OpenAI’s Sora App Tops Google Play Store’s Free Chart

OpenAI’s AI‑video platform Sora has surged to the No. 1 spot in the Google Play Store’s free‑app rankings, overtaking its sister app ChatGPT. The Android version logged 470,000 downloads on its first day, far exceeding the initial iOS launch numbers. New creation tools, cameo features, basic editing, and expanded social options are rolling out, while payment plans now let users purchase extra video generations for $4. Pro users gain longer video limits and storyboarding capabilities. OpenAI’s head of Sora, Bill Peebles, outlined these updates and hinted at further professional‑grade enhancements.

Rise to the Top

OpenAI’s AI‑video application Sora has claimed the leading position among free apps on the Google Play Store, displacing its sibling ChatGPT, which now sits in second place. The Android release, made available last week, attracted 470,000 downloads on its debut day, a figure four times higher than the initial iOS launch in September. The earlier iOS version had surpassed one million downloads within five days but was limited to North America and required an invite code. With the invite requirement removed and the app opened to more countries, the Android surge reflects broader accessibility.

New Creation Tools and Social Features

Sora’s recent updates introduce a suite of creative capabilities. The “cameo” feature, which lets users incorporate the likenesses of public figures and now extends to animals, toys, and generated characters, is expanding with seasonal additions such as Halloween‑themed personas. Real‑time trending cameos are highlighted in the generation interface, echoing popular social‑media discovery feeds. Basic video editing tools allow users to stitch clips together directly inside the app, and more advanced editing functions are promised for the future, aiming to transition Sora from short, spontaneous clips to a platform suitable for professional creators.

On the community side, the app is experimenting with localized channels for universities, workplaces, hobbies, and sports teams, shifting the focus from a chaotic global feed to more targeted group interactions.

Payment Plans and Generation Limits

Alongside the feature rollout, OpenAI has refined its payment structure. Free users may generate up to 30 videos per day, while Pro subscribers enjoy a 100‑video daily cap. When users reach their limit, they can purchase an additional ten video generations for $4. Because a Sora account links to a ChatGPT account, paying for ChatGPT Pro automatically provides Sora access under the same subscription.

Extended Video Lengths and Storyboarding

Pro users on the web now have access to a storyboarding tool, enabling creators to plan video sequences before generation—a practice common in professional filmmaking. Free users can create videos up to 15 seconds long on iPhone and the web, while Pro users receive an extra ten seconds, totaling 35 seconds on the web platform. These enhancements follow a recent update that increased video length limits and introduced the storyboarding feature.

Future Outlook

Bill Peebles, OpenAI’s head of Sora, outlined a roadmap that includes more sophisticated editing capabilities, longer runtimes, higher resolutions, and broader collaboration with unions such as SAG‑AFTRA to manage potentially inappropriate or illegal content, including deepfakes. The rapid adoption and feature expansion suggest OpenAI is positioning Sora to serve both casual users and professional creators, aiming to solidify its foothold in the competitive AI‑generated media landscape.