Z.AIOpen weightsReleased Aug 14, 2026

GLM 5.3 pricing, benchmarks and cost analysis

Compare Z.AI guide

Intelligence#27 / 66

156.0

Epoch Capabilities Index (ECI)range 154.2 to 158.3

Speed

No speed data

Throughput not measured for this model

Cost#23 / 101

$257 / mo

In $0.079Out $1.40 per 1MCache discount 1%

Context#3 / 101

1M

Context window, tokens

Ranks are among the 101 models we track (intelligence = Epoch Capabilities Index by Epoch AI, CC BY 4.0; intelligence and speed: among those with data; cost: #1 is cheapest). Monthly cost uses the default workload of 2,000 input and 500 output tokens, 10,000 requests a day, 40% cached.

Comparison summary

GLM 5.3 costs $257 a month for the default workload of 2,000 input and 500 output tokens, 10,000 requests a day with 40% cached input. That is 71% below the median model ($873). It ranks #23 of 101 on cost, where #1 is the cheapest.

It scores 156 on the Epoch Capabilities Index (#27 of 66). Among the 21 other models within 2 points, 2 cost less, and it costs 85% less than their median ($1,692). The cheapest stable-priced model that scores at least as high is Claude Haiku 5.5 (159.3) at $113 a month, 56% less.

Cached input is 1% cheaper than fresh input, a smaller discount than the 90% median. The weights are open, so other hosts can serve it and prices may differ from the provider's own. The batch API cuts the default workload to $486 a month. Its listed price changed on five or more days in the last month, usually because the cheapest host changed, so check the provider before relying on the figures above.

Technical specifications

Context window: 1M tokens
Input price: $0.079 / 1M
Cached input price: $0.078 / 1M
Output price: $1.40 / 1M
Cache discount: 1%
Batch API: Available
Batch input / cached / output: $0.450 / $0.100 / $2.00
Open weights: Yes
Release date: Aug 14, 2026
Price volatility: Volatile (5+ changes in 30 days)

Benchmarks

Best score for this model on each leaderboard, ranked against the other models listed there.

Your monthly bill

Standard

$257 / month

Input: $28.44
Cached input: $18.72
Output: $210.00

Batch

$486 / month

Input: $162.00
Cached input: $24.00
Output: $300.00

On the default workload the batch API costs $486 a month against $257 standard.

Price history

Oct 19, 2026Output $2.50 â†’ $1.40â–¼ 44%
Oct 18, 2026Output $4.80 â†’ $2.50â–¼ 48%
Oct 16, 2026Input $0.030 â†’ $0.079â–² 163%
Oct 16, 2026Cached input $0.029 â†’ $0.078â–² 169%
Oct 15, 2026Input $0.079 â†’ $0.030â–¼ 62%
Oct 15, 2026Cached input $0.059 â†’ $0.029â–¼ 51%
Oct 12, 2026Input $0.039 â†’ $0.079â–² 103%
Oct 12, 2026Cached input $0.038 â†’ $0.059â–² 55%
Oct 10, 2026Input $0.040 â†’ $0.039â–¼ 3%
Oct 10, 2026Cached input $0.039 â†’ $0.038â–¼ 3%
Oct 9, 2026Input $0.049 â†’ $0.040â–¼ 18%
Oct 9, 2026Output $3.39 â†’ $4.80â–² 42%
Oct 9, 2026Cached input $0.048 â†’ $0.039â–¼ 19%
Oct 8, 2026Input $0.070 â†’ $0.049â–¼ 30%
Oct 8, 2026Output $7.00 â†’ $3.39â–¼ 52%
Oct 8, 2026Cached input $0.065 â†’ $0.048â–¼ 26%
Oct 6, 2026Input $0.050 â†’ $0.070â–² 40%
Oct 6, 2026Cached input $0.045 â†’ $0.065â–² 44%
Oct 5, 2026Input $1.40 â†’ $0.050â–¼ 96%
Oct 5, 2026Output $4.40 â†’ $7.00â–² 59%
Oct 5, 2026Cached input $0.140 â†’ $0.045â–¼ 68%
Oct 2, 2026Input $0.222 â†’ $1.40â–² 531%
Oct 2, 2026Output $3.39 â†’ $4.40â–² 30%
Oct 2, 2026Cached input $0.177 â†’ $0.140â–¼ 21%
Oct 1, 2026Input $1.40 â†’ $0.222â–¼ 84%
Oct 1, 2026Output $4.40 â†’ $3.39â–¼ 23%
Oct 1, 2026Cached input $0.260 â†’ $0.177â–¼ 32%
Sep 27, 2026Input $0.379 â†’ $1.40â–² 269%
Sep 27, 2026Output $1.19 â†’ $4.40â–² 269%
Sep 27, 2026Cached input $0.070 â†’ $0.260â–² 271%
Sep 26, 2026Input $1.40 â†’ $0.379â–¼ 73%
Sep 26, 2026Output $4.40 â†’ $1.19â–¼ 73%
Sep 26, 2026Cached input $0.260 â†’ $0.070â–¼ 73%
Sep 25, 2026Input $0.840 â†’ $1.40â–² 67%
Sep 25, 2026Output $2.64 â†’ $4.40â–² 67%
Sep 25, 2026Cached input $0.156 â†’ $0.260â–² 67%
Sep 22, 2026Input $0.910 â†’ $0.840â–¼ 8%
Sep 22, 2026Output $2.86 â†’ $2.64â–¼ 8%
Sep 22, 2026Cached input $0.169 â†’ $0.156â–¼ 8%
Sep 21, 2026Input $0.896 â†’ $0.910â–² 2%
Sep 21, 2026Output $2.82 â†’ $2.86â–² 2%
Sep 21, 2026Cached input $0.166 â†’ $0.169â–² 2%
Sep 20, 2026Input $0.910 â†’ $0.896â–¼ 2%
Sep 20, 2026Output $2.86 â†’ $2.82â–¼ 2%
Sep 20, 2026Cached input $0.169 â†’ $0.166â–¼ 2%
Sep 19, 2026Input $1.40 â†’ $0.910â–¼ 35%
Sep 19, 2026Output $4.40 â†’ $2.86â–¼ 35%
Sep 19, 2026Cached input $0.260 â†’ $0.169â–¼ 35%
Sep 14, 2026Input $1.09 â†’ $1.40â–² 28%
Sep 14, 2026Output $3.43 â†’ $4.40â–² 28%
Sep 14, 2026Cached input $0.203 â†’ $0.260â–² 28%
Sep 13, 2026Input $1.40 â†’ $1.09â–¼ 22%
Sep 13, 2026Output $4.40 â†’ $3.43â–¼ 22%
Sep 13, 2026Cached input $0.260 â†’ $0.203â–¼ 22%
Sep 7, 2026Cached input $0.140 â†’ $0.260â–² 86%
Sep 3, 2026Cached input $0.260 â†’ $0.140â–¼ 46%

Cheaper alternatives

Models with stable pricing and a Epoch Capabilities Index within 2 points of GLM 5.3 (or higher) that cost less for the default workload.

Claude Haiku 5.556% cheaper$113 a monthECI 159.3

GPT-6 Luna56% cheaper$113 a monthECI 156.8

GPT-5.6 Luna0% cheaper$257 a monthECI 156.5