DeepSeek V3 vs GLM-5.1
DeepSeek V3 (2024) and GLM-5.1 (2026) are frontier reasoning models from DeepSeek and Zhipu AI. DeepSeek V3 ships a 64k-token context window, while GLM-5.1 ships a 200k-token context window. On Chatbot Arena, GLM-5.1 leads by 170 pts. On pricing, DeepSeek V3 costs $0.10/1M input tokens versus $0.98/1M for the alternative. This comparison covers specs, pricing, API access, capabilities, benchmarks, input and output token costs, and production fit for coding and agent workloads.
DeepSeek V3 is ~880% cheaper at $0.10/1M; pay for GLM-5.1 only for coding workflow support.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | DeepSeek V3 | GLM-5.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | tool-calling agents and provider-routed production | reasoning-heavy apps, tool-calling agents, and provider-routed production |
| Decision fit | Coding, Agents, and Classification | Coding, RAG, and Agents |
| Context window | 64k | 200k |
| Cheapest output | $0.30/1M tokens | $3.08/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 13 tracked | 5 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 1 rows | Chatbot Arena leader |
Decision tradeoffs
- DeepSeek V3 has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $0.30/1M tokens.
- DeepSeek V3 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- Local decision data tags DeepSeek V3 for Coding, Agents, and Classification.
- GLM-5.1 holds a shared-benchmark lead on Chatbot Arena, ahead by 170 points.
- GLM-5.1 has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- GLM-5.1 uniquely exposes Reasoning and Code execution in local model data.
- Local decision data tags GLM-5.1 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 V3
$155
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Bitdeer AI
GLM-5.1
$1,554
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Z.ai
Estimated monthly gap: $1,399. Batch, cache, alternate speed tiers, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- Provider overlap exists on OpenRouter, Fireworks AI, and Vercel AI Gateway; start route-level A/B tests there.
- GLM-5.1 is $2.78/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
- GLM-5.1 adds Reasoning and Code execution in local capability data.
- Provider overlap exists on Fireworks AI, OpenRouter, and Vercel AI Gateway; start route-level A/B tests there.
- DeepSeek V3 is $2.78/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
- Check replacement coverage for Reasoning and Code execution before moving production traffic.
Specs
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | DeepSeek V3 | GLM-5.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.10/1M tokens | $0.98/1M tokens |
| Output price | $0.30/1M tokens | $3.08/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | DeepSeek V3 | GLM-5.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | No | No |
| Multimodal | No | No |
| Reasoning | No | Yes |
| Function calling | Yes | Yes |
| Tool use | Yes | Yes |
| Structured outputs | Yes | Yes |
| Code execution | No | Yes |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
| Benchmark | DeepSeek V3 | GLM-5.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Chatbot Arena | 1302.0 | 1472.0 |
Deep dive
On shared benchmark coverage, Chatbot Arena has DeepSeek V3 at 1302 and GLM-5.1 at 1472, with GLM-5.1 ahead by 170 points. The largest visible gap is 170 points on Chatbot Arena, which matters most when that benchmark mirrors your workload. Treat isolated benchmark wins as directional, because provider routing, prompt style, and tool access can move real application results.
The capability footprint differs most on reasoning mode: GLM-5.1 and code execution: GLM-5.1. Both models share function calling, tool use, and structured outputs, so the practical split is not just feature count. Use those differences to decide whether the page is about raw model quality, agentic coding support, multimodal ingestion, or predictable structured API behavior.
For cost, DeepSeek V3 lists $0.10/1M input and $0.30/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider, while GLM-5.1 lists $0.98/1M input and $3.08/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. A 70/30 input-output blend puts DeepSeek V3 lower by about $1.45 per million blended tokens. Availability is 13 providers versus 5, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose DeepSeek V3 when provider fit, lower input-token cost, and broader provider choice are central to the workload. Choose GLM-5.1 when coding workflow support and larger context windows are more important. For production, rerun your own prompts through the exact provider, region, and tool stack you plan to ship.
FAQ
Which has a larger context window, DeepSeek V3 or GLM-5.1?
GLM-5.1 supports 200k tokens, while DeepSeek V3 supports 64k tokens. That gap matters most for long documents, large codebases, retrieval-heavy agents, and conversations where earlier context must remain visible. Use this as a quick comparison signal, then confirm the provider-specific limits before committing to production.
Which is cheaper, DeepSeek V3 or GLM-5.1?
DeepSeek V3 is cheaper on tracked token pricing. DeepSeek V3 costs $0.10/1M input and $0.30/1M output tokens. GLM-5.1 costs $0.98/1M input and $3.08/1M output tokens. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is DeepSeek V3 or GLM-5.1 open source?
DeepSeek V3 is listed under MIT. GLM-5.1 is listed under MIT. License labels affect whether you can self-host, redistribute weights, or rely only on hosted APIs, so confirm the upstream license before deployment.
Which is better for reasoning mode, DeepSeek V3 or GLM-5.1?
GLM-5.1 has the clearer documented reasoning mode signal in this comparison. If reasoning mode is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Which is better for function calling, DeepSeek V3 or GLM-5.1?
Both DeepSeek V3 and GLM-5.1 expose function calling. The better choice depends on benchmark fit, context budget, pricing, and whether your provider route exposes the same capability surface. Use this as a quick comparison signal, then confirm the provider-specific limits before committing to production.
Where can I run DeepSeek V3 and GLM-5.1?
DeepSeek V3 is available on DeepInfra, Fireworks AI, DeepSeek Platform, Microsoft Foundry, and OpenRouter. GLM-5.1 is available on Z.ai, OpenRouter, Fireworks AI, Vercel AI Gateway, and Novita AI. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
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Last reviewed: 2026-05-25. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.