GLM-5 vs Grok Build 0.1
GLM-5 (2026) and Grok Build 0.1 (2026) compare a standalone API model against a coding-specialized model. GLM-5 ships a 200k-token context window, while Grok Build 0.1 ships a 256k-token context window. On pricing, GLM-5 costs $0.60/1M input tokens; Grok Build 0.1 ranges from $1 to $2/1M input tokens by tier. This page treats the result as workflow and deployment fit, not a universal model winner.
Treat this as a product-type comparison: GLM-5 is standalone API model, while Grok Build 0.1 is coding-specialized model. Choose based on workflow fit before reading any benchmark or price row as decisive.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | GLM-5 | Grok Build 0.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Standalone API model | Coding-specialized model |
| Best for | reasoning-heavy apps, tool-calling agents, and provider-routed production | custom coding agents, code generation, and tool loops |
| Decision fit | Coding, RAG, and Agents | Coding, RAG, and Agents |
| Context window | 200k | 256k |
| Cheapest output | $2.08/1M tokens | $2/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 7 tracked | 3 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 0 rows | 0 rows |
Decision tradeoffs
- GLM-5 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- Local decision data tags GLM-5 for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
- Grok Build 0.1 has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- Grok Build 0.1 has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $2/1M tokens.
- Local decision data tags Grok Build 0.1 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
Grok Build 0.1
$1,300
Cheapest tracked route/tier: xAI Console
Estimated monthly gap: $300. Batch, cache, alternate speed tiers, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- Provider overlap exists on Vercel AI Gateway and OpenRouter; start route-level A/B tests there.
- Grok Build 0.1 is $0.08/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
- Provider overlap exists on OpenRouter and Vercel AI Gateway; start route-level A/B tests there.
- GLM-5 is $0.08/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2026-02-11 | 2026-05-14 |
| Context window | 200k | 256k |
| Parameters | 744B total, 40B active | — |
| Architecture | mixture of experts | - |
| License | MIT | Proprietary |
| Knowledge cutoff | 2025-11 | - |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | GLM-5 | Grok Build 0.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.60/1M tokens |
|
| Output price | $2.08/1M tokens |
|
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | GLM-5 | Grok Build 0.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | No | No |
| Multimodal | No | No |
| Reasoning | Yes | Yes |
| Function calling | Yes | Yes |
| Tool use | Yes | Yes |
| Structured outputs | Yes | Yes |
| Code execution | No | No |
| 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 is close: both models cover reasoning mode, function calling, tool use, and structured outputs. That makes context budget, benchmark fit, and provider maturity more important than a simple checklist. If your application depends on one integration detail, verify it against the provider route you plan to use, not just the base model listing.
For cost, GLM-5 lists $0.60/1M input and $2.08/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider, while Grok Build 0.1 lists tiered pricing: 0-200,001t is $1/1M input and $2/1M output; 200,001t+ is $2/1M input and $4/1M output. A 70/30 input-output blend puts GLM-5 lower by about $0.26 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 7 providers versus 3, 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 Grok Build 0.1 when coding workflow support and larger context windows 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 Grok Build 0.1?
Grok Build 0.1 supports 256k tokens, while GLM-5 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 or Grok Build 0.1?
GLM-5 lists $0.60/1M input and $2.08/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. Grok Build 0.1 lists tiered pricing: 0-200,001t is $1/1M input and $2/1M output; 200,001t+ is $2/1M input and $4/1M 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 or Grok Build 0.1 open source?
GLM-5 is listed under MIT. Grok Build 0.1 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 reasoning mode, GLM-5 or Grok Build 0.1?
Both GLM-5 and Grok Build 0.1 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 Grok Build 0.1?
Both GLM-5 and Grok Build 0.1 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 Grok Build 0.1?
GLM-5 is available on Fireworks AI, OpenRouter, Together AI, GCP Vertex AI, and NVIDIA NIM. Grok Build 0.1 is available on xAI Console, Vercel AI Gateway, and OpenRouter. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
Continue comparing
Last reviewed: 2026-05-25. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.