Sora 2 vs Runway
Sora 2 is being discontinued. OpenAI removes Sora 2, Sora 2 Pro, and the Videos API on September 24, 2026, and lists no replacement model. The Sora apps closed on April 26, 2026. This page therefore compares what is actually still available: Runway Gen-4.5 and the models on Nano Banana.
Runway's current flagship is Gen-4.5, which launched at the top of the Artificial Analysis text-to-video leaderboard with 1,247 Elo and added native audio. It is a genuinely strong model. The comparison below is about which approach fits your work, not about declaring a winner.
| Feature | Sora 2 (discontinued) | Runway Gen-4.5 | Nano Banana |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Removed Sept 24, 2026 | Available | Available |
| Models available | Sora 2, Sora 2 Pro | Gen-4.5 plus bundled third-party models | Kling 3.0, Seedance 2.5, Hailuo 2.3, Wan 2.7 and more |
| Max single-pass duration | 15s | 10s (multi-shot to about 1 min) | 30s (Seedance 2.5) |
| Max resolution | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p (Kling 3.0, Wan 2.7); Seedance 2.5 caps at 720p |
| Native audio | Yes (Pro) | Yes | Yes — included at no surcharge on Seedance 2.5 |
| Reference images | 1 | 0–1 per generation | Up to 9 (Seedance 2.5) |
| How you pay | API usage | Monthly subscription with credit allowance | Credits per render, no subscription required |
| Image generation | No | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Limited free tier | Free credits on signup |
Where Runway is stronger
- Gen-4.5 ranks at the top tier on public quality benchmarks
- Full editing suite around the model, not just generation
- One subscription covers several third-party models too
- Longer track record and established team workflows
Where Nano Banana is stronger
- 30 seconds in a single pass, triple Runway's native clip length
- Up to 9 reference images for character and product consistency
- Pay per render instead of a monthly commitment
- Audio included in the render price rather than a separate tier
Which to choose
If you are producing video daily and want an editing timeline in the same tool, Runway's subscription is a reasonable home. If you need long continuous takes, want consistent characters across shots, or generate in bursts rather than every day, per-render credits with no monthly floor will cost you less and the 30-second ceiling will save you stitching work. If you are here because Sora 2 is shutting down, start with the migration guide, which maps each Sora use case to a specific replacement.