GLM-5 Turbo vs GPT-5.4
GLM-5 Turbo (2026) and GPT-5.4 (2026) are frontier-tier reasoning models from Zhipu AI and OpenAI. GLM-5 Turbo ships a 200k-token context window, while GPT-5.4 ships a 1.05m-token context window. On pricing, GLM-5 Turbo costs $1.20/1M input tokens; GPT-5.4 ranges from $2.50 to $5/1M input tokens by tier. This comparison covers specs, pricing, API access, capabilities, benchmarks, input and output token costs, and production fit for coding and agent workloads.
GPT-5.4 fits 5x more tokens; pick it for long-context work and GLM-5 Turbo for tighter calls.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | GLM-5 Turbo | GPT-5.4 |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | reasoning-heavy apps, tool-calling agents, and provider-routed production | reasoning-heavy apps, multimodal apps, and tool-calling agents |
| Decision fit | RAG, Agents, and Long context | Coding, RAG, and Agents |
| Context window | 200k | 1.05m |
| Cheapest output | $4/1M tokens | $15/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 2 tracked | 4 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 0 shared | 0 shared |
Decision tradeoffs
- GLM-5 Turbo has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $4/1M tokens.
- Local decision data tags GLM-5 Turbo for RAG, Agents, and Long context.
- GPT-5.4 has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- GPT-5.4 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- GPT-5.4 uniquely exposes Vision, Multimodal, and Code execution in local model data.
- Local decision data tags GPT-5.4 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.
GLM-5 Turbo
$1,960
Cheapest tracked route/tier: OpenRouter
GPT-5.4
$5,750
Cheapest tracked route/tier: OpenAI API
Estimated monthly gap: $3,790. Batch, cache, alternate speed tiers, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- Provider overlap exists on OpenRouter and Vercel AI Gateway; start route-level A/B tests there.
- GPT-5.4 is $11/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
- GPT-5.4 adds Vision, Multimodal, and Code execution in local capability data.
- Provider overlap exists on OpenRouter and Vercel AI Gateway; start route-level A/B tests there.
- GLM-5 Turbo is $11/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
- Check replacement coverage for Vision, Multimodal, and Code execution before moving production traffic.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2026-03-01 | 2026-03-05 |
| Context window | 200k | 1.05m |
| Parameters | 744B total, 40B active | — |
| Architecture | Mixture of Experts | Decoder Only |
| License | MITOSI-approved | Proprietary |
| Openness | Open source | Proprietary |
| Weights | Unknown | Not released |
| Code | Unknown | Unknown |
| Commercial use | Commercial use: permitted | Commercial use: conditional |
| Knowledge cutoff | 2025-11 | 2025-08 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | GLM-5 Turbo | GPT-5.4 |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $1.20/1M tokens |
|
| Output price | $4/1M tokens |
|
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | GLM-5 Turbo | GPT-5.4 |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | No | Yes |
| Multimodal | No | Yes |
| Reasoning | Yes | 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
No shared benchmark scores are currently available for this pair.
Deep dive
The capability footprint differs most on vision: GPT-5.4, multimodal input: GPT-5.4, and code execution: GPT-5.4. Both models share reasoning mode, 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, GLM-5 Turbo lists $1.20/1M input and $4/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider, while GPT-5.4 lists tiered pricing: 0-272,000t is $2.50/1M input and $15/1M output; 272,000t+ is $5/1M input and $22.50/1M output. A 70/30 input-output blend puts GLM-5 Turbo lower by about $4.21 per million blended tokens. For tiered rows, this cheapest-track view can understate interactive or fast-lane spend, so compare the tier you will actually use. Availability is 2 providers versus 4, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose GLM-5 Turbo when provider fit and lower input-token cost are central to the workload. Choose GPT-5.4 when coding workflow support, larger context windows, 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.
FAQ
Which has a larger context window, GLM-5 Turbo or GPT-5.4?
GPT-5.4 supports 1.05m tokens, while GLM-5 Turbo supports 200k 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, GLM-5 Turbo or GPT-5.4?
GLM-5 Turbo lists $1.20/1M input and $4/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. GPT-5.4 lists tiered pricing: 0-272,000t is $2.50/1M input and $15/1M output; 272,000t+ is $5/1M input and $22.50/1M output. Compare the tier you will actually use; cheap async pricing can overstate savings for interactive workflows. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is GLM-5 Turbo or GPT-5.4 open source?
GLM-5 Turbo is listed under MIT. GPT-5.4 is listed under Proprietary. 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, GLM-5 Turbo or GPT-5.4?
GPT-5.4 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. Use this as a quick comparison signal, then confirm the provider-specific limits before committing to production.
Which is better for multimodal input, GLM-5 Turbo or GPT-5.4?
GPT-5.4 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 GLM-5 Turbo and GPT-5.4?
GLM-5 Turbo is available on OpenRouter and Vercel AI Gateway. GPT-5.4 is available on OpenAI API, OpenRouter, Vercel AI Gateway, and AWS Bedrock. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
Continue comparing
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Last reviewed: 2026-06-29. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.