What’s happened? Sora’s release buzz opened up the door for opportunists. Some clones were brand-new, while others were older apps that slapped on “Sora” naming right after the official launch to ride search momentum.
- According to TechCrunch, App Store analysts Appfigures counted more than a dozen Sora-branded titles post-launch, over half leaning on “Sora 2” to snag keyword traffic.
- Together, the fakes reached about 300,000 installs, including 80,000 after Sora’s debut, and pulled in more than $160,000.
- This is after OpenAI confirmed Sora 2 topped 1 million downloads at record speed.
- Apple did remove many listings, but examples like “PetReels, Sora for Pets,” “Viral AI Photo Maker: Vi-sora,” and “Sora 2, Video Generator Ai” were not immediately taken down. One top fake, “Sora 2, AI Video Generator,” topped 50,000 installs.
This is important because: Hot app launches create such a buzz that users aren’t always as careful over what they download. When trademarked names slip past review, people tap the wrong result, pay for the wrong thing, and that can erode trust in app download portals.
- Keyword gaming has worked well here, and quickly. It mean renaming titles can vault junk apps into your search results.
- Review blind spots become headlines, and mean users will need to be more vigilant when looking for a popular new app.
Why should I care? Because one careless tap can cost you. Copycats turn curiosity into charges and is a mess to untangle. You might think you’re grabbing OpenAI’s app and then suddenly you’ve been charged for a substandard app with ease.
- Your wallet is the first target as many clones push free trials that flip to pricey subscriptions before you notice.
- Low-quality apps often ask for more access than they need, which could let in malware. This is why it’s important to always read and understand what permissions the app needs.
Okay, so what’s next? Apple is still clearing out fakes, and interest in the real app keeps climbing. You can avoid the noise with a couple of quick checks and get to OpenAI’s listing without the guesswork.
- Search for “Sora by OpenAI” and confirm the publisher shows as OpenAI.
- Your best route is a trusted link from OpenAI’s site or social accounts, then reporting any obvious fakes from the App Store page.
