Sora 2 Is Retiring: Switch to H3, H3 Max or Seedance 2.5
OpenAI is removing Sora 2 and Sora 2 Pro from its API on September 24, 2026, so both are gone from Flixly. Here is how MiniMax H3 Max, MiniMax H3 and Seedance 2.5 compare, and which one fits the way you used Sora 2.
TL;DR
OpenAI is retiring Sora 2 and Sora 2 Pro on September 24, 2026, so neither is available on Flixly any more. Videos you already made stay in your history. For new clips, MiniMax H3 Max is the default pick, with native 1080p and #1-ranked prompt understanding. MiniMax H3 adds 2K and stereo sound, and Seedance 2.5 makes 4 to 30 second shots with synchronized audio.
OpenAI is retiring Sora 2. It notified developers on March 24, 2026 that the Sora 2 video models, both Sora 2 and Sora 2 Pro, would be removed from its API on September 24, 2026. It listed no replacement model. You can read the notice on OpenAI's deprecations page.
Because of that, Sora 2 and Sora 2 Pro are no longer available on Flixly as of September 23, 2026. They have been removed from the model picker, the model directory and the Video Generator. Your credits and your account are not affected.
If Sora 2 was your go-to model, you have three strong options on Flixly already: MiniMax H3, MiniMax H3 Max and Seedance 2.5 from ByteDance. All three do everything Sora 2 did on Flixly, which was text-to-video and image-to-video. Each one adds more aspect ratios and more control over the shot. This guide explains which one to choose.
What happens to your Sora 2 videos
- Videos you already made stay in your account. Finished Sora 2 and Sora 2 Pro clips are stored by Flixly, not by the model, so they remain in your history and can still be downloaded.
- New Sora 2 generations are no longer possible. A saved link or bookmark that opens the Video Generator with Sora 2 selected now opens with a different model.
- Your prompts still work. Paste a Sora 2 prompt into one of the models below. The tips further down explain how to adjust it.
The short answer: which model replaces Sora 2?
| If you used Sora 2 for… | Switch to | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday text-to-video and image-to-video | MiniMax H3 Max | Ranked #1 for overall quality, prompt understanding and aesthetics, with native 480p, 768p or 1080p output |
| Sora 2 Pro's 1080p, higher-quality renders | MiniMax H3 Max at 1080p, or MiniMax H3 at 2K | H3 Max renders 1080p natively; H3 goes up to 2K with stereo sound |
| Clips with dialogue, music or sound effects | Seedance 2.5 or MiniMax H3 | Both generate synchronized audio in the same pass as the picture |
| Longer single shots (Sora 2 reached 20 seconds) | Seedance 2.5 | Any length from 4 to 30 seconds in one generation |
| Keeping the same character or product across shots | Seedance 2.5 or MiniMax H3 Max in the Reference tab | Reference-to-video, which Sora 2 did not offer on Flixly |
Sora 2 vs H3, H3 Max and Seedance 2.5
| Spec on Flixly | Sora 2 / Sora 2 Pro (retired) | MiniMax H3 | MiniMax H3 Max | Seedance 2.5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creator | OpenAI | MiniMax | MiniMax | ByteDance |
| Modes | Text, Image | Text, Image | Text, Image, Reference | Text, Image, Reference |
| Duration | 4 to 20 seconds, in 4-second steps | 4 to 15 seconds | 5 to 15 seconds | 4 to 30 seconds |
| Resolution | 720p (Sora 2); up to 1080p (Pro) | 768p or 2K | 480p, 768p or 1080p | 480p, 720p or 1080p |
| Aspect ratios | 16:9, 9:16 | 21:9, 16:9, 4:3, 1:1, 3:4, 9:16 | 21:9, 16:9, 4:3, 1:1, 3:4, 9:16 | Auto, 21:9, 16:9, 4:3, 1:1, 3:4, 9:16 |
| Sound | Yes | Native stereo audio | Not a headline feature; use H3 or Seedance 2.5 for sound-led clips | Synchronized audio in the same pass |
| End frame | No | No | Optional in Image mode | Optional in Image mode |
| Model page | — | MiniMax H3 | H3 Max | Seedance 2.5 |
Every model on Flixly is billed per generation, based on the settings you choose. The Video Generator shows the exact credit cost before you click generate, so you can compare the three models on the same prompt before committing.
MiniMax H3 Max: the default pick for most Sora 2 users
MiniMax H3 Max is a post-trained version of MiniMax H3. It ranks #1 against leading video models for overall quality, prompt understanding and aesthetics. The second of those matters most for anyone coming from Sora 2: H3 Max follows the subjects, actions and camera moves you write, so a well-directed Sora 2 prompt usually carries over with little rework.
