AI Chat Assistants · Pricing comparison
GLM (Zhipu AI) vs DeepSeek: Pricing
Both offer a free plan, DeepSeek rates slightly higher. Below we break down plans, free tiers, and value so you can decide which fits your budget and workflow.
Last checked September 10, 2026
At a glance
Both offer a free plan, DeepSeek rates slightly higher.
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GLM (Zhipu AI) vs DeepSeek: side-by-side
| Feature | GLM (Zhipu AI) | DeepSeek |
|---|---|---|
| Category | AI Chat Assistants | AI Chat Assistants |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan details | Free chat at chat.z.ai. GLM-4.5-Flash and GLM-4.7-Flash are free on the API. | Free web chat with V4.1 Flash, fair-use throttling during peak hours. API gives 5M free tokens to new accounts. |
| Starting price | Free (chat + Flash API) | Free (web chat) |
| Highest known plan | $160/mo (Coding Plan Max) | Pay-as-you-go API |
| Free trial | No | No |
| Best for | Developers who want cheap coding AI with open-weight models | Developers and power users who want frontier AI at a fraction of Western pricing |
| Team support | No | No |
| API access | Yes | Yes |
| Editor rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
Pricing and free plans
GLM (Zhipu AI) uses a freemium model, starting at Free (chat + Flash API). Free chat and Flash models. API: GLM-5.2 $1.40/$4.40, GLM-4.7 $0.60/$2.20. Coding Plan: Lite $18, Pro $72, Max $160/mo. Annual saves 30%. Its free plan: Free chat at chat.z.ai. GLM-4.5-Flash and GLM-4.7-Flash are free on the API.
DeepSeek uses a freemium model, starting at Free (web chat). Web chat is free. API: V4.1 Flash off-peak $0.15/$0.60 per 1M tokens, peak $0.30/$1.20. V4 Pro off-peak $0.66/$1.98, peak $1.32/$3.96 (routes to V4.1 Flash from Sep 14). 5M free tokens for new accounts. Peak hours: 01:00-04:00 and 06:00-10:00 UTC. Its free plan: Free web chat with V4.1 Flash, fair-use throttling during peak hours. API gives 5M free tokens to new accounts.
Which is cheaper?
Neither tool clearly undercuts the other on entry price, so let features and fit for your use case decide.
GLM (Zhipu AI): pros and cons
Pros
- Genuinely free models on API
- GLM-5.2 is 7x cheaper than GPT on output
- Coding Plan works with popular tools
- Open-weight options available
Cons
- Peak-hour 3× quota burn
- No native Cursor support
- Data processed in China
- GLM-5.3 API pricing not published
DeepSeek: pros and cons
Pros
- Completely free web chat
- API is 10-35x cheaper than Western rivals
- 1M context window at no extra cost
- Off-peak pricing halves the already-low cost
Cons
- No team or enterprise plans published
- Peak-hour throttling on free tier
- Data processed in China
- No official enterprise SLA
Who each tool is best for
- Best for beginners: GLM (Zhipu AI) — lower barrier to entry and easier to start for free or cheaply.
- Best for teams: Either — both support teams.
- GLM (Zhipu AI) is best for: Developers who want cheap coding AI with open-weight models.
- DeepSeek is best for: Developers and power users who want frontier AI at a fraction of Western pricing.
Verdict
On price, the two are close. DeepSeek edges ahead on our editor rating. For most people, choose GLM (Zhipu AI) if you want developers who want cheap coding ai with open-weight models, and DeepSeek if you want developers and power users who want frontier ai at a fraction of western pricing.
GLM (Zhipu AI) vs DeepSeek FAQ
Which is cheaper, GLM (Zhipu AI) or DeepSeek?
GLM (Zhipu AI) and DeepSeek have similar entry pricing (Free (chat + Flash API) vs Free (web chat)), so features should decide it.
Does GLM (Zhipu AI) or DeepSeek have a free plan?
Both offer a free plan. GLM (Zhipu AI): Free chat at chat.z.ai. GLM-4.5-Flash and GLM-4.7-Flash are free on the API. DeepSeek: Free web chat with V4.1 Flash, fair-use throttling during peak hours. API gives 5M free tokens to new accounts.
Is GLM (Zhipu AI) or DeepSeek better for beginners?
GLM (Zhipu AI) tends to be the easier starting point thanks to its pricing and free access, though both cover the same core ai chat assistants needs.
Which is better for teams?
Both support team use, so pick based on the specific features your team needs.