No, ChatGPT can’t make videos in October 2026. OpenAI announced on 24 March 2026 that it was discontinuing Sora, its video model, in both the app and the API; the Sora app shut down on 26 April 2026 and the API was scheduled to close on 24 September 2026 (Wikipedia, Sora). ChatGPT’s release notes from June to October 2026 list no new video generation feature.
ChatGPT is still useful for video work: scripts, storyboards, shot lists, still images for frames and captions. To generate the video itself, use Gemini (with Google’s Veo models), Grok Imagine, Midjourney, Adobe Firefly or a dedicated video tool.
What happened to Sora
Sora was OpenAI’s text-to-video model. It became available to ChatGPT Plus and Pro users and later as a standalone app. In March 2026 OpenAI said it would discontinue it, and the app closed in April. Many older guides and videos still describe how to “make videos in ChatGPT with Sora”; those instructions no longer work.
If you search “ChatGPT video maker” today, results often point to third-party apps that use ChatGPT for scripts and other models for the video. Check which model actually generates the footage before you pay.
What ChatGPT can still do for video
ChatGPT handles most of the planning and writing around a video:
- Scripts and voice-over text, including versions for different lengths.
- Storyboards: a shot-by-shot table with framing, action, dialogue and duration.
- Key frames and thumbnails with ChatGPT Images 2.5.
- Prompts for video generators, written in the style each tool understands.
- Captions, titles and descriptions.
- Transcripts and summaries of audio you upload (added on 6 October 2026).
Try: “Create a 10-shot storyboard for a 30-second ad for a reusable water bottle. For each shot give framing, action, on-screen text and duration, then write a video-generation prompt for each shot.”
For scripts specifically, see our guide to the best AI script writers for YouTube.
The best alternatives for AI video
| Tool | Video model | How to get it | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gemini | Veo (Veo 3.1 on Ultra) | Google AI Plus ($4.99) and Pro ($19.99) include video generation; Pro has a limited Veo 3.1 Lite trial; Ultra has the most | Also takes images as references; Google Flow credits for longer projects |
| Grok Imagine | Imagine Video 1.5 | Grok Premium ($30) and above | Text, image and voice references; up to 1080p on higher tiers |
| Midjourney | Midjourney video | Midjourney plans from $10/month | Animate your Midjourney images; relaxed-mode SD video on Pro and Mega |
| Adobe Firefly | Firefly Video plus partner models (Runway, Kling, Luma) | Firefly plans from $9.99/month | Adobe says Firefly models are commercially safe |
| Meta AI | Muse models | Free for everyday use; Meta One for more | Inside Meta’s apps |
Sources: Google AI plans, xAI news, xAI pricing, Midjourney plans, Adobe Firefly, Meta One, checked 21 October 2026.
Gemini and Veo
For ChatGPT users looking for the closest replacement, Gemini is the natural switch. Google’s paid AI plans include video generation, with Ultra (from $99.99 a month) giving the most access to Veo 3.1. Google AI Plus at $4.99 is the cheapest way in. See Gemini vs ChatGPT for how the assistants compare beyond video.
Grok Imagine
xAI’s Imagine Video 1.5 (June 2026) added reference support at the end of July: you can guide a clip with text, images and voice, at up to 1080p. It’s included from the $30 Premium plan. See Grok vs ChatGPT, which also covers the January 2026 controversy over Grok’s image tools.
Midjourney and Firefly
Midjourney animates images you create there, which suits artists who already use it. Adobe Firefly combines its own video model with partner models from Runway, Kling and Luma in one app, which is convenient for creative teams already on Adobe.
A simple workflow: ChatGPT plus a video tool
- Write the script and storyboard in ChatGPT.
- Generate a key image for each shot (ChatGPT, Gemini or Midjourney) so the look is consistent.
- Feed each image with a short motion prompt into a video tool that accepts image references (Gemini, Grok Imagine, Firefly partners).
- Edit the clips together, add voice-over and captions in a video editor.
This gives you more control than a single text-to-video prompt, and it works around the short clip lengths most tools allow.
Rules to know before you publish
YouTube requires you to disclose realistic AI-generated or altered video, such as a realistic scene that didn’t happen or a real person appearing to say something they didn’t. Using AI for scripts doesn’t need disclosure (YouTube Help). Other platforms have similar labels. Don’t generate videos of real people without consent.
FAQ
Can ChatGPT generate videos?
No. OpenAI discontinued Sora, its video model, in 2026, and ChatGPT doesn’t generate video. It can write scripts and storyboards and create still images for your video.
Is Sora still available?
No. OpenAI announced the shutdown on 24 March 2026, closed the Sora app on 26 April 2026 and scheduled the API to close on 24 September 2026.
What is the best ChatGPT alternative for video?
Gemini, whose paid plans include Google’s Veo video models from $4.99 a month. Grok Imagine, Midjourney and Adobe Firefly are other options.
Is there a free AI video generator?
Meta AI is free for everyday use inside Meta’s apps, with more video generation on its paid Meta One plans, and several tools offer limited free trials. Most capable video generation requires a paid plan.
Conclusion
ChatGPT no longer makes videos, but it’s still a strong partner for scripts, storyboards and frames. For the video itself, Gemini with Veo is the closest replacement, with Grok Imagine, Midjourney and Firefly as alternatives. For still images, see the best AI image generators.