GLM (Zhipu AI) pricing & review
Zhipu AI's GLM family — free Flash models, GLM-5.2 at $1.40/$4.40, and Coding Plan from $18/mo.
Last checked September 10, 2026
Overview
GLM is Zhipu AI's (Z.AI) model family, rooted in Tsinghua University's NLP research. The chat at chat.z.ai is free, and GLM-4.5-Flash and GLM-4.7-Flash are completely free on the API too. The flagship GLM-5.2 costs $1.40 per million input tokens and $4.40 output — roughly one-seventh of GPT-5.6 Sol on output. GLM-4.7 is the budget coding pick at $0.60/$2.20. The GLM Coding Plan starts at $18/mo (Lite) for flat-rate access to GLM-5.2 and companions inside Claude Code, Cline, and 20+ coding tools. Peak hours (06:00–10:00 UTC) consume quota at 3× the base rate.
Feature highlights
- Free chat (chat.z.ai)
- Free Flash models on API
- GLM-5.2 flagship at $1.40/$4.40
- Coding Plan from $18/mo
- Open-weight models
- Works with Claude Code, Cline
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
Best for
GLM (Zhipu AI) is best suited to developers who want cheap coding ai with open-weight models. If that matches your needs, the free plan is a low-risk way to try it.
GLM (Zhipu AI) comparisons
GLM (Zhipu AI) FAQ
Does GLM (Zhipu AI) have a free plan?
Yes. Free chat at chat.z.ai. GLM-4.5-Flash and GLM-4.7-Flash are free on the API.
How much does GLM (Zhipu AI) cost?
GLM (Zhipu AI) starts 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%. The highest known plan is $160/mo (Coding Plan Max).
Who is GLM (Zhipu AI) best for?
GLM (Zhipu AI) is best for developers who want cheap coding ai with open-weight models.
Does GLM (Zhipu AI) offer an API?
Yes, GLM (Zhipu AI) provides API access for developers.
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