What file does an AI video tool hand back?

Mostly an MP4. OpenAI's Sora, LTX, HeyGen, Synthesia and BytePlus's Seedance API return one, and Wan an MP4 with H.264. VEED names VP9 with alpha, Luma 16-bit EXR, and SceneMixer a full-quality download beside a lighter copy for the browser. From 9 source pages, read 2026-09-25; no maker pays to be listed.

Fig. 1 Tally taken from this register on the day it was read.

Tools whose documentation answers this, read 2026-09-25.
Tool	Hook	What the documentation says
BytePlus ModelArk	Formats	MP4 output by default, with MOV shown as an option in its examples
HeyGen	Formats	One request returns an MP4
LTX	Formats	An MP4 returned by the API, from a sync or an async endpoint
Luma	Formats	16-bit EXR alongside standard video output
OpenAI Sora	Formats	MP4
SceneMixer	Download	A full-quality download and a share link; the browser plays a lighter copy
Synthesia	Formats	The finished video downloaded as an MP4
VEED	Formats	Professional output formats including VP9 with alpha
Wan (Alibaba Cloud)	Formats	MP4 with H.264 encoding

Inclusion rule. A tool is listed when its own documentation states what the question asks. Order. Tools in alphabetical order.

Few tools name their format on the pages that introduce them. Where they do, it decides the next step: MP4 for publishing, EXR for compositing, alpha for layering over other footage.

Delivery matters as much as format. A link that expires after 24 hours has to be copied to the team's own storage before it lapses.

1In the documentation's words

BytePlus ModelArk

Default value: mp4
BytePlus ModelArk, API reference

HeyGen

authenticate, send one request, and get back an MP4
HeyGen, developer documentation: quick start

LTX

The API returns an MP4.
LTX, API page

Luma

Native HDR Generation and 16-bit EXR Export
Luma, API page

OpenAI Sora

you can fetch the final MP4 file with GET /videos/{video_id}/content
OpenAI, video generation guide

SceneMixer

The finished file can be downloaded at full quality, or shared with a link that opens a real page
SceneMixer, guide to compositing and sharing an episode

Synthesia

download the video as an .mp4
Synthesia, developer documentation: video API quickstart

VEED

professional output formats including VP9 with alpha
VEED, API page

Wan (Alibaba Cloud)

The video is in MP4 format with H.264 encoding.
Alibaba Cloud, Wan API reference (text to video)

Request parameters
MP4 output by default, with MOV shown as an option in its examplesBytePlus ModelArk, API reference / recorded 2026-09-25
Page header
One request returns an MP4HeyGen, developer documentation: quick start / recorded 2026-09-25
Quick start
An MP4 returned by the API, from a sync or an async endpointLTX, API page / recorded 2026-09-25
Features
16-bit EXR alongside standard video outputLuma, API page / recorded 2026-09-25
Retrieve results
MP4OpenAI, video generation guide / recorded 2026-09-25
Guide
A full-quality download and a share link; the browser plays a lighter copySceneMixer, guide to compositing and sharing an episode / recorded 2026-09-25
Download the video
The finished video downloaded as an MP4Synthesia, developer documentation: video API quickstart / recorded 2026-09-25
Features
Professional output formats including VP9 with alphaVEED, API page / recorded 2026-09-25
Response
MP4 with H.264 encodingAlibaba Cloud, Wan API reference (text to video) / recorded 2026-09-25

File formats named for every tool · The finished file for every tool · Can AI video go straight into editing software? · Which AI video tools say anything about subtitles?