Overview
GLM-4.5 is our latest flagship foundation model, purpose-built for agent-based applications. It leverages a Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) architecture and supports a context length of up to 128k tokens. GLM-4.5 delivers significantly...
How Z.ai: GLM 4.5 stacks up
Among the 368 chatbots & llms tools in our directory, it ranks #213 of 355 on quality (7.6/10), 4% below the 355-tool average of 8.0, and its $0.6/1M input-token rate is in the mid-price range — 62% cheaper than the 345-model average of $1.58/1M.
Weighing quality against cost, Z.ai: GLM 4.5's cost-per-quality-point of $0.08 places it at #191 of 327 for value among chatbots & llms tools.
Z.ai: GLM 4.5 in depth
Z.ai: GLM 4.5, built by Z.AI, sits in the chatbots & llms space and is a paid tool starting at $0.60/1M tokens. Our editors rate it 7.6 out of 10 based on capability, ecosystem and value. It handles a context window of 131,072 tokens.
On the feature side, Z.ai: GLM 4.5 brings 131,072-token context window, reasoning / chain-of-thought, tool / function calling and knowledge cutoff 2024-12-31. These are the capabilities that most shape day-to-day use and separate it from thinner alternatives.
Its biggest strength is built-in reasoning (chain-of-thought) mode for harder problems, while the main trade-off to weigh is that no free tier — usage is billed per token. Keep both in mind when deciding whether it fits your workflow.
Z.ai: GLM 4.5 is most often chosen for research and writing. If that matches your goals, it's a strong candidate to shortlist.
Key features
- ✓131,072-token context window
- ✓Reasoning / chain-of-thought
- ✓Tool / function calling
- ✓Knowledge cutoff 2024-12-31
Pricing
Pros
- +Built-in reasoning (chain-of-thought) mode for harder problems
- +Supports tool / function calling for agent-style workflows
Cons
- −No free tier — usage is billed per token
- −Context window of 131,072 tokens is smaller than most current models
- −Text-only: does not accept image input
Who should use Z.ai: GLM 4.5
- →Anyone looking for a chatbots & llms tool from Z.AI.
- →Teams and individuals focused on research and writing.
- →People who value built-in reasoning (chain-of-thought) mode for harder problems.
- →Workflows that need a 131,072 tokens context window.
Who should look elsewhere
- →Anyone who needs a free tier — this tool is paid only.
- →Those for whom no free tier — usage is billed per token is a dealbreaker.
- →Users who can't accept that context window of 131,072 tokens is smaller than most current models.
Best for
10 Best Z.ai: GLM 4.5 Alternatives in 2026
Z.ai: GLM 4.5 is a strong chatbots & llms tool, but it is not the only option. Whether you are after a lower price, different features or a better fit for your workflow, here are the 10 best alternatives to Z.ai: GLM 4.5, ranked and compared.
Anthropic
Claude is Anthropic's family of AI assistants, known for long-context reasoning, careful writing and strong coding…
OpenAI
ChatGPT is OpenAI's flagship conversational AI, powering hundreds of millions of weekly users across web, mobile and…
Google DeepMind
Gemini is Google's natively multimodal model family, deeply integrated across Search, Workspace, Android and the Pixel…
Gemini 3.7 Flash is a multimodal model from Google for fast agentic workflows, coding, and complex multi-step…
Meta
Muse Spark 1.2 is a reasoning model from Meta, designed for complex agentic tasks.
Qwen
Qwen3.8 Max is the flagship model in Alibaba's Qwen3.8 series, the general-availability successor to the Qwen3.8 Max…
Qwen
Qwen3.7 Flash is a vision-language reasoning model from Alibaba. It is suited for multimodal agents, visual coding…
Anthropic
Fast-mode variant of [Opus 5](/anthropic/claude-opus-5) - identical capabilities with higher output speed at 2x pricing…
Anthropic
Claude Opus 5 is Anthropic’s flagship model for demanding reasoning, coding, and long-horizon agentic work.
Gemini 3.6 Flash is a high-efficiency model from Google for coding, agentic workflows, and web and app development.
Z.ai: GLM 4.5 vs top alternatives
A side-by-side look at how Z.ai: GLM 4.5 stacks up against its closest rivals.
| Feature | Z.ai: GLM 4.5Z.AI | ClaudeAnthropic | ChatGPTOpenAI | GeminiGoogle DeepMind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quality score | 7.6 / 10 | 9.6 / 10 | 9.5 / 10 | 9.2 / 10 |
| Starting price | $0.60/1M tokens | $20/mo | $20/mo | $20/mo |
| Free tier | No | Yes — Free tier available | Yes — Free tier available | Yes — Free tier available |
| API input price | $0.6 / 1M tokens | $10 / 1M tokens | $0.1 / 1M tokens | $0.1875 / 1M tokens |
| API output price | $2.2 / 1M tokens | $50 / 1M tokens | $0.6 / 1M tokens | $0.9375 / 1M tokens |
| Speed | — | Fast | Fast | Fast |
| Context window | 131,072 tokens | 200K tokens | 128K tokens | 1M-2M tokens |
| Categories | Chatbots & LLMs | Chatbots & LLMs, Coding, Writing | Chatbots & LLMs, Coding, Writing | Chatbots & LLMs, Coding, Writing |
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Frequently asked questions
Q. Is Z.ai: GLM 4.5 free?
No — Z.ai: GLM 4.5 is a paid tool, starting at $0.60/1M tokens.
Q. How much does Z.ai: GLM 4.5 cost?
Z.ai: GLM 4.5 starts at $0.60/1M tokens. API usage is around $0.6 per 1M input tokens and $2.2 per 1M output tokens.
Q. What is Z.ai: GLM 4.5 best for?
Z.ai: GLM 4.5 is best suited to research and writing, within the chatbots & llms category.
Q. What are the best Z.ai: GLM 4.5 alternatives?
Popular alternatives to Z.ai: GLM 4.5 include Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini and Google: Gemini 3.7 Flash (batch). Each trades off price, quality and ecosystem differently.
Q. Is there a free alternative to Z.ai: GLM 4.5?
Yes. Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini offer a free tier, making them good starting points if you want to avoid an upfront subscription.
Q. Why switch from Z.ai: GLM 4.5?
Common reasons include pricing, specific feature gaps (No free tier — usage is billed per token; Context window of 131,072 tokens is smaller than most current models; Text-only: does not accept image input), data-privacy requirements, or simply wanting a tool that fits your stack better.
How we rate AI tools
Our quality score weighs capability on real tasks, breadth of features and integrations, pricing and value, and how actively the tool is maintained. Scores are editorial guidance, not benchmarks — always trial a tool on your own workflow before committing. Pricing and features change frequently, so verify current details on the official site.
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