Following a swift rise to the top of the App Store rankings in October, OpenAI’s video-generation application Sora is now facing challenges. Recent data indicates the app is experiencing a drop in both new downloads and user spending, as the initial excitement around this AI video social network begins to fade. Driven by OpenAI’s Sora 2 video model, the iOS version achieved over 100,000 installations on its first day, even though access was restricted to invited users. It quickly climbed to the number one position on the U.S. App Store and surpassed the 1 million download milestone faster than ChatGPT had. This early success was particularly notable given the app was initially available only on iOS and remained invite-only. However, in the weeks following its mobile launch, Sora has started to lose momentum.

Figures from the market intelligence firm Appfigures show that Sora’s downloads fell by 32% month-over-month in December. This drop is notable because the holiday season usually provides a significant boost for mobile apps, as people receive new devices and have more free time to explore new software. The downward trend persisted into January 2026, with installations declining another 45% month-over-month to reach 1.2 million. Consumer spending within the app has also decreased, down 32% month-over-month as of January, according to Appfigures. OpenAI has not provided an immediate comment on these figures. Functioning as an AI-centric alternative to platforms like TikTok, Sora enables users to produce AI-generated videos from text prompts. A distinctive feature allows people to insert themselves or their friends as central characters in these videos. Shared creations can then be remixed by others, who can add further customizations. The videos support added elements like music, sound effects, and dialogue to flesh out user-generated scenes. To date, Sora’s app has accumulated 9.6 million downloads across iOS and Android, generating $1.4 million in consumer spending. The United States contributes the largest share of revenue at $1.1 million, followed by Japan, Canada, South Korea, and Thailand. This month, customer spending in the app totaled $367,000, a decrease from December’s peak of $540,000.

On the U.S. App Store, Sora has fallen out of the Top 100 list for overall free apps and currently holds the 101st position. Its highest ranking is number 7 within the Photo & Video category. Its performance on Google Play in the U.S. is weaker, where it sits at number 181 among top free apps. While these figures are still substantial enough to dismiss claims of the app being “dead,” they are certainly cause for concern. This decline is likely the result of several converging factors. For one, competition has intensified, particularly from Google’s Gemini—and its Nano Banana model—which has helped the Gemini AI app gain considerable traction. Sora also faces rivalry from Meta AI, whose app launched an AI-powered “Vibes” video feature, boosting its downloads in October just as Sora was gaining attention.

Simultaneously, OpenAI has encountered difficulties managing copyright infringement within Sora. Initially, the company informed Hollywood studios and agencies that they would need to actively opt out to prevent their intellectual property from being used in the app, a policy that promptly drew criticism from the industry. However, in the absence of strict copyright controls, users were able to create videos featuring popular characters such as SpongeBob and Pikachu, which initially helped drive adoption. To address Hollywood’s concerns and avoid legal disputes, Sora shifted from an opt-out to an opt-in model and tightened its app restrictions. Last month, access expanded slightly when OpenAI announced a partnership with Disney, permitting users to generate videos with Disney characters in Sora. So far, this news has not led to an increase in Sora’s downloads or user spending. (The deal also carries some reputational risk for Disney, considering that some Sora users had previously created inappropriate videos featuring its characters.)

The release of Sora 2 was met with considerable hype, with some heralding it as a disruptive force in social media and the “TikTok of AI.” Yet many users showed little interest in allowing others—including friends—to use their likenesses to create AI videos. With limitations on using familiar faces and commercial intellectual property, public interest in Sora appears to have waned. Whether the app can mount a recovery through additional copyright agreements or new features is yet to be seen.