The explosive popularity of OpenAI’s new invite-only Sora video app has led to a wave of counterfeit versions appearing across Apple’s App Store — and some are still slipping through the cracks. Following the official app’s release last week, opportunistic developers quickly launched a flood of impostor apps under names like “Sora” and “Sora 2” in an attempt to exploit user curiosity and ride the AI hype.
Despite Apple’s strict App Review process, these fake apps managed to get approved and listed publicly, even though “Sora” is a trademarked name associated with OpenAI’s technology. Many of the knockoffs mimicked Sora’s branding and functionality, misleading users into thinking they were downloading the official AI video tool.
According to data shared by analytics platform Appfigures, more than a dozen fake “Sora” apps appeared shortly after the genuine version launched. Over half of these used the title “Sora 2,” referencing OpenAI’s powerful video-generation model. Interestingly, several of these apps weren’t entirely new — some had been around under different names before rebranding to include “Sora” to capitalize on search trends.
Combined, these copycats accumulated roughly 300,000 downloads across the App Store and Google Play, with over 80,000 new installs coming just after the real Sora’s debut. For comparison, OpenAI’s authentic Sora app has already surpassed one million downloads.
While Apple has removed many of the fake listings, a few still remain active. One example, “Sora 2 – AI Video Generator,” was among the most popular, earning over 50,000 downloads. Others, such as “PetReels — Sora for Pets” and “Viral AI Photo Maker: Vi-sora,” have seen only minimal traction, though they still contribute to user confusion. Another app, “Sora 2 – Video Generator AI,” has managed to attract more than 6,000 installs so far.
In total, these fraudulent apps reportedly generated more than $160,000 in revenue — a significant sum considering how briefly many of them were available before removal.
The incident raises concerns about Apple’s app vetting procedures, particularly around trademarked names and high-profile product launches. Apple has not commented on how these impostor apps bypassed its review process or whether additional removals are planned.
For now, users are advised to be cautious and verify developers before downloading any app claiming to be related to OpenAI’s Sora.
