3 min read
The honeymoon phase for OpenAI’s Sora is officially over. After a massive launch in October that saw the video-generation app hit the top of the U.S. App Store, the platform is now bleeding users. New data reveals a sharp decline in both downloads and consumer spending as of late January 2026.
The early hype around the AI video social network has faded. Despite a stellar debut where it reached 1 million downloads faster than ChatGPT, Sora is losing traction fast.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Sora 2 powered the app to 100,000 installs on day one. However, the momentum crashed during the holiday season. Usually, December is a goldmine for mobile apps. Yet, Sora saw a 32% month-over-month drop in downloads in December.
The situation worsened in January. Installs plummeted another 45% to sit at 1.2 million. Revenue followed the same downward spiral. Consumer spending dropped 32% this month.
Here is the breakdown of Sora’s performance since launch:
| Month | Estimated Downloads | Consumer Spending |
| Oct 2025 | 2.5 Million | $14,000 |
| Nov 2025 | 3.2 Million (Peak) | $470,000 |
| Dec 2025 | 2.2 Million | $540,000 (Peak) |
| Jan 2026* | 1.2 Million | $367,000 |
*Jan 2026 data includes Jan 1 to Jan 26.
Currently, the app sits at No. 101 on the U.S. App Store, falling completely out of the Top 100. It fares even worse on Google Play at No. 181.
Why Did Sora Suddenly Crash?
Several factors are killing Sora’s momentum. First, the competition is fierce. Google’s Gemini, specifically its Nano Banana model, has proven to be a heavy hitter. Additionally, Meta AI launched its “Vibes” video feature right as Sora took off, stealing potential user base.
Second, copyright restrictions effectively strangled user creativity. Initially, users drove adoption by making videos with popular IPs like SpongeBob and Pikachu. However, Hollywood studios pushed back. OpenAI switched from an opt-out to a strict opt-in model to avoid lawsuits.
Consequently, users lost the ability to use familiar characters. A recent deal with Disney to allow specific character usage hasn’t helped. In fact, it backfired slightly, as some users created “depraved” videos with the IP.
The “Social” Barrier
Finally, the app’s core feature, casting yourself and friends in AI videos, isn’t clicking. Many users simply don’t want to let others remix their likeness. Without the viral appeal of using famous faces or the willingness to share their own, user interest has evaporated.
OpenAI has not commented on these figures. While 9.6 million total downloads and $1.4 million in revenue mean the app isn’t “dead” yet, the trend line is undeniable. Sora needs a massive pivot to survive 2026.
