GLM-5 Turbo vs Grok 4
GLM-5 Turbo (2026) and Grok 4 (2025) are frontier-tier reasoning models from Zhipu AI and xAI. GLM-5 Turbo ships a 200k-token context window, while Grok 4 ships a 256k-token context window. On pricing, GLM-5 Turbo costs $1.20/1M 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 Turbo is safer overall; choose Grok 4 when coding workflow support matters.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | GLM-5 Turbo | Grok 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 | 256k |
| Cheapest output | $4/1M tokens | $2.50/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 2 tracked | 4 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 0 rows | 0 rows |
Decision tradeoffs
- Local decision data tags GLM-5 Turbo for RAG, Agents, and Long context.
- Grok 4 has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- Grok 4 has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $2.50/1M tokens.
- Grok 4 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- Grok 4 uniquely exposes Vision, Multimodal, and Code execution in local model data.
- Local decision data tags Grok 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
Grok 4
$1,625
Cheapest tracked route/tier: xAI Console
Estimated monthly gap: $335. 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.
- Grok 4 is $1.50/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
- Grok 4 adds Vision, Multimodal, and Code execution in local capability data.
- Provider overlap exists on OpenRouter; start route-level A/B tests there.
- GLM-5 Turbo is $1.50/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
- Check replacement coverage for Vision, Multimodal, and Code execution before moving production traffic.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2026-03-01 | 2025-07-09 |
| Context window | 200k | 256k |
| Parameters | 744B total, 40B active | — |
| Architecture | mixture of experts | decoder only |
| License | MIT(OSI) | Proprietary |
| Openness | Open source | Proprietary |
| Commercial use | Commercial use allowed | Commercial use with conditions |
| Knowledge cutoff | 2025-11 | - |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | GLM-5 Turbo | Grok 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $1.20/1M tokens | $1.25/1M tokens |
| Output price | $4/1M tokens | $2.50/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | GLM-5 Turbo | Grok 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 rows are currently sourced for this pair.
Deep dive
The capability footprint differs most on vision: Grok 4, multimodal input: Grok 4, and code execution: Grok 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 Grok 4 lists $1.25/1M input and $2.50/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. A 70/30 input-output blend puts Grok 4 lower by about $0.42 per million blended tokens. 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 Grok 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. This keeps the decision grounded in measurable tradeoffs instead of brand-level assumptions.
FAQ
Which has a larger context window, GLM-5 Turbo or Grok 4?
Grok 4 supports 256k 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.
Which is cheaper, GLM-5 Turbo or Grok 4?
Grok 4 is cheaper on tracked token pricing. GLM-5 Turbo costs $1.20/1M input and $4/1M output tokens. Grok 4 costs $1.25/1M input and $2.50/1M output tokens. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is GLM-5 Turbo or Grok 4 open source?
GLM-5 Turbo is listed under MIT. Grok 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 Grok 4?
Grok 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 Grok 4?
Grok 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 Grok 4?
GLM-5 Turbo is available on OpenRouter and Vercel AI Gateway. Grok 4 is available on Microsoft Foundry, OpenRouter, Replicate API, and xAI Console. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
Continue comparing
Last reviewed: 2026-06-01. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.