Sora, the video generation model from OpenAI, has been with us for a few months now. 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. At launch almost every country had access to it, but a few did not. It wasn't available in the UK, Switzerland, or countries in the EU and European Economic Area.
As we enter 2025, this is still the case and those living in Europe are missing out. But is there a way of getting your hands on Sora regardless of where you live? The short answer is yes – by using one of the best VPNs. So stay with me and I'll give you everything you need to know about unblocking Sora in the UK, EU, and more.
How to use a VPN to access Sora in the UK and EU
In our testing, it appears that VPNs are able to unblock the Sora website. NordVPN and ExpressVPN were both successful in accessing the site – although your results may vary. For now, we can strongly recommend both VPNs as tried and tested way of gaining access to Sora in the EU and UK.
First off, make sure you're signed up and connected to the VPN. Connect to a server in a country where Sora is supported as you won't be able to access it otherwise – the US is a safe bet.
Once you're connected, head to sora.com and log in to your OpenAI account. You will then need to create a separate Sora account, although you won't have to pay extra to use it.
Can everyone access Sora straight away?
Upon initial release, Sora account creation was unavailable due to heavy traffic. However new users can now create an account, but you will need to make sure you're signed up for an OpenAI account before you can access Sora.
However, even if you've previously used Sora, you will still be 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.
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. It is currently not available in the UK, EU, Switzerland, and countries in the European Economic Area. 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.
