DeepSeek R1 Lite vs GLM-5
DeepSeek R1 Lite (2024) and GLM-5 (2026) are frontier-tier reasoning models from DeepSeek and Zhipu AI. DeepSeek R1 Lite ships a 128k-token context window, while GLM-5 ships a 200k-token context window. This comparison covers specs, pricing, API access, capabilities, benchmarks, input and output token costs, and production fit for coding and agent workloads. It focuses on practical selection signals rather than broad model-family marketing.
GLM-5 is safer overall; choose DeepSeek R1 Lite when provider fit matters.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | DeepSeek R1 Lite | GLM-5 |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | reasoning-heavy apps | reasoning-heavy apps, tool-calling agents, and provider-routed production |
| Decision fit | Long context | Coding, RAG, and Agents |
| Context window | 128k | 200k |
| Cheapest output | - | $2.08/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 0 tracked | 7 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 0 shared | 0 shared |
Decision tradeoffs
- Local decision data tags DeepSeek R1 Lite for Long context.
- GLM-5 has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- GLM-5 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and route flexibility.
- GLM-5 uniquely exposes JSON / Tool use and Structured outputs in local model data.
- Local decision data tags GLM-5 for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
Monthly cost at traffic
Estimate token spend from the cheapest tracked input and output route or tier on this page.
DeepSeek R1 Lite
Unavailable
No complete token price in local provider data
GLM-5
$1,000
Cheapest tracked route/tier: OpenRouter
Cost delta unavailable until both models have sourced input and output token prices.
Switch friction
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for DeepSeek R1 Lite and GLM-5; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- GLM-5 adds JSON / Tool use and Structured outputs in local capability data.
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for GLM-5 and DeepSeek R1 Lite; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Check replacement coverage for JSON / Tool use and Structured outputs before moving production traffic.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024-11-21 | 2026-02-11 |
| Context window | 128k | 200k |
| Parameters | — | 744B total, 40B active |
| Architecture | Decoder Only | Mixture of Experts |
| License | MITOSI-approved | MITOSI-approved |
| Openness | Open source | Open source |
| Weights | Unknown | Available |
| Code | Unknown | Unknown |
| Commercial use | Commercial use: permitted | Commercial use: permitted |
| Knowledge cutoff | - | 2025-11 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | DeepSeek R1 Lite | GLM-5 |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | - | $0.60/1M tokens |
| Output price | - | $2.08/1M tokens |
| Providers | - |
Capabilities
| Capability | DeepSeek R1 Lite | GLM-5 |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | No | No |
| Multimodal | No | No |
| Reasoning | Yes | Yes |
| JSON / Tool use | No | Yes |
| Structured outputs | No | Yes |
| Code execution | No | No |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
No shared benchmark scores are currently available for this pair.
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Last reviewed: 2026-06-30. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.