Comparisons
GLM-5 compared, spec by spec
§ 01Head to head
Pick a comparison
GLM-5vsDeepSeek V4
GLM-5 vs DeepSeek V4
Two open-weights families with million-token context. GLM is cheaper on input and adds video; DeepSeek V4 Pro has cheaper flagship output.
Read comparison1.2GLM-5vsQwen3.7
GLM-5 vs Qwen3.7
Similar context, very different output limits. GLM has open weights and cheaper input; Qwen3.7 Flash has slightly cheaper output.
Read comparison1.3GLM-5vsClaude
GLM-5 vs Claude
Claude reads files and images on every tier; GLM is open, far cheaper and can write much longer outputs.
Read comparison1.4GLM-5vsGPT-6
GLM-5 vs GPT-6
Same million-token context. GPT-6 reads files and images on every tier; GLM is open and far cheaper.
Read comparison1.5GLM-5vsGemini
GLM-5 vs Gemini
Gemini reads audio and files; GLM is open, cheaper and writes far longer outputs per request.
Read comparison1.6GLM-5.3vsGLM-5.3 Flash
GLM-5.3 vs GLM-5.3 Flash
The two models in our chat. Flash is cheaper, reads images and is MIT; GLM-5.3 is Z.ai's stronger model for hard coding.
Read comparison§ 02Matrix
Flagships side by side
One representative model from each family. Lowest price and largest numbers are highlighted.
| Model | GLM-5.3 | GLM-5.3 Flash | DeepSeek V4 Pro | Qwen3.7 Max | Claude Opus 5.5 | GPT-6 Sol | Gemini 3.8 Flash |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Developer | Z.ai | Z.ai | DeepSeek | Qwen | Anthropic | OpenAI | |
| Released | Aug 18, 2026 | Aug 26, 2026 | Apr 24, 2026 | May 21, 2026 | Sep 22, 2026 | Sep 22, 2026 | Sep 2, 2026 |
| Context window | 1.05M | 1.05M | 1.05M | 1M | 1M | 1.05M | 1.05M |
| Max output | 944K | 944K | 384K | 131K | 128K | 128K | 66K |
| Input price | $0.079 | $0.0052 | $0.4461 | $1.48 | $4 | $2 | $0.825 |
| Output price | $1.40 | $0.1985 | $0.8923 | $4.42 | $20 | $10 | $4.13 |
| Inputs | Text | Text, Image, Video | Text | Text | Text, Image, Files | Text, Image, Files | Text, Image, Video, Audio, Files |
| Open weights | Yes (Hugging Face) | Yes (Hugging Face) | Yes (Hugging Face) | No | No | No | No |
| Free chat here | In our chat | In our chat | — | — | — | — | — |
Prices are USD per 1 million tokens as listed by OpenRouter; the best value in each row is highlighted. Source: OpenRouter model list and the official Hugging Face model cards.
§ 03Method
How we compare
- 3.1Numbers come from the public OpenRouter model list and the official Hugging Face model cards, not from press releases. Each table cell can be checked against those sources.
- 3.2We do not publish our own benchmark scores. Vendor benchmarks use different harnesses and settings, so we mention them only with attribution and only for the vendor's own models.
- 3.3Each verdict names a winner only where the data decides it, such as a lower price or a larger output limit. Quality of writing or reasoning depends on your task, so test it in the free chat.
§ 04FAQ
Comparison questions
Q01Is GLM-5 better than GPT-6 or Claude?
It depends on the task. On price and openness, the GLM-5 family is clearly ahead: GLM-5.3 Flash is among the cheapest capable models on OpenRouter, and several GLM-5 models have open weights. For specific tasks, the only reliable answer comes from testing your own prompts.
Q02Where do your numbers come from?
Prices, context windows, output limits and input types come from OpenRouter's public model list. Parameter counts and licences come from the official Hugging Face model cards.
Q03Why don't you show benchmark scores for every model?
Benchmarks published by different vendors are measured with different tools and settings, so putting them in one table would be misleading. We prefer verifiable specs and practical tests.
Q04Can I compare the models myself?
Yes. Our free chat runs GLM-5.3 Flash and GLM-5.3. Ask the same question you would ask another assistant and compare the answers directly.
Q05Which GLM-5 model do you use in the comparisons?
Mostly GLM-5.3, the flagship, and GLM-5.3 Flash, the fast multimodal model, because they are the newest general-purpose models of the family and the two that run in our chat. Older GLM-5 models are compared on their own pages.
Q06How often are the numbers updated?
Prices and limits change from time to time. Each table shows the OpenRouter data we used when the page was written; check OpenRouter for the current figures before a large purchase decision.
Q07What matters most when choosing a model?
For most teams it is the shape of the workload: how much you send, how much you get back, which inputs you need and whether you must self-host. The tables are organised around exactly those questions.
Try it now
Ask GLM-5.3 something real.
No account, no card, no install. Type a question and watch GLM-5.3 Flash answer in seconds — switch to GLM-5.3 for the hardest problems.