GLM-4.6 vs Grok-3
GLM-4.6 and Grok-3 are closely matched at 29.0 and 30.4 on the LLM Stats Score. GLM-4.6 is 6.9x cheaper per token.
Zhipu AI · xAI · Updated for 2026
Which is better?
GLM-4.6 and Grok-3 are closely matched on the overall LLM Stats Score at 29.0 and 30.4.
The models split the 2 individual benchmarks reported for both models evenly.
On price, GLM-4.6 is roughly 6.9x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
GLM-4.6 also accepts a larger context window (202,752 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.
Based on current LLM Stats indexes, shared benchmarks, pricing, and model metadata for 2026.
Choose GLM-4.6
- cost matters — it's about 6.9x cheaper per token
- you process long inputs — it offers a 202,752 token context window
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Sep 2025
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
Choose Grok-3
- you want predictable pricing at $3.00/M input and $15.00/M output
At a glance
The differences that matter most.
Capability indexes
Additional strengths measured across groups of related public benchmarks
Individual benchmarks
7 reported for GLM-4.6 · 5 for Grok-3
GLM-4.6 outperforms in 1 benchmarks (AIME 2025), while Grok-3 is better at 1 benchmark (GPQA).
Both models are evenly matched across the benchmarks.
Human preference
Blind head-to-head votes and playground preference scores
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, GLM-4.6 ($0.50/1M tokens) is 6.0x cheaper than Grok-3 ($3.00/1M tokens).
For output processing, GLM-4.6 ($2.00/1M tokens) is 7.5x cheaper than Grok-3 ($15.00/1M tokens).
In conclusion, Grok-3 is more expensive than GLM-4.6.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
GLM-4.6 accepts 202,752 input tokens compared to Grok-3's 128,000 tokens. GLM-4.6 can generate longer responses up to 202,752 tokens, while Grok-3 is limited to 8,000 tokens.
Input capabilities
Documented input modalities across available providers
Both GLM-4.6 and Grok-3 support multimodal inputs.
They are both capable of processing various types of data, offering versatility in application.
GLM-4.6
Grok-3
License
Usage and distribution terms
GLM-4.6 is licensed under MIT, while Grok-3 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-4.6 was released on 2025-09-30, while Grok-3 was released on 2025-02-17.
GLM-4.6 is 8 months newer than Grok-3.
Sep 30, 2025
11 months ago
7mo newerFeb 17, 2025
1.6 years ago
Knowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
Grok-3 has a documented knowledge cutoff of 2024-11-17, while GLM-4.6's cutoff date is not specified.
We can confirm Grok-3's training data extends to 2024-11-17, but cannot make a direct comparison without GLM-4.6's cutoff date.
—
Nov 2024
Provider Availability
GLM-4.6 is available from DeepInfra, Fireworks. Grok-3 is available from xAI.
GLM-4.6
Grok-3
Outputs Comparison
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against GLM-4.6 and Grok-3 side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
FAQ
Common questions about GLM-4.6 vs Grok-3.