GLM-5.1 vs Grok 3 Mini
GLM-5.1 (2026) and Grok 3 Mini (2025) are frontier reasoning models from Zhipu AI and xAI. GLM-5.1 ships a 200k-token context window, while Grok 3 Mini ships a 131k-token context window. On pricing, Grok 3 Mini costs $0.3/1M input tokens versus $0.95/1M for the alternative. This comparison covers specs, pricing, capabilities, benchmarks, provider availability, and production fit. It focuses on practical selection signals rather than broad model-family marketing.
Grok 3 Mini is ~217% cheaper at $0.3/1M; pay for GLM-5.1 only for coding workflow support.
Specs
| Released | 2026-03-27 | 2025-02-17 |
| Context window | 200k | 131k |
| Parameters | 744B total, 40-44B active | — |
| Architecture | mixture of experts | - |
| License | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Knowledge cutoff | - | - |
Pricing and availability
| GLM-5.1 | Grok 3 Mini | |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.95/1M tokens | $0.3/1M tokens |
| Output price | $3.15/1M tokens | $0.5/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| GLM-5.1 | Grok 3 Mini | |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | ||
| Multimodal | ||
| Reasoning | ||
| Function calling | ||
| Tool use | ||
| Structured outputs | ||
| Code execution |
Benchmarks
No shared benchmark rows are currently sourced for this pair.
Deep dive
The capability footprint differs most on multimodal input: Grok 3 Mini, reasoning mode: GLM-5.1, function calling: GLM-5.1, tool use: GLM-5.1, and code execution: GLM-5.1. 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, GLM-5.1 lists $0.95/1M input and $3.15/1M output tokens, while Grok 3 Mini lists $0.3/1M input and $0.5/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. A 70/30 input-output blend puts Grok 3 Mini lower by about $1.25 per million blended tokens. Availability is 2 providers versus 1, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose GLM-5.1 when coding workflow support, larger context windows, and broader provider choice are central to the workload. Choose Grok 3 Mini when provider fit 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. This keeps the decision grounded in measurable tradeoffs instead of brand-level assumptions. It also helps separate model capability from provider packaging, which can change cost and latency.
FAQ
Which has a larger context window, GLM-5.1 or Grok 3 Mini?
GLM-5.1 supports 200k tokens, while Grok 3 Mini supports 131k 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-5.1 or Grok 3 Mini?
Grok 3 Mini is cheaper on tracked token pricing. GLM-5.1 costs $0.95/1M input and $3.15/1M output tokens. Grok 3 Mini costs $0.3/1M input and $0.5/1M output tokens. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is GLM-5.1 or Grok 3 Mini open source?
GLM-5.1 is listed under Proprietary. Grok 3 Mini 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 multimodal input, GLM-5.1 or Grok 3 Mini?
Grok 3 Mini 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.
Which is better for reasoning mode, GLM-5.1 or Grok 3 Mini?
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.
Where can I run GLM-5.1 and Grok 3 Mini?
GLM-5.1 is available on Z.ai and OpenRouter. Grok 3 Mini is available on OpenRouter. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options. Use this as a quick comparison signal, then confirm the provider-specific limits before committing to production.
Continue comparing
Last reviewed: 2026-04-24. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.