Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 05-06 vs GLM-5
Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 05-06 (2025) and GLM-5 (2026) are frontier reasoning models from Google DeepMind and Zhipu AI. Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 05-06 ships a 1m-token context window, while GLM-5 ships a 200k-token context window. On pricing, GLM-5 costs $0.60/1M input tokens versus $1.25/1M 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.
GLM-5 is ~108% cheaper at $0.60/1M; pay for Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 05-06 only for long-context analysis.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 05-06 | GLM-5 |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | multimodal apps and long-context analysis | reasoning-heavy apps, tool-calling agents, and provider-routed production |
| Decision fit | RAG, Long context, and Vision | Coding, RAG, and Agents |
| Context window | 1m | 200k |
| Cheapest output | $10/1M tokens | $2.08/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 1 tracked | 7 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 0 rows | 0 rows |
Decision tradeoffs
- Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 05-06 has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 05-06 uniquely exposes Vision and Multimodal in local model data.
- Local decision data tags Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 05-06 for RAG, Long context, and Vision.
- GLM-5 has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $2.08/1M tokens.
- GLM-5 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- GLM-5 uniquely exposes Reasoning, Function calling, and Tool use 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.
Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 05-06
$3,500
Cheapest tracked route/tier: OpenRouter
GLM-5
$1,000
Cheapest tracked route/tier: OpenRouter
Estimated monthly gap: $2,500. Batch, cache, alternate speed tiers, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- Provider overlap exists on OpenRouter; start route-level A/B tests there.
- GLM-5 is $7.92/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
- Check replacement coverage for Vision and Multimodal before moving production traffic.
- GLM-5 adds Reasoning, Function calling, and Tool use in local capability data.
- Provider overlap exists on OpenRouter; start route-level A/B tests there.
- Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 05-06 is $7.92/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
- Check replacement coverage for Reasoning, Function calling, and Tool use before moving production traffic.
- Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 05-06 adds Vision and Multimodal in local capability data.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025-05-06 | 2026-02-11 |
| Context window | 1m | 200k |
| Parameters | — | 744B total, 40B active |
| Architecture | decoder only | mixture of experts |
| License | Proprietary | MIT(OSI) |
| Openness | Proprietary | Open source |
| Commercial use | Commercial use with conditions | Commercial use allowed |
| Knowledge cutoff | 2025-01 | 2025-11 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 05-06 | GLM-5 |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $1.25/1M tokens | $0.60/1M tokens |
| Output price | $10/1M tokens | $2.08/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 05-06 | GLM-5 |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | Yes | No |
| Multimodal | Yes | No |
| Reasoning | No | Yes |
| Function calling | No | Yes |
| Tool use | No | Yes |
| Structured outputs | Yes | Yes |
| Code execution | No | No |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
No shared benchmark rows are currently sourced for this pair.
Deep dive
The capability footprint differs most on vision: Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 05-06, multimodal input: Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 05-06, reasoning mode: GLM-5, function calling: GLM-5, and tool use: GLM-5. Both models share 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, Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 05-06 lists $1.25/1M input and $10/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider, while GLM-5 lists $0.60/1M input and $2.08/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. A 70/30 input-output blend puts GLM-5 lower by about $2.83 per million blended tokens. Availability is 1 providers versus 7, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 05-06 when long-context analysis and larger context windows are central to the workload. Choose GLM-5 when reasoning depth, lower input-token cost, and broader provider choice are more important. For production, rerun your own prompts through the exact provider, region, and tool stack you plan to ship. This keeps the decision grounded in measurable tradeoffs instead of brand-level assumptions.
FAQ
Which has a larger context window, Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 05-06 or GLM-5?
Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 05-06 supports 1m tokens, while GLM-5 supports 200k tokens. That gap matters most for long documents, large codebases, retrieval-heavy agents, and conversations where earlier context must remain visible.
Which is cheaper, Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 05-06 or GLM-5?
GLM-5 is cheaper on tracked token pricing. Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 05-06 costs $1.25/1M input and $10/1M output tokens. GLM-5 costs $0.60/1M input and $2.08/1M output tokens. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 05-06 or GLM-5 open source?
Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 05-06 is listed under Proprietary. GLM-5 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 vision, Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 05-06 or GLM-5?
Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 05-06 has the clearer documented vision signal in this comparison. If vision is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Which is better for multimodal input, Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 05-06 or GLM-5?
Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 05-06 has the clearer documented multimodal input signal in this comparison. If multimodal input is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Where can I run Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 05-06 and GLM-5?
Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 05-06 is available on OpenRouter. GLM-5 is available on Fireworks AI, OpenRouter, Together AI, GCP Vertex AI, and NVIDIA NIM. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
Continue comparing
Last reviewed: 2026-06-04. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.