GLM-5 vs Nemotron 3 Ultra
GLM-5 (2026) and Nemotron 3 Ultra (2026) are frontier-tier reasoning models from Zhipu AI and NVIDIA AI. GLM-5 ships a 200k-token context window, while Nemotron 3 Ultra ships a 1m-token context window. On pricing, Nemotron 3 Ultra costs $0.50/1M input tokens versus $0.60/1M 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.
Nemotron 3 Ultra fits 5x more tokens; pick it for long-context work and GLM-5 for tighter calls.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | GLM-5 | Nemotron 3 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | reasoning-heavy apps, tool-calling agents, and provider-routed production | reasoning-heavy apps and long-context analysis |
| Decision fit | Coding, RAG, and Agents | Long context |
| Context window | 200k | 1m |
| Cheapest output | $2.08/1M tokens | $2.20/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 7 tracked | 1 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 0 shared | 0 shared |
Decision tradeoffs
- 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.
- GLM-5 uniquely exposes Function calling, Tool use, and Structured outputs in local model data.
- Local decision data tags GLM-5 for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
- Nemotron 3 Ultra has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- Local decision data tags Nemotron 3 Ultra for Long context.
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
Nemotron 3 Ultra
$950
Cheapest tracked route/tier: OpenRouter
Estimated monthly gap: $50.00. 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.
- Nemotron 3 Ultra is $0.12/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
- Check replacement coverage for Function calling, Tool use, and Structured outputs before moving production traffic.
- Provider overlap exists on OpenRouter; start route-level A/B tests there.
- GLM-5 is $0.12/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
- GLM-5 adds Function calling, Tool use, and Structured outputs in local capability data.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2026-02-11 | 2026-06-04 |
| Context window | 200k | 1m |
| Parameters | 744B total, 40B active | 550B |
| Architecture | Mixture of Experts | Mixture of Experts |
| License | MITOSI-approved | NVIDIA Open Model |
| Openness | Open source | Open weights |
| Commercial use | Commercial use: permitted | Commercial use: permitted |
| Knowledge cutoff | 2025-11 | - |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | GLM-5 | Nemotron 3 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.60/1M tokens | $0.50/1M tokens |
| Output price | $2.08/1M tokens | $2.20/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | GLM-5 | Nemotron 3 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | No | No |
| Multimodal | No | No |
| Reasoning | Yes | Yes |
| Function calling | Yes | No |
| Tool use | Yes | No |
| Structured outputs | Yes | No |
| Code execution | No | No |
| 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 function calling: GLM-5, tool use: GLM-5, and structured outputs: GLM-5. Both models share reasoning mode, 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 Nemotron 3 Ultra lists $0.50/1M input and $2.20/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. A 70/30 input-output blend puts Nemotron 3 Ultra lower by about $0.03 per million blended tokens. Availability is 7 providers versus 1, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose GLM-5 when provider fit and broader provider choice are central to the workload. Choose Nemotron 3 Ultra when long-context analysis, larger context windows, 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 or Nemotron 3 Ultra?
Nemotron 3 Ultra supports 1m 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 Nemotron 3 Ultra?
Nemotron 3 Ultra is cheaper on tracked token pricing. GLM-5 costs $0.60/1M input and $2.08/1M output tokens. Nemotron 3 Ultra costs $0.50/1M input and $2.20/1M output tokens. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is GLM-5 or Nemotron 3 Ultra open source?
GLM-5 is listed under MIT. Nemotron 3 Ultra is listed under NVIDIA Open Model. 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 Nemotron 3 Ultra?
Both GLM-5 and Nemotron 3 Ultra 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 Nemotron 3 Ultra?
GLM-5 has the clearer documented function calling signal in this comparison. If function calling 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 and Nemotron 3 Ultra?
GLM-5 is available on Fireworks AI, OpenRouter, Together AI, GCP Vertex AI, and NVIDIA NIM. Nemotron 3 Ultra is available on OpenRouter. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
Continue comparing
Last reviewed: 2026-06-15. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.