Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image) vs GLM-5.1
Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image) (2026) and GLM-5.1 (2026) are frontier-tier reasoning models from Google DeepMind and Zhipu AI. Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image) ships a 66k-token context window, while GLM-5.1 ships a 200k-token context window. On pricing, GLM-5.1 costs $0.98/1M input tokens versus $2/1M 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-5.1 is ~104% cheaper at $0.98/1M; pay for Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image) only for vision-heavy evaluation.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image) | GLM-5.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | reasoning-heavy apps, multimodal apps, and tool-calling agents | reasoning-heavy apps, tool-calling agents, and provider-routed production |
| Decision fit | Agents, Vision, and JSON / Tool use | Coding, RAG, and Agents |
| Context window | 66k | 200k |
| Cheapest output | $120/1M tokens | $3.08/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 1 tracked | 5 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 0 rows | 0 rows |
Decision tradeoffs
- Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image) uniquely exposes Vision and Multimodal in local model data.
- Local decision data tags Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image) for Agents, Vision, and JSON / Tool use.
- GLM-5.1 has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- GLM-5.1 has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $3.08/1M tokens.
- GLM-5.1 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- GLM-5.1 uniquely exposes Function calling 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.
Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image)
$31,600
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Google AI Studio
GLM-5.1
$1,554
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Z.ai
Estimated monthly gap: $30,046. Batch, cache, alternate speed tiers, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image) and GLM-5.1; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- GLM-5.1 is $117/1M 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-5.1 adds Function calling and Code execution in local capability data.
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for GLM-5.1 and Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image); plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image) is $117/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
- Check replacement coverage for Function calling and Code execution before moving production traffic.
- Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image) adds Vision and Multimodal in local capability data.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2026-05-28 | 2026-04-07 |
| Context window | 66k | 200k |
| Parameters | — | 754B total, 40B active |
| Architecture | decoder only | mixture of experts |
| License | Proprietary | MIT |
| Knowledge cutoff | 2025-01 | 2025-11 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image) | GLM-5.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $2/1M tokens | $0.98/1M tokens |
| Output price | $120/1M tokens | $3.08/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image) | GLM-5.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | Yes | No |
| Multimodal | Yes | No |
| Reasoning | Yes | Yes |
| Function calling | No | 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
No shared benchmark rows are currently sourced for this pair.
Deep dive
The capability footprint differs most on vision: Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image), multimodal input: Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image), function calling: GLM-5.1, and code execution: GLM-5.1. Both models share reasoning mode, 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, Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image) lists $2/1M input and $120/1M 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 GLM-5.1 lower by about $35.79 per million blended tokens. Availability is 1 providers versus 5, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image) when vision-heavy evaluation are central to the workload. Choose GLM-5.1 when coding workflow support, larger context windows, and lower input-token cost 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, Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image) or GLM-5.1?
GLM-5.1 supports 200k tokens, while Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image) supports 66k tokens. That gap matters most for long documents, large codebases, retrieval-heavy agents, and conversations where earlier context must remain visible.
Which is cheaper, Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image) or GLM-5.1?
GLM-5.1 is cheaper on tracked token pricing. Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image) costs $2/1M input and $120/1M 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 Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image) or GLM-5.1 open source?
Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image) is listed under Proprietary. 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 vision, Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image) or GLM-5.1?
Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image) 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, Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image) or GLM-5.1?
Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image) 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 Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image) and GLM-5.1?
Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image) is available on Google AI Studio. 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: 2026-05-31. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.