GLM-4.5 vs GLM-5.3
GLM-5.3 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. GLM-4.5 is 3.1x cheaper per token.
Zhipu AI · Zhipu AI · Updated for 2026
Which is better?
GLM-4.5 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, GLM-4.5 is roughly 3.1x 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 GLM-4.5
- cost matters — it's about 3.1x 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
GLM-4.5 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, GLM-4.5 ($0.40/1M tokens) is 3.5x cheaper than GLM-5.3 ($1.40/1M tokens).
For output processing, GLM-4.5 ($1.60/1M tokens) is 2.8x cheaper than GLM-5.3 ($4.40/1M tokens).
In conclusion, GLM-5.3 is more expensive than GLM-4.5.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Model Size
Parameter count comparison
GLM-5.3 has 398.0B more parameters than GLM-4.5, making it 112.1% larger.
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
GLM-5.3 accepts 1,000,000 input tokens compared to GLM-4.5's 131,072 tokens. GLM-4.5 can generate longer responses up to 131,072 tokens, while GLM-5.3 is limited to 128,000 tokens.
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
GLM-4.5 was released on 2025-07-28, while GLM-5.3 was released on 2026-08-14.
GLM-5.3 is 13 months newer than GLM-4.5.
Jul 28, 2025
1.1 years ago
Aug 14, 2026
1 weeks ago
1.0yr newerKnowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
Neither model specifies a knowledge cutoff date.
Unable to compare the recency of their training data.
Provider Availability
GLM-4.5 is available from DeepInfra, Fireworks, Novita. GLM-5.3 is available from ZAI.
GLM-4.5
GLM-5.3
Outputs Comparison
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against GLM-4.5 and GLM-5.3 side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
FAQ
Common questions about GLM-4.5 vs GLM-5.3.