GLM-4.5 vs Grok 4.6
GLM-4.5 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. GLM-4.5 is 4.3x cheaper per token.
Zhipu AI · xAI · Updated for 2026
Which is better?
GLM-4.5 outperforms in 1 benchmarks (AA-Index), while Grok 4.6 is better at 0 benchmarks. GLM-4.5 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
On price, GLM-4.5 is roughly 4.3x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
Grok 4.6 also accepts a larger context window (500,000 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
- you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 1 of 1 shared benchmarks
- cost matters — it's about 4.3x cheaper per token
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
Choose Grok 4.6
- you process long inputs — it offers a 500,000 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 1 benchmarks (AA-Index), while Grok 4.6 is better at 0 benchmarks.
GLM-4.5 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 5.0x cheaper than Grok 4.6 ($2.00/1M tokens).
For output processing, GLM-4.5 ($1.60/1M tokens) is 3.8x cheaper than Grok 4.6 ($6.00/1M tokens).
In conclusion, Grok 4.6 is more expensive than GLM-4.5.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
Grok 4.6 accepts 500,000 input tokens compared to GLM-4.5's 131,072 tokens. Only GLM-4.5 specifies output context (131,072 tokens).
Input Capabilities
Supported data types and modalities
Grok 4.6 supports multimodal inputs, whereas GLM-4.5 does not.
Grok 4.6 can handle both text and other forms of data like images, making it suitable for multimodal applications.
GLM-4.5
Grok 4.6
License
Usage and distribution terms
GLM-4.5 is licensed under MIT, while Grok 4.6 uses a proprietary license.
License differences may affect how you can use these models in commercial or open-source projects.
MIT
Open weights
Proprietary
Closed source
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
GLM-4.5 was released on 2025-07-28, while Grok 4.6 was released on 2026-08-12.
Grok 4.6 is 13 months newer than GLM-4.5.
Jul 28, 2025
1.1 years ago
Aug 12, 2026
1 weeks ago
1.0yr newerKnowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
Grok 4.6 has a documented knowledge cutoff of 2026-02-01, while GLM-4.5's cutoff date is not specified.
We can confirm Grok 4.6's training data extends to 2026-02-01, but cannot make a direct comparison without GLM-4.5's cutoff date.
—
Feb 2026
Provider Availability
GLM-4.5 is available from DeepInfra, Fireworks, Novita. Grok 4.6 is available from xAI.
GLM-4.5
Grok 4.6
Outputs Comparison
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against GLM-4.5 and Grok 4.6 side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
FAQ
Common questions about GLM-4.5 vs Grok 4.6.