Sora, the video generation model from OpenAI, has been with us for a while now, having launched back at the end of 2024. The tool was built by the team behind ChatGPT, and allows users to create realistic videos from text inputs.
If you have an OpenAI Plus or Pro account, then Sora will be available at no extra cost. Many countries had access at launch but the UK, EU and European Economic Area were notable absentees.
But this has finally changed and Sora AI is available to users in those countries.
Sora is available in a vast majority of countries but if your country is still not supported, then you can use one of the best VPNs to access the tool.
How to access Sora in the UK and EU
Sora AI is now available to paying ChatGPT Plus and ChatGPT Pro users in the UK, EU, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
Head to sora.com and make sure you've signed up to an OpenAI account and subscribed to one of the paying tiers. There is a $20 per month option (ChatGPT Plus) and a $200 per month option (ChatGPT Pro), with the more expensive tier giving you greater video generation options. Then sign up to a free Sora account and away you go.
To ensure your account information is protected and your internet activity remains private, we'd recommend keeping your VPN on when accessing Sora. In our testing, both NordVPN and ExpressVPN were successful in accessing the site.
How to access Sora with a VPN
Sora AI is now available in most countries around the world, but if you have trouble accessing it in your country or it isn't yet supported where you are, using a VPN is the perfect solution.
As mentioned, NordVPN and ExpressVPN both had no problems in unblocking Sora during our testing but you shouldn't have trouble with any major provider – especially not the fastest VPNs.
To access the tool, check where Sora is supported and connect to a server in one of those countries – we'd recommend the US. Once you're connected, follow the usual steps of logging into your account and Sora will be open for you to use.
If you've previously used Sora, but find yourself blocked should you travel to a country where it is unavailable, using a VPN is the easiest way to regain access to the AI tools you've paid for.
What is Sora?
Sora was first previewed back in February and this newly rolled-out model is a marked improvement. The updated version is known as Sora Turbo, and is significantly faster than the previous release.
Users can generate videos up to 1080p resolution, up to 20 seconds long, and in widescreen, vertical, or square aspect ratios. You can bring your own assets to extend, remix, and blend, or generate entirely new content from text.
New interfaces have been developed to aid prompting, and the storyboard tool lets users precisely specify inputs for each frame.
ChatGPT Plus subscribers can generate up to 50 five second videos at 480p resolution, or fewer videos at 720p, each month.
ChatGPT Pro subscribers can generate up to 500 20-second videos at 1080p resolution each month.
What to look for in an unblocking VPN
If you're going to be using a VPN to unblock Sora, then you'll want to make sure it boasts a good range of servers, has strong unblocking capabilities, and is fast enough to support Sora.
All the providers featured in our best VPN list offer a wide range of servers, covering almost every country you would need.
NordVPN ticks all those boxes and is our top-rated VPN overall. At $3.39 per month, it's decent value.
ExpressVPN is a great choice if you're a beginner, thanks to its simple interface, and easy to use apps. Plans start at $4.99 per month, so this may not be the best choice if you're on a budget.
Private Internet Access (PIA) has a network of over 20,000 servers worldwide, and is the only top-rated VPN provider to have servers in every US state – something that could come in handy for accessing US-based Sora. It's also very cheap at $2.19 per month.
When it comes to speed, Surfshark takes the crown. With WireGuard it hits speeds of over 950 Mbps, and when using the old-school OpenVPN it hit 640 Mbps – a remarkable achievement. Surfshark is also the best cheap VPN, with plans starting at $2.19 per month.
Proton VPN will also be fast enough to handle Sora, and it's a rock solid choice if you're concerned about privacy. It has a verified no-logs policy and can protect all your devices. Proton VPN plans start at $3.59 per month.
What else can a VPN allow you to access?
VPNs can allow you to access more than just Sora. The best streaming VPNs can unblock all your favourite streaming sites, including Netflix, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer. This means if you're abroad, or certain shows aren't available in your country's streaming libraries, then you can quickly and easily change your location to unlock them.
VPNs are also a crucial tool for protecting people's online freedoms. Internet censorship is on the rise, and a VPN can help people bypass this, protecting their rights and freedom of speech.
Russia and China are just some examples of countries cracking down on internet usage, and we have compiled lists of the best Russia VPN, and the best China VPN. Pakistan has also blocked social media apps, and recently introduced permits to combat VPN usage. With internet freedoms being curtailed, VPNs are more important than ever.
FAQs
Is Sora AI available to use?
Yes, Sora AI is available now for all paying ChatGPT users.
Can you use Sora AI anywhere?
Sora AI is available in most countries around the world and the UK, EU, and European Economic Area are the newest additions. The full list of countries can be found here.
Is Sora AI free?
Sora AI is only available for ChatGPT Plus and ChatGPT Pro account holders. ChatGPT Plus is $20 a month and ChatGPT Pro is $200 a month.
Does Sora AI differ between plans?
Yes, there is a difference between how you can use Sora AI depending on what plan you have.
ChatGPT Plus subscribers can generate up to 50 priority videos, with quality of up to 720p resolution and a 5s duration.
ChatGPT Pro subscribers can generate up to 500 priority videos and an unlimited number of relaxed videos. Videos can be up to 1080p resolution and up to 20s duration. Users are allowed 5 concurrent generations and can download videos without a watermark.
Disclaimer
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
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