GLM-5 vs GLM-5.1
GLM-5 (2026) and GLM-5.1 (2026) are frontier-tier reasoning models from Zhipu AI. GLM-5 ships a 200k-token context window, while GLM-5.1 ships a 200k-token context window. On SWE-bench Pro, GLM-5.1 leads by 3.3 pts. On pricing, GLM-5 costs $0.60/1M input tokens versus $1.05/1M 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 ~75% cheaper at $0.60/1M; pay for GLM-5.1 only for coding workflow support.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | GLM-5 | GLM-5.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | reasoning-heavy apps, tool-calling agents, and provider-routed production | reasoning-heavy apps, tool-calling agents, and provider-routed production |
| Decision fit | Coding, RAG, and Agents | Coding, RAG, and Agents |
| Context window | 200k | 200k |
| Cheapest output | $2.08/1M tokens | $3.50/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 7 tracked | 5 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 5 shared | SWE-bench Pro leader |
Decision tradeoffs
- GLM-5 holds a shared-benchmark lead on SWE-rebench, ahead by 0.1 points.
- 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.
- Local decision data tags GLM-5 for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
- GLM-5.1 holds a shared-benchmark lead on SWE-bench Pro, ahead by 3.3 points.
- GLM-5.1 uniquely exposes 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.
GLM-5
$1,000
Cheapest tracked route/tier: OpenRouter
GLM-5.1
$1,715
Cheapest tracked route/tier: OpenRouter
Estimated monthly gap: $715. Batch, cache, alternate speed tiers, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- Provider overlap exists on OpenRouter, Fireworks AI, and Vercel AI Gateway; start route-level A/B tests there.
- GLM-5.1 is $1.42/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
- GLM-5.1 adds Code execution in local capability data.
- Provider overlap exists on Fireworks AI, OpenRouter, and Vercel AI Gateway; start route-level A/B tests there.
- GLM-5 is $1.42/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
- Check replacement coverage for Code execution before moving production traffic.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2026-02-11 | 2026-04-07 |
| Context window | 200k | 200k |
| Parameters | 744B total, 40B active | 754B total, 40B active |
| Architecture | Mixture of Experts | Mixture of Experts |
| License | MITOSI-approved | MITOSI-approved |
| Openness | Open source | Open source |
| Weights | Available | Available |
| Code | Unknown | Unknown |
| Commercial use | Commercial use: permitted | Commercial use: permitted |
| Knowledge cutoff | 2025-11 | 2025-11 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | GLM-5 | GLM-5.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.60/1M tokens | $1.05/1M tokens |
| Output price | $2.08/1M tokens | $3.50/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | GLM-5 | GLM-5.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | No | No |
| Multimodal | No | No |
| 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
| Benchmark | GLM-5 | GLM-5.1 |
|---|---|---|
| SWE-bench Pro | 55.1 | 58.4 |
| Google-Proof Q&A | 86.0 | 86.2 |
| AIME 2025 | 92.7 | 95.3 |
| Humanity's Last Exam | 30.5 | 31.0 |
| SWE-rebench | 62.8 | 62.7 |
Deep dive
On shared benchmark coverage, SWE-bench Pro has GLM-5 at 55.1 and GLM-5.1 at 58.4, with GLM-5.1 ahead by 3.3 points; Google-Proof Q&A has GLM-5 at 86 and GLM-5.1 at 86.2, with GLM-5.1 ahead by 0.2 points; AIME 2025 has GLM-5 at 92.7 and GLM-5.1 at 95.3, with GLM-5.1 ahead by 2.6 points. The largest visible gap is 3.3 points on SWE-bench Pro, which matters most when that benchmark mirrors your workload. Treat isolated benchmark wins as directional, because provider routing, prompt style, and tool access can move real application results.
The capability footprint differs most on code execution: GLM-5.1. 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 lists $0.60/1M input and $2.08/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider, while GLM-5.1 lists $1.05/1M input and $3.50/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. A 70/30 input-output blend puts GLM-5 lower by about $0.74 per million blended tokens. Availability is 7 providers versus 5, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose GLM-5 when provider fit, lower input-token cost, and broader provider choice are central to the workload. Choose GLM-5.1 when coding workflow support 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 or GLM-5.1?
GLM-5 supports 200k tokens, while GLM-5.1 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 or GLM-5.1?
GLM-5 is cheaper on tracked token pricing. GLM-5 costs $0.60/1M input and $2.08/1M output tokens. GLM-5.1 costs $1.05/1M input and $3.50/1M output tokens. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is GLM-5 or GLM-5.1 open source?
GLM-5 is listed under MIT. 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 reasoning mode, GLM-5 or GLM-5.1?
Both GLM-5 and GLM-5.1 expose reasoning mode. The better choice depends on benchmark fit, context budget, pricing, and whether your provider route exposes the same capability surface. Use this as a quick comparison signal, then confirm the provider-specific limits before committing to production.
Which is better for function calling, GLM-5 or GLM-5.1?
Both GLM-5 and GLM-5.1 expose function calling. The better choice depends on benchmark fit, context budget, pricing, and whether your provider route exposes the same capability surface. Use this as a quick comparison signal, then confirm the provider-specific limits before committing to production.
Where can I run GLM-5 and GLM-5.1?
GLM-5 is available on Fireworks AI, OpenRouter, Together AI, GCP Vertex AI, and NVIDIA NIM. 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.
Continue comparing
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Last reviewed: 2026-06-30. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.