DeepSeek-V3.1 vs GLM-5.3
GLM-5.3 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. DeepSeek-V3.1 is 4.8x cheaper per token.
DeepSeek · Zhipu AI · Updated for 2026
Which is better?
DeepSeek-V3.1 outperforms in 0 benchmarks, while GLM-5.3 is better at 1 benchmark (Humanity's Last Exam). GLM-5.3 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
On price, DeepSeek-V3.1 is roughly 4.8x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
GLM-5.3 also accepts a larger context window (1,000,000 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.
Based on current benchmark, pricing, and model metadata for 2026.
Choose DeepSeek-V3.1
- cost matters — it's about 4.8x cheaper per token
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
Choose GLM-5.3
- you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 1 of 1 shared benchmarks
- you process long inputs — it offers a 1,000,000 token context window
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Aug 2026
At a glance
The differences that matter most.
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
DeepSeek-V3.1 outperforms in 0 benchmarks, while GLM-5.3 is better at 1 benchmark (Humanity's Last Exam).
GLM-5.3 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
Arena Performance
Playground indexes and blind preference scores
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, DeepSeek-V3.1 ($0.27/1M tokens) is 5.2x cheaper than GLM-5.3 ($1.40/1M tokens).
For output processing, DeepSeek-V3.1 ($1.00/1M tokens) is 4.4x cheaper than GLM-5.3 ($4.40/1M tokens).
In conclusion, GLM-5.3 is more expensive than DeepSeek-V3.1.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Model Size
Parameter count comparison
GLM-5.3 has 82.0B more parameters than DeepSeek-V3.1, making it 12.2% larger.
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
GLM-5.3 accepts 1,000,000 input tokens compared to DeepSeek-V3.1's 163,840 tokens. DeepSeek-V3.1 can generate longer responses up to 163,840 tokens, while GLM-5.3 is limited to 128,000 tokens.
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
DeepSeek-V3.1 was released on 2025-01-10, while GLM-5.3 was released on 2026-08-14.
GLM-5.3 is 19 months newer than DeepSeek-V3.1.
Jan 10, 2025
1.6 years ago
Aug 14, 2026
1 weeks ago
1.6yr 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-V3.1 is available from DeepInfra, Novita. GLM-5.3 is available from ZAI.
DeepSeek-V3.1
GLM-5.3
Outputs Comparison
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against DeepSeek-V3.1 and GLM-5.3 side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
FAQ
Common questions about DeepSeek-V3.1 vs GLM-5.3.