer available in the web and mobile app.
- Historical: let users chain several scenes into one video. No longer available in the web and mobile app.
- Historical: Sora was accessible through ChatGPT plans. This access is no longer offered.
Grok Video (Imagine API) vs Sora, Specs at a glance
| Criteria | Grok Video (Imagine API) | Sora |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | Catalogue score: 4.1/5. No sourced user reviews. | Catalogue score: 4.3/5. No sourced user reviews. |
| Pricing model | freemium | Web & app discontinued |
| Starting price | Free plan | Web & app discontinued |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Best for | Content creators on X who want to generate complete videos with sound directly from Grok | Existing Sora users |
Grok Video (Imagine API), Pros and Cons
Pros
- Native multimodal approach (video + audio + dialogue)
- Free with Grok via X Premium
- Integrated sound and dialogue generation
- Simple conversational interface via Grok
- Rapidly evolving model with frequent updates
Cons
- Video quality still below Sora and Runway Gen-3
- Limited duration for generated videos
- Only available through the X/Grok ecosystem
- Limited control over generation parameters
Sora, Pros and Cons
Pros
- Content export can be requested on the official sunset page
- Official OpenAI guidance on the closure, exports and refunds
- Purchased ChatGPT/Sora credits usable for Codex, per OpenAI
Cons
- Web and mobile app discontinued since April 26, 2026
- API closure announced for September 24, 2026
- Data permanently deleted after the closure and any final export window
- No official replacement recommended by OpenAI
Frequently asked questions
Which one is cheaper: Grok Video (Imagine API) or Sora?
Grok Video (Imagine API): Free plan. Sora: Web & app discontinued. The listed paid prices cannot be compared on the same basis.
Does Grok Video (Imagine API) or Sora offer a free plan?
Free plan. Web & app discontinued. Sora was OpenAI's video generator, able to create clips from text or images. The web and mobile app was discontinued on April 26, 2026, and OpenAI announced the closure of the Sora API for September 24, 2026. This page is kept as a historical record: it explains the closure, shows how existing users can request an export of their content through the official page, and helps compare other AI video tools.
Which has the higher user rating, Grok Video (Imagine API) or Sora?
Grok Video (Imagine API): Catalogue score: 4.1/5. No sourced user reviews. Sora: Catalogue score: 4.3/5. No sourced user reviews. Choose according to your use case; the rating alone does not determine the best fit.
What is Grok Video (Imagine API) best for compared to Sora?
Sora was OpenAI's video generator, able to create clips from text or images. The web and mobile app was discontinued on April 26, 2026, and OpenAI announced the closure of the Sora API for September 24, 2026. This page is kept as a historical record: it explains the closure, shows how existing users can request an export of their content through the official page, and helps compare other AI video tools.
Should I choose Grok Video (Imagine API) or Sora?
Sora was OpenAI's video generator, able to create clips from text or images. The web and mobile app was discontinued on April 26, 2026, and OpenAI announced the closure of the Sora API for September 24, 2026. This page is kept as a historical record: it explains the closure, shows how existing users can request an export of their content through the official page, and helps compare other AI video tools.
Choose according to your use case; the rating alone does not determine the best fit.