- Native 1080p, which covers what most people used Sora 2 Pro for, plus 480p for cheap drafts and 768p in between.
- Six aspect ratios, compared with Sora 2's two. You can use 1:1, 4:3 and 21:9 as well as 16:9 and 9:16.
- Start and end frames in Image mode, so a shot can land on a composition you choose.
- Reference-to-video with up to 9 images and 3 short clips. See H3 Max reference-to-video.
Need the same look for less? H3 Max Turbo generates the same picture at half the credits for text and image jobs.
Open H3 Max in the Video Generator
MiniMax H3: 2K resolution and stereo sound
MiniMax H3, also known as Hailuo-03, is MiniMax's multimodal video model. Choose it when the priority is resolution and sound. It renders up to 2K, which is sharper than any tier Sora 2 Pro offered. It also generates native stereo audio in the same pass, so dialogue, music, ambience and effects are directed from the prompt.
It also has strong instruction following, including on-screen text and signage. That makes it a good fit for product spots and title cards.
Open MiniMax H3 in the Video Generator
Seedance 2.5: longer shots, sound and up to 50 references
Seedance 2.5 is ByteDance's newest video model. It is the natural home for Sora 2's strengths: long takes with sound.
- 4 to 30 seconds in a single generation, compared with Sora 2's 20-second maximum. That is enough for a setup, a turn and a landing without stitching clips together.
- Audio generated with the picture. Put spoken lines in double quotes and the model generates the speech and matching mouth movement together.
- Up to 50 references in the Reference tab. You can mix images, video clips and audio, then address them in the prompt as
[Image1],[Video1]and[Audio1]. - 480p, 720p or 1080p, with an Auto aspect ratio as well as six fixed ones.
For the full picture, including what ByteDance has and hasn't published, read Seedance 2.5 explained.
Open Seedance 2.5 in the Video Generator
How to move a Sora 2 prompt to its replacement
- Open the Video Generator and pick the model from the table above.
- Paste your Sora 2 prompt. Keep it written as direction: the subject, the action, the camera move, then the sound.
- Check the aspect ratio. Sora 2 only offered 16:9 and 9:16. Those still exist in all three models, but a 1:1 or 4:3 frame may suit the shot better.
- Set the length on purpose. Sora 2 durations came in 4-second steps. H3 and Seedance 2.5 accept any whole second in their range, and H3 Max starts at 5 seconds.
- Draft cheap, then finish. Render a short draft at the lowest resolution, then re-run only the prompt you like at full length and resolution.
- For sound, use Seedance 2.5 or MiniMax H3. Describe the sound as you would the picture, for example "rain on glass" or "a low string note". Put dialogue in double quotes.
- Check the credit quote for your settings, then generate.
Related reading
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Sora 2 no longer available on Flixly?▾
OpenAI is retiring its Sora 2 video models. It notified developers on March 24, 2026 that Sora 2 and Sora 2 Pro would be removed from its API on September 24, 2026, and it listed no replacement model. Flixly removed both from the model picker on September 23, 2026.
What happens to the videos I made with Sora 2?▾
They stay in your Flixly history. Finished Sora 2 and Sora 2 Pro videos are stored by Flixly, so you can still watch and download them. Only new Sora 2 generations are no longer possible.
What is the best Sora 2 alternative on Flixly?▾
For most people it is MiniMax H3 Max. It ranks #1 for overall quality, prompt understanding and aesthetics, renders native 1080p, and supports six aspect ratios. Choose Seedance 2.5 for longer clips with synchronized sound, and MiniMax H3 for 2K output with stereo audio.
Which model replaces Sora 2 Pro?▾
MiniMax H3 Max at 1080p covers the higher-quality renders most people used Sora 2 Pro for. If you want an even sharper picture, MiniMax H3 renders up to 2K with native stereo sound.
Which Sora 2 alternative generates sound?▾
Seedance 2.5 and MiniMax H3 both generate audio in the same pass as the picture. With Seedance 2.5, put spoken lines in double quotes and the model generates the speech and matching mouth movement together.
Can I reuse my Sora 2 prompts?▾
Yes. Paste them into MiniMax H3 Max, MiniMax H3 or Seedance 2.5 in the Flixly Video Generator. Keep the prompt written as direction (subject, action, camera, sound), check the aspect ratio and length, and look at the credit quote before you generate.
