Which AI Video Generator Is Better – If Google’s Veo 3 is the Regina George of AI video, then OpenAI’s Sora is Cady Heron. After extensive testing of both platforms, that’s the best way to sum up how these two powerful AI video generators compare. Each has its strengths, quirks, and underlying implications about the future of AI-generated content.
Sora Overview
Sora is OpenAI’s dedicated AI video generator, created by the same company behind the widely popular ChatGPT. It is also the name of OpenAI’s TikTok-style social media app—though for this comparison, we focus specifically on the Sora 2 model, not the social platform.
Launched in December 2024, Sora 2 introduced major upgrades. Users can now generate videos between 10 and 15 seconds (25 seconds for Pro users) with synchronized audio and resolutions up to 1080p. Best of all, Sora is currently free to use, without requiring an invite code. Premium ChatGPT plans unlock more features.
Key Highlights of Sora
- 10–15 second videos (up to 25 seconds for Pro)
- Supports portrait and landscape formats
- Up to 1080p output
- Synchronized audio with Sora 2
- Free access for now
Veo 3 Overview
Google’s Veo reached mainstream attention with its third generation, Veo 3. The standout feature: it became the first major AI video generator with fully synchronized audio. This leap set a new standard when unveiled at Google I/O 2025.
Veo 3 offers 8-second videos at 720p within the Gemini app. Developers can tweak these settings in other tools like Flow, but everyday users are limited to the default specifications. Additionally, Veo videos include a visible watermark unless you upgrade to the expensive Ultra Plan.
Key Highlights of Veo 3
- 8-second videos at 720p
- Built-in synchronized audio
- Landscape-only orientation
- Visible and invisible watermarks
- Available with Google’s $20/month AI Pro plan (minimum)
Video and Audio Quality
In terms of output quality, Sora currently has the edge thanks to longer video lengths and support for both portrait and landscape modes. Veo locks users into a fixed 8-second landscape video, making it less flexible for social media formats.
Both platforms handle synchronized audio effectively, automatically adding appropriate music or ambient sounds. However, Sora tends to deliver more context-aware audio—for example, classical music for a ballet scene or subtle dialogue in a café setting.
Prompt Adherence and Editing Limitations
Both Sora and Veo 3 perform well in terms of prompt accuracy, including tasks like rendering specific text or generating matching audio. However, editing tools remain limited.
Sora Editing Limitations
Sora’s “edit video” button simply allows you to rewrite the prompt and regenerate a brand-new video—no fine-tuned adjustments yet.
Veo Editing Limitations
Follow-up requests in Gemini don’t always work reliably, forcing you to regenerate from scratch.
Speed Comparison
Veo 3 tends to generate videos slightly faster—often by about a minute. Overall, both tools usually deliver results within two to five minutes depending on complexity.
Pricing
Sora Pricing
Sora 2 is currently free, though this may change. It does not require an invite code anymore, making it extremely accessible. Additional features come with ChatGPT Plus or higher plans starting at $20/month.
Veo 3 Pricing
There is no free version of Veo 3. The cheapest option is Google’s $20/month AI Pro plan. Users who need more generations or access to higher limits must upgrade to a more expensive subscription. Heavy users can easily hit their generation cap quickly.
While Sora clearly wins in terms of cost—for now—OpenAI may monetize the platform in the future. For users already paying $20/month for ChatGPT Plus, Sora will likely remain a better value compared to Google’s tiered system.
Conclusion
Both Sora and Veo 3 represent major leaps in AI video generation. Veo 3 pioneered synchronized audio and remains a strong contender for fast video creation with consistent quality. However, Sora currently offers longer videos, higher quality, more flexible formats, smarter audio integration, and a significantly better price point.
In the end, Sora edges out as the more capable and accessible tool—especially for creators seeking high-quality, social-ready video generation without a hefty subscription commitment.
