OpenAI's Sora 2 has revolutionized text-to-video AI, allowing users to create stunning clips from simple prompts. However, video duration remains a key constraint. This article explores Sora 2's limits, ways to extend videos, and tips to maximize your creations in 2026.
Understanding OpenAI's Sora 2: A Quick Overview
Sora 2, launched in September 2025, builds on the original Sora model by incorporating advanced audio synchronization, improved motion realism, and better scene continuity. It generates videos with sound effects, dialogue, and music directly from text or image inputs, making it a powerful tool for creators, marketers, and filmmakers.
Unlike its predecessor, which capped at 6 seconds, Sora 2 offers more flexibility but still enforces strict duration rules based on subscription tiers and settings. As of February 2026, it's accessible via the Sora app, web interface, ChatGPT integration, and API, with availability expanded to most countries beyond initial U.S. and Canada rollouts.
Sora 2 Video Duration Limits: What You Need to Know
Sora 2's video lengths vary significantly depending on your subscription, resolution, and generation mode. For standard ChatGPT Plus users ($20/month), the maximum duration is typically 15 seconds on both the app and web. This is an upgrade from the initial 10-second cap, but it's still short for complex narratives.
Pro subscribers ($200/month) get access to longer clips: up to 25 seconds on the web using storyboard mode. Some reports indicate Pro users can push to 90 seconds in certain configurations, though this consumes more credits and isn't universally available. Free users, however, face stricter limits—often suspended or capped at 5 seconds in 480p resolution as of January 2026.
Resolution plays a crucial role. Lower-quality videos, like those in 352p or 480p, can't exceed 15 seconds to conserve compute resources. Higher resolutions (720p or 1080p) are available to Plus and Pro users but reduce the total number of generations possible due to credit costs. For instance, a 15-second 720p video might cost 2 credits, while a 25-second 1080p clip could consume 4.
API users encounter even tighter restrictions: only 4, 8, or 12 seconds, regardless of Pro status. This has frustrated developers aiming for Sora 2 extensions in apps.
Overall, monthly credits dictate output: Plus users get 1,000 credits (roughly 4-8 minutes total video time), while Pro offers 10,000 plus unlimited relaxed mode. Daily limits hover around 15-30 videos, with longer durations counting as multiple.
How Long Does Sora Take to Generate a Video?
Generation time for Sora 2 videos ranges from 5 to 15 minutes per clip, depending on complexity, length, and server load. Shorter 5-second videos process faster, often under 5 minutes, while 25-second Pro generations can take up to 20 minutes during peak times. Factors like high demand—exacerbated by viral adoption—have led OpenAI to impose throttling, with head of Sora Bill Peebles noting "our GPUs are melting" in late 2025.
In relaxed mode (available to Pro users after credits exhaust), times extend further but allow unlimited generations. For optimal speed, generate during off-peak hours and stick to simpler prompts.
How to Make Longer Sora Videos: Step-by-Step Strategies
If Sora 2's native limits feel restrictive, several workarounds exist to create extended content. Here's how to push beyond the basics:
Use Storyboard Mode for Pro Users
Pro subscribers can access storyboard on the web, enabling 25-second videos by building frame-by-frame. Start by describing scenes, select duration in settings, and let Sora generate editable storyboards. This mode supports multi-scene continuity, ideal for narratives.
Stitch Clips Together in the Sora App
All users can stitch up to 60 seconds of video by combining shorter clips. Generate individual segments, then:
- Open drafts in the app.
- Select clips and hit "Stitch."
- Add transitions or captions.
- Post the combined video.
This maintains some continuity but may show seams.
Leverage Last-Frame Continuation
A popular free method: Extract the final frame of a video and use it as an image prompt for the next generation. This chains clips seamlessly. Tools like video editors (e.g., CapCut) help merge them post-generation.
Third-Party Extensions and Scripts
Open-source solutions like the Sora-Extend GitHub repo allow indefinite extensions by deconstructing prompts into segments and using final frames as context. It bypasses the 12-second API limit, creating high-quality long-form videos. Install via GitHub and input your OpenAI API key for automation.
Upgrade Your Subscription for Extended Access
Switching to Pro unlocks 25-second natives and more credits, effectively enabling longer outputs without manual stitching. If you're hitting daily caps, purchase extra generations—10 for about $4.
These techniques can help you make Sora videos longer, but they require editing skills for polished results.
Sora 2 Limitations: Beyond Just Video Length
While Sora 2 excels in realism, it has drawbacks. Duration caps force creative workarounds, and even Pro users top out at 25 seconds natively. Watermarks persist on non-Pro outputs, and regional restrictions linger in areas like the EU.
Compute demands lead to variable quality—longer videos may suffer from continuity issues or "cut-offs" mid-scene. Teens face stricter daily limits for safety, and free access was phased out in January 2026. Speculation around Sora 3 suggests 2-10 minute generations, but as of now, these limits persist.
Better Options for Longer Videos
If Sora 2's constraints don't fit your needs, consider competitors that offer extended durations. For instance, Kling AI from Kuaishou supports up to 2-minute clips with realistic physics, boasting 60 million users as of January 2026. Google's Veo 3.1 handles 8 seconds natively but excels in immersive 3D.
For a versatile text-to-video AI alternative, check out platforms like those on Merlio, which provide tools for generating longer, customizable videos without strict credit systems. These can complement Sora for hybrid workflows.
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