Model Comparison
DeepSeek-V3 vs GLM-5Which is better in 2026?
GLM-5 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. DeepSeek-V3 is 3.2x cheaper per token.
Verdict: DeepSeek-V3 vs GLM-5 — which is better?
DeepSeek-V3 (by DeepSeek) and GLM-5 (by Zhipu AI) are two of the AI models people compare most. Here is how they stack up on benchmarks, price and capabilities, and which one to pick in 2026.
DeepSeek-V3 outperforms in 0 benchmarks, while GLM-5 is better at 1 benchmark (SWE-Bench Verified). GLM-5 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
On price, DeepSeek-V3 is roughly 3.2x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
GLM-5 also accepts a larger context window (200,000 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.
Choose DeepSeek-V3 if…
- cost matters — it's about 3.2x cheaper per token
Choose GLM-5 if…
- you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 1 of 1 shared benchmarks
- you process long inputs — it offers a 200,000 token context window
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Feb 2026
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
DeepSeek-V3 outperforms in 0 benchmarks, while GLM-5 is better at 1 benchmark (SWE-Bench Verified).
GLM-5 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
Arena Performance
Human preference votes
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, DeepSeek-V3 ($0.27/1M tokens) is 3.7x cheaper than GLM-5 ($1.00/1M tokens).
For output processing, DeepSeek-V3 ($1.10/1M tokens) is 2.9x cheaper than GLM-5 ($3.20/1M tokens).
In conclusion, GLM-5 is more expensive than DeepSeek-V3.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Model Size
Parameter count comparison
GLM-5 has 73.0B more parameters than DeepSeek-V3, making it 10.9% larger.
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
GLM-5 accepts 200,000 input tokens compared to DeepSeek-V3's 131,072 tokens. DeepSeek-V3 can generate longer responses up to 131,072 tokens, while GLM-5 is limited to 128,000 tokens.
License
Usage and distribution terms
DeepSeek-V3 is licensed under MIT + Model License (Commercial use allowed), while GLM-5 uses MIT.
License differences may affect how you can use these models in commercial or open-source projects.
MIT + Model License (Commercial use allowed)
Open weights
MIT
Open weights
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
DeepSeek-V3 was released on 2024-12-25, while GLM-5 was released on 2026-02-11.
GLM-5 is 14 months newer than DeepSeek-V3.
Dec 25, 2024
1.6 years ago
Feb 11, 2026
5 months ago
1.1yr newerKnowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
Neither model specifies a knowledge cutoff date.
Unable to compare the recency of their training data.
Provider Availability
DeepSeek-V3 is available from DeepSeek. GLM-5 is available from FriendliAI, ZAI.
DeepSeek-V3
GLM-5
Outputs Comparison
Key Takeaways
DeepSeek-V3
View detailsDeepSeek
GLM-5
View detailsZhipu AI
Detailed Comparison
Interactive Arena
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against DeepSeek-V3 and GLM-5 side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
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FAQ
Common questions about DeepSeek-V3 vs GLM-5.